On the River Stage of the amphitheater, Michael Franti and Spearhead sang about love, peace and social justice while the crowd of upwards of 7,000 people at Salmonfest 2024 alternately waved arms above their heads, joined hands and danced to the music.
As the sun set over the Kenai Peninsula, those in the mosh pit, and people sprawled on blankets on the ground, wooden benches, and lawn chairs, cheered on the singer and environmental activist, who is known internationally for his songs espousing love, hope and positivity.
Michael Franti and Spearhead, along with The Devil Makes Three, The Cat Empire and Kitchen Dwellers, headlined the 14th annual Salmonfest, held Aug. 2-4. The event attracted nearly 7,000 fans, about 1,000 people associated with 60 bands playing on four stages, plus upwards of 1,000 people working at more than 100 vendor booths selling a variety of ethnic foods, clothing, jewelry, arts and crafts.
“It is certainly a galvanizing weekend for the whole fishing ecosystem,” said David Stearns, son of Jim Stearns, director and producer of Salmonfest.
Whether first timers or annual attendees “for the community,” as one Anchorage couple put it, the music or even those big $28 turkey legs, people find themselves in a family-oriented atmosphere where fish habitat and protection of the environment is emphasized.
Salmonfest, which began as Salmonstock in 2011, grew quickly in its promotion of protecting salmon and salmon habitat, initially in protest of a proposed copper, gold and molybdenum mine on land in Southwest Alaska abutting the Bristol Bay watershed. While the threat of construction of that mine has ebbed for nowm “we have to keep winning every time,” said David Stearns.
Jim Stearns was initially hired in 2011 by Renewable Resources Foundation in Anchorage to produce Salmonstock. The elder Stearns, who once worked for the Grateful Dead, now directs and produces the event, a year-round task that involves major advance planning. He has also produced multiple events for a variety of causes and organizations to raise money for conservation and humanitarian causes, from soup kitchens to Meals on Wheels and the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
“I don’t think we had any idea it would become what it is,” said David Stearns.
Several years ago Salmonfest was able to acquire nearly 60 acres directly behind the fairgrounds, which is now a campground during the festival, to accommodate those there for all three days. During the rest of the year it is now starting to be used for other purposes, from weddings to a weeklong science camp for kids attending school on the Kenai Peninsula.
Each year brings new additions to Salmonfest. This year organizers brought in multidisciplinary artist and festival designer Lud Absolud from the Netherlands, who creates his art mainly from reclaimed materials, to build several large, creative pieces for the festival. Future plans include a large bathroom complex for campers and a lodge on the southeast corner of the property.
Additions aside, the focus of Salmonfest remains on the music, conservation and the environment.
