The Make-Believe Spurs — based in Marquette, Michigan — have been making music together since 2022. Inspired by the likes of Bob Dylan, the Grateful Dead, John Prine, and Nathaniel Rateliff, their sound flows from intimate harmonies to high-energy, dance-worthy performances, perfect for wedding receptions, festivals, and more.
They’ve played venues and events across the Upper Peninsula and beyond, including the Main Stage at the Hiawatha Music Festival, Kaufman Auditorium, the Crystal Theater, Bay College, and they opened for Bernie Sanders at NMU in 2024. Guitarist/vocalist Brian Wallen is a 2nd place winner of the International Blues Challenge and an aspiring birder. Molly Wallen, a classically trained vocalist with opera roots, finds joy in crosswords and crocheting. Drummer/vocalist Mavis Farr, formerly of Cry on Cue, studied West African percussion at Oakland University and is also a talented silversmith.
Shows
"Swamp Suite" is a musical performance dedicated to the Wetlands and all that dwell within. The Great Lakes get all the love, and deservingly so, but the Wetlands are a crucial (and overlooked) part of the planet's ecosystem. Brian Wallen will be performing a suite of original songs about, inspired by, and dedicated to the Swamps and Wetlands of the UP. Attendees will also be invited to participate in the performance and learn more about the Wetlands and the creatures that dwell within.
$10
