Switchback will perform Saturday, August 12, at the St. Ignace Marina. Tickets cost $10 and may be purchased at the Chamber of Commerce office, Fort de Buade, St. Ignace Marina, and concert site. (Photograph by Deone Jahnke) A concert by the Irish music band Switchback will be Saturday, August 12, at the St. Ignace Marina to raise funds for promotion of the Turtle's Back interactive history museum project planned at the site of the former Father Marquette Memorial. The concert will begin with a 5 p.m. wine and cheese open house at Fort de Buade Museum, when the public may tour the museum's collection. There is no charge for the open house, but donations are welcome. The concert will follow at 7 p.m. Admission is $10.

Tickets may be purchased at the Chamber of Commerce office, Fort de Buade, at the St. Ignace Marina, and at the concert site. Beer, wine, and refreshments will be available at the concert. Bleacher seating is limited, so concert goers are encouraged to bring lawn chairs. The gate opens at 6 p.m.

The Switchback duo of Brian FitzGerald and Martin McCormack feature a full-band sound with a repertoire ranging from ballads to

rock. The band draws its inspiration from Irish and American music and has produced nine albums. Its most recent CD, "Falling Water River," explores the human toll of war through telling the fictional story of Iraq soldier Private William Henry. The CD has been compared to Simon and Garfunkel's 1967 "Bookends" album.

Brian FitzGerald performs on guitar, mandolin, stomp board, and vocals, while Martin McCormack performs bass guitar, stomp board, and vocals. They showcase a variety of genres, crafting their own eclectic sound while staying true to their traditional Celtic roots.

Proceeds of the concert will benefit the efforts of the Michilimackinac Historical Society to preserve the Fort de Buade collection in St. Ignace, and the planned history museum project.

In the case of rain, the concert would be moved to Little Bear East Arena. More information is available by calling 643-8717.