Music and lyrics going strong at Friday Fling

PALMER — Downtown Palmer’s iconic marketplace Friday Fling is in full swing, and musical acts near and far are making their way through the main stage by the railroad tracks.

Music has been a staple of the Friday Fling for many years. This year, there’s two musical performances by local and visiting bands each week, one from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and the other from 4:30 to 6 p.m.

There was even a surprise performance from a Minneapolis singer named Joel Kachel at this week’s fling.

“It’s been going well, a nice blend of local musicians. People have been excited to listen to live music again,” Greater Palmer Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Ailis Vann said.

A number of attendees come for the fresh produce or pony rides and stay for the music. Anchorage-based singer and songwriter Jonathan Cannamore said that’s one of the things he likes best about the Valley crowd.

“We really enjoy playing outside Anchorage,” Cannamore said. “I’ve done festivals and markets like this before. It’s not every market but Anchorage has a tendency where people are there and they walk to their booths and they go. A lot of people don’t stop and listen.”

It rained throughout the day in Palmer, letting up toward the end of Friday Fling. Cannamore said that despite the rain, a fair amount of people stopped and sat down in the fields near the tracks to listen to them, averaging around 15-20 at a time throughout the day.

“It’s like, ‘alright, this is more than fun if people are using you for wallpaper music. Every time we play in Palmer it’s a good time,” Cannamore said.

Cannamore plays with three other musicians in a rock band called Concrete to Clouds. He said one of their members is from Palmer and another musician who grew up in Palmer filled in for drums that day.

“It was great. A lot of people were out, couldn’t ask for anything more,” Cannamore said.

With so many events cancelled and venues off the table, the remaining outdoor events like Friday Fling are huge for local bands trying to keep playing music.

“It’s amazing. This is probably the only style of show that we’ll be able to play this summer,” Cannamore said. “COVID has shaken up our scheduling quite a bit.”

Cannamore said he was glad to be back with his bandmates again and getting back into a that familiar rhythm. He said they’re planning to release an EP by the end of the summer or by fall at the latest.

“It feels a little bit more like what life was like B.C., ‘before COVID,’” Cannamore said with a laugh.

Friday Fling runs every Friday in downtown Palmer from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The market is located in the pavilion area, across from the street from the Palmer Museum of History and Art.

For more information, visit palmerchamber.org.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com