Music is at the Heart of final two Culver Historical Society programs

Sunday, July 27, 2025 at 10:00 PM

Two musical events in August will round out the Culver Historical Society's summer programming, which focuses on fine arts in the Culver-Lake Maxinkuckee area.

First, the Society's annual fundraiser will feature the return of the popular Dave Bennett Quartet, which last played for the fundraiser in 2021, on Saturday, August 9th, starting at 7:30 p.m. in the Culver Academies Legion Memorial Building.

Described as "an intense and emotional musical experience," "Bennett and his band perform hard-driving swing, rockabilly, jazz, pop, gospel, and original songs. Listeners will recognize the influences of Benny Goodman, Pete Fountain, Jerry Lee Lewis, The Beatles, Chris Isaak, Peter Gabriel, and Phil Collins." Tickets for the event are $45 each and may be reserved by calling 219-649-0019.

One week later, a free program also slated to take place in the Academies' Legion Memorial Building, this time at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 16, will explore the musical heritage of the area.

You may (or may not) know songs like "Cheer for Old Culver," "Maxinkuckee Moon," or "The Culver Song"--but have you danced to the "Mai-Fan Waltz"?

The program, "Underneath the Maxinkuckee Moon: Culver in Music," will feature retired Culver Academies Bandmaster Bill Browne, who will describe and perform examples of the rich musical history of town, gown, and lake. All are welcome. The Annual Meeting of the Society will follow.