Zach of All Trades/Zach Kukkonen

While the Copper Country gets its share of talented musicians to visit, it's not often vaunted actors and actresses make stops here.

It's even more rare when those vaunted actors and actresses are quality musicians, and the Keweenaw gets a glimpse of both when Jeff Daniels visits the Calumet Theatre Dec. 12.

A consummate actor, Daniels has never really received a ton of acclamation for his work. Truthfully, one of my favorite roles of his (and one of his most famous) is in "Dumb and Dumber," but to stop there would ignore the best of his filmography.

Daniels is rarely the scene-stealer of movies, but certainly has the acting chops to match up with most other actors in Hollywood. He was in two of my favorite movies of this year so far - "State of Play" and "Away We Go" - and his understated roles in films like "The Squid and the Whale," "The Lookout," "Pleasantville," "Good Night and Good Luck" and even "Speed," are a joy to watch. He has also flexed his acting muscle on Broadway, appearing in "God of Carnage."

Growing up in Chelsea, Mich., Daniels also has a spot in his heart for the U.P., as evidenced by his writing, directing and acting in "Escanaba in da Moonlight."

However, music is what actually brings Daniels up to Calumet. Now, I'll be the first to say that most actors and actresses should stay completely away from the music industry, with people like Scarlett Johansson, Eddie Murphy and even Don Johnson and Bruce Willis trying to broaden their horizons. Yet some make it work (Jared Leto of 30 Seconds to Mars comes to mind), and Daniels does best by not trying to do too much, with just him and his guitar.

Folk and blues are not my favorite genres in the world, but his music is quite pleasant to listen to (and has a comedic edge to it, with songs like "Ballad of the Buckless Yooper"). Dec. 12 can't come quickly enough.

Other musical events in the near future to look forward to:

Oct. 30 - Michigan Tech Jazz Showcase, 7:30 p.m., Rozsa Center

Nov. 6 - The Machine - The Premier Pink Floyd Experience, 7:30 p.m., Calumet Theatre

Nov. 7 - E.B. Holman Country Jamboree, 7 p.m., Rozsa Center

Nov. 13 - Michigan Tech Superior Winds, 7:30 p.m., Rozsa Center

Dec. 5 - Handel's "Messiah," 7:30 p.m., Rozsa Center

Zach Kukkonen can be reached at zkukkonen@mininggazette.com.