Northern Michigan‘s Music Fests

June 14, 2009

Northern Michigan Music Fests
Something for every musical taste this summer

By Kristi Kates 6/15/09

There are so many amazing music festivals set to take place both across the U.S. and internationally, you could spend your entire summer simply traveling from one to the next. But let’s say your budget - like so many of us - is only allowing one or two big-ticket events... but you still want more live music. No problem. Check out this roster of Michigan music festivals, most of them local or a mere few hours’ drive away. Several aren’t much more than $25-30, and a few are even free - and that’s the best deal of all.

Big Ticket Festival
Otsego County Fairgrounds, Gaylord
Thursday-Saturday, June 18-20
ww.bigticketfestival.com

You can camp on-site, camp off-site, or snag a hotel in order to catch this well-organized, expanded Christian music festival (up to three days from two last year), but you’d best leave the beverage coolers and cigarettes in your car, as this environment aims to be cleaner and safer than the typical music festival. Heavy-hitter performers such as Switchfoot, Newsboys, Third Day, Disciple, and former American Idol contestant Chris Sligh will take the stage alongside a slate of lesser-known indie bands and sporting events featuring the Untitled Skate Ministry (skateboarding) and BMX Chaos on Wheels.
As far as food and drink go, the fest will also feature a variety of concessions, as well as the ability to leave the festival grounds and check out local restaurants.
Tickets: one-day passes start at $35, two-day passes start at $65, three-day passes start at $89; ticket prices go up the closer you get to the week of the event.

Spirit of the Woods Folk Festival
Dickson Township Park, Brethren
Saturday, June 20
(See story in this issue)
www.spiritofthewoods.org

Rothbury Festival
Rothbury festival grounds, Rothbury MI
Thursday-Sunday, July 2-5
www.rothburyfestival.com

Aiming to be Bonnaroo North for the Midwestern set, Rothbury’s only in its second year as a recurring festival, but is already the subject of national press coverage and plenty of ticket sales. In addition to both tent and R.V. camping availability as well as special “Good Life” V.I.P. packages, Rothbury also offers overnighters and day visitors alike access to plenty of food vendors, “Circus” and “Theater” experiences, yoga sessions, the Tripolee dance parties tent, and a plethora of other activities besides music.
As far as music goes, their big calling card this year is The Dead’s only summer performance, as well as sets from the likes of Bob Dylan, The Black Crowes, Willie Nelson, Umphrey’s McGee, Cold War Kids, Yonder Mountain String Band, Son Volt, Martin Sexton, and Matisyahu. There’s a definite lack of indie-rock bands as compared to last year - they were probably scared away by the lack of hipster-clothing-friendly facilities (Rothbury’s a little rougher than, say, Lollapalooza or All Points) - but that’s probably just fine with Rothbury, as they’re settling nicely into their rep as a newly-established roots rock and jam-band summer destination.
Tickets: four-day weekend tickets start at $249.50 including camping.

Blissfest
Bliss Festival Farm, Bliss MI
Friday-Sunday, July 10-12
www.blissfest.org

Bliss is now in its 29th year as a much-revered folk and roots music festival, and it continues to expand its appeal by covering genres of music from Blues to Cajun, Folk to Jazz, Latin to World; people from Traverse City north make an annual summer trek to Bliss, and meet up with friends from all over the U.S. The other big draw of Bliss is as a camping destination on the designated Bliss Festival Farm in the farmlands of Northern Michigan; most people stay overnight in order to take part in the various cookouts, drum circles, and late-night dances that take place over the weekend.
This year’s Blissfest will includes performances from Loudon Wainwright III, Kathy Mattea, Mountain Heart, Jorge Miguel Flamenco, Creole Stomp, Breathe Owl Breathe, Laith el-Saadi, That 1 Guy, and local returning favorites Crazy Richard and juggler Tommy Tropic.
Tickets: weekend adult tickets are $78 in advance, $90 at the gate; daily tickets start at $25; camping is extra.

Beaver Island Music Festival
Westside Road, Beaver Island MI
Thursday-Saturday, July 16-18
ww.beaverislandmusicfestival.com

If it’s a remote wilderness location you want for your summer festival fun, Beaver Island is definitely it.  Access to the island so that you can attend this year’s fest is only by boat or air, as provided by Beaver Island Boat Company, Island Airways, or the new Fresh Air Aviation; but once you get onto the island, you can take advantage of the festival’s shuttle service for a small fee.
With the goal of combining music with art and renewable energy, this year’s event will include camping, vendors, and music from the likes of Black Jake and The Carnies, Lake Effect, Ragbirds, the Mossy Mountain Band, and Rootstand; just remember that transportation costs to the island itself are extra.
Tickets: weekend pass, $50 advance, $55 at the gate.

Suttons Bay Blues Festival
Suttons Bay Marina Park, Suttons Bay
Saturday, July 25
www.suttonsbayarea.com

This little but mighty blues fest is preceded at 11 a.m. by the Suttons Bay Classic Car parade, the perfect lead-in to what is sure to be a classic slate of blues and blues-inspired music.
Sonny Landreth - whom none other than Eric Clapton called “probably the most underestimated and advanced musicians on the planet” - serves as this year’s headliner, and he tops a bill that also includes Australian singer-songwriter Harper, slide guitar/harmonica player Pete “Big Dog” Fetters (both solo and with his electric band), Sneaky Pete (not to be confused with Pete Fetters), and the rhythm-n-blues Detroit band Regular Boys. Leelanau’s “finest foods and beverages” will also be available for festival attendees to purchase.
Tickets: $20 advance, $25 at the gate.

Woodtick Festiva
Woodtick festival grounds, Hermansville, MI
Thursday-Saturday, July 30-August 2
www.woodtickfestival.com

If you’re looking for a good excuse to trek even further up North for your yearly Upper Peninsula camping trip, this is a good one - they call it an “Upper Peninsula-style shindig,” and it’s set to feature a variety of both regional and national bands, from Friday’s Bluegrass Jamboree and sets from Sawdust Symphony and Bordertown, to Saturday’s Flat Broke Blues Band, Night train, and Bad Axe Rodeo. The camping will take place at the Hilltop Campground, so you can drop off your camping supplies and then head back to the festival site for all that music plus food from the new Tacoville and Woodtick Grill dining venues, serving everything from Indian tacos to chicken wings and burgers.
Tickets: four-day pass $35 advance purchase, $45 mid-July.

Dunegrass Festival
M72 6 miles east of Empire
Saturday-Sunday, August 1st-2nd
www.dunegrass3.org

Details are a little sparse regarding the “new” Dunegrass Festival, which has apparently been reclaimed by local folks after running into a plethora of financial problems and promoter conflicts last year. This year’s Dunegrass looks a little lower key, but just as enthusiastic as ever, with gates opening for camping on Friday, July 31, and the usual complement of food and craft vendors expected to attend.
Also showing up, of course, will be this year’s roster of performers, which are set to include Rootstand, The New 3rd Coast, Josh Davis, Susan Fawcett, and The Corvairs.
Tickets: start at $55 for the weekend including camping.

Farmfest
Farmfest grounds on Roby Road, Johannesburg
Thursday-Saturday, August 13th-16th
ww.farm-fest.com

In spite of lean times, as they say in the country, FarmFest is hangin’ in there, and returns this year for four days of entertainment, with gates opening on Thursday and main stage music beginning on Thursday. Camping, a drum kiva, fire circle jams, a harmonica contest, workshops, an open mic hosted by local legend Kirby, and craft and food vendors are included in the schedule, of which the highlight is the Farmfest Magic Jam on stage Saturday night.
Acts appearing at Farmfest this year include Blue Water Ramblers, Rootstand, Orpheum Bell, Conga Se Menna, the Madcat and Kane Trio, and returning festival regulars Seth Bernard and Daisy May.
Tickets: free, although a donation of $50 is suggested (“but not required”) to help support the weekend event.

Mackinac Island Music Festival
Various venues around the island
Tuesday-Wednesday, August 18th-19th
www.mackinacislandmusicfestival.org

Perhaps an unexpected place for a music festival, but Mackinac Island it is for this mid-August two-day event. Shows include two by Detroiter Mitch Ryder - a regular show and a second, more exclusive (ie pricier) one, plus a set from La Poema Musica, and the “Mackinac Island Hoedown” which will include music from Ash Can Van Gogh and Kraig Kennedy plus a menu of Americana food ranging from hotdogs and brats to root beer floats.
The fest will also feature an exhibit of rock posters by Mark Arminski, who has designed show posters for the likes of Iggy Pop, The Beastie Boys, and The Black Crowes; and a screening of the movie The Last Waltz, the farewell concert of The Band.
Tickets: events are priced individually and range from $10 for the movie to $35 for Mitch Ryder.

Hoxeyville Music Festival
West of Kestlewoods Campgrounds on M37
Friday-Sunday, August 21-23
www.hoxeyville.com

The New Orleans All-Stars, the Bill Frisell Trio, Todd Snider, Frontier Ruckus, and Steppin’ In It are just a few of the many acts set to perform at this year’s Hoxeyville event, which takes place in the beautiful Manistee National Forest. Also at the festival, as in prior years, will be their Vendor Village of foods, crafts, clothing, and other surprises.
Tickets $125 advance, $150 day of the show (tickets include camping); day passes $50.

Wheatland Music Festival
Wheatland festival grounds, Remus, MI
September 11th-13t
ww.wheatlandmusic.org


The wrap-up of the summer music festival season - albeit a little beyond the actual summer months - goes to the Wheatland fest, which welcomes around 30,000 people to the event each year. This year’s Wheatland, as usual, offers what they call “primitive” camping as well as instrument and dance workshops, jam sessions, food vendors, a juried arts and crafts show, and other outdoor events.
This 36th annual event will feature performances from bluegrass band The Steel Drivers, Cajun band Red Stick Ramblers, country swing music from The Radiators, blues from Ruthie Foster, and the “New Americana” music of The Deadly Gentlemen, among many others.
Tickets: weekend tickets start at $63, Sunday-only tickets are $23.