The sixth annual three-day festival at Circle Pines Center south of Grand Rapids returns this weekend with a who’s who lineup of Michigan stars and a family-friendly vibe.
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Renowned roots rockers The Blasters and a who’s who lineup of West Michigan stars will pump up this year’s Buttermilk Jamboree.
The three-day festival that takes place this weekend (June 10-12) has grown to become West Michigan’s premiere kickoff to summer will boast appearances by The Go Rounds, Lady Ace Boogie, Vox Vidorra, The Crane Wives, The Accidentals, Rick Chyme, The Concussions, May Erlewine, Rachael Davis, Ralston Bowles, Drew Nelson and dozens more.
Held at Circle Pines Center in Delton – located between Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo – the sixth edition of the Buttermilk Jamboree will also bring back its roster of family-friendly activities, camping, workshops, a craft beer tent, and food and crafts vendors.
Upwards of 2,000 people attended the 2015 festival.
Center director Tom VanHammen noted that this year’s event features “several Jammie winners” with “some of the best regional music in the lineup as usual.”
Indeed, recent winners of WYCE Jammie Awards who are featured in the Buttermilk lineup include Vox Vidorra,The Go Rounds, Lady Ace Boogie, The Crane Wives, The Jukejoint Handmedowns, Olivia Mainville & The Aquatic Troupe and Ralston Bowles.
This year’s headliner, The Blasters, are led by iconic singer-guitarist Phil Alvin (whose brother, Dave, helped found the band back in 1979) with drummer Bill Batemen, bassist John Bazz and guitarist Keith Wyatt helping crank out a distinctive spin on American roots music — a blend of rockabilly, country, rock ‘n’ roll and blues. (By the way, Phil and Dave Alvin are performing Tuesday at Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill with The Guilty Ones.)
The Buttermilk schedule is still being finalized, but these bands will perform on Friday: Conklin Ceili Band, The Concussions, Rick Chyme, Vox Vidorra, Big Dudee Roo, The Mainstays, The Go Round and Lady Ace Boogie.
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The Saturday lineup will feature: An Dro, Cabildo, Jukejoint Handmedowns, The String Doctors, Anne Feeney, Nicholas James & The Bandwagon, Delilah DeWyle & The Lost Boys, Sun Ensemble, Eggs Bernard & The Electrons, Serita’s Black Rose, The Blasters and Madcat Midnight Blues Journey.
To close out the festival on Sunday: The Schrock Brothers, Hawks & Owls, Ralston Bowles & Friends, Drew Nelson and Highway 2, Rachael Davis, The Crane Wives and The Accidentals.
Side beer tent and “front porch” stages also will feature live entertainment, including appearances by Coyote Union, Whiting Brothers, Mark Lavengood, Megan Dooley, Nathan Kalish & The Lastcallers, Soul Patch, Spirits Rising, Wake Up Autumn, Evan Haywood, Stella!, Ky Hote, The Change, Adam Gottlieb and OneLove, Olivia Mainville & The Aquatic Troupe, Brotha James, Britt Kusserow, The Wilson Brothers, Sam Cooper and Josh Holcomb, Eric Engblade and others still to be confirmed.
Tickets are $120 for adults at the gate. Saturday and Sunday ticket options also are available; go online to buttermilkjamboree.org for details and to purchase tickets.
See coverage and photos from the 2015 Buttermilk Jamboree in this Local Spins post. And come back to Local Spins this weekend for full coverage of the 2016 event.
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