‘A Happy Place to Be’: Wheatland Music Fest rolls out with captivating music and milieu

The granddaddy of Michigan roots/folk festivals reveled in gorgeous weather and riveting performances on Friday and Saturday. The recap in words and images at Local Spins.

 

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With its rustic wooden stages, no-frills camping experience and, of course, the music that all falls under the umbrella of the “roots” genre, Wheatland is all about bringing it back to the basics in many different ways.

While many festivals rely on the idea of a larger-than-life spectacle to draw crowds, the 53rd annual Wheatland Music Festival drew several thousand attendees to Remus, Mich., solely on the promise of great music and genuine human connection.

“This is my third Wheatland and I have loved it every year that I’ve come. I love the general vibe that people bring. Everyone is happy, everyone is friendly, the music is chill and fun and it is such a happy place to be,” said Kari Molitor who traveled from Grand Rapids for the festival.

As always, the weekend highlighted songwriting and storytelling through acoustic, stripped-back performances. This theme was especially prevalent at the Schafer Song Stage where Michigan singer-songwriter Michelle Held shared insightful stories about her life as well as a unique folk rendition of Queen and David Bowie’s “Under Pressure” that urged the audience to pay attention to lyrics they may not have caught when listening to the original track.

One of Wheatland’s main headliners, Mary Gauthier, performed as a duo with guitarist Jaimee Harris on that same small, intimate stage tucked away in the pines. Gauthier shared insights from her book, “Saved By a Song,” and described the elements that make a song compelling.

“The nature of great songs is empathy, to feel deeply for other human beings. And that can be hard because other human beings are, well, human,” Gauthier said.

Gauthier, along with nearly every other artist on the Saturday Wheatland lineup, took the time to mention and honor other songwriters, especially the ones she has been inspired by and carries on the traditions of. She performed a cover of Woody Guthrie’s “Deportee (Plane Wreck At Los Gatos)” and shared the story behind it. She also quoted the late Dolly Parton in saying that the song, “isn’t a political song, it’s a patriotic song.”

To name just a few of the artists to which performers paid homage throughout the weekend by covering their songs, or even by name-dropping them in their own songs: John Prine, Hank Williams, Fleetwood Mac, Bob Dylan, and many others.

Michigan artists once again captivated audiences at the Centennial stage where Kalamazoo’s Kait Rose proudly belted out her vulnerable lyrics and gave an appropriately upbeat sendoff to another beautiful Michigan Summer. Grand Rapids’ bluegrass group Red Thyme opened up the dance floor and charmed the audience with their matching outfits and bold, outspoken lyrics.

Saturday afternoon’s main stage lineup favored traditional and old-school country and bluegrass sounds with the Lonesome Ace String Band, bluegrass quintet The Onlies and country supergroup trio Wonder Women of Country.

Though these traditional sensibilities did not hold them back from incorporating modern ideals and humor into their performances. The Wonder Women of Country acknowledged the outdated themes that punctuate some sub-genres of country music while incorporating their own feminist spin and sarcastic humor into their harmony-laden tracks.

“It’s country music, it’s all a little weird I guess,” one of the members of the trio quipped.

Wheatland certainly encourages attendees not to shy away from getting a little weird, but it also encourages them to take a moment to hear from another perspective and to let themselves sit with the emotions that such vulnerable and honest songs can bring out.

Friday’s opening day rolled out plenty of highlights, too, with the Mark Lavengood Band and special guest Jen Sygit unfurling a “John Prine Tribute Hour” on the Centennial Stage, followed by West Michigan country swing outfit Sweet Dee & The Wild Honeys and soulful Grand Rapids singer Molly — with one fan proclaiming her set as the best of the night and urging organizers to put her on the Main Stage in 2027.

The festival wraps up today (Sunday) with its traditional morning Gospel Hour and performances running through mid-afternoon on the Centennial Stage and sets through early evening on the Main Stage.

PHOTO GALLERY: Wheatland Music Festival, Days 1 and 2
Photos by Anna Sink and Holly Holtzclaw

VIDEO: Wheatland Days 1 & 2 Highlights

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