This mid-June festival kicks off south of Grand Rapids on Friday, with dozens of Michigan acts on the three-day bill. Get the details, ticket links, schedule and performer picks at Local Spins.
Buttermilk Jamboree: May Erlewine and more Michigan stars return to Circle Pines Center this weekend. (Photo/Derek Ketchum)
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Just like Local Spins, Buttermilk Jamboree is celebrating its 12th anniversary in 2024 — and just like Local Spins, it’s a true celebration of Michigan music.
With fan-uplifting favorites such as Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers (groovy pop), May Erlewine (folk), Cabildo (Spanish-language rock), Full Cord (bluegrass), Funktion (funk), Hannah Rose Graves (singer-songwriter), Black Jake & The Carnies (punk/bluegrass) and Chirp (prog-funk fusion) on the 2024 bill this coming weekend, organizers have created a wide-ranging roster of Michigan artists to bolster the family-friendly, three-day event at Circle Pines Center in Delton.
Headlining Friday Night: Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers. (Photo/Derek Ketchum)
Amid a beautiful, wooded setting midway between Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo, the cozy festival with segeral stages is easy to navigate and boasts a kids’ area, food, art and merchandise vendors, workshops, and craft beer and wine.
“I like the old-time, hippie atmosphere,” festival attendee Annette Bowman remarked in a Local Spins listing of the state’s most popular music festivals. “Circle Pines has a feel embedded that hearkens back to the old time Wobblies, Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger and the like.”
Of course, with more than four dozen acts on the weekend bill, there are plenty of hidden musical treasures at every turn — from harmonica wiz Peter Madcat Ruth’s C.A.R.Ma Quartet to country’s Bootstrap Boys to blues band Joe Johnson & The Bluebacks to the strolling charm of Beaver X-ing.
Local Spins writer Holly Holtzlaw compiled five must-see picks of under-the-radar performers that attendees might otherwise overlook. Check those out below, along with a full performance schedule.
BUTTERMILK JAMBOREE ESSENTIALS
WHEN: Friday-Sunday (June 14-16)
WHERE: Circle Pines Center, 8650 Mullen Road, Delton, Mich., 49046
WEBSITE: https://circlepinescenter.org/music-festival/
TICKETS: Weekend $160 adults, $50 children
THE DRIVE: 38 miles south of Grand Rapids
24 miles north of Kalamazoo
55 miles west of Lansing
145 miles west of Detroit
178 miles south of Traverse City
FIVE CAN’T-MISS PERFORMER PICKS
(By Holly Holtzclaw)
• Y-Not – Friday, 11:45 p.m. on the Garden Stage — Although the funk-rock jam band will forgo their lead singer and namesake Tony Geren this weekend, Y-Not is dedicated to delivering a fun and unique set with loop artist J-Rose sitting in for Geren. Jam sessions, empowering lyrics, and unmatched onstage chemistry are always a sure thing when it comes to Grand Rapids’ Y-Not.
Listen/Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfgwJcOQcO8
• Hearth and Hymn – Friday, 5 p.m. at Apple Chapel; 8 p.m. at the Family Firepit in the Kids’ Common — Michigan’s Samantha Cooper and Elisabeth Pixley-Fink’s voices fit together as perfectly as puzzle pieces in this folk duo. The two of them reimagine folk songs they’ve collected and learned from various places, delivering them with tight harmonies and understated instrumentals.
Listen/Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9Co9CtULFA
The Incantations (Photo/John Sinkevics)
• Molly – Saturday, 5 p.m. on the Orchard Stage — Molly’s soulful, expressive singing style is sure to turn heads and get people up out of their seats to dance. The Grand Rapids singer bases her music on the things she is most passionate about so listening closely to her lyrics and reflecting on their meaning is highly recommended.
Listen/Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zd4-BCS8_Ng
• The Incantations – Friday, 6 p.m. on the Garden Stage – The Incantations’ bluesy folk-rock style truly does have a magical quality to it, especially when Lisa Mackie and Ryan Gladding’s voices merge together. This Kalamazoo duo’s haunting sound and laidback energy are perfect for an early evening festival set.
Listen/Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8M6WMbDiLZk
• Eric Engblade Trio – Saturday, 10 a.m. on the Sugarbush Stage — Even if you need to show up with a coffee in hand to this morning set, it’s worth getting out there early to hear some stripped-back versions of West Michigan singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Eric Engblade’s folk-rock tunes. Engblade’s latest release is full of heartfelt, family-oriented lyrics that will make you want to hug your loved ones extra tight.
Listen/Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGUQ08vJ4VI
THE 2024 SCHEDULE
View Local Spins’ coverage of past Buttermilk Jamborees.
Copyright 2024, Spins on Music LLC
