Days 2 and 3 of the music festival that unfolded last weekend at Circle Pines Center south of Grand Rapids had plenty of highlights. Get the recap and photos at Local Spins.
Back in Michigan, Back at Buttermilk: Luke Winslow-King (with Peter Madcat Ruth) on Sunday. (He’ll also play Hoxeyville Skies Festival in Wellston on Aug. 8.) (Photo/Derek Ketchum)
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Overheard at Buttermilk Jamboree 2026 (and often repeated in some manner): “What about this weather? Incredible.”
Also overheard: “I saw a lot of people singing out there.”
“Everybody whistle. Just put your lips together and blow.”
“I’ve only had one haircut in 20 years.”
And that told just a small part of the story of the weekend festival that unfolded at Circle Pines Center between Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo — a festival that showcased some of the best of Michigan-bred music covering the gamut of styles.
After a robust opening day (check out the coverage/photos here), Day 2 continued the run of beautiful weather and powerful sets.
Family Affair: The Schrock Bros played a Father’s Day set. (Photo/Derek Ketchum)
Highlights included Great Lakes Brass closing out the Sugar Bush Stage with “Electric Mayhem,” filled with effects pedals and more, with folks “dancing like they were at Electric Forest,” Kalamazoo indie-rock band Knee Deep Shag making its Buttermilk debut, fellow Kalamazoo artist Grace Theisen performing with an all-girl group (with a new album being released next week), and northern Michigan’s Charlie Millard Band closing out the Garden Stage.
One calamity: South for Winter’s set ended on a medical note when a band member leapt from the stage but didn’t stick the landing. The mishap resulted in a dislocated knee and saw the Buttermilk medical team in action.
Sunday proved to be another perfect day at Buttermilk, with the first drop of rain holding off until vintage country act The Bootstrap Boys closed down the festival in late afternoon.
The Schrock Bros (featuring father and sons from Fennville) played the Orchard Stage for an appropriate Father’s Day set, and Cadillac native and Spain-based singer-guitarist Luke Winslow-King closed out that stage with dance-inspiring music that also featured harmonica whiz Peter Madcat Ruth. – By Derek Ketchum
PHOTO GALLERY: Buttermilk Jamboree 2026 (Days 2 & 3)
Photos by Derek Ketchum
