One of Michigan’s longest-running music festivals celebrates its 51st year this weekend in mid-Michigan. Check out details and a forecast in our latest festival spotlight.
Playing Charlotte Bluegrass Festival: Full Cord will roll out two sets this weekend. (Photo/Derek Ketchum)
SCROLL DOWN FOR FESTIVAL DETAILS AND A TOP 10 PLAYLIST
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In the realm of longevity, few if any Michigan music festivals can match this one.
When the Charlotte Bluegrass Festival gets strumming on Thursday at the Eaton County Fairgrounds in Charlotte, it will celebrates its 51st year of offering rootsy, family-oriented bluegrass entertainment for attendees.
This year’s festival boasts some impressive national acts — Edgar Loudermilk Band (Thursday), Amanda Cook Band, Kody Norris Show and David Mayfield Parade (Friday), and Lonesome River Band and Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper (Saturday) — as well as regional faves such as West Michigan’s award-winning Full Cord, which will play two sets on Saturday, including the weekend closer at 9:40 p.m.
Along the way, there will be plenty of campground jamming, as well as workshops.
Here’s a preview of this weekend’s event, links, must-know details and a playlist of performers featured at the 2023 festival.
The stage at Eaton County Fairgrounds (Courtesy Photo)
CHARLOTTE BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL
WHEN: June 22-24
WHERE: Eaton County Fairgrounds, 1025 S. Cochran Ave., Charlotte
WEBSITE: https://charlottebluegrassfestival.com/
THE DRIVE: 63 miles (1 hour) east-southeast of Grand Rapids
53 miles (55 minutes) east-northeast of Kalamazoo
110 miles (1 hour, 55 minutes) west of Detroit
23 miles (26 minutes) southwest of Lansing
203 miles (3 hours, 13 minutes) south of Traverse City
THE LINEUP: Lonesome River Band, Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper, Edgar Loudermilk Band, Amanda Cook Band, Kody Norris Show, David Mayfield Parade, Williamson Branch, Harbourtown, New Outlook, Full Cord, Crabgrass, Next Paige and more. Get the full performance schedule online here.
QUOTE: “It’s the home of parking lot pickin’. … It’s beautiful grounds to camp. We have beautiful sound and a beautiful stage, and our artists really like to play behind it. … This is part of my heritage and why I’m playing music is because of this festival.” – Wes Pettinger
WEATHER FORECAST (as of June 21):
Thursday – High of 83, mostly sunny
Friday – High of 77, cloudy
Saturday – High of 84, partly cloudy
TICKETS: $90 weekend, $30 daily (free for those 15 and younger with paid adult admission)available at the gate.
CHARLOTTE BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL TOP 10 PLAYLIST ON SPOTIFY
Copyright 2023, Spins on Music LLC
