This week’s upcoming Coast West Music Festival in Muskegon boasts headliners such as O.A.R., Cheap Trick, Chicago, Josh Turner, Buddy Guy, Gregg Allmann and Kris Allen, plus some popular regional acts.
Coast West Headliners: Chicago plays the Coast West festival on Wednesday.
By Mary Mattingly
LocalSpins.com
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It’s billed as a music festival that’s all about, well, the music.
Next week’s first-ever Coast West Music Festival at Muskegon’s Heritage Landing promises none of the gimmicks often associated with summer festivals: no face painting, no shoddy carnival rides, just three stages featuring more than three dozen artists, 20 of them national-caliber acts.
“The Muskegon lakeshore community has a long history of festivals,” Cecilia Riley, the event’s public relations manager said. “But there’s been a void in true music festivals.”
Coast West is the brainchild of Nick Bessinger and Cathy Cunningham, co-executive directors of the event.
Bessinger said organizers are taking “a little different approach” by focusing on live music by bands on three stages, two of them devoted to national artists such as Buddy Guy, O.A.R., LeAnn Rimes, Three Days Grace, Cheap Trick, Gregg Allman and Polyphonic Spree. Unlike Muskegon’s former Summer Celebration that took place on the same site, there will be no carnival.
Local bands such as The Vincent Hayes Project and Ruth & Max Bloomquist also will play, grounding the event in the West Michigan community.
Josh Turner
“It’s a national music festival,” Riley said. “Muskegon has always had fantastic festivals, but this music festival covers all the genres. There is something for everyone.”
This may be the first year for the festival, but don’t expect it to be its last. “We’d love for this to be a longstanding event in downtown Muskegon,” Riley said. “We are looking to showcase Muskegon’s waterfront. We want to get West Michigan, the whole state, even the Midwest excited about what West Michigan has to offer.”
For more information, visit www.coastwestfestival.com.
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O.A.R.
COAST WEST SCHEDULE
MONDAY
LOCATION: Heritage Landing Stage
6:45 p.m. – Andrew McMahon
7:45 p.m. – Allen Stone
9 p.m. – O.A.R.
LOCATION: MLive Stage
5:30 p.m. Bennett
7:30 p.m. – Easton Corbin
LOCATION: First General Credit Union Stage
6 p.m. – Hat Madder
8:30 p.m. – The Big Beige
TUESDAY
LOCATION: Heritage Landing Stage
7 p.m. – Foghat
9 p.m. – CHEAP TRICK
LOCATION: MLive Stage
5:30 p.m. – Delilah DeWylde and the Lost Boys
7:30 p.m. – Polyphonic Spree
LOCATION: First General Credit Union Stage
6 p.m. – Coldville
8:30 p.m. – After Effect
WEDNESDAY
LOCATION: Heritage Landing Stage
7 p.m. – Blue Oyster Cult
9 p.m. – Chicago
LOCATION: MLive Stage
5:30 p.m. – Joe Hertler and the Rainbow Seekers
7:30 p.m. – Here Come The Mummies
LOCATION: First General Credit Union Stage
6 p.m. – Red Stone Riot
8:30 p.m. – Orange October
THURSDAY
LOCATION: Heritage Landing Stage
7 p.m. – LeAnn Rimes
9 p.m. – Josh Turner
LOCATION: MLive Stage
5:30 p.m. – Drowning Pool
7:15 p.m. – Ugly Kid Joe
LOCATION: First General Credit Union Stage
6 p.m. – The Blockhouse Acoustics
8 p.m. – Time Wise
10:30 p.m. – Fireworks
Kris Allen
FRIDAY
Lakeshore Art Festival
LOCATION: Downtown Muskegon
Noon – 7 p.m.
LOCATION: Heritage Landing Stage
7 p.m. – The Vincent Hayes Project
9 p.m. – Buddy Guy with Jonny Lang
LOCATION: MLive Stage
5:30 p.m. – The Ragbirds
7:30 p.m. – Kris Allen
LOCATION: First General Credit Union Stage
6 p.m. – Whoopee Kat
8:30 p.m. – Yard Sale Underwear
SATURDAY
Lakeshore Art Festival
LOCATION: Downtown Muskegon
10 a.m.-7 p.m.
LOCATION: Heritage Landing Stage
7 p.m.- Hinder
9 p.m. – Three Days Grace
LOCATION: MLive Stage
5:30 p.m. – Steve Rivers
7:15 p.m. – Gregg Allman
LOCATION: First General Credit Union Stage
6 p.m. – Carl Webb Band
8:30 p.m. – Ruth and Max Bloomquist
Tickets are available through ShowClix online at coastwest.showclix.com or by phone at 1-888-718-4253. Tickets will also be available at the Frauenthal Box office or at Heritage Landing Box office starting Sunday. Six day all-event passes are available for $99 and single day tickets for $25.
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Email John Sinkevics at jsinkevics@gmail.com.
Copyright 2013, Spins on Music
