One of Michigan’s most treasured summer music festivals returns to a northern Michigan site this weekend. See who’s playing, check out our performer picks and get details at Local Spins.
Back This Weekend: Blissfest will once again draw crowds north of Harbor Springs. (Photo/Sean Miller)
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Longtime Blissfest attendee Joseph Pietrowski has said it’s about the “music, ambiance and sense of community. You leave with such a feeling of peace and comfort.”
Blissfest returns to northern Michigan this week – July 12-14 – with headlining performances by The Wood Brothers, Sarah Jarosz, Donna the Buffalo, John Craigie and Amythyst Kiah, as well as a full slate of Michigan favorites, children’s activities, workshops, dance performances and vendors.
Centered around the folk, world and roots genres while being inclusive to many Michigan acts, the 42nd annual festival boasts 10 performance areas on the 200-acre festival farm.
The Wood Brothers (Photo/Jamie Geysbeek)
Though the name conjures up a good time, the festival that bears that iconic name wasn’t originally playing on the idea of joy, contentment and ecstasy. That was just a happy coincidence. It was originally named for its location and beneficiary: the Bliss School, an alternative education school in Bliss Township.
That first festival was a one-day event that took place on a potato farm in Bliss Township as a fundraiser for the school. By the way, the township was named for Aaron T. Bliss, who served as Michigan’s 25th governor, from 1901 to 1905.
Today, the festival has grown into a full three-day affair, famed among musicians for its easy-going groove and welcoming attitude. While the musical focus still falls on acoustic folk and other rootsy music, it’s spread its arms over the yeaers to welcome performers from jazz, funk, rock and other musical styles.
Past Blissfest performers have included the Accidentals, Hot Tuna, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Rusted Root, Bruce Cockburn, Los Lobos, Buffy Sainte-Marie and innumerable others.
“Blissfest also carries additional programming to really round out your festival with healing arts, workshops, kids activities and a kids tent, crafting and so much more,” said Blissfest Music Organization’s artistic director Caroline Barlow.
Donna the Buffalo (Photo/Eric Stoike)
There’s also a silent disco, drum kiva, open-mic opportunities, disc golf, food and craft vendors along with nearly 100 different acts on the weekend bill.
For 2024, the Michigan contingent of performers includes May Erlewine, Full Cord, The Go Rounds, Seth Bernard, Earth Radio, Tai Drury, Annie Bacon, Dr. Goodhart’s Home Remedy, Levitator and more.
First-timers include Daniel Bracken, Mike Ward, Annie Capps and northern Michigan’s own Americana and blues duo The Crosscut Kings.
“When we started this thing, we had a few benchmark milestone goals in mind and one of them has always been performing at Blissfest,” said Crosscut Kings guitarist and vocalist Jim Bonney.
“We feel like we have now accomplished something for sure and we are just so stoked to be part of such an amazing lineup.”
Barlow insisted “it’s very important to us to have that Michigan representation as music lovers here are so loyal and supportive of the artists they love. Blissfest is built on a foundation of that and it’s important to us to support the musician economy, scene and culture here.”
She suggested that festival first-timers not only make time for the acts they want to see, but also take time to explore the grounds, find a new stage, walk through the woods, make friends and to just really take in all of what the festival has to offer.
“Just enjoy being at the festival and taking your time to enjoy it all without trying to cram everything in. You won’t be able to see everything but that is kind of the beauty of it all. There’s always something going on,” she said.
BLISSFEST 2024 ESSENTIALS
WHEN: Friday-Sunday, July 12-14
WHERE: 3695 Division Rd., Harbor Springs, Mich., 49740
WEBSITE: https://www.blissfestfestival.org/
TICKETS/WRISTBANDS: $235 Adult Weekend, $95 Teens Weekend; $150 Saturday Adult, $50 Teen Saturday; $50 Sunday Day, $25 Teen Sunday Day; available online here.
THE DRIVE: 210 miles (3 hours, 30 minutes) north of Grand Rapids
260 miles (4 hours, 12 minutes) north of Kalamazoo
296 miles (4 hours, 12 minutes) northwest of Detroit
236 miles (3 hours, 25 minutes) north of Lansing
91 miles (2 hours) northeast of Traverse City
TOP 5 MUST-SEE PERFORMANCE PICKS
Great Lakes Brass (Photo/Derek Ketchum)
Missy Raines, Friday 5:30 p.m. on the Second Stage, Saturday 1 p.m. on the Main Stage – Ten-time winner of the International Bluegrass Music Awards Bass Player of the Year, Raines is one of the First Ladies of Bluegrass, named so for being the first women to win in their instrumental category. She and her band Allegheny, named for the area where she grew up, will perform music from her latest album, “Highlander,” as well as other favorites.
Listen/Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HR4ntBqzS8M
Great Lakes Brass, Friday 4 p.m. on the Second Stage, “Dancing in the Streets Parade Workshop Saturday 1:30 p.m. in the Pickin’ Tent – This band is right at home onstage. Also on docks, in parades, in clubs, in the woods – you get the idea. Its music is an homage to the sounds of New Orleans brass bands and second lines. Their mix of traditional and original music takes its cues from Dixieland, blues, funk and contemporary music alike.
Listen/Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1djRZYk_QU
K. Jones and the Benzie Playboys (Photo/Anna Sink)
K. Jones & Benzie Playboys, Saturday 4 p.m. on the Second Stage – Welcome to Cajun country, courtesy of washboard, button accordion and a hot rhythm section. The music is a nod to the down-home sounds of Louisiana, where zydeco, cajun, jazz and swamp rock come together in a zesty gumbo. Who knew Benzie County was a hotbed for this musical jambalaya?
Listen/Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSBcgUV6M_4
Bee Taylor, Friday 5 p.m. on the Main Stage, Saturday 7 p.m. on the Second Stage –The singer-songwriter-guitarist was a fan of Django Reinhardt and Howlin’ Wolf before falling in love with the sounds of Big Easy stalwarts Professor Longhair and Dr. John. She spent her last $100 on a piano the same day Mac Rebennack, a.k.a. the Night Tripper – Dr. John for you latecomers – passed away. So she took the torch and ran with it.
Listen/Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-gCAtws-Zk
Robin Lee Berry, heading Ukulele Workshop Saturday at noon at Club Bliss and Song Tree host Sunday at noon – Is it folk? Is it jazz? Doesn’t matter as long as it’s Berry, who got her start in coffeeshops before heading to Berklee College of Music. She’s since been a staple of the music scene in her native Michigan and beyond, performing as a solo act, with a band, even fronting a big band, with her sound always remaining true to her acoustic folksy roots.
Listen/Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5sq1xa0sPg
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