Farm Block 2022 Revisited: Upper Peninsula Magic

EDITOR’S NOTE: Local Spins writer Enrique Olmos recently experienced Farm Block: Annual Reunion Benefit for The Dan Schmitt Gift of Music and Outdoor Education Fund for the first time. Here are his impressions — and Top 5 highlights — of the Upper Peninsula festival held last weekend (Aug. 2-4).

It feels like it’s nearly at the end of the earth.

Farm Block Reunion is tucked away on the childhood home of The Go Rounds’ Graham Parsons, a beautiful farm on the Keweenaw Peninsula, some 500 miles away from Grand Rapids. The trek to the far reaches of the Upper Peninsula is sometimes dull and desolate with seemingly endless Upper Peninsula stretched dotted by empty towns and arrow-straight roads.

The Farm Block Stage (Photo/Enrique Olmos)

But there’s a striking beauty to being in such remote country, especially when it comes to winding along the coastlines of Lake Michigan and Lake Superior, or ambling through old mining towns like Houghton and Calumet.

For this writer, it was the trip I’ll never forget, experienced alongside a comedic and adventurous counterpart, Grand Rapids’ own Chad Wedeven (who navigated the daunting 8-hour drive both ways, and without the help of modern GPS!)

Here’s my top five moments from Farm Block Music Festival in no particular order:

Blanco Suave: A heavy hitting band from Marquette, Blanco Sauve’s Friday evening set was just plain hot. Backed by an incredible band, singer and bassist Gretchen McKenzie spit steamy rhymes and sexy lyrics that warmed up a cool evening.

The Go Rounds: This was perhaps one of the best Go Rounds sets I’ve ever seen. It was a beautiful and energetic set which saw Graham Parsons beaming between songs and fans dancing wildly along.

Nashon Holloway: Hailing all the way from Chicago, Holloway and her band ripped through a soulful afternoon set on Saturday, playing covers like Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” in a groovy, rhythmic delivery.

Turtledoves: This Sunday afternoon set was a strikingly beautiful way to wrap the festival before hitting the road. Ashley and Alex McGrath paired their lush instrumentals with arrestingly beautiful melodies and wistful lyrics of love.

The Basketball Tournament: Few things are as humanizing and humbling as having a three-pointer drained in your face by Seth Bernard. Or getting the ball stolen from you by Drew Tyner of The Go Rounds. That said, my team, The Sandhill Cranes (composed of Micah Middaugh of Breathe Owl Breathe, Alex McGrath of The Turtledoves, and Lena Maude) held our own on the court against some serious ballers. Though we did not win the annual tournament, I am still blissfully sore.

PHOTO GALLERY: Farm Block 2022
Photos by Enrique Olmos