The organization that fosters professional growth opportunities for the state’s music community is set to relaunch its mission at Wealthy Theatre and seeks other Michigan bands to join the concert lineup.

Raising a Ruckus for Michigan’s Music Community: Frontier Ruckus tops the inaugural MMA fundraiser. (Courtesy Photo)
When the acclaimed Michigan trio Frontier Ruckus plays the inaugural “Sounds Like Michigan” concert at Grand Rapids’ Wealthy Theatre on Nov. 23, it will roll out as much more than just a robust live performance with three other Mitten State bands on the bill.
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The fundraiser for the nonprofit Michigan Music Alliance will act as the kickoff to the next chapter of the organization that supports, nurtures and educates Michigan musicians, serving not only as a celebration of Michigan music but a preview of of the group’s 2025 programs and an opportunity to network with other musicians and industry players.
“It’s time to get back to the original mission of the organization, which is to serve the incredible Michigan music community by providing professional development, education, networking events and opportunities for performances like the Sounds Like Michigan fundraiser,” said Nicholas James Thomasma, interim executive director of the alliance and a veteran Grand Rapids musician and songwriter.

Nicholas James Thomasma (Photo/Anna Sink)
“We will be unveiling our programming for 2025 at the event, so if you’re a musician, you’ll want to see all the events and opportunities that we have in store for you. If you’re a music lover, know that your ticket purchase directly supports our mission to further develop and enhance the Michigan music community you know and love.”
The Michigan Music Alliance provides professional growth opportunities for the state’s music community and first came to prominence in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, raising and distributing more than $40,000 to struggling musicians over a two-year period. Since then, the organization has hosted numerous online B-Side Sessions — workshops covering a wide variety of business-related topics for musicians — and otherwise embraced its mission of “fostering an overarching Michigan music scene that thrives on diversity, inclusion, collaboration and celebrating the sounds that create community.”
Headlined by Southeast Michigan folk-rock band Frontier Ruckus — which dropped a new studio album, “On the Northline,” last spring — the “Sounds Like Michigan” event will also feature limited-edition merchandise, a silent auction, 50-50 raffle, networking opportunities and more.
Three more Michigan acts will be added to the bill in the near future, selected via the Detroit-based Opnr, a platform designed to pair up regional opening acts for touring bands. Michigan-based bands are encouraged to apply online here for performance spots, with a selection committee choosing the three opening acts by Nov. 1.
Presented in partnership with Local Spins, WYCE (88.1 FM) and Triumph Music Academy, the concert is sponsored by Our Family and Founders Brewing Co.
Thomasma noted that board members have “spent the last year working behind the scenes to set the organization up for long-term success” and the benefit concert will help raise needed dollars to push MMA’s programming forward.
General admission tickets to the concert are $35 and available online here. Premium VIP seats — which include merch and a private performance from Frontier Ruckus — are $100. Sign up to volunteer at the event here.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Local Spins publisher John Sinkevics currently serves as president of the Michigan Music Alliance board of directors.
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