The festival at the old Hoxeyville site amid the Manistee National Forest unfurls with a who’s who roster of acts this weekend. Get the details, schedule and more.
Headliner: Ekoostik Hookah will close out the main stage on Saturday. (Photo/Vincent Brady)
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Luke Winslow-King knows Hoxeyville.
Not only did the acclaimed singer and guitarist grow up in Cadillac, just 20 miles or so from the festival site in Wellston, but he played the Hoxeyville Music Festival at least 10 times over the years before that celebration staged its final soiree in 2024.
In its place this year? Hoxeyville Skies will debut Friday and Saturday (Aug. 7-8) with national jam-band headliners Grahame Lesh & Friends and Ekoostik Hookah, and Winslow-King serving as the festival’s artist-at-large by performing with different bands over the weekend as well as his own group of top-shelf musicians.
“The Hoxeyville site is nestled in one of the most beautiful corners of the Manistee National Forest. I grew up playing music at that place and have watched my friends’ children grow up there,” said Winslow-King, who’s now based in Spain, but returns to play Michigan regularly.
“Some of my best memories with friends and family have been made at that location over the years. It’s a beautiful forest, with a nice open field for viewing the stars at night, and it’s in close proximity to rivers, lakes, and streams.”
Winslow-King, who’s touring behind his latest Bloodshot Records album, “Coast of Light,” said he’ll be “jumping up to play a song or two with various artists on the festival bill this year.”
Artist-At-Large: Luke Winslow-King (Photo/Jeff Brinn)
“I’ll be surprised myself, and I’m looking forward to seeing what happens,” he added. “That’s part of the allure and excitement of being an artist-at-large — the element of surprise. I’ll also be performing with my five-piece band, and we might even have our special guest, Peter ‘Madcat’ Ruth, join us on stage.”
Of course, there’s plenty more on the festival docket, including sets by Michigan’s Airborne or Aquatic super-group (featuring Greensky Bluegrass guitarist Dave Bruzza, among others), The Smokin’ Dobroleles, Sweet Dee & The Wild Honeys, 1000 Watt Prophets, Flexadecibel and many more. (Scroll down for the schedule.)
Weekend adult tickets are $158.30, with daily passes $84.80, available online here. Tickets include primitive tent camping, with an extra fee for RV camping (though that’s close to capacity).
As for Winslow-King, he’ll close out his second trip to Michigan this year with an Aug. 13 show at Ore Dock Brewing in Marquette before heading back to Spain. He plans to return to Michigan for another solo tour in November.
HOXEYVILLE SKIES MUSIC FESTIVAL: THE 2026 SCHEDULE
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Hoxeyville 2019: A classic, award-winning photo of Billy Strings on stage by Vincent Brady.
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