July is heating up with live music across the state at indoor and outdoor venues, and at a bevy of festivals, big and small. Here are our picks for can’t-miss events.
Concert and Festival Fun: July is chock full of both. (Local Spins and Courtesy Photos)
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Based on the steamy weather alone, Michigan finds itself in the thick of the summer — and the thick of the season’s concert and festival season.
There are plenty of options for celebrating live music indoors and out, so Local Spins today offers readers its picks for the Top 15 must-see concerts and Top 8 music festivals worth attending, covering a wide variety of styles and atmospheres.
Get the full listing of festivals in Local Spins’ Michigan Music Festivals 2025 Guide, various Michigan concert series in our Summer Concerts & Michigan Venues listing and our daily Concert Calendar.
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JULY’S TOP 15 CONCERTS
Social Distortion (Courtesy Photo)
SOCIAL DISTORTION – July 5 at GLC Live at 20 Monroe in Grand Rapids – Led by singer-guitarist Mike Ness, intriguing California punk band Social Distortion has been at it since the late 1970s. Ticket link: https://www.ticketmaster.com/social-distortion-grand-rapids-michigan-07-05-2025/event/08006288B9FD1ACB
THE VERVE PIPE – July 7 at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids Township – This multi-platinum-selling Michigan alt-rock favorite fronted by Brian Vander Ark has played Meijer Gardens before, but this hometown show also features Grand Rapids Symphony. Ticket link: https://www.meijergardens.org/events/the-verve-pipe-with-grand-rapids-symphony/?occurrence=2025-07-07
Jakob Dylan (Courtesy Photo)
THE WALLFLOWERS – July 8 at Bell’s Beer Garden in Kalamazoo – Jakob Dylan returns to Michigan with his acclaimed band, The Wallflowers, and, like his dad, refuses to allow professional media photographers at his shows. Ticket link: https://cafe.bellsbeer.com/event/the-wallflowers-with-early-james/bells-brewery-tours/
TODD RUNDGREN – July 9 at Bell’s Beer Garden in Kalamazoo – At 77, rock innovator Todd Rundgren continues to tour, bringing his “Still Me (Still We)” tour to Southwest Michigan. Stay tuned for the Local Spins interview with Rundgren later this week. Ticket link: https://cafe.bellsbeer.com/event/todd-rundgren-still-me-still-we/bells-brewery-tours/
TROMBONE SHORTY & ORLEANS AVENUE – July 13 at Meijer Gardens – Always a hot commodity at this outdoor amphitheatre, Trombone Shorty and his crew always bring an ultra-energetic explosion of funk, soul and New Orleans revelry. And opening will be two other favorites: JJ Grey & Mofro and Dumpstaphunk. The concert is sold out.
The Bacon Brothers (Courtesy Photo)
LEFTOVER SALMON/INFAMOUS STRINGDUSTERS – July 18 at Meijer Gardens – Colorado bluegrass/rock/country jam band Leftover Salmon links up with progressive bluegrass heroes The Infamous Stringdusters for this Meijer Gardens tour stop, and Kitchen Dwellers ups the ante to open the evening. Ticket link: https://www.meijergardens.org/events/leftover-salmon-the-infamous-stringdusters/?occurrence=2025-07-18
SHAKEY GRAVES – July 21 at Bell’s Beer Garden in Kalamazoo – Austin folk/blues/country artist Shakey Graves has cultivated a devoted following for his music, evidenced by the fact that this show is sold out. Hovvdy opens.
GUSTER – July 23 at Meijer Gardens – Again, an alt-rock band — Guster — teams up with Grand Rapids Symphony for what promises to be a unique take on the Massachusetts band’s extensive catalog of songs. Ticket link: https://www.meijergardens.org/events/guster-with-grand-rapids-symphony/?occurrence=2025-07-23
DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS and DEER TICK – July 22 at Bell’s Beer Garden in Kalamazoo – Bell’s impressive Beer Garden lineup continues with alt-country’s Drive-By Truckers and alt-folk-rock’s Deer Tick on their “Charm & Decadence Tour” (with Thelma & The Sleaze opening). Ticket link: https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/45346626/driveby-truckers-deer-tick-charm-decadence-tourwthelma-and-the-sleaze-kalamazoo-bells-eccentric-cafe
BODEANS – July 26 at Warner Vineyards in Paw Paw – Wisconsin’s rootsy BoDeans have been touring and recording since the 1980s (“Closer to Free,” “Good Things”) and their heartland rock continues to resonate with audiences. Ticket link: https://wl.seetickets.us/event/bodeans/629815?afflky=JLEntertainment
DINOSAUR JR. – July 27 at Meijer Gardens – Alt-rock/indie-rock band Dinosaur Jr. (“Feel the Pain”) makes its Meijer Gardens debut in late July, with indie/emo artist Snail Mail and Easy Action opening. Ticket link: https://www.meijergardens.org/events/dinosaur-jr-snail-mail/?occurrence=2025-07-27
Demola (Courtesy Photo)
DEMOLA – July 27 at The Intersection in Grand Rapids – Otherwise known as “Demola the Violinist,” this Afrobeat and hip-hop multi-instrumentalist and producer makes for one of The Intersection’s most tantalizing shows of the summer. Ticket link: https://sectionlive.com/event/demola-live/the-intersection/grand-rapids-michigan/
BILL KIRCHEN – July 29 at Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill – Guitarist, singer and songwriter Bill Kirchen (Michigan native now residing in Texas) first made a splash in the ’60s and ’70s with Commander Cody & His Lost Planet Airmen, but has continued to perform as “Titan of the Telecaster,” frequently returning to Tip Top Deluxe in Grand Rapids (which also hosts guitarist and singer McKinley James on July 23). Ticket link: https://www.facebook.com/events/1379294679784223
GHOST – July 28 at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids – This one could get wild, especially for big fans of this Swedish rock band known for combining costumed theatricality, heavy metal and arena rock. It’s the “Skeletour World Tour.” Ticket link: https://www.vanandelarena.com/events/2025/ghost
Also: Pine Knob Music Theatre in Clarkston hosts Dave Matthews Band on July 9, Kesha/Scissor Sisters on July 19, AJR on July 21; Little Caesars Arena in Detroit hosts Tyler, The Creator on Thursday (July 3), Wu-Tang Clan on July 8, Keyshia Cole on July 10, Shinedown/Bush on July 25.
JULY’S TOP 8 MUSIC FESTIVALS
Blissfest
UPHEAVAL FESTIVAL – July 18-19 at Belknap Park, Grand Rapids – Rob Zombie, Architects, Crossfade, Falling in Reverse, Wage War, Yelawolf and more metal mayhem is in store. Website: https://www.upheavalfest.com/
BEAVER ISLAND MUSIC FESTIVAL – July 17-19 on Beaver Island – The Whiskey Charmers, Nathan Walton & The Remedy, Kathy Gullien & The Drive, Joe Bockheim and a robust Michigan contingent will be on hand in this beautiful, remote location. Website: https://bimf.net/
KALAMAZOO BLUES FEST – July 18-19 at Arcadia Creek Festival Place – Vanessa Collier, Brandon Santini, Chris Canas, Crossroads Resurrection and others bring the blues to downtown Kalamazoo. Website: https://kvba.org/kalamazoo-blues-fest-2025/
MICHIGAN FERN FEST – July 22-27 at Smiling Acres in Trufant – Be Steadweall, Crys Matthews, Elisabeth Pixley-Fink, Big $ilky are just part of the lineup. Website: https://www.michiganfernfest.com/
Tamarack Music Festival. (Photo/Anna Sink)
TAMARACK MUSIC FESTIVAL – July 25-26 in Morley – Aqua Cherry, The Turnips, The Bootstrap Boys, Smokin’ Dobroleles and so many more Michiga favorites are part of “Michigan’s best tiny music festival.” Website: https://www.facebook.com/TamarckMusicFest
DUNESVILLE – July 25-27 at Harmony Pines in Interlochen – Organ Fairchild, Dixon’s Violin, Third Coast Swing, Galactic Sherpas are just a small taste of Dunesville 2025. Website: https://www.facebook.com/DunesvilleMusicFestival/
T-REX FEST – July 25-26 at The Pyramid Scheme in Grand Rapids – Greet Death, Show Me the Body, A Place to Bury Strangers, The Fever Haze and many more fire up the return of this alternative, shoegaze, emo, heavy music, post-hardcore festival that debuted in June 2012 but hasn’t taken place since. Website: https://www.ticketweb.com/event/t-rex-fest-the-pyramid-scheme-tickets/14452053?pl=pyramid
VIDEO: July’s Musical Preview by John Sinkevics for EightWest
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