Michigan Music Festivals 2020

COVID-19 has upended live music schedules across Michigan. LocalSpins.com is striving to update this list throughout the year. Contact Local Spins Editor & Publisher John Sinkevics at john@localspins.com or click here for details about music festival news & advertising. Scroll to the end or click here for 2020’s previous updates.

MICHIGAN MUSIC FESTIVALS 2020
NEWS, UPDATES & NOTES

Aug. 17
Cosmic Knot’s Fest-of-All Music Celebration, which was scheduled to take place outside Holton Aug. 21-23 has been postponed until a future date that hasn’t yet been determined. Organizer Tom Wall said this would give more time “to get a better hold on logistics” amid the coronavirus pandemic and allow organizers to scale down the event. More information will be released in coming weeks. (NOTE: The festival used to be called Wish You Were Here.)

July 28
The Big Ticket Festival, scheduled for Labor Day weekend after being postponed from June, has now been canceled with plans to return to Otsego County Fairgrounds in Gaylord Sept. 3-5, 2021. “In the end, we could not do it in the right way,” the lead organizer of the Christian music festival announced via Facebook, noting that 2020 tickets are good for 2021. More here.

July 26
After announcing several weeks ago their intention to continue the event with numerous safety precautions, organizers of Farmfest outside Johannesburg (east of Gaylord) have now canceled the 2020 festival that was to take place Aug. 6-9. Get more information online here.

July 21
The Cedar Polka Fest which had been postponed from June to September has now officially been canceled. The festival will return in 2021.

The Sunrise Side Music Festival slated for Aug. 15 in Lincoln, Mich., has now been canceled.

The Fresh Coast Campout planned for Sept. 11-13 in Branch still plans to move ahead at this time.

July 14
The Milan Bluegrass Festival slated for Aug. 5-8 at the KC Campground in Milan officially pulled the plug on this year’s event. “Growing concerns over COVID-19 and the guidelines by which we must follow have made the obstacles before us insurmountable,” producer Mark Gaynier announced via Facebook. The festival plans to return Aug. 4-7, 2021.

July 10
The Sun Dried Music Festival slated for the last weekend in August in Mason has officially been canceled, with organizers saying “it has become too difficult in this uncertainty to obtain the necessary permits, training and safety precautions” to stage the 2020 festival. Instead, they plan to host the festival again Aug. 27-29, 2021.

The Three Rivers HarmonyFest scheduled for Sept. 6 has canceled for 2020. “It was with great sadness and disappointment that we are canceling HarmonyFest 2020 due to the uncertainty of the COVID-19 situation,” organizers announced. “We do not want to contribute to the pandemic. We will start planning for 2021.”

July 8
The B-93 Birthday Bash slated for Aug. 29 at Fifth Third Ballpark has been canceled for 2020, with radio station B-93.7 and iHeartMedia Grand Rapids announcing that the one-day country music festival would return to Comstock Park in June 2021. “The health and welfare of our visitors, vendors and staff is our priority. The COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting mandates of the State of Michigan made this difficult decision necessary, but WBCT-FM – B.93.7 has postponed the date for Birthday Bash which was to be held on Aug. 29, 2020 to June of 2021,” the station announced. Tickets purchased for the August celebration — which was to feature Brothers Osborne, Tyler Farr, Morgan Evans and Kylie Morgan — will be good for the 2021 show. To request a refund, ticket buyers who purchased tickets from the Fifth Third Ballpark box office must contact the box office between July 8 and Aug. 7 to receive a refund. Get details online here. This year’s B-93 Birthday Bash originally was scheduled for June 2020 but was postponed to late August in hopes the event could still take place.

Less than two weeks before its scheduled opening date, the Marshall Bluegrass Festival has been canceled. It had been planned for July 19-25 at the Calhoun County Fairgrounds. The Facebook announcement said they plan to return next year.

July 8
A fan who attended the late June Sherwood Forest event featuring regional DJs and electronic music artists at Double JJ Resort in Rothbury has tested positive for the coronavirus, according to health officials who are encouraging anyone who attended to monitor their health for possible COVID-19 symptoms for the next two weeks. Get more details in this mLive story.

July 6
Thumbfest, is no longer set for Sept. 4 in Lexington. Plans are to bring it back in 2021.

Blissfest, originally scheduled for a festival site near Harbor Springs in northern Michigan this weekend, will instead present a series of performances online as part of a virtual festival. Get details and a schedule at Local Spins here.

July 5
The plug is being pulled on Pond Jam, which was scheduled for Sept. 4-7 in Rapid City.

July 1
Willowsong’s Eric and Jo Raby said today on Facebook that they are canceling the Aug. 28-30 event at their farm in Sidney.

The Detroit Jazz Festival announced the Sept. 4-7 event will be moving to a variety of virtual venues: Channel 22, the city’s new Arts and Entertainment Channel; the Festival’s web page; on
public radio and television stations; and on the DetroitJazzFest LIVE! app. Performances will occur, sans audience, on three stages at the Detroit Marriott in the Renaissance Center.

The Midland Folk Music Festival has been canceled.

Michigan Metal Fest has canceled this year’s Aug. 29 festival at Leila Auditorium in Battle Creek. It’s been rescheduled to Aug. 28, 2021, same place.

Michigan Full Moon Fest, Oct. 2-3 in Grand Junction, states on its website that it intends to start selling passes over the July 4 weekend.

Click here for more updates.

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MICHIGAN MUSIC FESTIVALS: THE LIST

Jan. 11
Winter Wheat
The Intersection, Grand Rapids

Jan. 25
Ice Jam
Perrin Brewing, Comstock Park

Jan. 31-Feb. 1
Ann Arbor Folk Festival 
Hill Auditorium, Ann Arbor

Feb. 14
WYCE’s The Jammies
The Intersection, Grand Rapids

Feb. 15
Winter Roots Festival
Various locations, Marquette

Feb. 23
Great Indoor Folk Festival
The Village at Grand Traverse Commons, Traverse City

Feb. 27-29
Hamtramck Music Fest
Various locations, Hamtramck

Feb. 29
Winter Delights Festival
The Mendel Center, Benton Harbor

March 7
Kalamazoo Fretboard Festival
Kalamazoo Valley Museum, Kalamazoo

April 23-25
CANCELED
Thornapple Arts Council Jazz Festival
Various locations, Hastings

April 24
CANCELED
GrandStand Music Festival
UrbanBeat, Lansing

May 16
RESCHEDULED TO OCT. 3
BBQ, Blues and Bluegrass
Whirlpool Centennial Park, St. Joseph

May 15-17
CANCELED
White Birch Music Festival
Morelands Motocross Park, Stanton

CANCELED
May 23-25
Buses By The Beach
Camp Blodgett, West Olive

May 23-25
RESCHEDULED TO SEPT. 11-13
Movement Music Festival
Hart Plaza, Detroit

CANCELED/RESCHEDULED TO JUNE 5, 2021
May 30-June 1
Hippie Fest
Kalamazoo County Fairgrounds, Kalamazoo

CANCELED/RESCHEDULED TO JUNE 3-5, 2021
June 4-6
Camp Greensky
Manistee National Forest, Wellston

June 5-7
CANCELED
Festival Of The Arts
Downtown Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids

RESCHEDULED TO AUG. 13-15
June 11-13
Jackson Blues Festival
Jackson County Airport, Jackson

CANCELED
June 13
Currents Music Festival
LaFontaine Family Amphitheater, Milford

CANCELED/NEW DATE JUNE 11-13, 2021
June 12-14
Nor-east’r Music & Art Festival
Oscoda County Fairgrounds, Mio

RESCHEDULED TO SEPT. 17-20
June 18-21
Cedar Polka Festival
Under The Big Tent On The Tennis Courts, Cedar

CANCELED/RESCHEDULED TO JUNE 18-19, 2021
June 19-20
Old Dog Tavern, Kalamazoo

CANCELED
June 19-21
Buttermilk Jamboree
Circle Pines Center, Delton

CANCELED
June 19-21
Hoodilidoo Music Festival
Naquadah @ 63694 Peck Academy Road, Constantine

CANCELED
June 19-21
Sol Of The Lost Tamarack
The Lost Tamarack Lodge, Wolverine

CANCELED
June 19-20
Summer Solstice Jazz Festival
Downtown East Lansing (Bailey Parking Lot & Albert-Division intersection), East Lansing

CANCELED
June 20
Founders Fest
Grandville Avenue, Grand Rapids

June 20
RESCHEDULED TO AUG. 29
B93 Birthday Bash
Fifth Third Ballpark, Comstock Park

June 20
CANCELED
Spirit of the Woods Folk Festival
Dickson Township Park, Brethren

POSTPONED, DATE TBA
June 20
Alpena Blues Festival
Downtown Alpena, Alpena

June 24-27
RESCHEDULED TO SEPT. 4-6
Big Ticket Festival
Otsego County Fairgrounds, Gaylord

CANCELED
June 25-27
Charlotte Bluegrass Festival
Eaton County Fairgrounds, Charlotte

CANCELED, 2021 DATE TBD
June 25-28
Electric Forest SOLD OUT
Double JJ Ranch, Rothbury

CANCELED
June 26-27
The Dam Jam
Lions Park, Calumet

CANCELED
June 27
Marshall Blues Festival
Downtown Marshall, Marshall

CANCELED
June 27
Midwest Fest
Final Gravity Brewing Company, Decatur

July 10-12
CANCELED
Blissfest
3695 Division Road, Festival Farm Site, Harbor Springs

CANCELED
July 10-12
Idlewild Music Festival
Ferris State University, Big Rapids

CANCELED/RESCHEDULED TO JULY 9-10, 2021
July 10-11
Michigan Elvis Fest
Wayne County Fairgrounds, Belleville

POSTPONED (NEW DATES HAVEN’T BEEN ANNOUNCED)
July 11-12
LudRock (10th & Final)
Waterfront Park, Ludington

CANCELED
July 16-18
Beaver Island Music Festival
28599 Hideaway Trail, St. James, Beaver Island

POSTPONED TO 2021
July 16-19
Gather To Bloom
Shagbark Farm, Caledonia

CANCELED
July 17-18
Upheaval Festival
Belknap Park, Grand Rapids

CANCELED
July 17-19
Faster Horses Festival
Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn

CANCELED
July 17-19
Hiawatha Traditional Music Festival
Marquette Tourist Park, Marquette

CANCELED
July 19-25
Marshall Bluegrass Festival
Calhoun County Fairgrounds, Marshall

MOVING ONLINE
July 24-Aug. 1
Baroque On Beaver
Various locations, St. James, Beaver Island

CANCELED
July 24-26
Dunesville Music Festival
The Harm Farm, Lake Ann

CANCELED
July 25-26
Mo Pop
Historic Fort Wayne Park, Detroit

MOVING ONLINE
July 31-Aug. 2
Farm Block Fest
2239 N. Farmers Block Road, Allouez

CANCELED
July 31-Aug. 2
Fresh Coast Family Gathering
Rocky Top Farms, Ellsworth

Aug. 1
Depot Music Fest
Cadillac

CANCELED;  RETURNING AUG. 6-7, 2021
July 31-Aug 1
Port Sanilac Blues Festival
Waterfront, Port Sanilac

CANCELED/RESCHEDULED TO AUG. 11-14, 2021
Aug. 5-8
Unity Christian Music Festival
Heritage Landing, Muskegon

CANCELED
Aug. 5-8
Milan Bluegrass Festival
KC Campground, Milan

CANCELED
Aug. 6-10
FarmFest
1865 Roby Road, Johannesburg

CANCELED
Aug. 6-8
Cowpie Music Festival (18th & Final)
Shagbark Farm, 7525 Alaska Ave. SE, Caledonia

Aug. 8
Flint Drop Fest
Buckham Alley, Flint

RESCHEDULED TO AUG. 14, 2021
Aug. 8
Phil Denny’s Armory Smooth Jazz Fete
330 Marshall, Lansing

CANCELED
Aug. 8
Walk The Beat
Various locations, Grand Haven

Aug. 13-15
Frankenmuth Summer Music Fest
Heritage Park, Frankenmuth

RESCHEDULED FROM JUNE 11-13
Aug. 13-15
Jackson Blues Festival
Jackson County Airport, Jackson

Aug. 14-15
Tie Dye Music Festival
21595 1 Mile Road, Morley

CANCELED; RETURNING AUG. 14-16, 2021
Aug. 14-16
Hoxeyville
Manistee National Forest, 11130 W 48 1/2 Road, Wellston

Aug. 14-16
Grand Marais Music & Arts Festival
Community Center, Grand Marais

RESCHEDULED TO 2021
Aug. 15
Hippie Fest
Ionia

CANCELED
Aug. 15
Sunrise Side Music Festival
Lost Lake Woods Club, Lincoln

Aug. 16-18
Sol-Fest
Village Café & Pub, Pentwater

CANCELED
Aug. 20-22
Frankenmuth Summer Music Fest (Weekend 2 canceled; Weekend 1 still on)
Heritage Park, Frankenmuth

CANCELED
Aug. 21-22
Kalamazoo Blues Festival
Homer Stryker Field, Kalamazoo

Aug. 21-23
Cosmic Knot’s Fest of All Music Celebration
Bent Arrow Deer Ranch, Holton

CANCELED
Aug. 21-23
Holler Fest
Frog Holler Farm, 11811 Beech Road, Brooklyn

CANCELED FOR 2020; RETURNING IN 2021
Aug. 21-24
Shoreline Jazz Festival
Heritage Landing, Muskegon

REPLACED BY CONCERT SERIES
Aug. 22
Walk The Beat
Various locations, Albion

CANCELED
Aug. 27-29
Sun Dried Music Festival
Courthouse Square, Mason

CANCELED
Aug. 27-30
Midland Folk Music Festival
Midland County Fairgrounds, Midland

CANCELED
Aug. 28-30
Blues By The Bay
Harbor Park, East Tawas

CANCELED
Aug. 28-30
Livelylands Music Festival
Empire

CANCELED
Aug. 28-30
Porcupine Mountains Music Festival
Winter Sports Complex, Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, Ontonogan

CANCELED
Aug. 28-30
Willowsong Music Festival
Willlowsong Farm, Sidney

CANCELED
Aug. 29
B93 Birthday Bash
Fifth Third Ballpark, Comstock Park

MOVING ONLINE
Aug. 29
Burning Foot Beer Festival
Pere Marquette Beach, Muskegon

CANCELED; RESCHEDULED TO AUG. 28, 2021
Aug. 29
Michigan MetalFest
Leila Arboretum, Battle Creek

MOVING TO ONLINE & BROADCAST OUTLETS
Sept. 4-7
Detroit Jazz Festival
Hart Plaza, Detroit

CANCELED
Sept. 4-6
Big Ticket Festival
Otsego County Fairgrounds, Gaylord

CANCELED
Sept. 4-6
Marquette Area Blues Fest
Mattson Lower Harbor Park, Marquette

CANCELED
Sept. 4-7
Arts, Eats & Beats Festival
Downtown Royal Oak, Royal Oak

Sept. 4-7
Pond Jam
12429 Miller Road, Rapid City

CANCELED
Sept. 5
Thumbfest
Various locations, Lexington

Sept. 6-7
Blue Chili Grass
Goodells Park, Goodells

Sept. 6
HarmonyFest
Main Street, Three Rivers

Sept. 11-13
Fresh Coast Campout
8513 S. Hawley Road, Branch

MOVING ONLINE (as Wheatland Worldwide)
Sept. 11-13
Wheatland Music Festival
Pierce Road & 30th Avenue, Remus

Sept. 11-13
Emerald Isle Irish Feile
Various locations, Beaver Island

RESCHEDULED FROM MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND
Sept. 11-13
Movement Music Festival
Hart Plaza, Detroit

Sept. 17-19
Michigan Bluesfest
Old Town, Lansing

CANCELED; RESCHEDULING FOR 2021
Sept. 17-20
Michigan Irish Music Festival
Heritage Landing, Muskegon

CANCELED (AFTER BEING RESCHEDULED FROM JUNE 2020)
Sept. 17-20
Cedar Polka Fest
Cedar

CANCELED
Sept. 18-19
Fallfest:  WM Bluegrass Music Association
Kent County Youth Fairgrounds, Lowell

MOVING ONLINE
Sept. 18-20
Earthwork Harvest Gathering
Mud Farm, Lake City

Sept. 25-27
Handmade Music Festival
Showboat Park, Chesaning

POSTPONED FOR 2020
Sept. 25-27
Thunder Bay Folk Festival
Alpena Antique Tractor Showgrounds, Alpena

CANCELED; NEXT DATE SEPT. 25, 2021
Sept. 26
Leelanau Uncaged
Various locations, Leelanau

Oct. 2-3
Michigan Full Moon Fest
Willow Ranch, Grand Junction

Oct. 3
BBQ, Blues and Bluegrass
Whirlpool Centennial Park, St. Joseph

 

Past Updates
June 30
Holler Fest in Brooklyn, near Jackson, was canceled today. It had been scheduled for Aug. 21-23 at Frog Holler Farm. Longtime Holler Fest emcee Johnnie Walker made the announcement via video on Facebook.

June 26
The Marshall Blues Festival has been canceled, organizers said on Facebook today. Originally planned for June 27, it had already been put off once with hopes to reschedule it. The post said the festival will return in 2021.

June 25, 2020
Hoxeyville Music Festival today announced the cancellation of the 2020 event, with plans to reschedule for Aug. 13-15, 2021. This year’s event had been planned for Aug. 14-16 at Manistee National Forest at Wellston. 

June 18, 2020
Electric Forest may have been canceled for 2020, but the Fresh Coast Campout aims to continue with “Appreciation Weekend” at Sherwood Forest on the Double JJ Ranch in Rothbury the weekend of June 26-27. The event features a number of electronic acts and DJs, including Fendz, Goodsex, Sloth, Dean Martian, Willy Wompa and more. Details here.

June 17, 2020
After initially planning to move forward as a smaller, two-day festival, Beaver Island Music Festival has reversed course and canceled its 2020 event planned for July 17-18 in northern Lake Michigan.

The Dunesville Music Festival in Interlochen has pulled the plug on its July 23-25 event in Interlochen due to health concerns and other considerations.

Marshall Bluegrass Festival announced it will continue July 19-25 at the Calhoun County Fairgrounds, though organizers are still seeking business sponsors.

June 15, 2020
Cowpie Music Festival scheduled for Aug. 6-8 on Shagbark Farm near Caledonia has been canceled for 2020.

Farmfest east of Gaylord announced that it plans to continue Aug. 6-10 with new precautions and a robust lineup of regional artists.

June 6, 2020
The Kalamazoo Blues Festival, which had been set for Aug. 21-22 at Homer Stryker Field in Kalamazoo, was canceled today.

June 3, 2020
The venerable Wheatland Music Festival near Remus is going silent, the board of directors announced today. It had been scheduled for Sept. 10-13. Plans are to bring it back for Sept. 11-13, 2021.

May 26
Ludrock, scheduled for Ludington’s Waterfront Park July 11-12, has been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Organizers say they’re postponing what would have been the 10th and final Ludrock music festival to a still-to-be-determined future date.

May 25
Catching up. Canceled recently were: Idlewild Music Festival at Ferris State University, Big Rapids; Sol of the Lost Tamarack Music Festival, Wolverine; Midwest Fest at Final Gravity Brewing in Decatur; Marquette Area Blues Fest, Sept. 4-6 in Mattson Lower Harbor Park, Marquette; the second weekend, Aug. 20-22, of the Frankenmuth Summer Music Festival at Heritage Park; Thunder Bay Folk Festival, Sept. 25-27 at the Alpena Antique Tractor Showgrounds, Alpena.

Music for the Aug. 29 Burning Foot Festival is moving from the Pere Marquette Beach in Muskegon to online.

May 21
The Faster Horses country music festival that was scheduled to take place July 17-19 outside the Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Mich., has been “rescheduled” to July 16-18, 2021. Organizers say “the lineup will remain intact,” with headliners Luke Combs, Thomas Rhett and Jason Aldean. Ticketholders will receive an email about requesting a refund, or they can keep their 2020 passes which will be honored for the 2021 event. Details here.

The news about Faster Horses came the same day that Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park announced cancellation of its 2021 concert series. A full Local Spins story online here.

May 20
The inaugural Upheaval Festival planned for Grand Rapids’ Belknap Park July 17-18 has been canceled, with plans for staging the event featuring hard rock and metal bands in 2021. Tickets purchased for this year’s event will be good for 2021; ticket buyers will receive an email on May 29 with details about refunds.

Grand Haven’s Coast Guard Festival taking place in late July and early August is being canceled due to COVID-19.

Grand Haven’s Walk the Beat festival planned for Aug. 8 on the east side of the city won’t take place because organizers felt “uncomfortable” putting volunteers and festivalgoers at risk.

The Dozynki Polish Harvest Festival planned for downtown Grand Rapids in August has been canceled due to the coronavirus crisis.

May 14
Mo Pop is canceling plans for the July 25-26 festival at Historic Fort Wayne Park in Detroit.

The Wheatland Music Organization’s board of directors announced on its Facebook page that it will meet June 2 to decide the fate of this year’s Wheatland Music Festival, set for Sept. 11-13 in Remus.

May 13
Joining the list of cancellations due to COVID-19 is the Michigan Irish Music Festival, which had been planned for Sept. 17-20 at Heritage Landing in Muskegon. All related activities are canceled as well. Organizers say they plan to bring it back for 2021 but did not release any dates.

May 10
Muskegon’s Shoreline Jazz Festival has been canceled for Aug. 21-24 at Heritage Landing in Muskegon, but plans to return in 2021.

May 9
The July 31-Aug. 1 Port Sanilac Blues Festival has been canceled, but will return Aug. 6-7, 2021 to the village on the shore of Lake Huron.

The Currents Music Festival in Milford in suburban Detroit has been canceled.

May 8
The Unity Christian Music Festival has canceled the Aug. 5-8 event at Heritage Landing in Muskegon. The new date is Aug. 11-14, 2021 — same place.

The Kalamazoo Irish Music Festival hosted by Old Dog Tavern has pulled the plug. Originally scheduled for June 19-20, it will return
June 18-19, 2021.

May 5
Jackson Bluesfest has been moved from June 11-13 to Aug. 13-15 at the Jackson County Airport.

Organizers of Baroque On Beaver, an annual celebration of the classical genre that was scheduled for Beaver Island July 24-Aug. 1, say they are making plans to move online.

May 3
The June 20 Alpena Blues Festival is being postponed; organizers are considering moving it to Sept. 19, but that is still tentative.

May 1
Buttermilk Music Festival is canceled. It had been planned for June 19-21 at the Circle Pines Center in Delton. This year’s tickets will be good for next year’s festival, June 18-20, 2021.

The Niles Family Fun Fair and Music Festival has been canceled, with hopes of returning in 2021.

April 30

FarmBlock Fest, which had been planned for July 31-Aug. 2 in the U.P. town of Allouez on the Kenweenaw Peninsula, has been canceled. However, organizers are hoping to move the festival online. 

April 29
The Sept. 26 arts and music festival Leelanau Uncaged has been caged for 2020. The one-day Up North event will return Sept. 25, 2021.

Hoodilidoo and the Michigan Peace Festival, two small music festivals in the Constantine area, have been canceled for 2020, organizer Jimmy Valentine announced.

Kalamazoo Ribfest, which had been slated to take place July 30-Aug. 1 at Arcadia Creek Festival Place in Kalamazoo, has been canceled. Organizers said they plan to return in the summer of 2021.

April 24
In the U.P., the Porcupine Mountains Music Festival has been canceled, organizers announced today. It had been set for Aug. 28-30 in the Winter Sports Complex at Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park near Ontonagon. Organizers are planning to bring the event back Aug. 27-29, 2021. The festival, which draws fans from across Michigan and northern Minnesota, is a fund-raiser for the nonprofit Friends of the Porkies.

April 22
Founders Brewing Company announced today that the June 20 Founders Fest has been canceled. It had been planned for Grandville Avenue, in front of the downtown Grand Rapids brewery. The company also laid off its 163-member staff, in Grand Rapids and in Detroit, on Wednesday.

Buses By The Beach, set for May 23-25, Memorial Day Weekend in West Olive, was canceled today. Part music festival, part celebration of the venerable Volkswagen vans popular in the mid-20th century, “Buses” is a fund-raiser for the Grand Rapids-based nonprofit Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors. Organizers say they are planning on a 2021 festival.

April 21
Madison House Presents, organizers of Electric Forest, announced today that this year’s event has been canceled, adding they are making plans to return in 2021. The West Michigan music festival attracts attendees from across the nation and is one of the biggest in Michigan. This year’s 10th anniversary event had been planned for June 25-28 at the Double JJ Ranch in Rothbury.

The Summer Solstice Jazz Festival, planned for June 19-20 in East Lansing, has been canceled, organizers announced Monday.

Also, The Dam Jam has been canceled, it was announced on Facebook earlier this month. It had been scheduled for June 26-27 in Calumet.

April 17
The Charlotte Bluegrass Festival announced this morning that this year’s festival, slated for June 25-27 at the Eaton County Fairgrounds in Charlotte, has been canceled. The festival statement indicated that organizers intend to bring it back for 2021. Refunds are available; check www.charlottebluegrassfestival.com for details.

April 16
Blissfest Executive Director Cindy McSurely and President Susan Scott announced Thursday that the 2020 music festival has been cancelled. It had been planned for July 10-12 in Harbor Springs. They said the festival will return for July 9-11, 2021.

Also Thursday, the B93 Birthday Bash has been rescheduled from June 20 to Aug. 29, the radio station announced. The day-long country music event will still be at Fifth Third Ballpark in Comstock Park.

Also canceled “with sadness” was Frederic Music Festival, which had been planned for June 26-27 in Eagle Park. The town is located between Gaylord and Grayling. 

April 15
Hiawatha Music Festival Executive Director Susan Divine announced on Wednesday that the Hiawatha Music Co-op Board of Directors has decided to cancel the festival for 2020. It had been planned for July 17-19 in Marquette. This year would have marked 42 years for the event. This is the first time it has been canceled.

April 14
Nor-East’r Music & Art Festival has pulled the plugged on its 2020 event, which had been planned for June 12-14 in Mio. The volunteer committee is looking ahead to June 11-13, 2021. This year’s tickets will be valid for next year’s event. The group is mulling ways to retain support for this year’s Guitars For Kids and scholarship programs.

April 13
The one-day Marshall Blues Festival is being postponed from June 27 to an as-yet undetermined date in August.

April 10
The Camp Greensky Music Festival, planned for June 4-6 in Wellston, is being cancelled for 2020. Organizers, including the popular band Greensky Bluegrass, said the festival will return June 3-5, 2021.

April 9
The Big Ticket Festival slated for June 25-27 in Gaylord will now be postponed to Sept. 4-6 (Labor Day weekend). Get info on the festival’s Facebook page.

Spirit of the Woods Music Association has canceled its 43rd Spirit of the Woods Folk Festival which had been scheduled to take place in Brethren on June 20. Details here.

April 7
Michigan Elvisfest has canceled the event in Belleville for this year due to coronavirus concerns. It’s tentatively rescheduled for July 9-10, 2021.

April 4
Hippie Fest will skip its May event in Kalamazoo this year, with plans to return in 2021. The Hippie Fest in Ionia in August is still on.

Editor’s note: Please use the email below to determine the status of this contest. Entries were still being accepted for the Blissfest logo contest, as of April 4. Contact sarah@blissfest.org for information. Blissfest was scheduled for July 10-12, Harbor Springs.

March 20
Buses By The Beach stated on its Facebook page today that the board will decide at its April meeting whether to move forward with the Memorial Day weekend festival in West Olive.

March 19
Movement Festival in Detroit was rescheduled from May 23-25 to Sept. 11-13.

March 17
Festival of the Arts in Grand Rapids, set for June 5-7, was canceled Tuesday. Last year, Festival celebrated its 50th anniversary.

March 16
The Thornapple Arts Council Jazz Festival in Hastings has been canceled.

St. Joseph’s BBQ, Blues & Bluegrass Festival has been rescheduled from May 16 to Oct. 3 due to the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak.

March 13
The GrandStand Music Festival, planned for April 24 at UrbanBeat in Lansing, has been canceled due to the anti-coronavirus efforts.

March 9, 2020

The Ann Arbor Blues Festival, which last year celebrated its 50th anniversary, has announced it is canceled for 2020. Organizers say they will take the time “to reassess and re-evaluate its priorities and the future.” Previous years’ merch is still available by sending an email to info@a2bluesfestival.com.

Meanwhile, the Kalamazoo Blues Festival, Aug. 21-22 at Homer Stryker Field, announced this lineup: Tomas Esparza Blues Band, Big Trouble, Hank Mowery & the Hawktones, Dwayne Dopsie, Angel Forrest, Cricket Creek, The Cannons with Annette Taborn, Crossroads the Resurrection, Kev Nichols & Blue Tuesday, The Faculty led by Dave Specter, Jake Kershaw, Lindsay Beaver, Billy Branch and Crooked Roots. Ticket information is pending.

Farm Block 13, in the bucolic Upper Peninsula town of Allouez, is revealing part of the lineup for the July 31-Aug. 2 festival: Last Gasp Collective, Earth Radio, Molly, Lalo Cura, Detroit Party Marching Band, Rachael Davis Music and Dominic Davis, Seth Bernard, Blanco Suave, John Orpheus, Turtledoves, The Go Rounds, Remnose, Joaquin Garcia, Ani and Kora, Medicinal Groove, Dig Niddy and Barbarossa Brothers.

Michigan MetalFest, set for Aug. 29 in Battle Creek, has let its lineup drop. Tickets are on sale online now.

March 3, 2020
Blissfest has a new leader. Cindy McSurely has been named executive director of the Blissfest Music Organization. She replaces Jim Gillespie, who is retiring after 40 years of founding and running the nonprofit. McSurely is leaving her post at the Crooked Tree Arts Center, which has locations in Petoskey and Traverse City. The Blissfest Music Festival is July 10-12 in Harbor Springs.

Wheatland Music Festival dropped the names of a few bands slated for the Sept. 11-13 event in Remus: Foghorn Stringband; Blue Highway; and Racines.

After wrapping up a successful event at the end of February, the Hamtramck Music Festival announced it plans to return March 4-7, 2021.

March 2, 2020
Pond Jam has set a deadline of this weekend (March 7-8) for musicians and vendors to submit applications to perform/sell at the festival in Rapid City over Labor Day weekend, Thursday, Sept. 4 through Monday, Sept. 7.

Grand Rapids Jazz Orchestra moves its big band style music south, performing at 6 p.m. Saturday, April 25 at the Hastings High School Performing Arts Center, 520 W. South St. in Hastings, as part of the Thornapple Arts Council Jazz Festival.

The lineup for the Saturday, May 16 BBQ, Blues & Bluegrass Festival at Whirlpool Centennial Park in St. Joseph includes Shemekia Copeland, Dustbowl Revival, Jake Kershaw, Old Salt Union and The Crane Wives. Tickets are $20 and available online.

Last year, the Hoodilidoo Music Festival received a gift of 10 acres for its activities. Now the festival is seeking donations for improvements. https://www.facebook.com/Michiganpeacefestival/

Can you lend a hand on Friday, June 26 and Saturday, June 27? The Frederic Music Festival is looking for volunteers. There’s a meeting for those interested at 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 11 at the Frederic Township Hall, 6470 Manistee St. in Frederic. Festival proceeds support the park where the event is located.

Michigan Bluesfest announced its return to Lansing’s Old Town on Thursday, Sept. 17 through Saturday, Sept. 19.

Leelanau Uncaged is a festival of music, art and food set for Saturday, Sept. 26 in the Up North town.

Organizers of the Cowpie Music Festival have announced that the event slated for Thursday, Aug. 6 through Saturday, Aug. 8 at Shagbark Farm in Alaska will be the “18^th and final” festival. They promise they are “reinventing how we will continue to support regional musicians in the future!”

White Birch Music Festival organizers canceled the 2020 event in Stanton, but announced plans to revive it for May 21-23, 2021.

Michigan State University students are organizing the GrandStand Music Festival in Old Town in Lansing for Saturday, April 24. The event raises awareness of human trafficking. This year’s partner organization  is The House of Promise, a Lansing non-profit that helps trafficking survivors. Festival organizers also are looking for artists to set up shop, with a March 31 deadline to apply.

The Sunrise Side Music Festival, on Saturday, Aug. 15 in Lincoln, south of Alpena, has announced a four-band lineup.

The Unity Christian Music Festival, in Muskegon from Wednesday, Aug. 5 through Saturday, Aug. 8, is celebrating its 20^th anniversary this year. For King & Country is slated to headline on Friday night, while Toby Mac was tabbed as the headliner for Saturday.

The Michigan ElvisFest, which is moving to the Wayne County Fairgrounds in Belleville for Friday and Saturday, July 10 and 11, includes artists performing in tribute to James Brown, Roy Orbison, Johnny Cash and, of course, Elvis Presley.

Jan. 23
A new heavy rock festival is coming to Grand Rapids’ Belknap Park, backed by producers from Lansing and Wisconsin: Upheaval Festival is planned for July 17-18.

Shagbark Farm in Caledonia will host a new festival called Gather To Bloom July 16-19.

Jan. 1
Michigan’s 2020 festival season gets started Jan. 11 indoors at The Intersection in Grand Rapids, with the Winter Wheat Music Festival, presented by the Wheatland Music Association. Count ’em, 12 hours of folk. bluegrass and Americana music on two stages. Find tickets, hotel arrangements online. 

Apply online now to play on stage at Grand Rapids’ Festival of the Arts, June 5-7. The deadline is Feb. 15.

White Birch Music Festival, May 15-17, Stanton, has opened sign up for vendors, and plans to improve activities for children, beef up workshop offerings and add more camp hosts, according to a post on Facebook. “Major announcements” are promised in January.

Volunteers with the Dunesville Music Festival Street Team can earn free admission and camping for the festival, July 24-29 in Lake Ann. Apply here. Or buy tickets starting Jan. 1.

Trombonist Aubrey Logan, with special guests Thornapple Jazz Orchestra, headlines the Thornapple Arts Council Jazz Festival on April 23 in Hastings. The multi-day, multi-venue festival is equal parts jazz performances and educational experiences for music students, from middle school through adults.

Madison House and the Village of Rothbury have agreed to terms that allow Electric Forest (which sold out within an hour in early December) to continue at the Double JJ Ranch for the next decade, according to the Oceana County Herald. The village’s share of the price of each ticket will gradually increase from $6 to $7.50, the newspaper reported. 2030, here we come.

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