Michigan’s Top 10 (& More) Concerts and Festivals for August 2026: The Local Spins List

Local Spins publisher John Sinkevics rounded up his Top 10 concerts and festivals for August 2026 for WOOD TV8’s “EightWest” this week. Check out the list below.

1/ Ionia Freak Fair – Billy Strings’ first-ever hometown fest rolls out at Ionia County Fairgrounds Aug. 28-29 w/ Billy Strings, Greensky Bluegrass, Sierra Hull, Leftover Salmon, Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper, Lindsay Lou, Full Cord plus a Pyramid Scheme Pinball & Metal Tent w/ Crytopsy, Bane, For the Fallen Dreams, Flesh & Blood Robot, See You Next Tuesday, Heartsick. (Greensky Bluegrass also plays GLC Live 8/27)
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwnJJZ1kGjU
Website: https://www.ioniafreakfair.com/

2/ Hilary Duff at Acrisure Amphitheater (Aug. 16) – The only bona fide sellout amid all the big names on Acrisure’s August schedule, this bubblegum/teen pop idol had her biggest success 2003-2007, but did release an album earlier this year: “Luck or Something.” Obviously, lots of Millennials who grew up with her music will be on hand. She also plays Pine Knob the day before.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Akkzj5p3a3E

3/ Breakaway Music Festival at Belknap Park (Aug. 14-15) – This electronic music extravaganza returns to Grand Rapids w/ big EDM names Canabliss, Fisher, Daniel Allen, D.O.D., Dr. Fresch, Subtronics and local DJs Bluejay, Lowke, Riink and others.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCfzDaQIcJo&t=31s
Website: https://www.breakawayfestival.com/festival/michigan-2026

4/ Myles Smith at Meijer Gardens (Aug. 28) – One of the first concert sellouts when tickets for the MG series first went on sale. The British folk-pop artist, 28, hit it big w/ 2024’s “Stargazing” & “Nice to Meet You.” He just released his full-length debut album.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYx8RnyiN8Q

5/ Hanson at Warner Vineyards in Paw Paw (Aug. 12) – Speaking of pop nostalgia, Hanson makes a Michigan tour stop in Paw Paw as part of the “Special Shows 2026” tour: “Intimate, stand-alone concert stops w/ acoustic medleys & career-spanning” sets
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhf3kHeKwMw

6/ Other Big Acrisure Concerts – Goo Goo Dolls (Tuesday), Hank Williams Jr. (Aug. 14), Five Finger Death Punch (Aug. 15), Lindsey Stirling (Aug. 21), Thomas Rhett (Aug. 22), Brandi Carlile (Aug. 23), Tedeschi Trucks Band/Alabama Shakes (Aug. 25), Kesha (Aug. 26), Mötley Crüe (Aug. 27), TOTO (Aug. 28), Tim McGraw (Aug. 29), Josh Groban (8/30)
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RoSVVpv1KI
Video: Kesha – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oA-Y6WuC3wk
Video: Goo Goo Dolls – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Na4hhckdzE

7/ Other Meijer Gardens Shows – Umphrey’s McGee/Moe (Aug. 12), Mat Kearney (Aug. 13), Bruce Hornsby (Aug. 16), ZZ Top (Aug. 26)
Video (Umphrey’s McGee): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29EnC-y2dcM

8/ Walk the Beat Fest in Grand Haven (Saturday) – This unusual festival on the city’s east side has become a popular affair. 50 diverse Michigan acts on 25 different stages set up at shops up & down Beechtree Corridor, w/ fans “walking the beat” voting for their favorites. Winner gets a recording studio package and a 2027 Coast Guard Festival gig.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8ZMWGkN0jk
Local Spins story: https://localspins.com/grand-havens-walk-the-beat-set-to-roll-out-again-as-50-band-street-party-local-spins/

9/ Return to the River Festival – This free, walkable festival along the Grand River in Grand Rapids’ Monroe North District Aug. 22-23 features lives music, children’s and family activities, and really boosts businesses along the Monroe corridor.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ug5wxNqtkpU

10/ HeartsTown Festival at HeartsTown Ranch in Homer, Mich. (Aug. 22) – It’s hosted by Michigan’s own The War & Treaty, which purchased property in Homer near Albion and are sponsoring their first-ever music festival on the property with Abigail Stauffer, The Gasoline Gypsies, DuPont Phillips, Blank Page, Brittney Spencer and more. The War and Treaty’s soulful Americana music has turned them into global stars, but they love Michigan where their career began and where Local Spins was the first publication to feature them.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYrx6UwtdpU
Website: https://www.hearts-town.com/

View a complete Michigan music festivals guide online here and check out August concerts at venues across the region in the Local Spins Concert Calendar.

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