Uncle Sam Jam, East Lansing Summer Solstice Jazz Festival and LBMA Fest are also part of this week’s festival roundup, presented on Memorial Day — the unofficial kickoff to summer.
Island Music: Beaver Island’s festival is just one of many heating up summer 2023. (Photo/This Is A Good Sign)
Memorial Day signals the unofficial start to the summer music festival season, with Festival of the Arts rolling out on several stages in downtown Grand Rapids next weekend.
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But there’s plenty more where that came from, and lineup announcements for other summer music festivals continue to flood the Local Spins inbox. Here are updates for several Michigan festivals. Find more festival updates and listings in our Michigan Music Festivals 2023 guide.
JUNE
616 DAY FESTIVAL (June 16 at Rosa Parks Circle in downtown Grand Rapids) – Billed as “a celebration of all things Grand Rapids,” the Magic 104.9-sponsored event taking place from noon to 8 p.m. will feature live performances, vendors, a fashion show, raffles, a poetry slam, selfie booth, beer and wine tasting, bounce houses, an art exhibition, games and more. Learn more here.
Major Murphy (Photo/Kendra Petersen-Kamp)
SPIRIT OF THE WOODS FOLK FESTIVAL (June 17 at Dickson Township Park in Brethren) – The iconic name on the bill is Peter Yarrow, of folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary, who will perform at 3:30 p.m., but K. Jones & The Benzie Playboys, Hearth & Hymn, Tula Skylark, Major Murphy, Samuel Nalangira Band and The Sapsucker will also play this year’s Spirit of the Woods Folk Festival. Admission is free. Get details online here.
FREDERIC MUSIC FESTIVAL (June 23-24 at Eagle Park in Frederic Township) – Limelight, Second Hand, Spencer Opperman and Roswell play Frederic Music Festival on Friday, with Hey Cuz, The Offbeat, JD&B Band, Freedom and Nick & Todd Play Songs on Saturday. The festival, returning for the first time in three years, also features a craft show. Get details at fredericmusicfest.org.
LBMA FEST (June 24 at Pine Grove Park in Port Huron) – Porn Cursive, Mercury Salad, Kate Hinote Trio, The Eclectic Ben Traverse, Daniel the Lion and Yeddie will perform at June’s LBMA Fest in Port Huron, hosted by the Lake Bonisteel Music Association. The free event also features an instrument petting zoo, children’s crafts, and local artisan and food vendors. More details here.
EAST LANSING SUMMER SOLSTICE JAZZ FESTIVAL (June 23-24 in downtown Lansing) – The 27th annual is being held once again “in the heart of downtown East Lansing,” with lineup announced soon. Learn more online at eljazzfest.com.
JULY
The American Hotel System (Photo/Chelsea Whitaker)
BEAVER ISLAND MUSIC FESTIVAL (July 19-23 on Beaver Island) – The Beaver Island Music Festival has revealed its schedule of performances for the weekend, with Lynn & The Moonshine Runners playing the pre-show of sorts on Wednesday (July 19), and the full schedule ramping up on Thursday with the likes of Aqua Cherry, American Hotel System, Adrian + Meredith, The Rubies, The Fabulous Vans and more. Friday features The Plate Scrapers, Good Morning Bedlam, Rags & Riches, The Orbitsuns and others, with Sponge playing midnight Saturday after numerous sets all day long (starting with Dave Boutette & Kristi Davis at the 9:30 a.m. “Breakfast Club”). View the entire schedule and get other details online at bimf.net.
UNCLE SAM JAM (July 6-9 at Civic Center Park in Woodhaven) – The Prince Project and Dave Hamilton Band will kick off this festival on Thursday (July 6), with Fresh Horses and Last Stand closing things out on Sunday (July 9). The festival earlier had announced Jackyl, Buckcherry, Let It Ride and Van Go Go for Friday, with Everclear, Sponge, Once Upon a Bison and Wisteria on Saturday. The festival also features a midway, monster truck rides, petting zoo, cornhole tournaments, classic car show and fireworks. More online at unclesamjamfest.com.
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