Oscoda County Fairgrounds will light up with dozens of performances on three stages this coming weekend, spotlighting a bevy of regional acts. The preview and schedule at Local Spins.
Main Stage Marvels: Annie and Rod Capps return for this year’s Nor-East’r. (Courtesy Photo)
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Nor-East’r Music and Art Festival is returning to Northeast Michigan for its 21st year.
Taking place at Oscoda County Fairgrounds Friday-Sunday (June 13-15), the musical lineup features acts such as Amy Petty, Dave Boutette & Kristi Lynn Davis, Erin Zindle & the Ragbirds, Jill Jack, Kyle Joe, Carolyn Striho and Scott Dailey, along with numerous other performers.
For Jenn Cass, who will perform sets with The Lucky Nows and The Songs of Darkness & Light, the festival feels like returning home.
“Nor-East’r is basically a giant homecoming for all of the acoustic artists in Michigan. There are artists that play almost every single year, and then there are artists that rotate out. And so every couple of years, it’s a different cast of characters,” says Cass.
“It’s always people that you love seeing and that you’ve seen for years and years. We get
together and we get to support each other and see each other’s music and spend time around
campfires, playing our new songs for each other.”
A Nor-East’r Staple: Jill Jack (Courtesy Photo)
Nestled in the picturesque countryside north of Mio, the festival grounds will soon reverberate
with song and flock with eager attendees.
Adult day passes are $35 in advance; weekend tickets (including camping) are $65 in
advance. Tickets at the gate are $45 for a day pass and $95 for a weekend pass. Tickets for
children 13-17 years-old are $5 and children 12 years-old or under are free. Get tickets online here.
“It really is about creating a space for something that brings joy to people in a time that joy can sometimes be hard to come across,” says organizer and musician Eric Janetsky.
“It’s all-inclusive. When you enter the festival, politics don’t matter, religion doesn’t matter, sexual orientation doesn’t matter, age doesn’t matter. We’re all there for the same reason and that’s for the music. I look forward to that every year because that’s something that we can give back: three days where people come and forget about their troubles.”
Janetsky lauded the family-friendly environment the festival upholds, mentioning there are many workshops and activities geared toward children.
THREE STAGES AND AN ‘ALMOST ETHEREAL’ EXPERIENCE
Over the weekend, musical performances will take place across three stages, each distinct in
their own characteristics, and within a short walk of each other.
The main stage, which is fully amplified and illuminated, is slated for a number of full-band
performances. The Parlour Stage offers a laid-back atmosphere seating, giving festival-goers
the chance to sit back and enjoy a beverage or a bite, all while taking in the sights and sounds
around them.
Then there’s the Schoolhouse Stage, where musicians perform unamplified in the intimate
setting of a single-room schoolhouse. A jam tent is also on site, with an open call to musicians looking to drop in with their instruments.
The Festival Site: ‘Surrounded by joy.’ (Courtesy Photo)
For Detroit songwriter Jill Jack, Nor-East’r is a chance to reunite with her fellow artists and
engage with fans in a personal way.
“It’s almost ethereal. You know, you’re with your fellow musicians for three days,” she says. “You’re with fans who adore music for three days. You’re just surrounded by joy. And I think in the world we live in, we have to really, really respect and protect those places that bring us that ethereal joy.
“I think the only downside of the festival is having to leave to go home,” adds Jack, who performs throughout the weekend with her band at each of the three stages.
In addition to a weekend full of live sets from dozens of regional artists, a plethora of workshops will be facilitated over the three-day event. Those include book binding, drumming,
didgeridoo and spa and wellness.
The festival site is 186 miles (or about 2 hours and 50 minutes) northeast of Grand Rapids and about the same distance north of Detroit, and 236 miles (3 hours and 40 minutes) northeast of Kalamazoo.
NOR-EAST’R: THE 2025 SCHEDULE
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