Interlochen isn’t alone when it comes to ‘Up North’ concerts. Several destinations heat up stages with national & regional stars, from The War & Treaty and Amy Grant to Seth Bernard. Schedules at Local Spins.
Picturesque Concert Settings: The Music on the Mountain series is just one of several northern Michigan venues in scenic spots. (Courtesy Photo)
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A number of venues in northwestern Lower Michigan are bringing national talent to their stages this summer.
From antique barns to sunset overlooks and state-of-the-art facilities, these shows will include blues and bluegrass, roots rock and progressive rock, pop, jazz and more.
LAVENDER HILL FARM, BOYNE CITY
Summer Series: The stage at Lavender Hill (Courtesy Photo)
Lavender Hill Farm in Boyne City is a true working farm, growing 30 different varieties of lavender, from A (Ana Luisa) to V (Violet Intrigue). Its claim to musical fame stems from the performances it hosts in its historic barn, which has been restored and reconfigured as an event venue, complete with theater seating, professional lighting and sound, and an intimate stage.
Patrons can also opt for lawn seating, though lawn seats do not include direct view or access to the Events Barn during the main stage performance. New this year will be a real-time audio and video feed of the main stage performance, displayed on a screen in the outdoor amphitheater.
THE 2026 LAVENDER HILL CONCERT SCHEDULE
June 20 – Willow Avalon
June 27 – Lemon Squeezy
July 7 – 1964 The Tribute
July 8 – 1964 The Tribute
July 18 – Bobby Alu
July 24 – Unspoken Tradition
Aug. 7 – Lavender Goes Pink With Thornetta Davis
Aug. 15 – West Texas Exiles
Aug. 22 – Damn Tall Buildings
Sept. 5 – Horton Creek Bluegrass
Sept. 19 – Sionainn Laoi For The Boyne Heritage Center
The farm’s Local Ground series features local and regional artists, who perform in the outdoor amphitheater. Ticket holders enjoy these preshow performances before main stage concerts, while visitors during Lavender Fest Fridays and Fall Festival experience live music during their time on the farm.
THE LOCAL GROUND SERIES
June 20 – I.Am.James
June 27 – Owen James
July 3 – Ricky Hill
July 7,8 – Ryan Cassidy
July 11 – Alex Teller
July 18 – David Lawston
July 24 – Two Track Mind
July 10 – Owen James
July 31 – Nick Visconti
Aug. 7 – Robin Lee Berry
Aug. 15 – Denning & Johnson
Sept. 5 – Steel & Wood
GREAT LAKES CENTER FOR THE ARTS, BAY HARBOR
Chris Botti (Courtesy Photo)
Great Lakes Center for the Arts in the tony enclave of Bay Harbor south of Petoskey features a diverse slate of artists year-round. Among the highlight shows are trumpeter Chris Botti, who played at the venue in 2022 and 2024, singer-songwriter Amy Grant and Michigan’s own, award-winning, soulful Americana band The War and Treaty.
Both Great Lakes Center for the Arts and The Homestead are welcoming Alan Hewitt and One Nation. Hewitt was the longtime keyboardist and musical director for the Moody Blues and subsequently for the band’s bassist and co-lead vocalist, John Lodge. Hewitt is a native of Petoskey, and guitarists Jake Allen and Duffy King are originally from northern Michigan as well. The band’s original music treads the line between progressive rock and jazz fusion.
May 24 – The Hit Men, music of Foreigner, Cheap Trick, Wings, more
May 29 – Marah Graham Tribute, Crooked Tree Art Center School of Ballet
June 13 – Alan Hewitt & One Nation
June 20 – From Boston to Bay Harbor: A Night at the Ballet
June 30–July 2 – Almost Heaven: John Denver’s America Musical Revue
July 5 – Take 6
July 7 – Westhuizen Piano Duo
July 11 – David Foster & Katharine McPhee
July 18 – Comic Zoltan Kaszas
July 21 – The Barricade Boys Broadway Revue
July 25 – Chris Botti
July 29 & 30 – Bay View Music Festival presents Mozart’s Don Giovanni
July 31 – The War & Treaty
Aug. 13 – Amy Grant
Sept. 5-6, 11-13 – Broadway Musical Come From Away
Sept. 20 – Yacht Rock Revue Primetime
Sept. 25 – Alex Lambert
MUSIC ON THE MOUNTAIN @ THE HOMESTEAD, GLEN ARBOR
Jabo Bihlman (Courtesy Photo)
Last year saw the revival of the music series that takes place at the top of the Glen Arbor resort’s ski hill, overlooking the Manitou islands and sunsets over Lake Michigan. The series has expanded from six shows to eight and has moved from Thursdays to Wednesdays, giving vacationers, residents and locals an opportunity to hear world-class music in the middle of the week.
Three of this year’s shows feature returning favorites from last year: Jabo Bihlman’s blues rock, the easy jazz and pop sounds of East Bay Drive with guest vocalist Miriam Pico, and the contemporary jazz-with-twang of guitarist Joe Taylor, with his trio of veteran NYC veterans. Taylor and his band made their Michigan debut at Music On The Mountain last year.
Returning for the first time since playing the debut season of Music On The Mountain is the rootsy Americana sounds of Blue Water Ramblers. The band played at The Homestead in 2015. Tickets for Music On The Mountain will be available through Ticket Tailor (tickettailor.com).
June 17 – Alan Hewitt
July 1 – Kevin DiSimone/Hilary James
July 8 – Blue Water Ramblers
July 22 – Cat Daddy with Randy Marsh
Aug. 5 – Jabo Bihlman
Aug. 12 – Seth Bernard
Aug. 19 – Joe Taylor
Sept. 9 – East Bay Drive with Miriam Pico
BAY VIEW ASSOCIATION, PETOSKEY
Straight No Chaser (Courtesy Photo)
June 14 – Free For All
June 21 – Take 5
June 28 – From Broadway to Carnegie Hall
July 2 – Straight No Chaser
Jully 5 – Linus and Lucy: Famous Duos
July 12 – Lean On Me
July 18 – Boogie Wonder Band
July 19 – Award-Winning Shows And Songs
July 26 – You’ve Got A Friend (In Me)
Aug. 2 – We Shall Overcome: Music Of Civil Rights
Aug. 9 – Grand Finale
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