The Michigan-centric celebration unfolds outside Trufant again this weekend with performances by May Erlewine, Laith Al-Saadi, Nathan Walton, Lady Ace Boogie & more.
Acres of Smiles, Hugs & Music: The festival returns this weekend. (Photo/Chelsea Whitaker)
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It’s described as “a three-day extravaganza of music, cuisine, art, camping and camaradarie.”
It’s also a showcase of regional music from Michigan favorites such as blues-rocker Laith Al-Saadi and folk-driven tunesmith May Erlewine to the rollicking, country-blues romp of Indiana’s Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band and many more.
Debuting in 2021, the Michigan festival outside Trufant, Mich., has quickly become a preferred destination for area bands and solo artists, not to mention a growing legion of attendees.
Check out the details and ticket links below, along with Local Spins writer Enrique Olmos’ Top 5 picks for must-see performances this weekend.
Smiling Acres (Photo/Anna Sink)
SMILING ACRES MUSIC FESTIVAL ESSENTIALS
WHEN: June 28-30
WHERE: 3060 N. Johnson Rd., Trufant, Mich., 49347
WEBSITE: https://smilingacresfestival.com/
THE DRIVE: 36 miles (50 minutes) northeast of Grand Rapids
86 miles (1 hour, 25 minutes) northeast of Kalamazoo
170 miles (3 hours) northwest of Detroit
77 miles (1 hour, 30 minutes) northwest of Lansing
124 miles (2 hours) south of Traverse City
THE LINEUP: The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band, May Erlewine, Smiling Acres Bluegrass Band, Laith Al-Saadi, Lady Ace Boogie, Patty PerShayla & The Mayhaps, Hannah Rose Graves, Beth Bombara and more. Get the full performance lineup and schedule online here.
WEATHER FORECAST (as of June 26):
Friday – High of 79 degrees, cloudy with a chance of an afternoon thunderstorm
Saturday – High of 84 degrees, cloudy, breezy and humid
Sunday – High of 69, sunny and less humid
TICKETS: $95 weekend adults (with camping), $25 children 6-12 (with camping; age 5 and under free); $45 adult day pass. Get tickets here.
MUST-SEE PICKS
• Nathan Walton & the Remedy – Friday, 9 p.m. on the Main Stage — Fueled by the soulful vocals and buzzing guitar handywork of Nathan Walton, this stage-sprawling collective strikes like lightning.
Listen/Watch: https://youtu.be/bdXkZcQWxdM?si=y7GMhOMt1O9ePgfD
Laith Al-Saadi (Photo/Derek Ketchum)
• Hearth and Hymn – Friday, 5 p.m. on the Main Stage — The arrestingly beautiful duo of Samantha Cooper and Elisabeth Pixley-Fink creates a spellbinding exchange of timeless harmonies used to spin modern tales.
Listen/Watch: https://youtu.be/F9Co9CtULFA?si=ffSf2JrLyvnvbEhW
• Laith Al-Saadi – Saturday, 10:20 p.m. on the Main Stage — An axe-wielding, string-bending wizard of the road, Laith Al-Saadi is a captivating, amplified display of dexterity and grit.
Listen/Watch: https://youtu.be/TxfhRyiOlXM?si=iCUMQgt0wYolMXNY
• i.am.james – Saturday, 2:20 p.m. on the Main Stage — Combining elements of modern folk with contemporary pop, i.am.james distills her stories of traveling and wandering into audible snapshots of our current era.
Listen/Watch: https://youtu.be/rNCS2nU6MEc?si=p-iTOx1Iifs3P-ud
• Lady Ace Boogie – Friday, 7:40 p.m. on the Main Stage — Hot hooks, heavy hitting verses and booming beats, hip hop’s Lady Ace Boogie ignites the spirit and fills the dance floor.
Listen/Watch: https://youtu.be/yJpZeHygQb4?si=tp00bfVMBokha1W0
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