From Billy Strings’ surprise GR appearances with Phish and Greensky Bluegrass to memorable festival sets, it was a summer for the record books. Check out staff and reader picks from an unforgettable season.
Summer Highlight: Billy Strings jamming with Greensky Bluegrass and, later, Phish, proved to be among the season’s top shows. (Photo/Steve Baran)
Selecting the best concerts in any summer comes down to the arbitrary — the shows one just happened to see, the individual tastes of attendees, the right atmosphere and venue, the weather, the camaraderie of those on hand.
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So, to gauge the best Michigan concerts or festival sets of the summer of 2024 we figured it was best to get a sampling from different quarters, from Local Spins photographers and writers who covered dozens of performances throughout the season and from fans who crisscrossed the state to catch their favorite acts.
Their takes covered the gamut in terms of bands, styles and performance sites, though there were some common picks when it came to summer highlights, specifically bluegrass guitar phenom Billy Strings joining Phish on stage for two nights in a row at Grand Rapids’ Van Andel Arena just several weeks after he served as guest star for Greensky Bluegrass at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park.
Other music fans reveled in the flurry of music festivals that heated up the entire summer, from Blissfest to Shagbark Music & Arts Festival to Nor-East’r Music & Art Festival.
My Morning Jacket: Their Meijer Gardens debut was a big hit. (Photo/Chelsea Whitaker)
As for my picks? It’s hard to top My Morning Jacket’s debut appearance at Meijer Gardens this summer — an incredible display of mesmerizing atmospheric power and virtuosic rock jamming. But Billy Strings joining pals Greensky Bluegrass on the Meijer Gardens stage and Grace Potter’s return to that same amphitheater were darned close to No. 1.
Festival-wise, it’s also hard to beat the spectacle of Electric Forest or the immense female-powered talent on display at Hasting’s 2024 Fair Ground Festival (especially rocker Hannah Wicklund and The War and Treaty). And of course, in biased fashion, I’d have to say that Local Spins Fest’s May 18 celebration at Studio Park with stellar sets by Nathan Walton & The Remedy, Elijah Russ Collective and Short Panic — along with a couple of youth bands — may have been the best summer kickoff ever.
Ok, enough about that. Here are the Local Spins staff picks, with reader favorites below. Enjoy.
Cage the Elephant (Photo/Chelsea Whitaker)
CHELSEA WHITAKER (Local Spins photographer) – Cage The Elephant, Aug. 16 at Van Andel Arena: This was a bucket list show for me, having first seen them on this stage, opening for the Black Keys in 2015. I feel like this set are some of the best photos I’ve taken, to date. Oh, and obviously they put on a hell of a show. (Honorable Mention: Bilmuri on Aug. 18 at St. Andrew’s Hall in Detroit. The way the crowd hog-snorted in unison during “Better Hell” was insane. Also, some of the most fun energy, on-stage and in the crowd.) Local Spins’ Cage the Elephant show review and photos here.
TRICIA BOOT WOOLFENDEN (Local Spins writer) – My Morning Jacket, July 1, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park: This highly anticipated, psychedelic jam was one big eardrum-throttling, face-numbing holiday of lights, musicality and vibes. Runners-up: Dead-lock tie between Black Pumas (June 23) and Orville Peck (June 5), both at Meijer Gardens.
Chappell Roan (Photo/Derek Ketchum)
DEREK KETCHUM (Local Spins photographer) – Tied for first are two very different shows. Chappell Roan on June 1 at the Kalamazoo State Theatre was pretty epic. With the whole crowd on their feet singing every word and dancing along, I was imagining what her festival sets had to be like, and from what I saw in the clips from Lollapalooza, the energy at State Theatre was equal to that. My other choice for top show of the summer was Night 1 of Phish at Van Andel Arena with Billy Strings sitting in for nearly half of the night. That show was also my first Phish show. The festival atmosphere outside of Van Andel and epic pre-parties and late-night afters at all the surrounding venues added to that feeling. After those two shows, the legendary Alice Cooper at Wings Event Center. Listening to that show and seeing him move around that stage one would never guess he is in his mid-70s. (Best concerts of the summer is such a hard question to answer at the end of what has been the busiest summer of live music since before the pandemic.)
Orville Peck (Photo/Chelsea Whitaker)
HOLLY HOLTZCLAW (Local Spins writer) – Orville Peck, June 5, Meijer Gardens: I love how Orville Peck brings something truly unique to today’s country scene and I was so impressed by how perfectly his live performance captured the feel of his recorded music. The crowd’s energy, Orville’s interactions with the audience, and his stunning vocal performance are just a few things that made this show stand out. (Honorable Mention: The All American Funk Parade at Blissfest, July 14. It’s nearly impossible to pick a favorite set from my favorite festival, but closing down the festival on Sunday night with the Funk Parade was definitely a highlight. It’s not always easy to conjure up the energy to party on night 3 of a busy festival weekend, but The Funk Parade’s showmanship and wacky, creative mashups made it possible.) Check out Local Spins’ review of Orville Peck’s concert here.
JAMIE GEYSBEEK (Local Spins photographer) – Sarah Jarosz, July 11 at Bell’s Brewery Beer Garden: As a longtime fan of Sarah’s, it was fun to see her blow away newcomers at this show, with her uniquely folk-Americana-branded vocals and virtuosic guitar playing. Her band was incredible as well, and the train rolling through behind the venue added to the experience. (Runner-Up: Gin Blossoms, Toad the Wet Sprocket and Vertical Horizon on Aug. 5 at Meijer Gardens. This concert covered a wide swath of ’90s alt-rock nostalgia, featuring bands that hit their peaks at different points throughout the decade. I was most familiar with Vertical Horizon, and they did not disappoint.)
Sarah Jarosz (Photo/Jamie Geysbeek)
ROSS BOISSONEAU (Local Spins writer) – Tower of Power, June 12, Meijer Gardens: Standard-bearers for horn-fueled soul and funk for more than a half-century, TOP still brings it every night. The audience responded to the band’s energy (remember, these guys are mostly 60- and 70-plus), and the concluding “Souled Out” had the entire crowd on its feet and dancing. (Runner-up: Lake Street Dive, July 10, Interlochen Center for the Arts)
ANNA SINK (Local Spins photographer) – Billy Strings and Greensky Bluegrass, June 9, Meijer Gardens: It was the beginning of summer and still I think about this show. It was basically an extension of vintage Hoxeyville Music Festival energy and came after the spring Hoxey festival, so many of the people there went to Hoxey, too. Not only did it feel so good and homey to have Greensky play one of the first Meijer Gardens shows of the summer, but having Billy there and Brian Oberlin (from Full Cord), too, made it feel like a family reunion. It was like they almost knew it was gonna be (the August) Hoxeyville’s last year, so they wanted to give fans the old Hoxey experience one more time. I felt like everyone there was on the same page as far as emotions. It was like the epitome of hometown Michigan music magic, both on stage and within the audience.
CASSANDRA KIPP (Local Spins writer) – The Sexy Toxins, June 8, for Kalamazoo Pride 2024 at Kalamazoo’s Arcadia Festival Place: The sleaze and silly sexy energy was kinetic, with a lead into the schlock role and an incredible backing band. Second favorite: Kurt Vile on June 27 at Bell’s Brewery, full of passionate fans and his compelling style and inspirations.
BEST SUMMER 2024 CONCERTS: THE READERS’ PICKS
Mike Rios – My favorite show was Upheaval Festival 2024 at Belknap Park.
Trae Brockett – Spring Hoxey and Smiling Acres Music Festival Year 4 were incredible!
Carol Watkins – Nathan Walton and the Remedy at Meijer Gardens. It was awesome!
Steve Boersma – Local: Tower of Power @ FMG. Best? Revivalists at Red Rocks. Location helped that one a bit!
Upheaval Festival (Photo/Anthony Norkus)
Sean E. Miller – Levitator in the Charlevoix Live on the Lake series with visuals by Matthew Stafford. Also, the Rebel Eves at Blissfest.
Nicole LaRae – Yussef Dayes at Bell’s Beer Garden.
Scott Pellegrom – Blissfest Music Organization
Isaac Powrie – Tie between Night 2 of Phish at Deer Creek and King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard last night. Honorable mention to The Disco Biscuits.
Michael Feddema – Pajamas at Shagbark (Music & Arts Festival) was a dance party!
Naomi Howard – I’m going with Third Eye Blind at Pine Knob because that was like my 25-year reunion with them and it was slightly emotional. Lamb of God was also pretty good.
Randy Scott Marsh – Kurt Elling / Charlie Hunter’s music project “Super Blue” at The Alluvion.
Brian Haik – Warren Haynes at Meijer Gardens.
Jeff Neill – Scott Pellegrom at Pond Jam.
Jay Jylkka – Nor-East’r Music & Art Festival was pretty dang special.
Steve Damstra – Little Feat’s newer guitar player was nothing short of fabulous!
Daniel W Dawe -Seeing the Jayhawks at The Acorn (in Three Oaks) was something special.
Dan Lynn -The only, and therefore best music I saw this summer was JD Jones and Organtric at the The Book Nook & Java Shop.
Black Pumas (Photo/Derek Ketchum)
Holly Sillman Martin – Black Pumas at Meijer Gardens.
Don Keegan – Foo Fighters in Denver (Empower Field).
Mike Dodge – Steve Hackett @ State Theater.
Steve Talaga – Robert Glasper at (GLC Live at) 20 Monroe.
Karin Avery – Myron Elkins
Michael Van Denend – Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews & Orleans Avenue at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. Incredible stamina and artistry.
John Bruni – Kurt Vile @ Bell’s Brewery Beer Garden.
Justin Stover – Old 97s at that basement venue on Intersection that sounds like a youth group.
Andrew Ogrodzinski – Buddy Guy at State Theatre in what will probably be his last time playing in Michigan. History and legend. Amazing that at 87 he still has “it.” Playing and singing very much on point. A master class in showmanship.
David Ellyatt – The best show of the summer was actually inside. Stephen Wilson Jr.’s epic two-and-a-half set at the Intersection was phenomenal. It was one of those nights when the artist was just genuinely happy to be playing and sharing his songs and their stories.
Rene Nicholas – Greta Van Fleet at the Innings Festival, Tempe, AZ.
Jerry Kolb – Jason Isbell at White River in Indy.
John J R Robinson – Lots of fantastic shows to choose from. For me, it was Phish wsg Billy Strings.
Tom Ledermann – Molly Tuttle and Golden Highway at Meijer Gardens, Grand Rapids. Oh, and Willi Carlisle and Anna Tivel at Lager House, Detroit. Oh, and Katie Pruitt at The Ark – Ann Arbor.
The War and Treaty at Fair Ground Festival (Photo/Holly Holtzclaw)
Cyndi Stebbins – Tie between The War & Treaty @ The Fair Ground Festival in Hastings & Nathan Walton and the Remedy @ Meijer Gardens.
Sally Kikkert – Jeremy Clyde and Albert Lee at “Space” in Evanston. Runner up; “Mulebone” at Lakeview summer concerts in the park.
Mark Newman – Deep Purple at Michigan Lottery Amphitheater in Sterling Heights; fourth time seeing the band and the best. Bands half their age could take lessons from their energetic performance. New guitarist Simon McBride seems to have reinvigorated mainstays Ian Gillan, Roger Glover, Ian Paice, and Don Airey. Terrific show (and they were headlining over Yes).
Kyle Brown – That’s a tough one, I saw a lot of great performances this summer. But Graham Nash and his band at the Kalamazoo State Theatre blew me away.
Greg Baxter – Dead & Company at the Sphere, Las Vegas.
Corina Van Duinen – Leslie Odom Jr. & Molly were an amazing pair @ Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park.
Patty Williams – Sounds of Summer, Williamson Branch
Dan Hildebrandt – It’s a toss-up between Blues Traveler at Frederik Meijer Gardens and Flexadecibel at POND JAM 2024.
Tedeschi Trucks Band (Photo/Derek Ketchum)
Chris Carr – Tedeschi Trucks Band at Wings Stadium. Close second is Phish w/ Billy Strings
Carmen Sluiter – My Morning Jacket at FMG and Phish w/ Billy strings
Rob Warmels – Chicago and EWF at Pine Knob
John Zysk – John Waite, Styx and Foreigner. Four hours and fifteen minutes of rock and roll. Foreigner killed it
Rich Emerson – Beaver Island Music Festival
Martin E. Hannah – Tedeschi Trucks Band!
Andy Travis – Toss up between: 1) KURT ROSENWINKEL TRIO (Gretchen C. Valade Center for Jazz, Wayne State University) during the 2024 Detroit Jazz Festival (two nights ago). Jazz, and/or guitar playing, does not get better. Hands-down, Kurt displayed the most spectacular playing by a guitarist i have ever seen, not counting Russell Malone (R.I.P.). 2) ROBERT GLASPER BAND (20 Monroe GLC) in Grand Rapids MI last month. Improvised medley of unrelated songs with Robert blessing the crowd vocally with “It Is Well With My Soul” in the middle. 3) THE INFAMOUS STRINGDUSTERS (Hoxeyville, MI) live at Hoxey Spring ’24, Friday night. Andy Hall is a Dobro God, and their cover game is quite strong. Highlight: their blistering and grassy take on Bob Weir’s “Jack Straw.” 4) THE COWPOKES (East Nashville, TN) during one of the last Two Step Tuesdays at The Legion Post 82, Galatin TN. Yes, it’s when & where I met Shaboozey. The Cowpokes go hard! 5) Honorable Mention: “The Vibraphone Summit” which was a stellar rhythm section of internet legend Peter Martin (piano), young phenom Brandon Rose (bass), &master drummer Carl Allen, backing up the following 4 vibraphone luminaries: Joe Locke, Warren Wolf, Jason Marsalis, and Chien Chien Lu, culminating in a 4-way “Bag”s Groove”, a swinging and fun tribute to Detroit’s own vibraphone innovator Milt Jackson.
Erin Dougherty Kash – They were all great: – Phish with special guest Billy Strings at Van Andel (and Deer Creek); Blissfest; Cave Jam in TN; Daniel Donato and Moe @ Bell’s
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