The Memorial Day weekend festival of VW buses along the Lake Michigan shoreline has announced its lineup of performers, with a second acoustic stage added to this year’s hoopla.
Some consider the annual Buses by the Beach Bus Benefit as the official kickoff to Michigan’s summer festival season.
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With a bevy of Volkswagen buses on hand, top-drawer regional artists on stage and a good cause to support (Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors), the Memorial Day weekend celebration along the Lake Michigan shoreline between Grand Haven and Holland exudes a special atmosphere.
And this year’s festival held at Camp Blodgett in West Olive will also boast a second stage for acoustic performances.
Bus Benefit organizers this week announced that the 2017 lineup for the May 26-29 festival will include The Giving Tree Band, Melophobix, Nicholas James & The Bandwagon, Roosevelt Diggs, Fauxgrass, The Bootstrap Boys and The Barbarossa Brothers. (See the initial festival lineup at right.)
The new Woods Stage will feature acoustic performances by singer-songwriters Sydney Burnham of Brighton, Loren Johnson of Grand Haven and Sam N’ Eye (Sean and Samantha Barrett) from mid-Michigan.
The unique, “lovable event” assembled each year by VW bus owners who are members of Buses by the Beach can be difficult to describe.
“We are a close-knit group, not necessarily in our relationships, but in our ideals,” suggested Owen Smith, one of the organizers. “We are celebrating life and doing good work at the same time, all from our VW buses. It’s all about the people and purpose.”
This year’s entertainment lineup features returning favorites such as Grand Rapids folk/country band Nicholas James & The Bandwagon, who will perform on Friday night, progressive bluegrass band Fauxgrass on Saturday and West Michigan Americana group Roosevelt Diggs on Sunday.
But there are also impressive first-timers on the bill, including Illinois’ The Giving Tree Band, a highly acclaimed, “new age outlaw” folk group (watch a video below), and Grand Rapids’ own up-and-coming funk/reggae/rock outfit Melophobix.
Festival tickets are on sale now, with early-bird weekend passes costing $60 (plus a $20 non-VW bus fee). Saturday and Sunday day passes also are available, with ticket prices increasing after April 20. Get details and tickets online here.
Revisit Local Spins coverage of the 2016 Buses by the Beach Bus Benefit.
VIDEO: The Giving Tree Band, “Glow”
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