In early June, we asked music fans attending summer festivals across Michigan to submit their favorite photos from their musical jaunts. Today, we crown the winner.
Winning Image: This striking photo of a band performing during Smiling Acres Music Festival as fireworks erupted topped all others. (Photo/Vincent Brady)
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Michigan music festivals exude a special aura — partly because of their often picturesque settings, partly because of their captivating performances, partly because of the Mitten State camaraderie they embrace.
Local Spins has long covered the summer festival scene with its army of talented photographers who capture that uplifting milieu and the passion of musicians as well as their fans — images we often feature in our annual Local Spins Calendar.
So for 2025, we decided to ask festival attendees to submit their own favorite photos from musical jaunts across the state and we received some gems that you can browse below as part of our inaugural festival photo contest.
The winner? Charlotte’s Vincent Brady, who has long impressed folks with his striking images of the festival scene. His images of fireworks and performers Mark Lavengood, Shannon Wade, Loren Kranz and TJ Zindle playing “War Pigs” at Smiling Acres Music Festival in late June drew its own oohs and aahs.
Festival Devotees: Vincent and Kalli Brady at Charlotte Bluegrass Festival. (Courtesy Photo)
Local Spins photographer and contest judge Anna Sink put it this way:
“These photos capture one of the most unique image-scapes to occur at this year’s Smiling Acres Music Festival, evoking a sense of enthusiasm and explosiveness. The facial expressions on the faces of the musicians paired with the perfect fireworks display moment in the sky above the stage give the viewer a vivid sense of the excitement felt at that event, from the performers to the audience alike. The offset vivid colors add a style element that gives the appearance of purpose, which is positive, considering stage lighting is often difficult to counteract.”
Brady, 37, a Grand Ledge High School alumnus who studied photography at Lansing Community College, also submitted an intriguing shot of John Nowak’s Vinyl Dance Party at Smiling Acres, blending three different photos together to create the psychedelic image.
“Being in the media pit at an awesome show can be a thrill. Whether it’s 15 minutes or three songs at the beginning of a show, or having access to a media pit for the whole show can be a lot of fun,” said Brady, who acquired his love of photography from his mother, who let him borrow her Nikon SLR.
“I like to try to be professional and respectful of my surroundings in those moments. Otherwise, much of my photography experience is with landscapes and nightscapes. My favorite lenses are wide angle and fisheye. During headline performances you’ll find me in the furthest spot in the back where I can get a wide view of the stage, crowd, surroundings, sky, trying to capture the whole vibe. I have lots of experience doing night sky photography and always try to bring that into my festival media.”
Brady, who’s also a big fan of bluegrass phenom Billy Strings, Celtic pop/electronica artist Elias Alexander and singer-songwriter Todd Snider, credits his artist relations/festival logistics expert wife, Kalli, for helping gain access to many festivals he shoots. View more of his photos in a separate gallery below.
Honorable Mention: Northwest Michigan photographer Jonathon Alfano’s images from Dunesville, Truckin’ Into Hoxey and Wildzenyoga (Wildsubterranean Photography).
View those photos and the submissions from other festival fans and photographers below, along with some galleries by Local Spins photographers from the 2025 summer festival season.
PHOTO GALLERY: Local Spins Music Festival Contest Entries
Vincent Brady, Jonathon Alfano, Staci Chase, Evan Barrell
Festivals: Smiling Acres, Wheatland, Dunesville, Truckin’ Into Hoxey
Cartoons & Stereo, Southwest Fest
PHOTO GALLERY: Music Festivals & Concerts by Vincent Brady
SMILING ACRES BY ANNA SINK
