The 16th annual Winter Wheat Festival hosted by the Wheatland Music Organization rolls out next Saturday at The Intersection in Grand Rapids with 10 acclaimed and diverse acts. The playlist and schedule.
Getting Winter Wheat Started: Round Creek String Band returns to The Intersection Saturday and plays SpeakEZ Lounge for a warm-up show on Wednesday. (Photo/Chelsea Whitaker)
SCROLL DOWN FOR THE WINTER WHEAT SCHEDULE AND A FESTIVAL PLAYLIST
Support our coverage of
West Michigan's music scene
Michigan band The Gasoline Gypsies’ latest album appropriately features the track, “Callin’ Me Home.”
And “home” for this Detroit-area, Port Huron-bred, rock-and-roots band often has often revolved around the Wheatland Music Festival and the Wheatland Music Organization’s annual Winter Wheat celebration, which rolls out with 10 Michigan bands on Saturday (Jan. 11) at The Intersection in Grand Rapids.
Indeed, the Americana-driven band has insisted that it probably wouldn’t even exist without the influences and inspiration of the Wheatland Music Organization and the “guiding musical experience” of its festivals and events.
The Gasoline Gypsies (Photo/Chelsea Whitaker)
Bear Berends of perennial Winter Wheat performers The Blue Water Ramblers calls the day-long January festival “a chance to renew old acquaintances and make some new ones,” with an outstanding lineup on tap each year.
The Gasoline Gypsies and folk mainstays The Blue Water Ramblers will both perform at the day-long event that will feature performances on two stages by a wide array of Michigan bands from across the state.
Performers at this year’s benefit for WMO include metro Detroit bluegrass band Wilson Thicket, Celtic music favorite Crossbow, the Round Creek String Band, northern Michigan Cajun/zydeco ensemble The Benzie Playboys, Southwest Michigan Americana/blues/rock/folk’s Schrock Bros, Grand Rapids indie-soul-pop’s August, soulful rock/Americana artist Hannah Rose Graves and West Michigan “mountain music” duo Lynn & Ian: The Moonshine Runners.
Performances begin at 2 p.m. on the Main Stage with the Round Creek String Band; the Traditional Stage in The Stache kicks off with an “open jam” hosted by The Blue Water Ramblers. Scroll down for the full schedule and a playlist featuring tracks from each band.
Tickets are $30 in advance and available online here. Doors open at 12:30 p.m. Saturday.
The Round Creek String Band will also play a “Winter Wheat Warmup” show at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday (Jan. 8) at SpeakEZ Lounge in downtown Grand Rapids, with representatives on hand to talk about Winter Wheat and the Wheatland Music Organization’s mission. Details here.
WINTER WHEAT FESTIVAL 2025: The Local Spins Playlist
Copyright 2024, Spins on Music LLC
