The BEST Michigan Summer Music Festivals in 2022
When summertime comes in Michigan, there are so many things that Michiganders can do to make their summers awesome. Attending some of the many Michigan summer music festivals is one of the best things to do.
In case you’re wondering, Michigan has lots of fantastic summer festivals dedicated to food, agriculture, history, animals, and all things in between. If you’re looking for a festival (or lots of festivals) to attend this summer, you can’t go wrong with a music festival.
No matter your taste in music, there are festivals all over the state where you can kick back, relax, and get your groove on. Here’s a list of more than two dozen to get you started!
June Summer Music Festivals in Michigan
Electric Forest | Rothbury
Come celebrate electronic music, jam bands, dance music, and more on the shores of Lake Michigan during this four-day festival. There are illuminated forests, interactive art displays, and more that make this a trippy experience indeed.
This year’s music lineup includes The String Cheese Incident, Elderbrook, Earthgang, Dom Dolla, Cautious Clay, Subtronics, Air2Earth, and many, many more.
Charlotte Bluegrass Festival | Charlotte
If you love guitars, banjos, and beautiful harmonies, this is the festival for you. 2022 marks the 50th anniversary of the festival, and the Eaton County Fairgrounds will be a hoppin’ spot over three days.
This year’s talent includes the Amanda Cook Band, Volume Five, Authentic Unlimited, Po’ Ramblin’, the Cleverlys, and more.
Noreast’r Music & Art Festival | Mio
This festival, located on the Oscoda County Fairgrounds, is the perfect excuse to escape to Northeast Michigan in the summer. Attendees can enjoy rustic camping, arts and crafts, workshops, open mic nights, and great music.
This year’s music lineup includes Aaron Johnson and Odd Shaped Puzzle, Mike Robertson and the Broken Hearted Saviors, Peter “Mudcat” Ruth, and so many more.
Blues Fest | Marshall
Get ready to party with plenty of blues, brews, and food. This free event is making a triumphant return and promises fun for the whole family. The headliner for the event is Skyla Burrell Blues Band, and other acts in the lineup include the Dave Keller Band, the Blue Lunch Band, and the Who Dat? Blues Band.
Jackson Blues Fest | Jackson
Attendees and fans of the blues will love this three-day bash. The lineup includes the Harmonica Hounds, the Sonny Moorman Group, Nicky T and the Snake Charmers, and the Blue Top Blues Band.
There’s plenty of family fun to be had here, even for kids. On Friday, the first 100 kids will receive a free harmonica, a T-shirt, sunglasses, a mini-lesson, and the opportunity to perform with the Harmonica Hounds. Talk about an unforgettable experience!
Note: You can check even more events and festivals in Jackson Michigan.
Alpena Blues Festival | Alpena
This festival has been going strong for nearly 20 years and offers great music, good food, and cold drinks — all perfect ingredients for Michigan summer music festivals. The music starts at noon and the event promises to go on, rain or shine.
The lineup features Josh and the Big 3, Chris Crown and the Get Down Band, Kathleen and the Bridge Street Band, the Paul Nelson Band, and Dave Weld and the Imperial Flames.
WYCD Downtown Hoedown | Clarkston
This festival is the perfect excuse to grab your cowboy hat and cowboy boots to boogie down. This event, which celebrates its 34th year this year, takes over Pine Knob in Clarkston, one of the most famous venues in Metro Detroit.
Big-name country stars are known for playing this festival and this year’s lineup is impressive with Brooks and Dunn, Scotty McCreery, Joe Nichols, Tenille Townes, and Parmalee among those set to take the stage.
Michigan Summer Music Festivals in July
Detroit Music Weekend | Detroit
This one-day celebration seems to get bigger and better every single year. Not only do you get the chance to shop and eat around downtown Detroit, but there’s also plenty of live music to serve as the soundtrack to a perfect day.
The 2022 festival is dedicated to the blues and lasts from noon to 10 p.m. It features a tribute to blues legend John Lee Hooker and a dedication to the “Women of the Blues,” including Zakiya Hooker, Bettye LaVette, Eliza Neals, and many more.
Common Ground Music Festival | Lansing
For more than 20 years, thousands of fans of all kinds of music have gathered in downtown Lansing for this celebration that offers an eclectic mix of performers. Whether you’re a fan of hip-hop, rock, country, pop, or another genre of music, there’s something for everyone here.
Past musical acts at Common Ground have included Tim McGraw, Jason Derulo, and A$AP Rocky. With fair food, vendors, and all kinds of other fun activities, you’ll feel like you’re at a big bash like Lollapalooza.
Faster Horses | Brooklyn
For fans of summer music festivals, few things go together quite like camping and live music.
Located on the backstretch of Michigan International Speedway, this is a fun ride for anyone who’s a country music fan. With a giant waterslide, a Ferris wheel, and plenty of music, this is one of the biggest parties of the summer.
This year’s lineup features big-time acts like Morgan Wallen, Eric Church, Tim McGraw, Jake Owen, and Brothers Osborne, as well as up-and-comers like Caitlyn Smith, Runaway June, Lauren Alaina, Ashley McBryde, and more.
Uncle Sam Jam | Woodhaven
There’s nothing like a free live music festival, and this one packs tons of music in with plenty of family-friendly activities like carnival rides, monster truck rides, and a petting zoo.
The music lineup features Grinder, the band of Detroit Red Wings fan favorite Darren McCarty, as well as Grand Funk Railroad, Dokken, Let it Ride, and more.
Hiawatha Music Festival | Marquette
For more than 40 years, festivalgoers have flocked to the Upper Peninsula for this eclectic festival. The event features traditional music styles like bluegrass, country, folk, and Celtic, and nationally known artists perform alongside regional and local favorites.
This year’s festival includes Ellis Dyson and the Shambles, Damn Tall Buildings, Tatiana Hargreaves, and Martha Spencer and the Whitetop Mountain Band, and many more.
Upheaval Festival | Grand Rapids
This two-day rock extravaganza takes place at Belknap Park in Grand Rapids and may be considered best for adults. For fans of rock and heavy metal, this festival features some heavy hitters, including Disturbed, Three Days Grace, Escape the Fate, Theory, Fire From the Gods, and more.
Michigan Elvis Fest | Ypsilanti
Get ready to dust off those blue suede shoes to rock. This annual celebration of the undisputed King of Rock ‘n’ Roll is packed with Elvis impersonators and plenty of diehard Elvis fans. Rock out to the King’s classic songs, and nosh on tasty local food and beer while you do.
Mo Pop Festival | Detroit
Having outgrown West Riverfront Park, the Hart Plaza in downtown Detroit is the perfect spot for this multi-genre, alternative music festival that delights audiophiles of all kinds. This year’s list of performers includes Glass Animals, Detroit native Big Sean, Girl in Red, Daisy, Dayglow, Kaytranada, and many more.
Dam Jam | Calumet
Few places in the state are more beautiful than the Upper Peninsula in the summer, and this festival is the perfect reason to head there! Head way, way up to the tip of the hat for this two-day festival that brings original music to Calumet Lions Park in a place that’s safe and fun.
Each year, the musical lineup blends local artists with national touring acts. This year’s lineup includes the Marsupials, Not Quite Canada, Ma Baker, Stormy Kromer, and more.
Beaver Island Music Festival | Beaver Island
This festival has been going strong for 20 years and is nestled on Lake Michigan’s biggest island. This festival is unique in that you have to take a ferry over to the island. The festival also provides free camping with the purchase of a festival pass, so you can spend more time enjoying the music.
This year’s lineup includes Erin Zindle and the Ragbirds, Shake Steady, the Accidentals, Good Morning Bedlam, and more.
Note: While you’re there, check out these other things to do on Beaver Island Michigan.
Blissfest | Harbor Springs
This is another wonderful festival that welcomes all kinds of music. You can expect to hear everything from world music to Celtic to jazz to blues to zydeco to bluegrass. Add in food and art vendors, as well as healing arts and craft vendors, and you have one heck of a festival.
The musical lineup this year includes Shawn Colvin, Leftover Salmon, Donna the Buffalo, Eddie 9V, Sarah Shook and The Disarmers, and many more.
Wild Thyme Music Fest | Allegan
Pack up the car with tents, lawn chairs, blankets, grills, bug spray, and whatever else you need for a weekend of camping, workshops, wild thyme, and live music.
This year’s lineup features more than a dozen acts, including Ernie Clark and the Magnificent Bastards, Round Creek String Band, Full Chord, and Water Street Wranglers.
August Music Festivals in Michigan This Summer
Farm Fest | Johannesburg
Some of the best Michigan summer music festivals are the most intimate ones. That’s exactly what you’ll find in Northern Michigan with local acts, on-site camping, amphitheaters, and more. This festival is big on being green-friendly, and you’ll see plenty of efforts to keep waste down as much as possible.
The musical lineup includes Jake Allen, the Bandura Gypsies, the Blue Water Ramblers, the Honorable Spirits, and more.
Excellency Music Festival | Bay City
This alternative music festival is a relative newcomer to the Michigan summer festival scene, but it packs a ton of music into a one-day celebration at Bay City’s historic Masonic Temple. This year’s musical talents include Telltale, Rarity, the Sonder Bombs, Michael Cera Palin, You vs. Yesterday, and more.
Hoxeyville | Wellston
Set against a backdrop of the Manistee National Forest, this is arguably one of Michigan’s coolest (and most relaxed) music festivals. As a “testament to pure north country peace and celebration,” it’s not uncommon to see plenty of hammocks and lawn chairs on this sprawling farmland.
The music stays true to its folk roots, and this year’s lineup includes Trampled by Turtles, Railroad Earth, Yonder Mountain String Band, Melvin Seals and JGB, and more.
Breakaway Festival | Grand Rapids
This is one of the fastest-growing multi-city festivals in the Midwest and includes events in Tennessee, the Carolinas, Ohio, and Michigan.
In the Mitten, this festival is held in Belknap Park and features prominent acts like the Chainsmokers, DJ Snake, and Oliver Tree, as well as Yung Gravy and Two Friends, among others.
Michigan Summer Music Festivals This September
Detroit Jazz Fest | Detroit
For almost 40 years, this festival in downtown Detroit over Labor Day weekend has been a celebration of Detroit’s history of jazz music. You can watch jazz veterans, rising stars, and even Michigan-based artists.
Each year’s lineup features more than 60 performances, and this year’s lineup includes Bill Frisell Trio, Dianne Reeves, Nubya Garcia, Julian Lage, and more.
Big Fam Music and Arts Festival | Farwell
One of the best things about any music festival is that it brings people together from all walks of life for a celebration of music and fun. That’s what you’ll find at this celebration of music and art that promises to deliver a full sensory experience for the whole family.
From interactive art installations to top-of-the-line sound systems to great live music, there’s something for everyone at this Northern Michigan bash held at Liberty Mountain.
Wheatland Music Festival | Remus
This may be a low-key festival compared to some of Michigan’s bigger ones, but it also may be one of the most underrated. For more than 40 years, folks have been frolicking on the 160-acre grounds of this festival to hear a unique array of music, including drum circles, fiddles, jam sessions, and more.
Make Plans to Attend a Michigan Summer Music Festival
Head to a music festival in Michigan this summer. Summer music festivals combine all the best things about summer — awesome music, amazing food and drink, great weather, and great company. One thing is for sure, you’re never far from a music festival when summer comes in Michigan.
And, think about this: Michigan summer music festivals are the perfect places to make lasting memories. Longtime festivalgoers can remember vividly when they heard an up-and-coming artist just before they made it big or when something special happened during a concert.
So make plans with your friends, bring your family, and get ready to have a good time. No matter if you’re ready to rock out, slow dance, sit and tap your foot, or just listen to a band, any Michigan summer music festival will be an experience you won’t forget!
Do you have a favorite memory from attending a Michigan summer music festival? Let us know in the comments!
