It’s been said many times before: Nothing quite compares to the Beaver Island Music Festival experience.
Northern Michigan musician Christopher “Wink” Winkelman, of the Traverse City band Soul Patch, calls Beaver Island “one of my few favorite places on the planet.”
That’s echoed by many other artists who’ve performed at the unique festival over the years.
“I would say our favorite part about Beaver Island Music Festival is just enjoying island life, getting to see Dan and Carol (Burton) who put on the festival, and having fun rockin’ out on an island in the middle of Lake Michigan,” said Justin Perry, from the Traverse City- and Key West-based Snacks & Five and G-Snacks, who are performing at the festival this weekend. It’s the third time Snacks & Five has graced the event.
Added Joe Bockheim, frontman for the Grand Rapids rock band The Legal Immigrants which returns to the far-flung festival for sets on Friday and Saturday.
“The intimacy and tranquility of the festival grounds stand out, but the best part of Beaver Island Music Festival is the island. It offers an opportunity to reconnect with yourself and nature.”
Bockheim also figures to play solo at some point because festival organizers Dan and Carol Burton “know I’m willing to play anywhere, anytime, so you might find me playing on stage, at a bar or beach, or somewhere in the woods on a trail.”
This year’s robust lineup includes veteran, award-winning West Virginia R&B band The Carpenter Ants, Alabama alt-rock group Carver Commodore, Kansas City indie-roots rock outfit Katy Guillen & The Drive and Michigan favorites such as Snacks & Five, G-Snacks, Nathan Walton & The Remedy, Heat Above, The Legal Immigrants, Flexadecibel, Kyle Brown & The Human Condition, Lynn & The Moonshine Runners and more.
Located in northern Lake Michigan about 32 miles from Charlevoix — and boasting just 600 or so inhabitants — Beaver Island has long been a unique, isolated setting for a summer music festival with folks arriving by ferry or seaplane.
Although the festival is billed as a three-day affair (Thursday-Saturday), informal performances start Wednesday night, with some acts playing on Sunday, too.
Adult tickets are $175 for a three-day pass, $135 for a two-day pass and $70 for a one-day adult pass, with discounts for teens and seniors. Children 12 and younger are free. Tickets include camping. Festivalgoers also need a ferry pass through Beaver Island Boat Co. or airway service via Island Airways. Get details, a full performance schedule and more information online at bimf.net.
Of course, it’s not the only Michigan festival attracting interest from music lovers this weekend.
Thousands of country fans will flock to Brooklyn in Jackson County for the return of the mammoth Faster Horses Festival, running Friday-Sunday on the grounds of the Michigan International Speedway.
In addition to headlining sets from the likes of country stars Jelly Roll, Cody Johnson, Lainey Wilson, Old Dominion, Hardy and Riley Green, mid-Michigan native and rising artist Sadie Bass will perform at Faster Horses for the first time.
Hailing from Bath, north of Lansing, Bass has been turning heads after appearing on NBC’s “The Voice” in 2022 and later playing major festivals and venues across the country. She plays the “Next From Nashville” stage at 1:50 p.m. on Saturday (July 20).
“I went to that festival like 18, 19, 20 years old, and it’s usually just a big crowd of people who are excited. I’m just expecting the energy to be high,” said Bass, 27, who now makes her home in Nashville.
“It’s actually happening and it’s only the side stage, so I get to look forward to playing the Main Stage one day, too. … It’s really surreal and I’m just so happy to be doing it at my home state.”
General admission passes for the weekend start at $289, with extra charges for various VIP options. Find more information online at fasterhorsesfestival.com.