Michigan BluesFest Brings a Bevy of Blues Acts to the Mitten
Michigan BluesFest is back. – Author: Cat Badra, Photo via Anne Erickson
Michigan BluesFest returns to the streets of Old Town, Lansing, this weekend. The event runs through Saturday, Sept. 21, and features a variety of local, regional and national blues artists sharing their talents. As someone who has been to this event many times, I can say that Michigan BluesFest, in a way, is the unofficial start to of in the mid-Michigan area. It ushers in a new season with the beautiful sounds of blues. Listening to live blues music right as the evenings start getting colder really is the perfect fall activity. Local music festivals really have a special flavor to them, too.
Michigan BluesFest 2024 Performers
“Enjoy a weekend of energy, excitement, music and coming together as a community, where we can reconnect with old friends and make new ones,” the festival states online.
This year’s lineup includes a bevy of names from all across the blues spectrum, including the Rhett Yocom Blues Band, Jeff Baldori, Asamu Johnson & the Associates of the Blues, Blues Lady Champagne, Jim McCarty & the Mystery Train featuring Pat Smillie, Ann Belle, the Rusty Wright Band, the School of Rock, the Mike Espy Group, Lady Sunshine and the X Band and more. One local group performing will be the Lansing Blues All Stars, which features famed Michigan guitarist S.J. “Frog” Forgey from Frog & the Beeftones performing with a collection of talented local musicians.
The festival officially announced its return via social media on Aug. 22, writing, “We are so pleased to welcome Michigan BluesFest back to the streets of Old Town, Lansing. We have a terrific line-up of artists who are as excited to get back in front of an audience as we are to hear them. There will be something for everyone—even the kids. Enjoy a weekend of energy, excitement, music and coming together again as a community, where we can reconnect with old friends and make new ones.”
“BluesFest Michigan is an open-air festival in the charming Old Town of Lansing, Michigan. We showcase diverse styles of Blues, attracting well-known and up-and-coming musicians from across the state and around the world,” they describe on Lansing.org. They add to expect “lots of interactive family-friendly activities, as well.”
Michigan BluesFest will take place at 1210 Turner Road in Lansing, along the streets of Old Town. For ticket information and the full schedule, head to their website. Also, those needing transportation to and from the festival may use the local CATA bus system. The last Route 14 bus departs around 10:40 p.m. on weekdays and 10:25 p.m. on Saturday. The last Route 16 bus departs around 10:50 p.m. on weekdays and 10:35 p.m. on Saturdays. So, the routes work for those to heading to Old Town to check out the action. Children under 42 inches tall get to ride free when accompanied by an adult. As BluesFest approaches, get ready to have some early fall fun and take in some soulful blues music.
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