Local Spins (01/01/23)
Michigan's music festival scene is poised to continue flourishing in 2023, with supporters calling the state a standout for its music and musical celebrations. Eric Janetsky, organizer of the 2023 edition of June's Nor-East'r Music & Art Festival in Mio, said: "Nor-East'r tries to encompass the spirit of Michigan or the Midwest. Nor-East'r is about kindness. Our mission is that we want to create an all-inclusive environment for everyone who walks onto the festival ground, where they will say to themselves, 'I am home.'" Dozens of grassroots festivals have spread across Michigan, with most hosting local and regional talent as well as national touring acts. "Michigan is rich in artists, world-class music festivals, water: it's all so connected," noted Mark Lavengood of July's third-year Smiling Acres Music Festival. "I think the sweet spot is that there is such a large listener base that trends toward going out to see a live show and for a weekend music festival as opposed to staying in." The state supplements local summer events like Smiling Acres with bigger festivals that draw fans nationally and globally, including Electric Forest, Breakaway Music Festival, Mo Pop Festival, Movement Electronic Music Festival, Upheaval and Detroit Jazz Festival. "Michigan is such a naturally beautiful state and in the summertime, we get to enjoy some picture-perfect days," said Caroline Barlow, artistic director for the Blissfest Music Organization, whose 2022 event outside Harbor Springs was the first in-person festival since 2019.
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