Is there anything better than enjoying a West Michigan summer? How about adding some music! Whether listening to a concert in the park, a performance in the vineyard, or music on the patio during dinner, music lovers of all genres will want to add these outdoor performances to their summer calendar.
South West Michigan
Coldwater
South West Michigan sets the stage for outdoor music throughout the summer. Thursday nights, from June 30th-September 1st, Hops on Monroe offers live music and entertainment along with a variety of Michigan craft beer and rotating food trucks. Head to downtown Coldwater’s South Monroe Street for a fun night out.
Downtown Coldwater is also hosting the ‘Entertainment Under the Stars’ series of free outdoor concerts Tuesday nights, starting July 26th. Bring a lawn chair, blanket, and enjoy the sounds of folk, bluegrass, classic country, and rock!
Mark your calendars for Thursday evenings for the Sounds of Summer concert series in Quincy. Starting June 16th, and running through August, each Thursday from 6-8pm will feature a musical performance at the Village of Quincy Park. Be sure to bring your blankets and chairs!
Benton Harbor
Vineyard 2121 hosts a number of live music events all summer long! Visit their online calendar for performance schedules and events.
Enjoy rock, pop, soul, and more Saturdays throughout the summer at 12 Corners Vineyards in Benton Harbor. Check out their Facebook page to who is coming to perform!
Union Pier
Harbor Country is full of live music outdoors in the summer, and Garden Grove Inn B&B is central to all the best venues! Just a short walk from the inn, catch live music at Round Barn Tasting Room on Saturday afternoons and St. Julian Winery on Sunday afternoons. Both wineries offer great beverages, food trucks & good music outdoors.
New to the Round Barn Tasting Room in Union Pier, don’t miss the new Eat and Beats Food Truck & Live Music on Saturdays, starting May 25th. Bring your friends and family to enjoy live music, delicious food from local vendors, and, of course, great wine every Saturday.
Baroda
The popular weekend concert series, Jammin’ in the Vineyards, sponsored by Honor Credit Union, brings live music to Round Barn Estate in Baroda weekly on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays through October. Come see why the Round Barn Estate was named one of USA Today’s 10 Best Wineries/Vineyards with live music.
The Beer Garden at Public House is the newest addition to the Round Barn family. Open on select days, this casual outdoor venue is the perfect spot to sit back, relax, and sip on your favorite Round Barn brew while enjoying music and great company. Situated across the street from the Public House and equipped with its own bar, the Beer Garden is the premier destination for all your favorite Pub events!
Sip on a glass of your favorite wine or share a bottle with friends on the patio to your favorite tunes and wine country’s best summer views. Wine & Music Sundays returns to Free Run Cellars on Sunday, May 29th. From Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend, local and regional musicians will take the stage to give your vineyard evening a little extra flavor.
Live Music Sundays in the Vineyard Lounge at Tabor Hill Winery & Restaurant are starting Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day! Each Sunday, the Vineyard Lounge at Tabor Hill will come alive with local acoustic acts and musical guests from out of state to complement your summer bottle with friends. Featuring classic rock, mellow jazz, and homegrown Americana, these upcoming musical experiences are ones you won’t want to miss.
Dablon Winery in Baroda hosts music at their vineyard throughout the summer. They’ll be hosting Jimmy Fastiggi on June 17th, a self-taught guitarist, and singer-songwriter with 40+ years of experience performing. See the calendar for details on this event and all future performances.
St. Joseph
St. Joseph Today presents Friday Night Concerts the third Friday of the month June through September. Groove to the sounds of jazz, big band, classic hits, and more at John E.N. Howard Bandshell, overlooking the charming St. Joseph River.
South Haven
Gather at Riverfront Park for live, outdoor music every Thursday night during the summer. Riverfront Park is located on the Black River, with a scenic view of the harbor and South Haven’s iconic red lighthouse. Bring a lawn chair or a picnic blanket, snacks, and good company!
Cogdal Vineyards in South Haven also hosts a Wednesday night summer music series, beginning June 15th. Live music kicks off at 6pm, with a food truck available all day long.
Marshall
The 2022 Marshall Blues Fest is a free family-oriented music and entertainment festival held in downtown Marshall. There will be a full slate of Blues music with a cash bar beer tent. Food vendors will also line the street to give you energy all day long. Grab your friends, pack your chairs, and enjoy the fun!
Kalamazoo
The Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo’s Summertime Live concert series occurs June through August with more than 40 free concerts at different venues in towns all around Kalamazoo County including Parchment, Portage, Oshtemo Township, Richland Township, and Kalamazoo.
Fennville
Michigan Wine Company is celebrating their 2nd anniversary on Saturday, June 11th with live music and the release of new 2021 wines in their tasting room! Visit their website for all the details.
Saugatuck
Ox-Bow‘s first Summer Benefit Concert will be held on Saturday, July 9th. Part of their annual Field of Vision weekend, Ox-Bow will be bringing a beautifully curated line-up that will bring the meadow alive in ways you’ve never experienced before!
There is no shortage of opportunities to treat your ears to live outdoor musical performances while visiting Saugatuck/ Douglas during the summer season. Every Wednesday in Saugatuck, starting on June 22nd, is the Music in the Park series, where popular bands play at Wick’s Park Gazebo from 7–9 pm. Family-friendly and free of charge, guests are invited to bring their lawn chairs and a picnic and get ready to dance.
Hastings
The Hastings Live Summer Entertainment Series consists of free outdoor concerts and children’s programming throughout the summer in beautiful Downtown Hastings. The series is a collaborative effort between the Thornapple Arts Council and the City of Hastings. Hastings Live is funded in part by a grant from the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs.
Central West Michigan
Holland
Holland features live music throughout the summer at Kollen Park. The Holland American Legion Band performs free concerts on Tuesdays, June 7th-August 9th. The band was founded by the American Legion Post and provides quality and challenging musical experiences for its musicians and audiences, providing musical support for local community and veterans organizations’ events and activities.
Kollen Park also hosts Friday evening concerts, kicking off on June 17th and running through August 12th. Bring your lawn chairs, blankets and a picnic basket and enjoy the sounds of summer at the Kollen Park Bandshell. Concerts are kid friendly and free!
Downtown Holland kicks off their Street Performer Series June 16th! The Street Performer Series will take place Thursday evenings through August 18th and will feature a diverse line-up of performing artists each week.
Grand Rapids
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids will be hosting three special music series this summer, the Fifth Third Bank Summer Concerts at Meijer Gardens, Tuesday Evening Music Club, and the Jim & Marie Preston Sunday Strings, featuring musicians from the Grand Rapids Symphony and West Michigan. Performances are planned for July, August, and September. Visit the Frederik Meijer Gardens online for concert schedule and tickets.
Rockford will also feature live music at both the Rogue River Blues Series, as well as the Start of Summer Celebration, happening on June 10th-12th. https://rockford.mi.us/calendar.php
Lowell
This year marks the 20th Anniversary of the Lowell Showboat Sizzlin’ Summer Concerts presented by LowellArts and Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce. To celebrate the 20th Anniversary, this year’s concerts feature many groups who originated in Michigan and are now headlining nationally and internationally. The concert series runs June 16th to August 25th, and the full concert line-up can be found here.
Grand Haven
Grand Haven has lots of great music to enjoy all summer long, including Music on the Grand, Tuesdays in the Park, Praise by the Pier, Sounds of Summer Concerts, Courtyard Concerts, and Music at the Point. All of the events are free to the public!
Be sure to also check out this summer’s 60th season of the Grand Haven Musical Fountain, with daily performances now through Labor Day weekend.
Muskegon
The Lakeshore Legacy Project (LLP) is bringing a series of FREE music festivals to downtown Muskegon. Each week from June through August, LLP will present a particular genre of music with several bands performing. The series kicks off with a Reggae theme on June 4th. Enjoy the wide variety of music – and dancing, yard games, food trucks, magicians, clowns, and face painters at Hot Rod Harley-Davidson each Saturday!
Ludington
Grab your beach chairs and blankets and head to Stearns Park Beach for the Pure Ludington Sunset Beach Bonfire on June 23rd. Free live music, a community bonfire, and an amazing Lake Michigan sunset are in store as this monthly event returns to Ludington.
Every Thursday this summer, Legacy Plaza will host local musical artists for free concerts from 4-7 pm. It’s a great way to spend a summer evening outdoors: gathering with your friends at the plaza, grabbing a bite to eat, and enjoying the tunes.
Mt. Pleasant
This summer visit Mt. Pleasant and lose your voice at one of Soaring Eagle Casino’s outdoor summer concerts – bringing in over 12,000 people and big-name performers such as Chris Stapleton, Zac Brown Band, and New Kids on the Block! Attend any of the outdoor concerts this summer and you can enter for a chance to win a Mt. Pleasant Experience Giveaway Package!
Northern West Michigan + Upper Peninsula
Thompsonville
Enjoy live music in the yard at Iron Fish Distillery all summer long. Featuring over 40 different artists, this summer’s music series has a variety of musical talent. Check out the Iron Fish Events Page for a full listing of who will be visiting the farm.
Head to Crystal Mountain to listen to live music from the Level Four rooftop bar, or immerse yourself in nature with the Summer Sounds Concert Series at Michigan Legacy Art Park.
Traverse City
Mt. Holiday is hosting a free concert with The Steel Wheels on Friday, June 3rd. Get ready for a great evening of fabulous music and support a great organization, Less Cancer, at the same time!
Bonobo Winery loves to bring people together with their delicious wines and live music on their patio every Friday this summer! Find a full schedule of events here.
Charlevoix
The Charlevoix area will be hosting a number of musical events throughout the summer. Find a list of summer concerts and more upcoming events on the Visit Charlevoix online calendar.
Petoskey Area
Northern Michigan is known for fresh air and cool breezes – add free outdoor music and it’s just icing on the cake! In the Petoskey Area, the Crooked Tree Arts Center hosts Concerts in the Park, Boyne City has Friday Night Stroll the Streets with music and Wednesday evening Pavilion Summer Concerts, and Harbor Springs serves up tunes during their Thursday night Street Musique series. Pick up a picnic and listen to the music.
Mackinac Island
Music in Mackinaw provides a free summer concert series in Conkling Heritage Park, on the waterfront in Mackinaw City Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday evenings in July and August, starting at 8 pm.
Marquette
Every summer, the sidewalks of Third Street in Downtown Marquette erupt into a festive mix of local musicians. Music on Third occurs every third Thursday, from June through September. The music fest features over 15 local bands and helps promote local businesses and the community downtown.
Keweenaw Peninsula
Tune into the Keweenaw’s live music scene this summer! With outdoor music festivals, weekly live music, and more, there’s lots of great musical fun to explore in the Keweenaw Peninsula all summer long.
Check our online calendar for more West Michigan events to add to your summer!
