TRAVERSE CITY — A number of venues in northwestern Lower Michigan are bringing national talent to their stages this summer.
From antique barns to sunset overlooks and state-of-the-art facilities, these shows will include blues and bluegrass, roots rock and progressive rock, pop, jazz and more.
LAVENDER HILL FARM, BOYNE CITY
Lavender Hill Farm in Boyne City is a true working farm, growing 30 different varieties of lavender, from A (Ana Luisa) to V (Violet Intrigue).
Its claim to musical fame stems from the performances it hosts in its historic barn, which has been restored and reconfigured as an event venue, complete with theater seating, professional lighting and sound, and an intimate stage.
Patrons can also opt for lawn seating, though lawn seats do not include direct view or access to the Events Barn during the main stage performance. New this year will be a real-time audio and video feed of the main stage performance, displayed on a screen in the outdoor amphitheater.
THE 2026 LAVENDER HILL CONCERT SCHEDULE
June 20 – Willow AvalonJune 27 – Lemon SqueezyJuly 7 – 1964 The TributeJuly 8 – 1964 The TributeJuly 18 – Bobby AluJuly 24 – Unspoken TraditionAug. 7 – Lavender Goes Pink With Thornetta DavisAug. 15 – West Texas ExilesAug. 22 – Damn Tall BuildingsSept. 5 – Horton Creek BluegrassSept. 19 – Sionainn Laoi For The Boyne Heritage Center
The farm’s Local Ground series features local and regional artists, who perform in the outdoor amphitheater. Ticket holders enjoy these preshow performances before main stage concerts, while visitors during Lavender Fest Fridays and Fall Festival experience live music during their time on the farm.
THE LOCAL GROUND SERIES
June 20 – I.Am.JamesJune 27 – Owen JamesJuly 3 – Ricky HillJuly 7,8 – Ryan CassidyJuly 11 – Alex TellerJuly 18 – David LawstonJuly 24 – Two Track MindJuly 10 – Owen JamesJuly 31 – Nick ViscontiAug. 7 – Robin Lee BerryAug. 15 – Denning & JohnsonSept. 5 – Steel & Wood
GREAT LAKES CENTER FOR THE ARTS, BAY HARBOR
Great Lakes Center for the Arts in the tiny enclave of Bay Harbor south of Petoskey features a diverse slate of artists year-round. Among the highlight shows are trumpeter Chris Botti, who played at the venue in 2022 and 2024, singer-songwriter Amy Grant and Michigan’s own, award-winning, soulful Americana band The War and Treaty.
Both Great Lakes Center for the Arts and The Homestead are welcoming Alan Hewitt and One Nation. Hewitt was the longtime keyboardist and musical director for the Moody Blues and subsequently for the band’s bassist and co-lead vocalist, John Lodge. Hewitt is a native of Petoskey, and guitarists Jake Allen and Duffy King are originally from northern Michigan as well. The band’s original music treads the line between progressive rock and jazz fusion.
May 24 – The Hit Men, music of Foreigner, Cheap Trick, Wings, moreMay 29 – Marah Graham Tribute, Crooked Tree Art Center School of BalletJune 13 – Alan Hewitt & One NationJune 20 – From Boston to Bay Harbor: A Night at the BalletJune 30–July 2 – Almost Heaven: John Denver’s America Musical RevueJuly 5 – Take 6July 7 – Westhuizen Piano DuoJuly 11 – David Foster & Katharine McPheeJuly 18 – Comic Zoltan KaszasJuly 21 – The Barricade Boys Broadway RevueJuly 25 – Chris BottiJuly 29 & 30 – Bay View Music Festival presents Mozart’s Don GiovanniJuly 31 – The War & TreatyAug. 13 – Amy GrantSept. 5-6, 11-13 – Broadway Musical Come From AwaySept. 20 – Yacht Rock Revue PrimetimeSept. 25 – Alex Lambert
MUSIC ON THE MOUNTAIN @ THE HOMESTEAD, GLEN ARBOR
Last year saw the revival of the music series that takes place at the top of the Glen Arbor resort’s ski hill, overlooking the Manitou islands and sunsets over Lake Michigan. The series has expanded from six shows to eight and has moved from Thursdays to Wednesdays, giving vacationers, residents and locals an opportunity to hear world-class music in the middle of the week.
Three of this year’s shows feature returning favorites from last year: Jabo Bihlman’s blues rock, the easy jazz and pop sounds of East Bay Drive with guest vocalist Miriam Pico, and the contemporary jazz-with-twang of guitarist Joe Taylor, with his trio of veteran NYC veterans. Taylor and his band made their Michigan debut at Music On The Mountain last year.
Returning for the first time since playing the debut season of Music On The Mountain is the rootsy Americana sounds of Blue Water Ramblers. The band played at The Homestead in 2015. Tickets for Music On The Mountain will be available through Ticket Tailor (tickettailor.com).
June 17 – Alan HewittJuly 1 – Kevin DiSimone/Hilary JamesJuly 8 – Blue Water RamblersJuly 22 – Cat Daddy with Randy MarshAug. 5 – Jabo BihlmanAug. 12 – Seth BernardAug. 19 – Joe TaylorSept. 9 – East Bay Drive with Miriam Pico
BAY VIEW ASSOCIATION, PETOSKEY
The summer community on the north side of Petoskey showcases national touring acts and college student and faculty performances.
It was founded in 1875 and by the late 1880’s the Bay View Assembly became a pioneering institution in public education, with an ambitious summer university.
The Music Festival is nationally renowned and currently recognized as the longest running music festival in the United States. Its Sunday Night Vespers Concerts have been a staple of the music festival, and it also brings in various touring popular music acts.
June 14 – Free For AllJune 21 – Take 5June 28 – From Broadway to Carnegie HallJuly 2 – Straight No ChaserJully 5 – Linus and Lucy: Famous DuosJuly 12 – Lean On MeJuly 18 – Boogie Wonder BandJuly 19 – Award-Winning Shows And SongsJuly 26 – You’ve Got A Friend (In Me)Aug. 2 – We Shall Overcome: Music Of Civil RightsAug. 9 – Grand Finale