ESCANABA, Mich. (WZMQ) – Visit Escanaba has announced a new music festival, and Grammy-winning country music singer and guitarist Keith Urban is the featured headliner.
Northern Lights Music Fest is a two-day summer event that will be held at the U.P. State Fairgrounds July 21 – 22 of this year. The festival will include rock and country music performances, food vendors, and on-site camping.
“This all came about because of the community’s desire to hold a big music festival like this,” said Visit Escanaba CEO Robert Micheau. “We’re really excited to set the bar high to have events like this at the fairgrounds that bring in thousands of people.”
Northern Lights Music Fest will be produced by HB Concerts, Inc. Friday, July 21 will be Rock Night, featuring 80s rock band Steelheart, original Skid Row frontman Sebastian Bach, and Michigan hard rock band Pop Evil. Escanaba native Kevin Chown will represent the Upper Peninsula, playing bass guitar with both Steelheart and Bach.
Country Night will take place on Saturday, July 22. “Grunge country” artist Austin Snell will open for the Australian-American superstar Keith Urban. Urban is known for hits like “Days Go By,” “Somebody Like You,” and his 2022 single “Street Called Main.”
Chown says he is thrilled to be part of a lineup of this scale right in his hometown.
“I’ve been places that have done music festivals that don’t have half of what my hometown has to offer,” said Chown. “Whenever I’ve been to different places I’ve thought to myself, ‘Wow, Escanaba could do something like this!’ It feels really good to bring my outside world to my hometown.”
“We really think it’s going to help change the community and change the Upper Peninsula by bringing more people here and being a really positive impact on the economy. The best part is showing off the U.P. and showing people from outside of the area what we have to offer.”
Tickets go on sale Friday, March 31 at northernlightsmusicfestival.com and visitescanaba.com. Showtimes will be announced as the festival approaches. Attendees who purchase a ticket for Country Night on Saturday will receive free entry to Friday’s Rock Night if they present a valid ticket at the gate.
