Concert series inspired by nature

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Forest Trail Music Festival. Courtesy photo.

Forest Trail Music Festival and Summer Sunset Series of concerts take place in the woods between Ludington and Manistee. Courtesy photo.

By Pat Stinson

Noah Cameron said watching the sun set between the trees on his family’s Forest Trail Music Festival property combines northern Michigan’s natural beauty with music, an “incredible” experience. As hosts of the third annual Forest Trail Music Festival, Aug.26-28, the Camerons had another vision for the festival site this year.

“We decided that since we already have a venue for live music, why wouldn’t we utilize it all summer long and bring more music to the area,” he explained.

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Lake County Historical Society advertisement for the Evening with the Collectors on August 8, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Lake County Historical Museum, 915 North Michigan Avenue in Baldwin. $10 donation requested. Tickets available in advance at the museum or at the door. View 12 private collections of antiques and receive verbal appraisals by Dan and Lin Hoekstra and or Ray and Sherry Kloostra of two antiques, but please, no artwork. For information call 231-898-6500
Advertisement for the Lake County Historical Society presents Folk Fridays. 2026 Music and Performance Series. Free outdoor concerts, rain or shine at the Lake County Historical Society Museum, 915 North Michigan Avenue also known as U.S. 10 in Baldwin. Concerts start 7 p.m. Fridays in July and August. Schedule is as follows: Songwriter Chris Valillo with Power of Song in Democracy, July 31. He is pictured playing banjo and singing. Lee Murdock with his program Land of Singing Waters, August 7. He is pictured singing and playing the acoustic guitar. Reverend Robert Jones presents an evening with Leadbelly on 14. He is pictured wearing a suit and a he is resting his arm on his guitar. On August 21 is A Side of Growlers, a trio of guitar, fiddle and upright bass with toe tappin American Music. The series is funded by donations through the Zimmerman Charitable Trust, Lake County Community Foundation, the families of Carlson, Dionne and Bradford-Tripp and private donations.

Their new “Summer Sunset Series” of concerts are held at the Forest Trail Music Festival’s wooded setting along West Forest Trail Road, between Manistee and Ludington. Two concerts remain of the six scheduled for this summer. On July 30, Kyle Brown will open for country band The Bootstrap Boys, and on Aug. 13, local favorite Ben Traverse will open for folk-rockers Erin Zindle and the Ragbirds. Opening acts begin at 5 p.m., main acts start at 7 p.m. and the music continues until 9 p.m.

Forest Trail Music Festival and Summer Sunset Series is located at 352 West Forest Trail Road. For tickets, the festival line-up and information, go to: foresttrailmusic.com. Find them on Facebook and Instagram.

East of the intersection of M-37 and M-55, south on 13 Road, is Coyote Crossing Resort, a four-season destination. Located on 50 acres south of Caberfae Peaks, the resort includes cabin rentals, a restaurant and bar, and an outdoor music venue. Surrounded by the Manistee National Forest, the setting is rural yet not far from Wellston or Cadillac.

Coyote Crossing Resort includes a restaurant and bar (pictured), a music venue and cabin rentals near Caberfae Peaks. Photo by Pat Stinson.
Two sentinels (a pair of coyote statues) outside the entrance to Coyote Crossing’s restaurant and bar, southeast of Cadillac. Photo by Pat Stinson.
Coyote Crossing Resort includes an outdoor music venue. Pictured is a raised dias for the sound crew in front of the music patrons’ entrance to the restaurant/bar. Photo by Pat Stinson.

The Coyote Crossing Music Series takes place outdoors, on the edge of the woods, in a semi-shaded setting. A raised and covered stage, outdoor bar, sound booth, and tables and chairs are situated next to the restaurant.

Music stage at Coyote Crossing Resort on 13 Road near Caberfae Peak west of Cadillac. Photo by P. Stinson.
Picnic tables await listeners inside the music venue at Coyote Crossing. Photo by P. Stinson for Freshwater Reporter.

Five of six scheduled concerts this summer include Steppin In It, with opening act Adam Joynt, on July 30; Drew Hale Band, with opening act The Moonhowlers, on Aug. 13; Michigan Rattlers, with opener Raylon Vance and Nick Sake, on Aug. 25; Sam Morrow, with Doug Henthorn Band, on Aug. 27; and The Insiders on Sept. 3.

Coyote Crossing is at 8593 South 13 Road, Cadillac.  For tickets and information, go to: coyotecrossingresort.com. Concert times vary. Updates are posted on the resort’s Facebook page.

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