By Kevin Howell
Three Idlewild summer music festivals are carrying on a musical tradition begun 80 years ago in this Lake County community, where the likes of Cab Calloway, Duke Ellington, Aretha Franklin, B.B. King and many more once performed.
This summer, the 10th Annual Meeks Homecoming Jazz and Blues Festival, the Summer Oasis Music Festival, and Grier Music Fest III will entertain audiences with exciting musical experiences offered by contemporaries like Houston Patton Trio, Al Lindsey, the top names in house music and more.
Grier
First up on July 1 is Grier Music Fest, now in its third year and the youngest of the festivals. The event began as a memorial to Dorothy Lee Grier, a classical pianist and violinist, who died in 2020.
Chris Grier, Dorothy’s son, currently lives in Holland but was born and raised in Idlewild where he runs his own consulting agency. He also owns property in Idlewild and is the historian for Yates Township. Chris said people were mostly sequestered due to COVID-19, so the memorial to his mother for friends and family was planned for a later date.
“Because she was a music teacher, and … had played in (Historic) Tabernacle Church, which is directly across from Meeks Park, I said, ‘We invite you on the first Saturday in July. We’re going to have an outdoor memorial, and it’s going to be a music festival.’
“My mother was a classical music person, so we had classical music, we had Jazz, we had Blues, R&B and Gospel, and then we had a church service outside in the park, and that’s really how the Grier Festival began.”
In honor of his mother, the price of entry is by donation only and the proceeds go toward music scholarships.
“Each year we name one or two students to learn music, have lessons, and then they perform for the following festival … It’s been a wonderful thing; it’s what people have been asking for,” Grier said.
Attendance grew from about 250 to 500 or more last year, with folks bringing coolers, blankets and chairs to sit on the lawn and enjoy good music. This year’s line-up includes Gospel music by the Grier Ensemble, Blues by DJAM and Gezelle Grier-Myers, Jazz by the Houston Patton Trio, and R&B by Nikell Johnson. Food and other vendors will also be on hand. Festival hours are 1-6 p.m. at Meeks Park. For details, go to www.dorothygriermusic.com.
Meeks
Next up on August 5 is the Meeks Homecoming Jazz and Blues Festival.
“In about 2000, we were getting ready for it,” Chris Grier, a long-time friend of Idlewild resident John Meeks, said. “There were some community people, including John Meeks, saying we really need to bring a music festival to Idlewild.”
For six or seven years, he noted, the festival was held at the beach on Idlewild Lake. And, for a brief time, it became more of a cultural event with a music component which eventually moved to Big Rapids.
According to Grier, John Meeks, who died a few years ago, decided to revive the festival in Idlewild, but he ran into an issue with the township, which owned the Idlewild Lake property.
“So, he said: ‘You know what? I’ve got this property. I’ll clear out some trees. I’ll put up a quasi-stage, a band thing, and voilà.’ That became the Idlewild Homecoming Jazz and Blues Festival; that’s how that started.”
Charlie Martin, Meeks’ son-in-law, explained that Meeks “wanted a festival to draw people to Idlewild because Idlewild has a rich history in music and black entertainment …” Martin said the first festival was in Meeks’ backyard and bankrolled by him. After John Meeks died, his daughter Janet (Meeks) Martin and husband Charlie took over.
The festival has become so popular that this year it had to be moved from the Meeks’ property to the grounds of Yates Township Hall.
“I anticipate 1,500 people this time, with 6 to 11 buses coming,” Martin said. “It’s a big event,” he added. “We draw people from all over.”
Folks come from Detroit, Lansing, Chicago and further to sit on the lawn and enjoy the bands and the camaraderie. Picnic tables and tent space can be reserved as well.
This year’s featured performers are Nikell Johnson & Band from Saginaw, with a neo-soul sound mixed with R&B; Asamu Johnson & the Associates of Blues; recording artist Al Lindsey, and a few surprises.
The festival runs from noon until “whenever” at Yates Township Hall, 6437 S. Nelson Road, and is sponsored by the Idlewild African American Chamber of Commerce. For more information, go to www.IAACC.com, or contact meeksi@aol.com.
Summer Oasis
If you’re looking for a festival that offers a choice of bring-your-own coolers or a more luxurious we’ll-provide-everything event, the Summer Oasis Music Festival fits that bill, according to organizer Cedric McDougle.
“I wanted to create a unique experience crafted for those who wanted to do something different,” McDougle explained. “So, I just combined the best of both worlds, the beauty and pageantry of Glamping ⸺ glamorous, luxurious camping ⸺ and non-stop music of the music festival, and it was the perfect combination.”
This year’s event takes place Aug. 18-20 and is a full three-day weekend of fun and music.
“I’ve crafted three registration packages so everybody can enjoy this music festival on whatever amount of money they want to spend,” McDougle said. “I have a low-end package, a mid-end package, (and) … a high-end package.
“The low-end package and the mid-end package, (festival goers) bring everything they need for the weekend: their own tents, their own beds, all their grills, their own coolers, their food, everything.
“The high end ⸺ that’s all-inclusive; that’s my glampish Eden experience. It comes with a professionally glamped-out tent, a private chef providing brunch and dinner daily, … a private bartender with unlimited drinks, access to the outdoor shower/bathroom trailers, and … a concierge team to serve you. Service is part of your package and experience. If you don’t want to go to the eating area, we’ll bring your food to you. Don’t want to go to the bar, we’ll bring your drink to you. We’re going to spoil you all weekend long.”
McDougle, a Detroit native, spent time with family in Alabama where he gained an appreciation of the outdoors which inspired his idea for the glamping experience. He was also inspired by a movie titled “Idlewild”.
“At the time (1990s) I was working for a club in downtown Detroit, and the promotional team of ‘Idlewild’ booked our club to do a promotion, so the seed was planted for the love of the movie and the name Idlewild.”
In 2014 he developed the idea for the festival, and in 2016 he brought it to Lake County on Paradise Lake. The festival has grown each year ⸺ from 1,500 to 3,000 attendees ⸺ and will take place at the larger Yates Township Hall grounds.
Music for the festival is provided by professional DJs and music producers.
“I play all genres of music, and we feature the big names in house music, and house music has a loyal following because people will travel the world behind their favorite DJs,” McDougle said.
More information can be found at: glampishlife.com.
Kevin Howell is a Mason County freelance writer. He loves the Michigan woods, lakes and especially Michigan craft beers – not necessarily in that order.
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