Bliss is back: Shawn Colvin, Leftover Salmon to headline

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HARBOR SPRINGS — Excitement flooded social media over the weekend following the Blissfest Music Organization's lineup announcement for its upcoming 40th Blissfest Music Festival this coming July 8-10.

With tickets having been on sale since the New Year, festival-goers can now rest easy in knowing the festival’s return will see three-time Grammy award winning singer-songwriter Shawn Colvin and bluegrass, rock and Cajun-tinged jam band Leftover Salmon as its weekend headliners.

"Shawn Colvin is currently celebrating 30 years since the release of her first album, which is a great way to recognize this anniversary alongside our 40th," said Blissfest's talent buyer Caroline Barlow.

"She has made an impact on countless musicians and listeners with her songwriting, distinct vocals and impressive guitar playing. People may know her from her hit song 'Sunny Came Home' and we expect that they will walk away in awe of the breadth of her work," Barlow said.

Blissfest's executive director Cindy McSurely is personally excited for Leftover Salmon as she "... lived in Boulder, Colorado in the '90s and knows they will put on a killer headlining show on Saturday."

McSurely added that "they have a big sound and a passion for American roots music and are a staple in the jam band scene. It's a perfect fit with the rest of the lineup for this uplifting anniversary celebration."

The upcoming July 8-10 festival is a return to Blissfest's first festival back since 2020. Lockdown orders and a continued pandemic over the last two years saw the organization deciding to cancel its festival for the health and safety of others in both 2020 and 2021.

However, this year's festival will mark a return to live music and the festival with a lineup and roster consisting of dozens — if not over a hundred — different acts with fan favorites and both returning and new acts who will get to grace the Blissfest grounds and stages for the first time.

Aside from the headliners, this year’s lineup will include the likes of Nicki Bluhm, Laith Al Saadi, Miko Marks, Patty Larkin, Sarah Shook and the Disarmers, Parsonsfield, Jackie Venson, Eddi 9V, Taj Weeks and Adowa and many more.

Blissfest also makes a commitment each year to include many artists and bands from throughout the state and will this year have the likes of The Accidentals, May Erlewine, The Go Rounds, Seth Bernard, The Real Ingredients, Mark Lavengood, the Galactic Sherpas, Earth Radio, Patty PerShayla and the Mayhaps, Jordan Hamilton, Nicholas James and the Bandwagon, Ani and Kora, Dr. Goodhart’s Home Remedy and many more. A full lineup can be found online at www.blissfestfestival.org.

"We did our best to re-book the original 2020 lineup and also bring an exciting and jam packed festival for everyone this year with new acts in the mix from our Michigan scene as well as the national scene," said Barlow.

The upcoming 40th Blissfest Music Festival — originally scheduled for 2020 — was also not only going to mark 40 years of Blissfest but was to act as a celebration for outgoing executive director and Blissfest founder Jim Gillespie.

Current board president Angie Myers said she is thrilled and ready to honor the newly retired director with a "lineup curated by him in 2020 that has since been rejuvenated by Caroline for this year."

"I'm beyond excited that we will be presenting the 40th annual festival this summer. It was always meant to be something very special and, after waiting for two years this is going to be next level," she said.

Tickets for the upcoming Blissfest Music Festival are currently on sale and information on ticket rollovers from 2020, camping, volunteering, purchasing tickets and wristbands and more can be found online at www.blissfest.org.

Editor's note: Sean Miller is a current board member of the Blissfest Music Organization, term ending in 2022.

Contact reporter Sean Miller at smiller@petoskeynews.com. Follow him on Twitter, @seanmillerpnr, and Instagram, @sean_everest.

This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Bliss is back: Shawn Colvin, Leftover Salmon to headline