Music festival organizers aim to provide fun while being safe – Manistee News Advocate
Music festival organizers aim to provide fun while being safe Manistee News Advocate
First ever Forest Trail Music Festival set to kick off on Aug. 28
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Bryce and Noah Cameron are organizing the first ever Forest Trail Music Festival, which starts on Friday in Free Soil. The event will feature local musicians, as well as several big names from the folk and bluegrass music circuits. (Courtesy photo)
Bryce and Noah Cameron are organizing the first ever Forest Trail Music Festival, which starts on Friday in Free Soil. The event will feature local musicians, as well as several big names from the folk and
Bryce and Noah Cameron are organizing the first ever Forest Trail Music Festival, which starts on Friday in Free Soil. The event will feature local musicians, as well as several big names from the folk and bluegrass music circuits. (Courtesy photo)
Bryce and Noah Cameron are organizing the first ever Forest Trail Music Festival, which starts on Friday in Free Soil. The event will feature local musicians, as well as several big names from the folk and
FREE SOIL — Manistee County and the surrounding areas are full of music during a typical summer. Any night of the week, during a typical summer, one doesn’t have to drive far to find an outdoor concert.
But, since this is not a typical summer, concerts are few and far between.
So, two local brothers are fulfilling a lifelong dream by hosting the first ever Forest Trail Music Festival this weekend.
Bryce and Noah Cameron, with the blessing of and help from their parents Mark and Jennifer, will hold the event on the family’s property at 352 W. Forest Trail Road in Free Soil – just west of U.S. 31 and just south of the Manistee-Mason county line.
“My brother and I have always had the idea of doing a festival of our own,” Bryce Cameron said. “We grew up going to festivals with our family. This year, with everything being canceled, we thought it was the perfect time.
“It started with my mom wanting to have just a few friends, and then my brother and I took that idea and ran with it,” Bryce Cameron continued.
On the festival’s Facebook page, the brothers say, “This is our low key way of supporting our local traditional musicians and artists and creating a very humble fill-in for multiple Michigan music festivals that were canceled due to COVID-19.”
In addition to local musicians, the festival has also booked several big names from the folk and bluegrass music circuits.
Gates will open at the festival grounds at 10 a.m. on Friday and performances will begin at 3 p.m.
Bryce Cameron said they will comply with Michigan’s rules for outdoor gatherings by counting attendees at any of the particular areas of the festival grounds.
“We’re going to try to keep the crowds down in any particular area and if it gets too big, we’ll scale it back and not let anyone else in until people leave. The biggest thing is that we’re asking people to maintain social distance and wear masks. We’re going to be keeping things cleaned and sanitized, taking all the necessary precautions.”
Bryce and Noah Cameron are musicians themselves and will take the stage several times during the weekend.
“Mostly it’s my brother who is the musician,” Bryce Cameron said. ” He and I are going to be doing the first act. I play guitar a little bit, but I wouldn’t call myself a musician, and my brother is very talented on the piano and drums.”
Noah Cameron will lead a drum circle/jam session starting at midnight Friday and Saturday.
“That’s when everybody jams out and has fun,” Noah Cameron said.
For those who don’t want to miss a minute of the festival, tents and campers are welcome but reservations for camping must be made in advance (instructions are on the Facebook page).
Donations will be taken at the gate to cover the cost of the professional musicians and collections will be taken for local artists as they perform.
The Facebook page bills the festival as a “weekend of peace, love, music and tie dye.”
“My mom is a tie dye wizard, so she’s running the show for that,” Bryce Cameron said.
Attendees are asked to bring a white clothing item for tie dying, which is set for 5 p.m. Friday.
Both brothers say the main purpose of the event is to have fun and enjoy good music.
“We’re trying to give artists an outlet to replace those that have been taken from them this summer,” Bryce Cameron said. “Since we grew up going to folk music and bluegrass festivals we have strong feelings for them.
“A big part of this is that we want to prove that even with the virus people can have a good time and be safe as long as we all work together and be mindful of what we have to do to remain safe,” he added.
“We’re looking forward to having people come out and support our area musicians,” Noah Cameron said.
2020 Forest Trail Music Festival Lineup
Up to date information is available on Facebook at 2020 Forest Trail Music Festival
Friday, Aug. 28
• 10 a.m. – Gates open
• 3 p.m. – Opening words
• 4 p.m. – Moonshine Brothers
• 5 p.m. – Tie Dye Event with Jen
• 6 p.m. – Steve Michaels
• 8:30 p.m. – Alex & Erin
• 10 p.m. – The Smokin’ Dobroleles
• 11 p.m. – Arthur Lee
• Midnight – Drum Circle and Campfire Jam
Saturday, Aug. 29
• 10 a.m. – Open Mic
• 1 p.m. – One Lost
• 3 p.m. – Megan Gunia
• 5 p.m. – Kyle Garber
• 6 p.m. – Karaoke Hour
• 7 p.m. – Full Cord Bluegrass
• 10 p.m. – Danger Room
• 11 p.m. – Handpan with Nathaniel
• Midnight – Drum Circle and Campfire Jam
Sunday, Aug. 30
• 10 a.m. – Open mic
• 2 p.m. – Closing words