Southwestern Michigan Offers Safe Harbor for Music Lovers

With everything from the Windy City Smokeout and the North Coast Music Festival to Lollapalooza and Riot Fest, there’s no denying that Chicago is the place to be to see live music in an outdoor setting. But, when it’s time to escape the crowds and keep concert costs in check, why not cross state lines to enjoy a musical experience that’s pure Michigan?

Funky Mojo Daddy plays under the gazebo in Dewey Cannon Park. Photo by Robin Zummerman

The state line in New Buffalo might be a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Chicagoland, but the vibe is far removed from the hustle and bustle of the Windy City. New Buffalo is also known as the “Green Mile” due to its preponderance of dispensaries, but this title can just as easily be applied to the profusion of spruce trees and greenery lining the Red Arrow Highway.

But even bucolic New Buffalo can be a bit too busy due to the influx of Chicagoans who flock there during the summer season…. especially on Saturday nights. So that’s when a trip to nearby Three Oaks for their weekly “Music in the Park” series is in order.

Music lovers relaxing on a splendd Satruday night in Three Oaks, Michigan. Photo by Robin Zimmerman

Music in the Park has been going strong for 27 years and features beautiful Dewey Cannon Park as a backdrop. While the gazebo, the historic cannon and the classic train station lend a small-town feel, the musical lineup is extremely diverse with everything from flamenco and Irish music to blues, pop and other genres scheduled for the 2025 season. https://www.harborarts.com/music-in-the-park

Music in the Park is free, BYOB and starts promptly at 6:30 every summer Saturday through August 30th. It’s put on by the Harbor Arts community, which is dedicated to “celebrating the creative spirit,” and seems to be thriving in this region, especially after Covid when many came to the area to work remotely and ended up staying to pursue their creativity. https://www.harborarts.com/

The iconic cannon in Dewey Cannon Park, Photo by Robin Zimmerman

One of the driving forces of Harbor Arts Music in the Park is Dr. Greta Pope, who is responsible for booking this diverse roster of musicians. Dr. Pope is more than qualified to take the reins on this project. An internationally acclaimed singer and bandleader, Pope has done everything from author a book on the music business and host a weekly “Business Savvy Singer” podcast to penning “The Music Business Expert” blogs and more as evidenced on her website. https://www.gretapope.com. This background translates to a keen knowledge of all aspects of the music business including booking talent and handling all business transactions.

Besides handling the nuts and bolts of the music business, Pope is passionate about promoting the arts at her home base and beyond. As the Executive Director of Cultural Arts Everywhere, she said, “My mission is the idea to bring art… not just music, but art in general into communities that might not otherwise have an opportunity for exposure to the arts.”  https://www.culturalartseverywhere.org/

Pope’s website also attests to the fact that she casts a very wide net with contacts the world over as well as the top talent in the “Michiana” region. While flamenco is on the schedule on August 16^th at Music in the Park, the featured artists at the upcoming show on July 19^th will be local favorites, PT and the Cruisers. Pope said that this “wonderful” band plays fun, spirited music with a nice cross-section of material including rock, pop and country.

Pope said that she focuses on trying to bring a variety of musical acts to play under the gazebo “because people enjoy different kinds of things.” But, more importantly, she believes that it is key to “share culture with each other” and added that, “the things that have helped me understand other cultures is music, dancing and their cuisine. It’s such an important thing for tolerance.”

A little farther west, in Buchanan, where Pope and her husband have been longtime seasonal residents, she has also made great strides in promoting the arts. On June 14^th, she presented the first-ever Buchanan Jazz and Blues Festival, which featured five muscial acts and attracted over one thousand attendees. The list of artists started with the Dean Allrick Jazz Band followed by Funky Mojo Daddy, Matthew “The Boogie Woogie Kid” Ball, Southside Denny Blues and concluded with a show by Pope and the Lake Effect Jazz Big Band.

Thanks to this overwhelming response, Pope confirmed that the Buchanan Jazz and Blues Festival will be back in 2026. She added that, “We were thrilled with the response and turnout of it People just loved it. Jazz and blues haven’t been a big part of life in this geographic area. But I thought we needed to expand people’s exposure and what is available in the community.”

Pope’s sentiments are shared by Kenny Kinsey, who is a bass player with Funky Mojo Daddy and has played everywhere from prestigious Chicago blues clubs like Kingston Mines to the recent Broad Street Blues Festival in Griffith Indiana. Funky Mojo Daddy also performed at Music in the Park on June 28th. He said that “I love playing in Michigan and Harbor Country. It’s not like Chicago because you don’t get a ton of blues coming through but when you do, I think that people really appreciate it and get into it.”  

Funky Mojo Daddy plays at Music in the Park. Photo by Robin Zimmerman

Kinsey also had high praise for the Buchanan Jazz and Blues Festival where he enjoyed the “diverse crowd” and “cool little set-up.” He felt that it went over well and hopes to return there for an encore performance in 2026.

So, whether you’re heading to Michigan for a long weekend or penciling in a trip to Buchanan for next year’s Jazz and Blues Festival, you can tap into some great musical experiences in the Harbor Country area.