Midwest Sounds - Music Festival Celebrating Local Independent Musicians

We are pleased to announce that tickets are now available for our inaugural "2021 Midwest Sounds Music Festival" on November 27th. Our mission is to shine a giant spotlight on local independent musicians across Michigan and this festival will feature incredible music, beer, and food throughout the day!

The festival is hosted in the historic and wonderful Brady Lodge in Bay Court Park in Clarkston. Parking is plentiful and free. We are so excited to work with this incredible venue!

We are thrilled to announce that Homegrown Brewery is our exclusive beer sponsor and our event will proudly be selling a variety of Homegrown craft beers.

Food will be exclusively provided by D&W Street Eatery - an incredible food truck that we are so happy to be working with.

We are adding to our lineup weekly - we are proud to announce that our bill currently includes the following amazingly talented musicians:

- Jackie Pappas

Jackie is a Michigan-based singer/songwriter, whose passion for making music began some 15 years ago playing guitar. In October of 2020 she released her first studio album, a self-titled album whose themes touch upon some of the challenges we face in life and giving voice to them. Jackie is a stay at home Mom to two boys, having taken off a few years to raise them, and she’s back on the scene pursuing her passions.

- The Real Dan Minard

Born in Liverpool, England and raised in Detroit,Dan Minard grew up being influenced by bands from the British Invasion & Motown, respectively.His mom liked artists such as Cleo Laine & Billy Joel, while his dad listened to Johnny Cash & Mercer. He learned the craft of singing & songwriting with fellow artists David Blair, Sean Fitzgerald, Audra Kubat, Sista Otis,Dale Wilson, Mike Anton, and Alison Lewis. He learned that even though they played acoustic instruments, that playing songs from different genres gave them a wider respect for the arts & a diverse audience. He moved to Nashville & just recently came back to Detroit, with the encouragement of his friend, Emily Rose.

- Sean Miller

Northern Michigan singer-songwriter Sean Miller offers audiences a mix of rock, folk and country with his smooth vocals and a dash of 90s grunge. Following the release of his debut album “Everywhere I Roam” in 2020. The album was deemed "one begged to be performed live” by Local Spins and a “latest and greatest spin” by the Northern Express. Other publications praised both its live sound feel and lyricism reflecting on Sean’s life and personal stories.

2020 also gave Sean time to dive deeper into his songwriting and write enough songs to start working on his second album. A few of those songs, including his song “Dime a Dozen,” garnered Sean some national attention.

- Emily Rose

Emily Rose is a singer/songwriter who uses her sensitivity and curiosity to inspire empathy, provocation, and occasionally laughter. Her latest songs explore interspecies relationships.

- A special headline act making their debut appearance as a band (so excited to announce!)

- we are also featuring a young songwriters round at the beginning of the day!

We fully anticipate a sell-out crowd - in the event of a sellout crowd, only ticket holders will be allowed in - buy your tickets today!

We are so grateful to our early sponsors - Wiltsie's, Homegrown, Jesica Spencer and Spencer Real Estate, Independence Township Parks, Recreation & Seniors, and Main Street MI Coworking - we couldn't do this without you! Sponsorship opportunities are still available!

A bit about your hosts - Wiltsie's:

Wiltsie's began in 2020 with a single performer looking to help build community through music and community in the music industry. Fast forward to today and Wiltsie's is a Michigan nonprofit organization serving local independent musicians by putting on shows and events, hiring talented local musicians, assisting local venues and businesses in hiring local talent, and establishing a grant and mentorship program to help independent artists get their foot in the door.

Proceeds from this event go to three purposes: (1) Paying these incredibly talented musicians well for their time and gifts (2) Patronizing local businesses as vendors and supporters (3) To establish and strengthen the Wiltsie's grant program for independent musicians.

If you'd like more information or to get involved in the Wiltsie's mission, please email us at wiltsieslounge@gmail.com.

About the venue:

Bay Court Park is located in Independence Township on Andersonville Rd. The Brady Lodge is a historic building from 1921 complete with detailed brick archways and a 3 story tall turret. There is ample parking on the grounds of the park and there is ADA access to the venue. Beverage concessions will be inside the venue, food will be outside.

There will be some seating provided, but we are primarily saving space for folks to stand and listen to the performers.