Lively Acres is pleased to announce the first annual Backyard Blues, Brews & BBQ this August 7 & 8 at their Backyard event space.
“ “I’ve been a blues fan forever, and always showed up for ‘Girl Thornetta’ at (former) JR’s Warehouse in Traverse City. She rocked the place to the ground back then, and she’s still doing it today. I’m excited to share the best of Detroit and northern Michigan blues with our neighbors and visitors to the area, along with delicious BBQ and brews,” owner Jim Lively said.
Located in the shadow of the Sleeping Bear Dunes, tickets are on sale now, headlined by Detroit-based and nationally acclaimed Thornetta Davis, along with other Michigan talent.
Lively Acres will serve a home-cooked barbecue meal from local meats and produce, paired with northern Michigan beer and wine. The venue sits on M-72 outside of Empire and offers RV and tent camping onsite, a working farm, and a full-service farm market.
Musical lineup: Headlining is Detroit’s Queen of the Blues, Thornetta Davis, who tours nationally and internationally and was recently honored at the 47th Annual Blues Music Awards in Memphis with the Soul Blues Female Artist award. She has opened for Bonnie Raitt, Etta James, Gladys Knight and other blues legends, recorded with Bob Seger and Alberta Adams, and recently paid tribute to Bessie Smith for Preservation of Jazz. Opening are local legends The Fabulous Horndogs, celebrating more than 30 years of regional boogie history, and rising star Brendon Linsley of metro Detroit, a semifinalist at this year’s Memphis International Blues Challenge. Mississippi-based blues historian and acoustic guitarist Captain Dirk Wissbaum opens the show at 3:00 p.m.
Lively NeighborFood Market is hosting authentic BBQ featuring local pork from Recker Swine Farm and beef from Noonan and Sons of Empire Township. Traverse City pitmaster Adam Eastman leads the smoker, and Lively Acres’ own Chef Tero Valtonen will serve up sides, including gluten-free and vegetarian options, all sourced from the all-local NeighborFood Market. Stormcloud Brewing of Frankfort will pour a variety of beers, while Mawby Sparkling and Big Little Wines provide the wine selection.
On Friday, Aug. 7, campers and locals can enjoy Sugar Mae’s Blues Camp, sponsored by Big City Rhythm & Blues Magazine publisher Sugar Mae Owens, featuring an open-mic blues campfire hosted by Captain Dirk Wissbaum. It’s included for campers with a two-night minimum; locals can purchase a ticket for $10. Food and non-alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase. Pyramid Point Custom Guitars, an event sponsor, will have custom instruments on hand for viewing and purchase.
Local nonprofit Row by Row, dedicated to providing nutritious food to the underserved, is the event’s nonprofit partner and is hosting beer and wine sales. Additional community sponsors include Empire Business Association, Sleeping Bear Surf, Grocers Daughter Chocolate, Baileys Kombucha, Nature Walk, Higher Grounds Coffee, Glen Arbor Bed & Breakfast, Sleeping Bear Storage, Devette & Ford Insurance, Stanz Dozer, Logic Electric, Cherryland Electric Cooperative, and Williams & Bay Septic Pumping
