Live music in Upper Peninsula, MI

Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci comes to the stage in a SOO Opera production, with performances at the Soo Theatre and at the Center for the Arts at Mission Point on Mackinac Island.

Unwind at Bonfire with music, beverages, and food in a welcoming setting. Settle in, relax, and enjoy an easygoing night that keeps the focus on good sounds, something to eat, and something to sip.

Enjoy an intimate evening of live acoustic music at Fresh Coast Lounge, featuring local and regional singer-songwriter and roots-style performances, with warm, close-up sound. Grab a drink, find a cozy spot, and settle in for music that is performed live with no backing tracks. This event runs from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM.

A spirited karaoke night awaits at The Granada in Escanaba, Michigan. Create a free Performer Account using the Songbooks Online app to browse the song library, save favorites, and submit requests remotely. After setting up your account, enter Show ID MSK23 to connect. If you prefer not to use the app, you can simply share your name and song choice in person and step up to the mic.

BoochaMania 2 is an 18+ all-day festival-style event with nonstop action, featuring live music, boxing, jiu-jitsu, local food, and beer and kombucha on tap. The day highlights a headline fight between Hollywood Cesar and Lucha Boocha, along with vendor booths and theatrical wrestling experiences. Parking is free, and refunds are not offered.

The Kind of Blues Band performs at the Downtown Iron Mountain Music Shell as part of the annual Italian Fest, delivering straight U.P. blues seasoned with touches of jazz and other favorites in a relaxed festival setting.

Catch Northwinds Adventures for a live Christian pop, gospel, and worship performance featuring Tenth Avenue North. The show starts at 6:00 PM local time at Northwinds Adventures.

Morning Star Karaoke is back at Wild Horse Saloon, presenting a karaoke event for singers and fans alike. Use the Songbooks Online app to join the queue and choose the songs you want to perform.

Catch live music from local musicians at the Gladstone Farmers Market. The event runs alongside the market so you can also browse for treats and enjoy a beverage from the social district while you hang out with friends and neighbors.

Reynolds Recital Hall hosts the Summer Concerts at Reynolds, a series from the NMU Department of Music. This program highlights the first installment of the 24 Italian Songs and Arias, performed by Theresa Camilli, Keri Lee Pierson, and Stephanie Beinlich. Admission is free for all, and voluntary contributions help support the NMU Department of Music and enhance student experiences.

Beer Choir brings a relaxed community sing-along to Sol Blu Lounge & Tap Room, welcoming everyone from practiced vocalists to shower singers. Expect familiar favorites, classics, and crowd-pleasers shared in a friendly atmosphere with plenty of laughs. There are no rehearsals, no auditions, and no pressure. Sheet music is provided. Bring your voice, a sense of humor, and some friends. Enjoy a cold drink, open the music, and add your harmony for an evening of joyful, sometimes delightfully off-key, song.

At Besse Center Theater at Bay College, the True North String Quartet offers a program that salutes the history of this concert series and the cultural roots of the nation. Violinists Paul Lundin and Joe Deller, violist Janine Bradbury, and cellist Katri Ervamaa begin with Ernő Dohnányi’s Serenade for String Trio, a graceful and lively work that reaches back to the series’ early seasons in 1968. William Grant Still’s Lyric Quartette follows, shaping vivid scenes of African American life through movements inspired by distinct cultural archetypes. Also featured is Antonín Dvořák’s String Quartet No. 12 in F major, the “American Quartet,” written during his time in the United States and colored by folk inspired melodies and a spirit of wide open possibility. For the finale, pianist Maurita Peterson Holland and a choir of local voices join the ensemble for Jim Irwin’s “We Call Ourselves Americans.” Community vocalists are invited to take part and may contact Emily Olson at emily@beaconartsmichigan.org to learn more and sign up. After the performance, audience members will be welcomed to add their voices to the closing tribute.

Part of the Good Times Music Summer Slam, a 12-week celebration of live local music at the Downtown Houghton Pier, this concert spotlights Fast Car with a throwback set filled with hits from the 90s and 2000s. Admission is free and open to everyone, thanks to support from the City of Houghton, Studio 13, Beviamo!, the Suomi Restaurant, Illa and Dennis Garver, Keweenaw Boat Tours, 96.3 Houghton’s Breeze, Superior National Bank, Pepsi, Black Ice Comics & Books, and Industrial Graphics. Attendees may bring lawn chairs and picnic fare or local takeout, and are encouraged to enjoy Houghton’s social district responsibly. If weather does not cooperate, the performance will move to the Dee Ballroom.

At Ludington Park in Escanaba, the Karas Band Shell hosts a Wednesday concert series featuring the Escanaba City Band. This long-running tradition continues through the summer with weekly performances that keep the music going all season.

The Live on the Lawn at Lunch series wraps up with a performance by Kitty Donohoe, a songwriter honored with a Michigan Emmy. Raised in a large creative family near Detroit, she has been writing songs since childhood and blends folk, blues, and Celtic influences with North American roots to create a sound that is distinctly her own. She accompanies her storytelling on piano, guitar, and cittern, using the instruments to support both songs and instrumentals. Attendees may bring chairs or blankets and a picnic, or purchase refreshments from Wildman’s Food Truck, Main Squeeze Lemonade, and The Boho Blender. This music series remains free to the public thanks to support from The Friends of the Escanaba Public Library, Molina Health of Michigan, and Julie Moker. If weather is unfavorable, the event will move indoors and lunches will be welcome inside.

Part of the Out To Lunch Summer Concert Series, this midday show at the First National Bank & Trust Downtown Stage spotlights Daydreamers with free entertainment open to all. Enjoy live music from regional talent, a selection of bites from local vendors and food trucks, and a relaxed downtown setting that fits a lunch hour perfectly. Bring a lawn chair and make it an easy meet up with coworkers, friends, or family.

Escanaba Pop-UP Market brings a fresh way to shop, dine, and connect at the Escanaba Marketplace. Browse local vendors offering handmade goods, crafts, specialty items, and other one-of-a-kind finds while live music fills the stage. Attendees can sample fare from Boppin' Betty, Escanaba's newest food truck, and enjoy a relaxed community atmosphere with friends, family, and visitors. This edition features live music by Failte.

Enjoy an intimate evening of live acoustic music at Fresh Coast Lounge. Expect warm, up-close performances featuring local and regional artists in styles like singer-songwriter, folk, blues, and roots music, with no backing tracks. Grab a cocktail, settle into a cozy spot, and relax to a laid-back soundtrack for the night.