Celebrating Local Musicians
Together we celebrate and support local musicians with short outdoor performances for Series ticket holders to enjoy while picnicking before the shows and for guests to enjoy while visiting the farm during our Lavender Fest Fridays and our Sunflower Festival.
2025 Local Ground Lineup
Please learn about the 2025 Local Ground Musicians below. Stay tuned for changes and additions!
The North Carolines
6pm on June 21, 2025 for The Series preshow
The North Carolines are northern Michigan’s newest dynamic Americana band. Caroline Barlow (guitar, vocals) and Kurt Westie (mandolin, guitar, vocals) play in the American roots styles with southern influence blown by the north winds to your part of town. Joined by a mutual love of keen songwriting, ballads, driving storytelling, and stylish instrumental tunes, The North Carolines bring you sweetness with an edge. A fresh sound for your ears to kick back and almost smell the magnolia.
The North Carolines are joined by an interest in keen songwriting, ballads, driving storytelling, and stylish instrumental tunes. They bring you sweetness with an edge with both their original songs and material from other writers. It’s a fresh, yet familiar, sound for your ears.
Steel & Wood
6pm on June 28 & August 30, 2025 for The Series preshow
11am on June 27, 2025 for Lavender Fest Friday
STEEL & WOOD is a traditional bluegrass band based in Petoskey. Members include John A. Neiswander of Petoskey on lead guitar and vocals, Irene Kazmers of Petoskey on fiddle, guitar and vocals, Dave Eggebrecht of Eastport on mandolin and fiddle, Paul Bachleda of Bay City, Higgns Lake and Petoskey on banjo, and John Belfy of Wolverine on upright bass.
Ryan Cassidy
6pm July 5 & August 9, 2025 for The Series preshow
Ryan Cassidy’s show will take you on a musical journey. Prepare to hear songs you know and love, featuring the rock ‘n’ roll roots of the 1950’s, the British pop of the 60’s, the classic rock of the 70’s, the new wave of the 80’s, and the alternative of the 90’s.
Ryan’s original music is often described as a blend of these genres and then some. Ryan is often joined live by his father, Mike Cassidy, providing backing vocals and percussion to the mix. In 2020, Ryan was joined on a duet by Cherie Currie, frontwoman of the iconic 70’s rock band, The Runaways, alongside Joan Jett and Lita Ford. The song, Small Price, was written by Cassidy and also features Sav Buist and Katie Larson of Michigan’s own The Accidentals on strings.
Northern Express states that the song is “one of the loveliest music moments you’re likely to hear this year,” as well as placing Ryan’s debut album, Between Two Normals, in their list of Top 5 Albums Created by a Michigan Artist that year, with the likes of Billy Strings, The Accidentals, and Greta Van Fleet.
Lucky 17
6pm on July 6, 2025 for The Series preshow
Lucky 17, a collective of seasoned musicians, merges the soulful sounds of Americana, folk, and roots music into harmonious synergy. Based in Michigan, this band showcases the collaborative spirit of artists who bring their individual strengths and unique voices to create a rich, melodic tapestry.
Their songs are a celebration of life’s complexities, delivered through compelling lyrics and intertwined harmonies that invite listeners into their shared journey of musical exploration.
Lucky 17 features Ed Dupas, Caroline Barlow, Tony Pace, and Ozzie Andrews.
Owen James
11am on July 18, 2025 for Lavender Fest Friday
6pm on July 18, 2025 for The Series preshow
Owen James is one of Michigan’s premiere guitarists, specializing in unique virtuoso solo finger-style treatments of Jazz standards, Bossa Nova favorites, Folk/Americana tunes and Rock, Pop & Soul classics by artists such as Frank Sinatra, Miles Davis, Antonio Carlos Jobim, the Beatles, James Taylor, Prince, Sting and many more.
As a soloist or group member, Owen has performed at venues across the country, including The Grand Hotel (Mackinac Island), The Jazz Kitchen (Indianapolis) and the Mount Hood Jazz Festival (Oregon). In addition to being an in-demand performer, Owen is also an accomplished composer.
Dane Tollas
11am on July 25, 2025 for Lavender Fest Friday
Dane Tollas is one half of the duo Two Track Mind. He covers stylized versions of bluegrass, blues, and Americana songs on an acoustic guitar.
Ty Parkin
6pm on July 25, 2025 for the Lavender Goes Pink preshow
Tyler Parkin (Ty) is a singer-songwriter and performer. He grew up in a small town in Northern Michigan, where he learned to play guitar, sing, and write songs.
He took his dream to Nashville, Tennessee, where he played on the busy strip of Broadway in downtown Nashville.
He sang and entertained for Tootsies Orchid Lounge, The Stage, Legends Corner, Kid Rocks, Second Fiddle, Rippys, Honky-Tonk Central, FGL House, Redneck Riviera, Crossroads, Nudies, Tin Roof, Hard Rock Cafe, Nashville Underground, and many more.
Ty spent four years traveling in and out of Nashville, touring both the north and south. He played Spring Break shows in Panama City Beach and festival shows opening for artists such as Tyler Farr, Eddie Montgomery, and Craig Morgan. He also spent time recording under Dark Horse Studios in Franklin, Tennessee, among top producers.
i.am.james.
6pm on July 26, 2025 for The Series preshow
An Interlochen Arts Academy graduate and Berklee College of Music drop-out, Sierra spent her early twenties splitting time between Nashville, TN and her home state of Michigan, touring both as a solo act and fronting a trio.
In 2022 she released a string of singles written and recorded in Nashville that earned several big playlist placements and features in indie music blogs, being noted as “heart-ache to dance to.” Swirling around the edge of all things alternative, the first releases of i.am.james. are an unusual cocktail of captivating melodies and heart-bearing lyrics tied together in a sonically lush vibe. i.am.james. embarked on a lengthy summer tour in 2022 reaching crowds both large and small across the Midwest with acoustic versions of these releases.
After returning to her Northern Michigan roots in 2023, Sierra began recording her first full length project with the help of Michael Dause of TreeTone Studios. Recorded in a cottage deep in the snow covered woods of Northern Michigan, the project reflects this scene; intimate and transformative, drawing sonic influence from artists like Pinegrove, KT Tunstall, and Maggie Rogers. The project is a reflective of the contemporary folk and indie rock sound i.am.james. delivered while on a 2024 summer tour, with performances at major Michigan music festivals like Bliss Festival and Wheatland Music Festival.
The project is set to release in 2025 and be accompanied by a Midwest summer tour.
Denning & Johnson
11am on August 1, 2025 for Lavender Fest Friday
Tana Denning and Fred Johnson have been playing as a duo for nearly a decade after meeting at a jam session.
Tana teaches Suzuki piano at the MSU Community Music School and performs on fiddle and Celtic harp. Fred has played in numerous bands over the years on fiddle, guitar, and mandolin. They found common ground in the music they play and delight in sharing it with audiences at festivals, workshops, dances, farmers markets, and more.
Two Track Mind
6pm August 16, 2025 for The Series preshow
Two Track Mind delivers songs you’ll recognize, but with a feel and interpretation that’s all their own. The style is best defined as Americana, yet their repertoire spans rock, country, bluegrass, and beyond- to keep it fresh, interesting and enjoyable.
This Petoskey Michigan based duo is led by strong, rich vocal and guitar work of Dane Tollas, and rounded out by the unique mandolin work of Mark Marino.
Dane’s musical voyage started busking street corners in Colorado. Mark started as lead guitarist for several Detroit bands, before discovering the mandolin. Two Track Mind is the perfect label for these two diverse musical backgrounds coming together- and most of all, having too much fun in the process.
Brian McCosky
October 4, 2025 for the Sunflower Festival
Best known for his work with Northern Michigan staples such as Pocketwood Mandingo and The Mudbugz, Brian recently returned with a new artistic vision. Combining acoustic and electric guitars, songwriting, and today’s latest music technology, Brian bridges the gap between producer and performer.
From live looping to electronic beats, heartfelt lyrics to fingerpicked instrumental arrangements, his music finds something for everyone.
If you are interested in learning more about Local Ground, please contact us at music@lavenderhillfarm.com and put Local Ground in the subject line. The application deadline for the 2026 season is December 10, 2025. We look forward to hearing from you!
