Top Places in the North for Live Music You’ll Love

The region we fondly call the Northwoods offers so many amazing amenities…whether your preference is the great outdoors, watersports, golfing or shopping, you are sure to be as busy as you desire.

Another way the Northwoods ROCKS (pun intended) is through its large offering of LIVE MUSIC throughout the areas of Northern Wisconsin and the U.P. of Michigan.

Here are some of the Top Places in the North for Live Music You’ll Love:

Be Musically Amazed at Balsam Lake Lodge
BALSAM LAKE LODGE– Nestled in the heart of Wisconsin’s Northwoods lies Balsam Lake Lodge, a premier destination for travelers seeking a tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Located on beautiful Lake Balsam, Balsam Lake Lodge offers breathtaking views and a wide range of outdoor activities for visitors of all ages.

One of these activities is LIVE MUSIC.  Offered on Friday’s and other special days, Balsam Lake Lodge is host to a wide variety of quality performers.  Come out to the gorgeous outdoor patio with extra-large fire feature and breathtaking lake view for an afternoon or evening of live music by entertainers such as Austin Hamack, the Chrome Wheels Band, Barry Nelson, Preston Gunderson, Douglas Wright and more!

Food enthusiasts will also appreciate the lakeside dining options available at Balsam Lake Lodge which is open to lodge guests and the public. The lodge’s on-site restaurant offers a variety of dishes ranging from trendy gastropub type fare to down-home and hearty options. The menu also features a selection of craft beers, a whisky wall, wines and specialty cocktails (try the Notorious Fig Cocktail or a freshly crafted Mojito!) making it the perfect spot for a relaxing time spent sipping beverages and savoring tasty bites.

For those who enjoy outdoor activities, Balsam Lake Lodge offer guests a plethora of options to suit any interest. The lodge’s location on the shores of Balsam Lake provides guests with easy access to swimming, boating, and fishing, while nearby hiking trails offer opportunities to explore the natural beauty of the surrounding forests. Additionally, the lodge offers pontoon and watersport rentals including 2 pontoon boats, 2 paddleboards, 2 single person kayaks and a Pelican pedal boat. Boat slips may be available upon request.

Whether you’re seeking a few hours of live music with some phenomenal food & drink, a romantic getaway or a fun-filled family vacation, Balsam Lake Lodge offers something for everyone. With its picturesque surroundings, a wide range of activities, and welcoming staff, it’s no wonder that this Wisconsin gem is a Must Try.

Balsam Lake Lodge is located at 264 County Road I in Balsam Lake, Wisconsin. For more information contact them at 715-485-3210 or view balsamlakelodge.com.

Live Music and More in Ironwood
IRONWOOD – The town of Ironwood, Michigan is a fun place to go to get your LIVE MUSIC and musical performance fix! Come on out on the First Friday of each month for Live Music or plan a visit to Theatre North for a performance of The Sound of Music!

Ironwood First Friday events feature live music at the outdoor City Square stage. Made possible by a Michigan Arts & Culture Council grant and local sponsors, the annual Summer Music Series is a highlight of Ironwood’s First Friday of the month celebrations.  Artists appearing are Merrill Miller, June 2; Billy Bronsted, July 7; XTRA, August 8; and Paige Hargrove, September 8.  All concerts are from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in Ironwood’s City Square.  Downtown stores will be open late, and many will host both inside and outside craft vendors. First Friday at Ironwood’s City Square is not to be missed!

Another fun Musical Event happening in Ironwood is the performance by Theatre North of The Sound of Music!  You know the story.  You know the songs.  You know you’ll love the performance!  Come out and support a tremendous cast and crew in Theatre North’s the Sound of Music.  Performances are at Theatre North in Ironwood located at 825 North Lake Street.

Show dates and times are June 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 at 7:00 p.m. Shows on June 11 and 18 are at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are $20 and are available at the Box Office two hours before curtains up at all performances.  Advance tickets may also be purchased at Leather & Gift Shop in Bessemer and Hitt’s Fine Furniture in Ironwood.  Be sure to put Ironwood on your list of fun places to visit for Music and More! Go to felivelife.org for information on happenings in Iron County, WI and Gogebic County, Michigan.

Boulder Junction Music on Main 
BOULDER JUNCTION – The Boulder Junction Chamber of Commerce is pleased to offer the 16^th season of their summer music series, Music on Main Street. Celebrate the summer season while sitting among tall pines, beneath the starry sky and revel in the sounds of music. Enjoy live music in downtown Boulder Junction featuring an eclectic mix of musical performances. Beginning June 14th through August 9th, area musicians will be performing outdoors on the stage at Peeple’s Park (located at 10394 Main Street) on Wednesday evenings, from 7pm to 9pm.

The event location has a grassy area for sitting or dancing.  There are a limited amount of picnic tables and benches available, but it is highly recommended that you bring lawn chairs or a blanket with you. Carry-ins are permitted. Restrooms are available. In the case of inclement weather this event will be cancelled.

The music performances and dates are as follows but are subject to change;

June 14th – Chris “Pass the Biscuits” Bingman.  Chris hails from Southern Ohio and has been playing Bluegrass mandolin for 20 years. He will be performing an array of Traditional Bluegrass, and Classic Country tunes, on his mandolin, guitar, and banjo.

June 21st –Flying Blind.  Drawing on music of the golden age of Rock music, the musicians of Flying Blind bring vocal and instrumental expertise while performing the music of The Eagles, Joe Cocker, Buddy Holly, Creedence Clearwater Revival, and more.

June 28th – Mark Wayne.  Mark Wayne plays classics on his pedal steel guitar; featuring covers of Sinatra, Hank Williams, Elvis, George Jones, Marshall Tucker, Johnny Cash and more.

July 5th – Old Pine Road Band.  From Rhinelander, David Walters and the Old Pine Road have been combining a crowd-pleasing blend of soulful Funk-Grass with a taste of twang, and jam-band experimentation for nearly a decade.

July 12th – Santy & Son. Santy and Son is a 4 piece band centered in Rhinelander, WI. They play good time music from Steve Miller, Prince, Bruno Mars, Ed Sheeran, Styx, the Beatles, and much more. This seasoned 4 piece band is sure to lift your spirits.

July 19th – Troy Graham. Troy Graham is a musician and poet from the north country of the Upper Peninsula (U.P.) of Michigan, where the cold air and freshwater meet in Marquette to make a special kind of folk music.

July 21st – Brian “BMac” McLaughlin.  Join us for a special Friday night edition of Music on Main as we celebrate the 105th anniversary of Camp Manito-wish’s 105th Anniversary! BMac covers many genres of music including Pop, Top 40, Rock, Oldies, Country, and more! He loves to have fun with his listeners and strives to make each and every show exciting and memorable.

July 26th – Bret & Frisk. Hailed as a premier acoustic duo in their home state of Wisconsin, Bret & Frisk have over 500 memorized songs in their repertoire and are strictly 2 vocals, 12-string acoustic guitar, keyboard, harmonica and handheld percussion based.

August 2nd – Hand-Picked Bluegrass Band. Hand-Picked Bluegrass Band delivers a show of stellar picking and powerful vocal arrangements. HPBB has performed at numerous festival events, concerts in the park, private performances and opened for groups including The Chapmans, Rhonda Vincent, Martha & Eddie Adcock, James King, Bobby Osbourne, and the Gibson Brothers.

August 9th – 2 Part Music Event: Olivia England from 7-8pm/ Jared Kay from 8-9pm. Olivia England is a solo artist performing since she was four years old. Olivia play everything from bluegrass hits to country, pop, indie, and Christian contemporary. You can find her performing at local flea markets, restaurants, and many other venues in the Northwoods area. Jared Kay blends folk and Americana with elements of experimental jazz and jam band influences. Imagine blending Prine with The Dead and incorporating the angst of Neil Young. Using a guitar and a multitude of effects, JK builds a “wall-of-sound” and creates the illusion that a full band is on stage.

Come early to visit Boulder Junction’s shopping district and have a bite to eat before the music begins!

WIN-MAN TRAILS KICK OFF TO SUMMER
WINCHESTER – Wander over to WinMan Trails for a fun filled weekend of celebrating the start of summer! WinMan Trails is a non-profit trail system spanning 1,300 acres of private and public land. Located at 6870 Hwy W in Winchester, Wisconsin, WinMan is the year-round place to go for biking, hiking, skiing and snowshoeing. WinMan is also a happening place to go for fun events and camaraderie with other nature lovers.   The weekend of May 26, 27 & 28 is the Kickoff to Summer event featuring a ton of LIVE MUSIC and so much more.

Enjoy LIVE MUSIC, beer specials, amazing raffles and plenty of staff and volunteers to answer all your questions about the upcoming 2023 season.

On Friday, May 26, make time to stop by WinMan and be the first to get your hands on our new summer apparel, catch up with friends, and enjoy $4 select beers.

On Saturday, May 27

10-11am: Join Director of Operations, Isaac Cowart, for an Open House discussion about the improvements planned for the 2023 build season. This is your chance to ask questions and share your ideas and help shape the future of WinMan Trails

11am: Bar and Apparel Shop Open with $4 select beers all weekend long.

11am: Raffle tickets go on sale with drawing on Sunday afternoon at 3pm (you do not need to be present to win). Current details about available raffle items can be found at the bottom of this page.

11am – 1pm: LIVE music from Strong Arm Sally!

1-4pm: Tip-Ups Food Truck will be onsite serving their delicious lunch options.

1pm – 4pm: LIVE music from Black Whiskey Creek Band!

2-3pm: Bike Maintenance 101 Clinic: This is a free clinic led by former bike shop owner, and president of the board, Sean McCaleb. Learn the basics of bicycle maintenance and repairs and what you should carry when out on the trails.

Sunday May 28th:

11am: Raffle tickets go on sale with drawing at 3pm (you do not need to be present to win).

11am: Bar and Apparel Shop Open with $4 select beers all weekend long

11-3pm: Winchester Lions club will be serving up some delicious lunch with all proceeds going to fund their amazing work in our community. Cash Only.

12-2pm: LIVE music from Gregg Thomas!

11am and 1pm: Group Mountain Bike Rides

11am – Gravity Appreciation Ride led by Gene Oestreich: Prefer to keep your tires on the ground when riding at WinMan? This ride is for you. Led by volunteer extraordinaire (and the only person with a trail named after him at WinMan), this will be a fun ride for all levels of riders.

11am – Drops, Jumps and All Things Gnarly led by Beth and Brian Donley: Prefer to maximize the utilization of your suspension? This ride is for you. If you ride at WinMan, you’ve probably met Beth and Brian at some point. Amazing volunteers in their own right, these two know how to have fun and are the perfect guide for a day on the trails.

1pm – Rippin’ It with the Trail Builders led by Brad Kusz and Joel Kleimola: Join the guys in charge of improving and expanding all the trails at WinMan. Let them take you on some of their favorite trails and routes. Open to all levels of riders.

1pm: Guided nature hike led by staff and volunteers from North Lakeland Discovery Center

WinMan is not just for mountain bikers in the summer. 6 miles of trails are dedicated to hikers, walkers and trail runners. Join the crew from NLDC as they guide you through a 1-2 mile hike on our amazing trails.

Raffle Prize Packages – $10 for 1 ticket OR $25 for 3 tickets

Hinterland Brewery Tour and Prize Package – Priceless

Winner will get an exclusive, behind the scenes tour of Hinterland Brewery in Green Bay, WI for up to 5 guests. Led by lead brewer Scott Kissman, you’ll get a chance to learn about what goes into making their amazing beers. If you’re nice, you may be able to sample a beer or two along the way as well. To top things off, Hinterland has generously donated a custom Kanga cooler and additional Hinterland swag for the winner to enjoy.

Tour must be taken in 2023 with specific dates and times to be coordinated between Scott and the winner.

Kuat Transfer v2 Hitch Rack – MSRP: $449

The Transfer v2 is more solid than ever. From the steel construction of the original to a patented Flatlock™ hitch cam for enhanced stability in tow. Plus, a semi-integrated cable lock for an upgrade in security.

Local Vacation Package – Total Value: $400

Make your next getaway to the Northwoods a breeze with this amazing vacation package! Enjoy a 2-Night Stay @ Great Northern Hotel in Mercer (Value $300), $50 Gift Certificate to Wolf’s Den Bar and Grill and $50 Gift Certificate Homeslice Pizza. All you need to do is figure out if you want to use this amazing vacation to bike, hike, ski or snowshoe in the Northwoods when you visit.

Yeti 45 Cooler Stuffed with Amazing Gifts – Total Value: $506

WinMan staff members are thrilled this year to partner with some amazing businesses in our region and sell their goods in our Bar and Apparel Shop at WinMan (official name coming soon). The cooler will feature items from 5 of our retail partners including a 12oz bag of Ruby Roasters Coffee, 20oz. Insulated Coffee Mug from Real Deal Steel, Bike Feed Bag from Sturdy Bag Designs, Trail Passport Journal from Midwest Onewheel, and Beneath the Eagle Tree book by Bob Kovar.

WinMan Trails is 100% supported by your donations and money raised through events like this. Every dollar will go directly towards trail building projects planned for the 2023 season.