Exploring the 2026 Blissfest Lineup, Part X

Innovation, Looping, & Rock n’ Roll

Layered vocals, innovative electronic music, live looping, or just straight up jams is what you’ll find in this group of artists.

Jane and Brian of FINKEL first met at Albion College. When they started dating, they also began working on music together. In an interview with Pop Matters, they discussed the creation of their latest album.

“We wanted to come back to why we do this in the first place,” recalls Brian. “We said, ‘Why don’t we go back home and write something fun that we’re closely connected to? Let’s get out of L.A. for a bit.’” The Spencer’s decided that returning to Michigan and spending a few winter months on Mackinac Island would do them some good. It would give them a chance to be together and re-center themselves creatively. The end result is Islanders, a concise cinematic 11-track project dedicated to the lesser-known side of the small eight-mile-around island that splits Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. - Pop Matters

Let's welcome FINKEL back home!

We first stumbled upon Gail in the woods at the Song Tree. Gail was not an official artist that year, so it was to our surprise that she had “gone rogue” and put herself on the lineup anyways. Some festival organizers would be mad about this, but in this instance, it was a moment of beauty and garnered a good laugh. It was not a rowdy party we found. It was a mellow and quiet and there was an attentive, and appreciative group of people huddled together listening to an artist sharing their work. We told Gail to please not do that again. Mostly because we didn’t want to give anyone else ideas. We told her that we would make it official some time. This will be her second time playing Blissfest since that guerilla set in the woods. She has worked diligently on her sound and an album that holds a host of well-respected Michigan artists including Mike Shimmin, Joe Hettinga, Justin Avdek, and Jordan Hamilton.

Speaking of Jordan, his trio returns to Blissfest. While Jordan can be seen performing solo with just his cello and a looping machine, performing with Seth Bernard, or sitting in with anyone who needs to look cool, we’re excited to see what the Jordan Hamilton Trio has in store. Jordan can already create a full sound on his own, what will a three-piece band sound like? An Orchestra?

Mr. Jake is one of those artists that also manages to sound like a whole band but it’s just him. His percussive guitar style with hints of bluegrass flatpicking drives the rhythm, his vocals echo that of both Bill Monroe and Brian Wilson all in one. He’ll then layer on his homemade “sweet stick,” sometimes a ukelele sized-based, or a banjo-lele, and now you have something really different. It’s not Something Different in the Homemade Jam, although we are still begging for a reunion. We’ll report back on that effort some day. It’s uniquely Jake. Raised in Harbor Springs, Jake is a regular on our stages while his wife Cora works behind the scenes keeping our vendor program and our site organized, and supporting our staff in any way she can!

We are so grateful for the effort made by so many skill sets to make Blissfest happen. Our musicians are multi-talented, too! For instance, you’ll find our Finance Chair Jeff Neill on the congas in the Rock n’ Roll band Levitator. One evening, I was listening to the Blissfest 2026 Lineup Playlist and a song came on that was really rockin’. I thought, “Wow, who is this? They sound like Stillwater (the fictional band from Almost Famous).” I checked the playlist and saw it was none other than Levitator, Northern Michigan's version of the Allman Brothers Band. I may or may not have immediately messaged Jeff and requested that they sing Stillwater’s “Fever Dog” at Blissfest this summer. He laughed and did not promise a dedication, but in my mind it’s going to be great.

Somewhere between a looping pedal, a rogue set in the woods, and a possible “Fever Dog” dedication lies the wonderfully strange and creative energy of Blissfest that we know and love. How often have you left Blissfest with a memory that wasn’t scripted or you realized that you loved that unknown artist more than the headliner?

We’re here to surprise you.