It’s starting to sound like summer in Washtenaw County, thanks to the start of several local music festivals and events taking place this month. Whether inside or outside, on the street or in a barn, during the day or at night, we’ve compiled a comprehensive list of summer music festivals and events to satisfy your ears.

Third Place Music Fest 
June 4-June 7, Ann Arbor 
This four-day festival of experimental music, from classical and jazz to electronic and world, includes multiple concerts in spaces around Ann Arbor. Third Place Music Fest brings together artists, community members, and businesses to celebrate the power of the third place—public spots that can foster a sense of community. The festival kicks off June 4 with performances from Magnolia Rohrer and Dr. Prof. Leonard King’s Proportioned Orchestra at the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum. It wraps up June 7 with sets from Leith and Dave Sharp Worlds Quartet at Canterbury House. For details, visit the festival’s website.

Sounds & Sights 
June 5-July 31, Chelsea 
This festival features free live performances every Thursday night on 10 different stages in downtown Chelsea. Artists include Hullabaloo, The Town Band, Bowdish Brothers, Seventh, Corndaddy, The Band Mint, the Kate Hinote Trio, Annie and Rod Capps, Wilson and Brenner, Luna Pier, and more. There’s also a weekend edition July 25-26 with live music from Magic Bus, The Square Pegz, Bret Maynard, Blaine Luis, Scotty Karate, Ben Daniels Band, and The Crasherz. For details, visit the festival’s website.

A2 Summer Streets 
June 5-August 31, Ann Arbor 
Downtown Ann Arbor’s streets transform into a bustling hub of music and art every weekend this summer, thanks to Main Street Ann Arbor. Beginning June 5 and continuing every weekend through August 31, Main Street, Liberty Street, and Washington Street will close to vehicle traffic. Live music starts June 5 with the Depot Town Big Band on Main Street by Conor O’Neill’s. Additional performers include The Huron Valley Harmonizers, Four Roses Band, The Vicissitones, II-V-I Orchestra, The Glen Leven Band, and more. For details, visit A2 Summer Streets’ website.

Sonic Lunch 
June 5-August 28, Ann Arbor 
The 18th season of this popular lunchtime live music series kicks off June 5 with Mike Posner, Brody Jenner, and Joe Hertler. The season-opening show will take place at the corner of Liberty and Division Streets. Other featured acts and their openers will perform in Liberty Plaza, including The Accidentals with Maddy Ringo, Al Bettis with Ark Laci, Michigander with Jake LeMond, May Erlewine with The Rebel Eves, Neal Francis with Rabbitology, and more. For details, visit Sonic Lunch’s website.

Ypsi Pride 
June 6, Ypsilanti 
Ypsi Pride was co-founded in 2016 by two Michigan-based queer artists through the establishment of First Fridays Ypsilanti in 2013. It’s now grown into an annual event that serves nearly 10,000 people in Southeast Michigan. This year’s Ypsi Pride features live music on June 6 at the Freighthouse in Depot Town. Featured artists include Mix Studio Bounce, Cherry Chapstick, Rhizome Roots Studio, Carmel Liburdi, Dani Darling, Soultree, Luna Labyrinthia, and more. For details, visit Ypsi Pride’s Facebook page.

Broken Branch Summer Music Series 
June 7-September 6, Ann Arbor 
Curated and hosted by Ann Arbor singer-songwriter Adam Labeaux, the long-running backyard showcase features four monthly performances with folk, soul, Americana, rock, and more. Stone & Snow and Maddy Ringo kick off the live music series on June 7. Other featured performers include GuyTalk, Bill Edwards, Dani Darling, Adam Labeaux, Amy Petty, The Outfit, and Al Bettis. For details, visit Broken Branch’s Facebook page.

Salty Summer Sounds 
June 12-August 14, Saline 
Presented by Saline Main Street, this live music series returns to downtown Saline’s West Henry Street parking lot every Thursday night from June 12 to August 14. Featured acts include Ferrario, the Judy Banker Band, Dr. Pocket, Ironwood, Saline Fiddlers Philharmonic, and more. For details, visit Saline Main Street’s website.

YpsiArboroo 
June 12-15, Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti 
Founded and organized by Ann Arbor singer-songwriter Chris Anderson, the 13th edition of YpsiArboroo features three nights and one afternoon of indie music from Detroit, Metro Detroit, and Washtenaw County artists. Shows will be at The Blind Pig, Unity Vibration Kombucha, Vertex Coffee Roasters, and Louie’s Leisure Lounge. Featured acts include Toadally, Breakfast King, SKWRL, The Vagrant Symphony, Ananda Murari-Dasa, TV Blackout, Hullabaloo, Ypsi’s Stimulators of Mutiny, Skinned Knees, Cyrano Jones, and more. For details, visit the festival’s Facebook event page.

Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival 
June 13, Ann Arbor 
This festival brings a contingent of the world’s finest chamber musicians to Metro Detroit for two weeks of performances at different venues. The Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival arrives at Ann Arbor’s Kerrytown Concert House on June 13, featuring Stephanie Tang (piano), Philip Setzer (violin), Dillon Scott (viola), Edward Arron (cello), The Paddington Trio, and Trio Dolce performing three pieces. For details, visit Kerrytown Concert House’s website.

Ann Arbor Summer Festival 
June 13-29, Ann Arbor 
The 2025 season of Top of the Park opens June 13 with Josef Deas, Rhiannon Giddens, and DJ Batz performing on the Grove Stage and features Frontier Ruckus and Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers performing on the Rackham Stage. Other performers include Jess Merritt, Lorian Janine, Anne Erlewine and the Ground, Baddie Brooks, Jamie Register, Ki5, Fangs and Twang, Lauren Blackford, and more. Also, AADL is hosting family-friendly Kids Rock shows with Little Miss Ann on June 15 and Gemily on June 22. For details, visit the festival’s website.

Rancho Tranquilico Summer Concert Series 
Through September 27, Dexter 
Organized and curated by Barry Lonik, the Rancho Tranquilico 2025 summer concert series runs through September 27. Shows occur in a barn located at 11300 Island Lake Road in Dexter. Featured artists include the Dr. Peter Larson Group, The Dorkestra, The Appleseed Collective, Lunar Octet, Jess Merritt, Chris DuPont and Kylee Phillips, Carolyn Striho, and more. For details, visit Facebook.

Make Music Ann Arbor 2025 
June 21, Ann Arbor 
Make Music Day is a live, free, international musical celebration occurring on June 21 every year, the longest day of the year. Cities across the world celebrate with concerts by professional and amateur musicians. For the local edition, Make Music Ann Arbor, musicians perform on porches and at different venues to share their music with others. The Ann Arbor District Library is helping coordinate this year’s events, including concerts at the Downtown location and the Westgate branch. See the lineups and locations at the Make Music Ann Arbor 2025 website. 

Pay As You Go Barn Concert Series / Paradiso dei Musicisti 
Through October 11, Dexter 
This live music series is organized and curated by Ann Arbor musician Steve Rich and the Paradiso dei Musicisti (Musicians’ Paradise) organization. Known as the Pay As You Go Barn, the shows run through October 11 in a renovated 1860s barn at 2645 Peters Road in Dexter. All concerts require a minimum donation of $10, which goes directly to the performing artists. Featured acts include the Ralph McKee Blues Band, The Switchbacks, The Jaybees, Salmagundi, The Extrusions, and more. For details, visit Paradiso dei Musicisti’s website.

Jazz in the Park 
July 19, Saline 
The one-day jazz festival occurs at Saline’s Mill Pond Park and features live music, food trucks, and art. Performers include Alexander Zonjic, The Rick Roe Trio, the Paul Keller Quintet, and Penny Wells. For details, visit the festival’s Facebook event page.

River Rhythm Music & Arts Festival 
August 1-3, Manchester 
The fifth annual festival occurs alongside the River Raisin in Manchester and features live music, food vendors and trucks, artist vendors, and all-weekend camping. The lineup includes Ember and Ash, J. Michael & The Heavy Burden, Jaik Willis, Creole du Nord, the Josh Rose Duo, Leif Green, and others. For details, visit the festival’s website.

John E. Lawrence Summer Jazz Series 
August 1-29, Ypsilanti 
Organized and curated by jazz guitarist John E. Lawrence, this free live music series occurs every Friday night at Ypsilanti’s Ford Lake Park and serves as a tribute to the late Dr. Morris Lawrence Jr. Featured performers include Randy Scott, Marion Meadows, John E. Lawrence, Yancyy, Demetris Nabors, Gerald Albright, and the Jeff Lorber Fusion. For details, visit the live music series website.

Dexter Summer Festival 
August 8-9, Dexter 
Originally started in 1972 as the Dexter Summer Sidewalk Sale, this event has grown into a two-day festival with craft and business vendors, live music, food trucks, and more in downtown Dexter. Featured performers include the Dave Boutette Trio, The Extrusions, Ransom Jones, 6 on 5, Ain’t Dead Yet, Gravel Shakers, Surf Zup, and more. For details, visit the festival’s website.

Fun Fest 2025 
August 9, Ypsilanti 
Organized and curated by Taylor Greenshields of Fundamental Sound Co., this annual festival started in 2021 and occurs at Ypsilanti’s Frog Island Park amphitheater. This year’s lineup includes Marcus Elliot, Peter Madcat Ruth, Al Bettis, Dani Darling, Ma Baker, Jacuzzi Beach, and Violet Sol. For details, visit the festival’s Facebook event page.

Fuzz Fest 
August 21-23, Ann Arbor 
Organized and curated by Chris “Box” Taylor, this annual celebration of scuzzy hard rock and psychedelia features different acts on two stages over three nights at The Blind Pig. While the lineup hasn’t been announced yet, you can follow the event’s Facebook page for updates.

Lori Stratton is a library technician, writer for Pulp, and writer and editor of strattonsetlist.com.