A cool but welcoming atmosphere returned to Camp Blodgett for Buses by the Beach’s first Memorial Weekend festival since 2019. The recap and photos at Local Spins.
Community, Camaraderie: Fans at the Bus Benefit on Friday. (Photo/Holly Holtzclaw)
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A special community, passion, live music and, of course, lots of Volkswagen buses.
After a long hiatus due to pandemic restrictions, the Buses by the Beach Bus Benefit along Lake Michigan wasted little time getting things into full gear on Friday with a combination of good food, lively music and VW bus camaraderie.
Although it was a little chilly to open the holiday weekend, the sun was shining extra bright at Camp Blodgett in West Olive and countless festivalgoers shared smiles that warmed the scene, with food trucks, local art and raffles to support the Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors.
Kicking It Off: The Waverlys (Photo/Holly Holtzclaw)
And it seemed apropos that a band whose lead singer, Todd Aschenbach, is a former board member for Buses by the Beach, would get the weekend festival started.
Pumping up the crowd with some original tunes as well as covers featuring a funky-folk twist, The Waverlys covered nearly every genre — and left every foot tapping — from John Prine to Sublime to The Cure.
Obviously, the shared bond among many attendees comes from owning a VW bus, but the strong sense of community overflowed for everyone attending on Friday.
A WELCOMING ATMOSPHERE AND AN OVERWHELMING SENSE OF COMMUNITY
“It’s great for the kids, my daughter loves it,” said festivalgoer Josh Shults of Zeeland. “And I’m really looking forward to listening to some of these local bands, like Roosevelt Diggs (who perform at 9:30 p.m. Sunday).”
Nicholas James Thomasma, a VW bus owner himself, closed Friday’s show with his band, The Bandwagon. The six-person Americana folk-rock ensemble played deep into the night, with its performance truly embodying the upbeat and loving energy of Bus Benefit.
VW Buses Galore: The festival continues through the weekend. (Photo/Holly Holtzclaw)
“The best thing about Buses by the Beach is the community. It’s one of the most supportive communities and it’s an incredible party, but we’re doing something good for charity at the same time,” said Thomasma.
That charity, the Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors, is a non-profit organization that helps survivors of serious burn injuries.
The Bus Benefit continues through the weekend with raffles and silent auctions. Performances today (Saturday) will feature Nathan Walton & The Remedy, Elijah Russ Collective, Patty PerShayla & The Mayhaps and ESAU, along with afternoon sets on the Woods Stage by Chris Cordle, Jack Adams, Loren Johnson and a “mystery” headliner.
Day passes are $65 and more information can be found online here.
Read more about this year’s Bus Benefit — with a full Saturday-Sunday schedule — here at Local Spins.
PHOTO GALLERY: Buses by the Beach Bus Benefit 2022 (Day 1)
Photos by Holly Holtzclaw
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Buckle Up: Bus Benefit revs up opening night with lively music - localspins.com
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