Traverse City Summer Microbrew & Music Festival - August 24 & 25

Porterhouse Productions has announced that chart-topping country superstar Dierks Bentley will headline the 2012 Traverse City Summer Microbrew & Music Festival, scheduled for August 24 & 25 at the Village at Grand Traverse Commons.

Bentley has dominated the country charts since taking Nashville by storm in 2003 with the release of his self-titled debut album, which was certified platinum by the RIAA and produced three hit singles, including “What Was I Thinkin,’” which reached number one on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts. Since then, the wildly popular performer has sold over five million albums, earned 10 Grammy nominations, and charted nine number one singles.

Bentley’s second album, “Modern Day Drifter,” was released in 2005 and spawned two number one singles, “Settle for a Slowdown” and “Come a Little Closer.” Shortly after its release, Bentley won the CMA Horizon Award (now Best New Artist) and was invited to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry, the youngest performer to do so after Carrie Underwood and Josh Turner. Subsequent albums “Long Trip Alone,” “Greatest Hits/Every Mile a Memory 2003-2008,” “Feel That Fire,” and “Up on the Ridge” cemented Bentley’s status as one of the biggest country stars in the country, with millions of fans flocking to his blockbuster tours with artists including Brad Paisley, Miranda Lambert, Darius Rucker, and Josh Thompson.

Earlier this year, in February 2012, Bentley once again skyrocketed up the charts with the release of his acclaimed seventh album, “Home.” To date, the album has generated three hit singles in tracks “Am I The Only One,” “Home” and “5-1-5-0.”

Bentley will kick off the 2012 Traverse City Summer Microbrew & Music Festival with a headlining performance on Friday, August 24 on the Historic Front Lawn at the Village at Grand Traverse Commons. Friday will feature a “Pint Night”-themed evening from 5-10 p.m. including pint specials from a variety of renowned Michigan craft breweries, local food and merchandise vendors, a silent disco tent, and live opening musical acts including The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band. The three-piece American country blues band has played such festivals as Austin City Limits, Telluride and Bonnaroo, opening for acts including Flogging Molly, Derek Trucks Band, Hot Buttered Rum, and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band. In 2008, their album “The Whole Fam Damily” reached #4 on the Billboard Blues Chart, and in 2010 they received the “Best Band of Warped Tour” award, voted by the crew, bands, and promoters.

The second day of the festival on Saturday, August 25, will feature an expanded brewery experience from 4-10 p.m. with over 50 breweries and 200+ flavors of beer, cider, mead, and wine, live local and national music acts, $1 tasting tokens (5 tokens are included with admission), a variety of local food vendors and brew-friendly pub grub, the festival’s popular Hop ‘N Brew tasting shack, a silent disco tent, and special partner activities and events. The complete musical lineup for the festival will be announced early this summer.

The Traverse City Summer Microbrew & Music Festival launched in August 2009, drawing nearly 3,000 attendees in its first year. The festival was so successful that organizers expanded the event to two days in 2010, drawing nearly 5,000 attendees in sold-out events in 2010 and 2011 and inspiring a spin-off winter festival. The event is billed as a "celebration of craft beer, local harvest and live music” and has raised over $30,000 for local non-profits through its summer and winter events to date. In May 2012, MyNorth/Traverse Magazine readers voted the event #3 on the list of Best Foodie & Drink festivals in Northern Michigan.

Tickets to the 2012 Traverse City Summer Microbrew & Music Festival can be purchased at www.porterhouseproductions.com and local outlet sales (outlets TBA). Tickets are $45 in advance/$50 at the door for Friday and $35 in advance/$40 at the door for Saturday, with a special discounted weekend pass available for $75 (advance purchase only). The festival is open to attendees ages 21 and up.

For more information on the 2012 Traverse City Summer Microbrew & Music Festival, visit www.porterhouseproductions.com.