Grand Rapids will bounce to the beat of several of this summer’s hottest DJs and rappers when the brand-new Breakaway Music Festival turns Belknap Park into the largest outdoor concert venue in the city.
Founded by concert promoter Prime Social Group in Columbus, Ohio back in 2013, the Breakaway Music Festival has grown over the past four years. This year, the festival has partnered with MiEntertainment Group (a Michigan-based concert promoter and boutique production company) and will host the first-ever Michigan installment of the festival right in downtown Grand Rapids.
“There isn’t anything else like it in West Michigan,” said Jenna Meyer, marketing director for MiEntertainment Group. “Grand Rapids is a great fit for the Breakaway expansion due to the city’s rapid growth and the void of outdoor music festivals in the city limits, especially in the genres of music we have confirmed for this festival.”
Platinum-selling Houston-based rapper Travis Scott and chart-topping, Grammy-winning German DJ/producer Zedd will headline the two-day event. More than a dozen other EDM and rap acts — including Jon Bellion, Blackbear, Cheat Codes, and many more — will fill out the dance-centric bill.
“Breakaway will be the first outdoor music festival of this size and genre to take place in the Grand Rapids city limits,” Meyer said. “MiEntertainment Group has 30-plus years of experience producing large-scale outdoor music festivals, so we are looking forward to bringing a new event to West Michigan.”
Described by Meyer as a “natural fit” for Breakaway, Belknap Park will play a large part in the appeal of the festival, due to its amphitheater setting, 360-degree view of Grand Rapids, and close proximity to the city’s center.
In between sets on the festival’s mainstage, Breakaway revelers can also get down to the musical euphoria of the fest’s Silent Disco, where listeners dance together while wearing headphones cued into the DJ onstage.
Several Michigan-based artists will take the stage at Breakaway, including: Attak (aka Detroit-based DJ and talent buyer at The Intersection, Chad Smith); Crowd Cntrl (aka Kalamazoo DJ Chris “Sully” Sullivant); Cookn (aka Detroit DJs Nate Schwalm and Josh Smith); Grand Rapids’ own 2017 Best of the West-winning DJ AB (aka musician/designer/entrepreneur Adrian Butler); longtime Grand Rapids DJ Jay Vee (aka Jason Veeder); and more still to be announced.
“We have several partnerships set up with local businesses, and we continue to integrate new groups each week, whether it be vendors, nonprofit organizations, hotels, breweries and distilleries,” Meyer said of Breakaway’s plans to work closely with the West Michigan community.
Breakaway Music Festival
Belknap Park, 30 Coldbrook St. NE, Grand Rapids
Aug. 25-26, 2–11 p.m. each day
$80+, breakawaymichigan.com
