Farm Block Festival Helps Support Students Learning to Play Music

Bringing the family home to the farm to play music has become an annual tradition for the Dan Schmitt Gift of Music. Often including alumni returning to play music, and jam with old friends. The Farm Block Music Festival coming up in just a couple of weeks, supports and is organized by the Dan Schmitt Gift of Music. Students in the music program earn opportunities to express themselves artistically, and even helps support students musical aspirations by giving away instruments for free.

“Started as a celebration of a dear friend of the community who we lost when he was really young. And so we decided to host a concert on our family farm. And at the end we were kind of wondering what to do with the money that was raised, so we decided to start a non-profit. And so that’s what we did, we run programming up there (Keweenaw Peninsula). And I think there are about 30 kids receiving free instruments and free music lessons in the Keweenaw. And down in Kalamazoo we run a creative empowerment program and musical programs at youth incarceration facilities across southwest Michigan.” –

The Farm Block Festival will move the event’s Thursday night kick off concert to a new location this year, before moving the rest of the festival back to the family farm. The festival will take center stage at Mount Bohemia for the special kick off concert.

“Yeah, that’s just sort of everybody arriving in the Keweenaw, after a long drive from wherever they’re coming from. And its just a way to decompress after the long drive, and kick off the weekend. We’ve got great music from a band called Djangophonique, who has a sort of Django Reihardt style jazz music. And we’ll just enjoy the beauty of the Keweenaw, we’ll be on the deck there at Mount Bohemia. We’ll be listening to music. And that’s just sort of a way to get started, get the weekend started, get everybody in the mood to enjoy themselves and celebrate.” –

The Dan Schmitt Gift of Music works in the Keweenaw Peninsula with students on developing musical talents, and near the Kalamazoo area, with troubled teens and youth. Each year the school’s former students help put together the festival, performing live for attendees, former teachers, and friends.

Farm Block Festival starts on August 4th and goes until the 6th, on the farm in Allouez Township. Thursday night’s concert will take place at Mount Bohemia, starting at 7 pm. Go to Farmblock.com to find more information on the festival, purchase day passes or a weekend festival pass, and this year’s line up. The main festival is located at 2239 N. Farmers Block Rd Allouez, MI 49805.

Learn more about the Dan Schmitt Gift of Music here.