Common Ground kicks off 11th year in Lansing
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With headlining acts such as American Idol’s Adam Lambert and Ludacris, the Common Ground Music Festival is set to take over Lansing’s Adado Riverfront Park starting Monday.
The festival, now in its 11th year, is slated to run through Sunday and features acts throughout the week on three different stages.
Malinda Barr, media coordinator and spokesperson for the event, said this year’s lineup includes a newer feel of music for attendees.
“For the most part, it’s new rock,” Barr said.
“New bands you’ve been listening to on the radio for under a year pretty much.”
In addition to the entertainment Common Ground provides, the weeklong event also boosts the local economy.
Scott Keith, president and CEO of Lansing Entertainment and Public Facilities Authority, said the event brings a great deal of tourism and a noticeable boom to the local economy.
“This festival is a community event and a tourism generator for the region,” Keith said.
“It brings affordable entertainment into the city and generates economic impact for the community.”
Keith also said the festival creates up to 200 temporary jobs, some full-time positions.
He said the festival will generate more than $4 million for the community as a whole each year it occurs.
Although the main focus of the event is the national-level musical acts, the festival offers food vendors and activities for family members of all ages, Barr said.
“Picnics and camaraderie and exposure to downtown — there’s all kinds of fun stuff going on,” Barr said.
“It is a fabulous outdoor festival with all different types of music. There’s something for everyone.”
Aaron Breidenbach, an East Lansing resident and MSU alumnus, said Common Ground seems like a festive way to boost Lansing’s economy while having fun.
“It’s great that the venues come to our community and communities like ours to bring extra income and money and raise a good economic awareness throughout the community,” Breidenbach said.
Weeklong tickets starting at $99 can be purchased online, beginning at basic access and rising in price for upgraded access.
Basic daily tickets also can be purchased online for $32, with a special on Sunday beginning at $11, for basic access.
Tickets also can be purchased the day of the event at the festival grounds.
For more information and a schedule of Common Ground performances, visit the website at commongroundfest.com.
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tmd
(07/12/10 2:16am)Report
Wish I lived closer to Lansing. I would def go see ADAM LAMBERT Glam Nation tour! I’ve been following it via Ytube & it looks & sounds GREAT!! Don’t MISS it!!
won't go
(07/12/10 7:59am)Report
oh common ground. the place to go if you want to see the true low lifes of lansing. you can be sure that you won’t see on bmw, or sit next to any doctors. but you’ll probably hear multiple stories of people ‘saving up all year’ for their tickets…
nothing but a bunch of ‘has been’ acts anyway.
@won't go
(07/12/10 10:10am)Report
I won’t be going this year, but I’d have to completely disagree with you. They lineup this year and the last few years hasn’t been great, but for the money there are some decent headlines… One of the best shows i’ve ever seen was at common ground, Styx and Grand Funk Railroad. all for a measley 23 bucks. And there is a large diverse crowd.
Ed
(07/12/10 11:21am)Report
I’m not down with your classist vibe, but I have to agree about the line-up. Would it kill them to include one or two interesting, intelligent indie bands along with all the radio-friendly pabulum and nostalgia acts?
(Maybe someone should let them know there is a university with 40,000 students just a few miles east).
exactly!
(07/12/10 2:19pm)Report
you just proved my point! by the time Styx performed at commonground (2000 & 2006 Dennis DeYoung (lead singer, song writer, and piano player) had left the band. what you saw was a glorified styx cover band with a new lead singer. sure the guitar players are the same, but the singer really makes the band. thats like saying you saw Creedence Clearwater Revival once they replaced Fogerty. its just not the same. a bunch of ‘has beens’
classist
(07/12/10 2:23pm)Report
why would i want to spend my money to be around a bunch of drunk, unemployeed rockers reminicing about the 1970’s. a time when their life still had hope and promise. we work hard in college so we don’t end up like, or even live near them. so why spend an evening hearing about how wasted they got while at a concert back in ’77….no thanks.
oh...
(07/12/10 2:28pm)Report
grand funk railroads lead singer, Mark Farner, also left the band in 1999…years before they played at commonground. the lineup consist of players only in the band since 2000, the original drummer, and original bassist. another glorified COVER BAND. $23 plus $6 beers…..you can see cover bands much cheaper around lansing anytime of year.
and also
(07/12/10 3:27pm)Report
Burcham Hills is putting on charitable gaming poker on the Riverboat. I hate the crowds but think it will be cool to sit on the Riverboat and listen to the music! And actually have a seat!! I wish they would talk more about these other events in the media.
@ Exactly
(07/21/10 4:56pm)Report
First off, just because Dennis left the band that does not make it a cover band. Tommy Shaw was part of Styx performing at common ground and sang a lot of the songs. Shaw also wrote some of Styx’s MOST FAMOUS SONGS. Check your Styx history.