Ann Arbor Summer Festival - Top of the Park 2008

The Ann Arbor Summer Festival is an annual celebration of performing arts, outdoor entertainment and community spirit. Heading into its 25th year, the three-week event offers dozens of performances, events, activities, exhibitions and more, with eclectic music, dance, theater, film, visual arts and family fun. Founded in 1983, the Festival attracts more than 60,000 people each year from the local community and throughout Southeast Michigan. This year’s festival is being held at Ingalls Mall on the campus of the University of Michigan, from June 13, 2008 to July 6, 2008.


As part of its program, the festival produces an outdoor music and movie series called Top of the Park. Focusing primarily on local and regional artists, the admission-free event is the perfect complement to the national and international scope of the festival’s ticketed indoor performance series. For 24 consecutive nights, Top of the Park features free concerts, free movies, food by local restaurants, a beer garden and a place for family and friends to meet.


The Top of the Park shows are broadly accessible to the general public, and highlight a wide range of local, regional and national talent. The schedule typically features 50 musical acts, and the line-up includes more than 20 bands that were making their first appearance at Top of the Park. Submissions are evaluated based on type of performance, content, quality, diversity and potential audience appeal. Selected artists are compensated for their performance.


Recent performers who played Top of the Park include Matt Wertz, Stephen Kellogg & The Sixers, Brian Vander Ark, Shawn Mullins, Ari Hest, Tally Hall, Cigar Store Indians, Lady Sunshine and the X-Band, Like Water Drum and Dance, Nomo, Orquesta La Inspiracion, The Sun Messengers, Madcat and Kane, George Bedard & the Kingpins and many others.


PLEASE NOTE: The promoter will consider submissions from national artists who are touring through the area (backline not provided), but they are primarily looking to book talent from Southeast Michigan. In an effort to encourage local and regional artists to apply, they have lowered the submission fee for Michigan-based artists. Please make sure you select the right submission package or you will not be considered or refunded.