Dam Jam expands into three-day music festival 

MONDAY, July 12 — Lansing 5:01’s Dam Jam, an annual free-to-attend concert series and networking party that hopes to connect local young professionals and celebrate Lansing’s unique culture, is getting bigger and better. 

Originally a single-day show at Adado Riverfront Park called Bridge Fest, Dam Jam has now grown into a three-day music festival complete with food vendors and an artisan village at the Brenke Fish Ladder in Old Town. Attendees will also have the opportunity to book kayak trips down the Grand River with Rivertown Adventures or relax in a pop-up hammock park put together by Moosejaw.  

“The original themes are still there. We are showcasing cultural attractions, local music, artists, food and the different forms of mobility along downtown,” Lansing 5:01 Director Chris Sell said.  

The concert’s multi-day lineup features a diverse blend of genres. Three groups will perform per day starting at 5 p.m. Friday’s headliner MikeyyAustin and the Soulcial Club is a neo-soul-inspired hip-hop band, while Saturday’s headliner Frontier Ruckus has its own fresh take on rootsy folk rock and the Ben Daniels Band, which has top billing on Thursday, blends indie rock with country.  

“We’re turning the bottom of Brenke Fish Ladder into a makeshift concert venue, which is an incredible space for that. We’re working with Message Makers to create really dynamic staging, lighting and sound,” Sell said. “All of the music is Michigan-based.” 

The artisan village joins together several vendors from Greater Lansing that will be selling original artwork and a wide range of goods that will make great gifts for friends and loved ones. Dam Jam’s close proximity to Old Town also means attendees can check out a number of local restaurants and shops. 

Sell founded the Lansing 5:01 nonprofit in 2016 to help attract and retain young, talented professionals to the Greater Lansing area and connect them with local businesses and organizations. Sell said Lansing 5:01 is supported by grant funding and corporate sponsorships and works toward its mission through robust marketing and events and programs like Dam Jam.  

“We encourage everyone to come out and enjoy one or multiple days of fun and entertainment,” Sell said.