Entertainment and Music All Weekend Long!
Art on the River has so many great local musicians who come out every year to participate and entertain! There is something for everyone on the Art on the River stage. At Kiefer Park you will find the main stage, which will feature a wide range of genres to listen to. This year the theme is the blues! 2 days of non-stop music will keep the energy high and your feet tapping! Over the last 10 years, Art on the River has featured Vinny Dombrowski and the Orbitsuns as the 2011 and 2012 headline band. In 2013 The Steepwater Band took the stage. Barbara Payton and the Instigators were the 2014 & 2018 headline band. 2016 featured Black Oak Arkansas as the headline band on Saturday night. 2017 saw Rio and the Rockabilly Revival tear up the stage for a heart stopping performance! 2019 Derrick St. Holmes brought us all his great hits including Stranglehold! In 2021 Tommy Castro joined us for a fun evening of blues! It's always a party time at Art on the River.
The 2025 Bands!
What You'll Hear at Art on the River 2025!
June 6th: 6:30pm to 8:00pm
Barbara Payton and the Instigators will return to the stage. Barbara is a Port Huron native and a Detroit rock singer/songwriter with a soulful, bluesy voice. She is recognized as one of Detroit’s most powerful and engaging live performers. In addition to her solo career, Barbara has toured as a background singer for both Bob Seger and Kid Rock. Barbara returned to Port Huron in recent years and performs around the area and in Detroit with her band, the Instigators.
Barbara Payton and the Instigators will return to the stage. Barbara is a Port Huron native and a Detroit rock singer/songwriter with a soulful, bluesy voice. She is recognized as one of Detroit’s most powerful and engaging live performers. In addition to her solo career, Barbara has toured as a background singer for both Bob Seger and Kid Rock. Barbara returned to Port Huron in recent years and performs around the area and in Detroit with her band, the Instigators.
June 6th: 8:30pm to 10:00pm
Duke Tumatoe who has performed with Muddy Waters, Bo Diddley, B.B. King, Willie Dixon, Buddy Guy, John Fogerty and George Thorogood. He was an early member of REO Speedwagon, a group that later became an arena-rock success. He has released fifteen albums as the bandleader of Duke Tumatoe and The All-Star Frogs and Duke Tumatoe and The Power Trio. His 1988 live album I Like My Job was produced by John Fogerty. He followed a rigorous tour schedule for most of his career, typically playing more than 200 dates per year. Duke played at Art on the River in 2022. We are happy to have him back this year
Duke Tumatoe who has performed with Muddy Waters, Bo Diddley, B.B. King, Willie Dixon, Buddy Guy, John Fogerty and George Thorogood. He was an early member of REO Speedwagon, a group that later became an arena-rock success. He has released fifteen albums as the bandleader of Duke Tumatoe and The All-Star Frogs and Duke Tumatoe and The Power Trio. His 1988 live album I Like My Job was produced by John Fogerty. He followed a rigorous tour schedule for most of his career, typically playing more than 200 dates per year. Duke played at Art on the River in 2022. We are happy to have him back this year
June 7th: 4:30pm to 5:30pm
Blue Blaze returns to Art on the River. Blue Blaze is the Blue Water Area’s premiere blues band. You will find them playing many local venues in the area and is always a fan favorite! Please give Blue Blaze a huge welcome this year because they always put on a great show! Come on out and dance!
Blue Blaze returns to Art on the River. Blue Blaze is the Blue Water Area’s premiere blues band. You will find them playing many local venues in the area and is always a fan favorite! Please give Blue Blaze a huge welcome this year because they always put on a great show! Come on out and dance!
June 7th: 6:00pm to 7:30pm
The Jim Cummings Band. Jim will also return to Art on the River this year. Jim has been playing bass and singing lead since he was 13 years old! He has toured with Gregg Allman, Odyssey, The Coasters, The Drifters, Edgar Winter and many more. He has worked with the Beach Boys, The Tubes, Dick Wagner, Grand Funk, Alice Cooper as well. Jim has played on hundreds of sessions and film scores. He starred in touring productions of Jesus Christ Superstar as Jesus, Little Shop of Horrors as the Plant, Miss Saigon as The Pimp, My Favorite Year as Alan Swann and continues to tour the country with the Jim Cummings Band! He is making a stop in Port Huron, Michigan so let’s give Jim a big welcome!!!
The Jim Cummings Band. Jim will also return to Art on the River this year. Jim has been playing bass and singing lead since he was 13 years old! He has toured with Gregg Allman, Odyssey, The Coasters, The Drifters, Edgar Winter and many more. He has worked with the Beach Boys, The Tubes, Dick Wagner, Grand Funk, Alice Cooper as well. Jim has played on hundreds of sessions and film scores. He starred in touring productions of Jesus Christ Superstar as Jesus, Little Shop of Horrors as the Plant, Miss Saigon as The Pimp, My Favorite Year as Alan Swann and continues to tour the country with the Jim Cummings Band! He is making a stop in Port Huron, Michigan so let’s give Jim a big welcome!!!
June 7th: 8:00pm to 9:30 pm
Bobby Murray and the Woodward Horns returns with his friends, Tosha Owens, Raye Williams, Lenny Watkins and Smoke Jones. Bobby is an amazing blues guitarist, songwriter and record producer, who played in Etta James’ backing band for 23 years, performed on three Grammy Award winning recordings with James and B.B. King and released four solo albums. In 2011, the Detroit Blues Society granted Murray their Lifetime Achievement Award. Murray currently leads his own band in Metro Detroit and has won several Detroit Music Awards. His latest solo recording, Love Letters From Detroit, was released in 2021 and was granted the Outstanding Blues Recording of the Year at the Detroit Music Awards. We are so excited to welcome Bobby back to Art on the River this year!!!
Bobby Murray and the Woodward Horns returns with his friends, Tosha Owens, Raye Williams, Lenny Watkins and Smoke Jones. Bobby is an amazing blues guitarist, songwriter and record producer, who played in Etta James’ backing band for 23 years, performed on three Grammy Award winning recordings with James and B.B. King and released four solo albums. In 2011, the Detroit Blues Society granted Murray their Lifetime Achievement Award. Murray currently leads his own band in Metro Detroit and has won several Detroit Music Awards. His latest solo recording, Love Letters From Detroit, was released in 2021 and was granted the Outstanding Blues Recording of the Year at the Detroit Music Awards. We are so excited to welcome Bobby back to Art on the River this year!!!
June 7th: 10:00pm to 11:00pm
Los Gringos is a 5-piece Rock & Roll band based in Port Huron, MI. They have rocked a wide variety of venues in southeastern Michigan for over 15 years...recently adding several visits to the Kansas City, MO area. The boys entertain at a wide variety of festivals, special events, private parties of all kinds, wedding receptions, etc. The band consists of all veteran musicians, each with decades of experience. The band consists of Ed Stephens: vocals, Bob Kerrigan: guitar, vocals, Lonnie Nye: keyboards, guitar, vocals, Reg Nicholas: Fender bass, Kenric Knecht: drums, vocals. Be sure to be front and center when Los Gringos rocks Art on the River!!!
Los Gringos is a 5-piece Rock & Roll band based in Port Huron, MI. They have rocked a wide variety of venues in southeastern Michigan for over 15 years...recently adding several visits to the Kansas City, MO area. The boys entertain at a wide variety of festivals, special events, private parties of all kinds, wedding receptions, etc. The band consists of all veteran musicians, each with decades of experience. The band consists of Ed Stephens: vocals, Bob Kerrigan: guitar, vocals, Lonnie Nye: keyboards, guitar, vocals, Reg Nicholas: Fender bass, Kenric Knecht: drums, vocals. Be sure to be front and center when Los Gringos rocks Art on the River!!!
June 8th: 1:30pm to 3:00pm
Pleasure Craft is a local band specializing in “Yacht Rock”. They played Art on the River last year and was a fan favorite. You can catch them on Sunday afternoon and join in singing along with all the tunes you know including the Beachboys! Say cheers to our friends from Pleasure Craft.
Pleasure Craft is a local band specializing in “Yacht Rock”. They played Art on the River last year and was a fan favorite. You can catch them on Sunday afternoon and join in singing along with all the tunes you know including the Beachboys! Say cheers to our friends from Pleasure Craft.
