Lakes Jam 2014 Recap

Lakes Jam 2014 might be over, but this completely unforgettable weekend is definitely still fresh in our memories!

As numerous sources have confirmed, our Lakes Jam Saturday crowd shattered attendance records - even as the thunder clouds rolled in!

The three-day musical party was hosted by the Brainerd International Raceway, just north of Baxter on Highway 371. The entire three-day line-up brought down the house, including show-stoppers Chris Hawkey, Bucky Covington, Maggie Rose, Clay Walker, ThundHerStruck, Starship ft. Mickey Thomas, Uncle Kracker and, of course, Bret Michaels.

If you jammed with us, then you’ll probably remember these moments. If you weren’t - take a note. Hot on the heels of our second Lakes Jam festival, we’re just getting revved up - so we’ll be waiting to see you at Lakes Jam 2015!

It didn’t take long for the most devoted of jammers to show up – these guys were more than willing to pose for a first-day party picture.

Some of our jammers took an unorthodox approach to their get-ups for the festival.

Let’s face it; summer and beer go together like, well, Lakes Jam and beer. And the beer did flow. 

Case in point.

Bucky Covington was a favorite of Friday jammers. We can tell, based on his smile, that it was completely mutual.

And here’s country music favorite, Maggie Rose charming the crowd on a gorgeous Friday evening.

And, we can’t say enough about Minnesota boy and hometown favorite Chris Hawkey – the crowd couldn’t get enough.

 

And, Hawkey took full advantage of all our Lakes Jam meet-and-greets, including this awesome shot of Hawkey and Saturday showstopper Uncle Kracker. 

Ah, speaking of Saturday…

Thanks to Mother Nature, muddy shoes were all the rage that day. 

 
BUT, the rain wasn’t much of a problem for anyone. In fact, as these guys showed, it was actually pretty awesome.

Also, the irony of the thunderstorm picking up just as ThundHerStruck began their set was pretty sweet. Fortunately, the weather cleared up and the ladies were able to completely kill it onstage.

 

Uncle Kracker was the penultimate act of Saturday, and he brought it.

And, wrapping up a weekend of fun – Bret Michaels. And what a show!

Michaels demonstrated the true spirit of Lakes Jam better than we ever could have imagined when he made a dedication to our service members. A true class act.

He also set Twitter ablaze with his chart-topper, “Every Rose Has It’s Thorn.”

So, there you have it. Thanks to EVERYONE who came out and shared their weekend, photos and spirit with us during Lakes Jam 2014!

Believe us – we’re already pumped for next year!

Michaels and Wilson Give Back

With the frigid weather we have been having recently, it’s nice to escape the cold by thinking about summer. Summer thoughts include going out on the lake, having barbecues, and spending nights around a bonfire but don’t forget -- it also means Lake Jam!

2014's featured artists include Bret Michaels and Gretchen Wilson. These two artists are not only hard working individuals who provide you with your favorite tunes, but they are also working hard outside of the music industry by giving back to causes that they care about.

photo credit: Travel Channel

Bret Michaels is highly involved in a number of charities. As someone who has had diabetes since the age of six, he has always been passionate about charities and organizations involving the disease. When he became a competitor on the television show Celebrity Apprentice, he was able to win $500,000 for the American Diabetes Association along with an additional $250,0000 from Snapple to go towards researching a cure for the condition. Another television show Bret competed on for charity was Don’t Forget the Lyrics. From competing, he was able to win $250,000 for both St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. 

Aside from charities and organizations, Bret is also a strong supporter of our troops. In 2013, he was honored for his ongoing support of our soldiers including his trips into actual war zones in Iraq and Kuwait to perform for troops while risking his own life. Bret Michaels is one artist who uses his celebrity status to do what he can to try to change the world through supporting charities and organizations and we're honored to have him join us at Lakes Jam 2014. 

Another artist who uses her celebrity status to give back to charities is Gretchen Wilson, who rose to fame in 2004 with her hit “Redneck Woman”. She is an active supporter of charities and organizations involving children, adult education, and the fight to end obesity. In just a few short years, she was able to raise over $1.5 million through her performances for children’s charities including St. Jude’s Children Research Hospital and Make-A-Wish Foundation. She was also a national spokesperson for Country Bands Together, a national obesity education and counseling/support campaign. 

These two artists are not only talented, but they also have huge hearts. Giving back is something many celebrities do, and it’s great to learn some of their passions outside of music. We can’t wait for Bret and Gretchen to make an appearance at Lake Jam this year along the other great artists who are a part of the lineup.

Tickets and full-service campsites for Lakes Jam 2014 (June 26-28) are now available. Come join us for 15 bands, 3 days and 1 big party!