Rothbury festival: the next Bonnaroo?

It could turn out to be one of the biggest rock festivals ever to grace Michigan: more than 70 brand-name bands on eight stages, playing to a potential four-day audience of 50,000 concertgoers.

And if organizers get their way, the Rothbury festival — set to debut July 3-6 on a site 25 miles north of Muskegon — will become an annual, nationally known fixture on Michigan's summer calendar.

Dave Matthews Band, Widespread Panic, John Mayer and Snoop Dogg are among the artists booked to play the inaugural event at the Double JJ Ranch and Golf Resort in tiny Rothbury, fest officials announced Wednesday. They're part of an eclectic bill that seeks to tap into the lucrative and growing American music-festival market, which in recent years has turned such events as Coachella and Bonnaroo into rock 'n' roll household names. Tickets are $100-$475 and go on sale Feb. 27

  DAVE MATTHEWS BAND   +   WIDESPREAD PANIC   +   JOHN MAYER   +   311   +   PHIL LESH AND FRIENDS   +   PRIMUS   +   THIEVERY CORPORATION   +   SNOOP DOGG   +   MODEST MOUSE   +   MICHAEL FRANTI AND SPEARHEAD   +   GOV'T MULE   +   STS9   +   COLBIE CAILLAT   +   SLIGHTLY STOOPID   +   THE BLACK KEYS   +   KELLER WILLIAMS AND THE WMD'S   +   YONDER MOUNTAIN STRING BAND FEATURING JON FISHMAN   +   GOGOL BORDELLO   +   CITIZEN COPE   +   THE DISCO BISCUITS   +   MEDESKI MARTIN AND WOOD   +   RAY LAMONTAGNE   +   DEREK TRUCKS AND SUSAN TEDESCHI SOUL STEW REVIVAL   +   DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS   +   OF MONTREAL   +   ETOWN RADIO SHOW   +   THE DRESDEN DOLLS   +   GOMEZ   +   BRETT DENNEN   +   TAJ MAHAL   +   MIKE GORDON   +   ZAPPA PLAYS ZAPPA   +   CRYSTAL METHOD DJ SET   +   JJ GREY & MOFRO   +   THE GREYBOY ALLSTARS   +   THE SECRET MACHINES   +   BETH ORTON   +   JAKOB DYLAN AND THE GREEN MOUNTAIN REBELS   +   A3   +   BETTYE LAVETTE   +   EMMITT NERSHI BAND   +   LOTUS   +   EOTO   +   PANJEA WITH MICHAEL KANG   +   YARD DOGS ROAD SHOW   +   STATE RADIO   +   THE BEAUTIFUL GIRLS   +   SAGE FRANCIS   +   TEA LEAF GREEN   +   RAILROAD EARTH   +   BASSNECTAR   +   PNUMA TRIO   +   DIPLO   +   FLOSSTRADAMUS   +   THE JUAN MACLEAN   +   THE DYNAMITES FEATURING CHARLES WALKER   +   DJ REKHA   +   DEAD CONFEDERATE   +   MOTION POTION   +   DJ ROOTZ   +   SOJORN   +   BUSDRIVER

Beyond the music, Rothbury organizers are emphasizing the event’s environmental focus — “a huge party with a purpose,” as promotional materials describe it. The festival will host a series of seminars and roundtable discussions on climate change and alternative energy, and promoters will try to pull off what they call a zero-waste weekend, with recycling, composting and carbon-offset options.

They’ve also instituted what they call the Solar Schools Program, which will donate at least $50,000 in solar panels annually to Michigan schools. Shelby High School will be the first recipient, officials said.

“I’m very glad the festival is going on in Michigan,” said Kim Huston, 24, of Detroit. “Certainly with the automotive industry being housed here, Michigan should be at the forefront of promoting the alternative-fuel platform."