Sean Forbes 

At 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 31, Michigan Lottery National Stage

Forbes is a deaf rapper who has not only overcome the potential difficulties that life set before him, he has kicked their ass and come out on top. There's no novelty here, no sense of patronizing, just fat beats and a talented dude who knows how to lay shit down. 

Mayer Hawthorne 

At 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 31, Michigan Lottery National Stage

Soul music on the radio largely sounded like sewage before Mayer Hawthorne came along and reminded everyone that, by definition, the genre of music should come from our very soul and mean something, rather than being about superficial bullshit. Hawthorne has dragged trad soul into the new millennium, and the world is all the better for it.

Annabelle Road 

At 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 1, Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort Stage

Proving that a country band can be shiny and rhinestone-y, but still good (take that, Garth Brooks), there's really nothing "outlaw" about Annabelle Road, yet the songs are well-written, well-produced and well-performed.

Waycross Georgia Farmboys 

At 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 2, Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort Stage

The stellar lineup of Jennifer Westwood, Dylan Dunbar and the one and only Jackson Smith make up this old-timey, bluegrass-influenced country folk trio. The sound is gritty yet pretty, and the musicianship is superb. A must-see.

Doop & the Inside Outlaws 

At 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 2, Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort Stage

Thanks to his Inside Outlaw Songwriting Collective (involving the likes of Katie Grace, Pat V and Matt Dmits), Doop has tirelessly helped foster the outlaw country scene in Detroit. It shouldn't be forgotten that his own band is awesome, and the Inside Outlaws will likely perform some of the most heartfelt music of the whole festival.

Black Irish 

At 2 p.m. Monday, Sept. 3, Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort Stage

Black Irish's riffs are thick and sludgy, intoxicating and really heavy, sort of like a pint of Guinness Extra Stout.

Dutch Pink 

At 5 p.m. Monday, Sept. 3, Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort Stage

Since Dutch Pink formed a few years ago, the band has gone through a couple of lineup changes, but the most impressive was the addition of Serene Arena on vocals. Suddenly, every song has that awesome, rock 'n' soul vibe (think "Gimme Shelter" or any Black Crowes tune). Arena has turned Dutch Pink from an already-cool but standard rock band into something very special.

I Love Lightning Bugs

At 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 2, Ford Escape Alternative Stage

It's pop, but not as we know it. The melodies are super-hooky, but the mood is dark. Think Depeche Mode, but on a good night. I Love Lightning Bugs has already wowed Blowout audiences, and it'll be fascinating to see how they fare at an outdoor festival.

The Infatuations

At 9:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 2, Ford Escape Alternative Stage

The Infatuations were designed to play festivals. The band's disco-funk-rock will have the most miserable of passers-by dancing like a loon because it's really impossible to do anything else. You hear the bass guitar set the groove, you hear the gorgeous riffs and you hear the singers wail, and your body does all the work for you. Don't fight it.

The Polish Muslims

At 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 1, International Stage

What better way to end Saturday night than by listening to a bunch of classic songs by the likes of the Beach Boys and the Beatles performed in the style of Polish polka — with lyrical hat-tips to Polonia. It's ludicrous, but it's so much fun that it makes complete sense.

Mayaeni 

At 9:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 31, Budweiser Rock Stage

Like a more soulful version of Sheryl Crowe, Mayaeni has traveled the world performing her music and also dancing. She's a multitalented singer-songwriter, and she should be a lot bigger than she is. Wake up, world!

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