Published on July 07, 2009.

A large corner of downtown Lansing on the banks of the river has been fenced off to house two stages, multiple tents, a performance space, various vendors and crowds of fans gathered to hear the music.
The 10th annual Common Ground Music Festival opened Monday to legions of concertgoers and fans as Huey Lewis and the News and Kenny Wayne Shepherd performed on the huge Capital Region International Airport Stage.
The festival grounds have the charm of a small-town fair as boats lined up along the river to hear the music and small children danced in the dirt to the music pouring from the stage. A diverse crowd ranging in age gathered in downtown Lansing to hear the music, eat the food and take in the sights and sounds of Common Ground.
“We’re a big music family, so Common Ground is a great festival for us,” Kari Hanson, a Lansing resident, said.
Hanson attended the festival with her husband, Brice, and her two children, 5-year-old Douglas and 14-month-old Camden. She said the festival was a great place to bring kids for a night on the town because of the security and size of the festival.
“We can sit all the way in the back away from the stage, so it doesn’t hurt the kids’ ears and they can play while we watch the band,” she said.
Although she confessed to not being the world’s biggest Huey Lewis and the News fan, she said her husband enjoys the band and just being at a concert was reason enough to go.
“Common Ground keeps it in our hometown, so it’s good to support it,” she said.
Judging by the impromptu dance routine of her son Douglas, it’s safe to assume the children were enjoying the concert, too.
Lansing resident Fred Mata plans to come out to the festival all week after seeing the show last night. For the relatively inexpensive cost of $81 for a week pass, he said the festival brings some much-needed good news to the Lansing area.
“This is the biggest event of the summer,” he said. “I wouldn’t miss it.”
Mata said he was pleasantly surprised by Huey Lewis and the News’ performance. He stayed for the show after coming to see Kenny Wayne Shepherd who played earlier in the evening. Shepherd is touring with Stevie Ray Vaughn’s original drummer, which was enough of a draw to bring Mata to the concert Monday night, he said.
It must be said that Huey Lewis still sounds great after decades of touring. His band performed many of their hits, including “Hip to be Square” and “Heart of Rock ’n’ Roll.” The broad appeal of the show can’t be denied as patrons young and old stood up and danced all over the packed grounds. With excellent guitar work by his lead guitarist and some powerhouse harmonica solos and catchy songs, Huey Lewis and the News was a fun show that appealed to a lot of festival attendees.
With all the people dancing and singing along, six-year volunteer Barbara Sprague was happy to be back at the Common Ground Music Festival. She said the festival was just as well attended as the previous years she has volunteered. The attendance speaks for itself in demonstrating just how supportive the Lansing area is of the festival.
“It’s so important because of all the things that are happening in the area with foreclosures and unemployment,” she said. “Here it’s just about enjoying the music and the people.”