When it comes to Michigan, our little mitten has been getting portrayed as quite a down-in-the-dumps location.

It's time to reclaim our state.

One of those ways is through Hoxeyville Music Festival. The festival, which is in its eighth year, puts the spotlight on Michigan products, artists and services in order to build the core of Michigan tourism.

"Overall, our goal is to become the premier Michigan festival," said Jake Robinson, Hoxeyville organizer and owner of Robinson Guitars.

He credits Rothbury with bringing attention in and outside of Michigan to Hoxeyville, which he defines as an "intimate, locally based" festival.

"We've taken advantage of Rothbury and learned from it," Robinson said. "We use the Rothbury crowd as a place to market [Hoxeyville]."

Robinson and company are expanding consumption of Michigan products and services by bringing more national acts to the festival each year. He estimates that this year's festival is half national acts and half local acts.

"Jake is a righteous guy who is an amazing supporter of local music," said Anders Beck, dobro player for the Kalamazoo-based band, Greensky Bluegrass.

This year is Greensky Bluegrass' sixth year playing at Hoxeyville, and Beck's second.

"It's a great opportunity to get in front of people who haven't seen us yet. The sets are short, so we tailor it to what we want it to be," Beck said. "We focus on all the songs that have been sounding really good and work on a good cover."

Hoxeyville's headlining act for this year is Rhythm Devils, a drumming duo that features Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart — founding drummers of the Grateful Dead.

Hoxeyville Music Festival Manistee National Forest Aug. 20-22, gates open at 10 a.m. on Friday Three-day tickets $99 hoxeyville.com

Other performers include Keller Williams, Todd Snider, The Macpodz, That 1 Guy, Karl Denson's Tiny Universe, Seth Bernard and May Erlewine, Red Sea Pedestrians, and Steppin' In It, among others.

The festival will also have a vendor village, where local businesses can sell their goods (crafts, clothing, food) and promote their services.

Beck says Greensky Bluegrass enjoys the feeling of playing at home. When the band is back in town, members make sure they stock up on Michigan-made products such as Dublin Stone's jerky, and Bell's Two Hearted Ale, Beck's favorite beer.

"Musically, we're really comfortable here," Beck said. "There are so many friends, music lovers and acquaintances. It's like a weekend of summer camp."

Photo: Greensky Bluegrass by J. VanBuhler

Artist Lineup THE RHYTHM DEVILS (feat. Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart of The Grateful Dead) KELLER WILLIAMS • KARL DENSON’S TINY UNIVERSE • THE NEW DEAL • STEVE KIMOCK & CRAZY ENGINE TODD SNIDER • GREENSKY BLUEGRASS • JUSTIN TOWNES EARLE • CORNMEAL • THAT 1 GUY • MOONALICE GREAT AMERICAN TAXI • SETH BERNARD & MAY ERLEWINE • THE PIMPS OF JOYTIME • MY DEAR DISCO • VAN GHOST THE MACPODZ • THE RAGBIRDS • FRONTIER RUCKUS • STEPPIN’ IN IT • RACHAEL DAVIS BAND BREATHE OWL BREATHE • FOUR FINGER FIVE • AIRBORNE OR AQUATIC • RED SEA PEDESTRIANS JEN SYGIT & SAM CORBIN • ROOTSTAND • ULTRAVIOLET HIPPOPOTAMUS • FUNKTION • CORN FED GIRLS RALSTON BOWLES • RED TAIL RING  (feat. Micheal Beauchamp) • GIFTS OR CREATURES GRAHAM PARSONS & THE GO ROUNDS • STRANGE ARRANGEMENT • DETOUR BLUEGRASS THE NORTHERN SKIES • WAYWARD ROOTS • NINTH STREET BRIDGE • MIKE STRUWIN