Rick Ross and Gene Simmons to headline new fall music festival in Utica

July 23rd, 2026

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Written By: Steve Neavling

For three nights this fall, UWM Field in Utica will swap baseball for a genre-hopping music festival led by Rick Ross, Gene Simmons, and Chris Janson.

The United States Professional Baseball League (USPBL) will launch its inaugural Fall Music Classic from Sept. 18-20 at UWM Field, with a lineup spanning country, hip-hop, and rock.

Rick Ross and KISS co-founder Gene Simmons will headline the festival. 

Country singer Chris Janson will open the festival Friday, Sept. 18, with Julia Cole and Michigan native Mac Watts.

Ross will take over Saturday’s lineup alongside Detroit rappers Trick Trick and Esham and rising local artist Ishii Qash. The Grammy-nominated rapper is best known for hits like “Hustlin’” and has collaborated with artists such as Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, Nas, The Weeknd, and DJ Khaled.

The festival will close Sunday with the Gene Simmons Band. Simmons, a co-founder and longtime bassist of KISS, will be joined by vocalist and guitarist Derek St. Holmes and Detroit rock band Kaleido.

“When we envisioned the Fall Music Classic, we wanted to create much more than a concert series — we wanted an annual event that brings people together through music while celebrating artists who have shaped their genres and generations,” USPBL founder and CEO Andy Appleby said in a statement. “With Chris Janson, Rick Ross and Gene Simmons headlining our inaugural festival, alongside hometown, rising talent, we’ve assembled a lineup that reflects the incredible diversity of music. From country and hip-hop to classic rock, this weekend will celebrate Detroit’s rich musical heritage while creating an unforgettable experience for fans of every genre.” 

The festival is the latest effort to turn UWM Field into a year-round entertainment destination. The roughly 4,500-seat stadium opened in 2016 and is home to the four-team United States Professional Baseball League.