ArtPrize as music festival: Avett Brothers, Joshua Davis, Charles Bradley, regional stars to pump up 2015 lineup

New ArtPrize musical offerings range from The Eddy outdoor venue to Michigan House’s intimate indoor performance space, plus more than 150 busking performances in five locations around the city.

 

The offerings are eclectic and impressive:

• The Avett Brothers, Charles Bradley, Ozomatli and more headlining a 10-day festival in the new outdoor Eddy venue along the Grand River in downtown Grand Rapids.

• An eclectic array of regional acts playing throughout ArtPrize at Michigan House’s impressive yet cozy temporary quarters on Ottawa Avenue at Pearl Street NW.

• Special first-time ArtPrize live music events at St. Cecilia Music Center, SpeakEZ Lounge and elsewhere around Grand Rapids.

New events showcasing live music will be everywhere at ArtPrize 2015 when it begins next week.

When the international phenomenon that is now Grand Rapids’ ArtPrize competition debuted back in 2009, music was an after-thought at best.

With ArtPrize’s focus on visual arts, many Grand Rapids performance venues and nightclubs weren’t really prepared for the onslaught of downtown visitors during the two-and-a-half-week event and most didn’t schedule anything special in terms of concerts or musical entertainment.

But when ArtPrize 2015 kicks off on Wednesday – boasting 1,500-plus artworks displayed at more than 160 venues with a $200,000 grand prize at stake – music and live performances will greet visitors at every turn.

Not only will ArtPrize showcase the 78 song entries in this year’s competition through more than 150 “busking” performances by musicians across the city, but a bevy of special concerts and live music offerings will light up indoor and outdoor venues throughout the event. Some ArtPrize visual entries also will feature music as part of their presentation.

“It’s important to spotlight music as part of the overall ArtPrize event because music is, indeed, art and it gives the event a full spectrum of cultural offerings,” said Cathy Holbrook, executive director of St. Cecilia Music Center, which once again will serve as the hub for ArtPrize’s musical entries and host an Oct. 4 benefit concert starring Michigan’s own Joshua Davis.

“And, let’s face it, art festivals and music really go together and create a lively and festive experience for the audience members.”

THE EDDY FESTIVAL TO TAKE OVER AN UNDER-UTILIZED RIVERFRONT SITE

One of the most intriguing musical spectacles will take over vacant space on Monroe Avenue NW along the Grand River just north of the I-196 overpass.

Presented by the Traverse City-based Porterhouse Presents, The Eddy is touted as a “10-day music, urban art and food festival,” with folk-rock’s The Avett Brothers, Brett Dennen and The Crane Wives combining forces for the highest-profile concert, playing the tented outdoor ArtPrize venue with a capacity of about 4,000 on Oct. 3. General admission tickets for the Avett Brothers are $49.50; get ticket details at porterhousepresents.com.

But there’s plenty more on the docket, with The Eddy’s “Artoberfest” featuring Latin funk’s Ozomatli on Oct. 9 and soul singer Charles Bradley with Michigan’s Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers on Oct. 10 ($30 advance, $40 at the gate), followed by 1964: The Tribute, a Beatles tribute band closing things out on Oct. 11 ($20, $30).

The festival actually kicks off on Oct. 2 with a “Michigan country music jamboree” featuring Gunnar & The Grizzly Boys, Kari Lynch Band and Brian Lorente & The Usual Suspects ($20 advance, $30 at gate). Other standout shows include Ana Sia, Heatbox, Young Heavy Souls and The Outer Vibe. The Eddy also will feature food trucks, a silent disco and craft beer. Get details online here.

Live music dominates the landscape elsewhere in downtown Grand Rapids throughout ArtPrize:

• MICHIGAN HOUSE – Michigan House made a splash last spring at the mammoth South by Southwest music conference in Austin, Texas, promoting Michigan music, products, food and beer. Now, the organization has set up shop in temporary, renovated quarters at Ottawa Avenue and Pearl Street NW giving ArtPrize visitors much the same experience. Throughout ArtPrize, Michigan House will host a series of public and private performances by regional bands, including electric violinist Ritsu Katsumata in a kick-off to the Waterfront Film Festival on Sept. 24, Brad Fritcher’s MOODS on Sept. 25, Nicholas James Thomasma, Valentiger and Hannah Rose Graves on Sept. 26, Andrew Martin and Megan Dooley on Oct. 3, Olivia Mainville on Oct. 8 and Channing & Quinn on Oct. 9. Get more information about Michigan House online here.

• SONG CONTEST – For the fifth year, music entries are part of the ArtPrize competition. Songs submitted by 78 artists will be spotlighted at listening stations set up inside St. Cecilia, 24 Ransom Ave. NE, which also sponsors separate cash awards for winners in five musical categories. The songs in each category tallying the most votes through ArtPrize’s system will earn $1,000. In addition, a new juried competition will award $1,000 for the top song in each category. Visitors also will get a chance to hear the songwriters perform short sets at five “busking” locations around the city: St. Cecilia, Women’s City Club, the Blue Bridge, the Gillette Bridge near the Gerald R. Ford Museum and Monument Square. (Indeed Traverse City’s The Accidentals are expected to draw big crowds for their busking performances today — Wednesday — at Monument Square at 5 p.m. and again near the Ford Museum at 7 p.m.) “The role that St. Cecilia Music Center has taken on has really given musicians a home during ArtPrize and our own awards give them the opportunity to be recognized and rewarded for their profession,” said Holbrook. Details online at scmc-online.org.

• ROSA PARKS CIRCLE – Rosa Parks Circle in downtown Grand Rapids will be the site of an opening-night celebration at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday featuring the Grand Valley State University Laker Marching Band and GVSU Dance Company. Rosa Parks Circle also will host swing dancing on Sept. 29.

• SPEAKEZ LOUNGE SHOWS – Some ArtPrize songwriters and bands will be spotlighted in special performances in an intimate setting at SpeakEZ Lounge, 600 Monroe Ave. NW. Starting at 8 p.m. Wednesday – for ArtPrize’s opening night – singer-songwriters Ralston Bowles, Nicholas James Thomasma and Pete Weatherhead will share the stage for an evening of music. On Oct. 7, electronic rock band AOK and blues outfit Hank Mowery & The Hawktones will be featured.

• ST. CECILIA BENEFIT — Joshua Davis, Troll for Trout and Fauxgrass will play a benefit concert at St. Cecilia Music Center at 6 p.m. Oct. 4. Michigan singer-songwriter Joshua Davis, who made a big splash by finishing third on the most recent season of NBC’s “The Voice,” will headline a solo show benefiting St. Cecilia, with local folk-rock band Troll for Trout and progressive bluegrass outfit Fauxgrass also performing sets. Tickets are $25-$30 and available by calling 616-459-2224. Or go online here. In addition, composer Toby Bresnahan (of Celtic music’s Peat in the Creel) will perform an hour-long set in St. Cecilia’s President’s Room on Oct. 1, a set that will include his ArtPrize composition.

• GRAND RAPIDS SYMPHONY – On Oct. 2, the Grand Rapids Symphony will feature “Love, Lust & Rock ‘n’ Roll,” featuring singer Storm Large from the group Pink Martini at DeVos Performance Hall in downtown Grand Rapids. Tickets are $18-$90.

In addition, some ArtPrize artists plan to feature local performers as part of their entries. Brooklyn artist Monika Wuhrer has even put out a call for performers — everything from individual players and bands to tuba quartets and mariachi musicians — to play 20-minute sets at her Rumsey Street SW site. Those interested in participating can sign up online here.

Beyond that, of course, nightclubs and other Grand Rapids music venues will cater to ArtPrize crowds with their own live music offerings ranging from Slash at The Intersection on Sept. 29 to Trout Steak Revival at Founders on Oct. 3.

Copyright 2015, Spins on Music LLC