Musical liberty was the mantra for Independence Day weekend in West Michigan, with multiple bands playing free events in Grand Rapids and Comstock Park, even a show on the Grand Haven beach.
Grand Blues: Jimmie Stagger performed at Celebration on the Grand on Friday. (Photo/Anna Sink)
As Janis Joplin once sang (and Kris Kristofferson wrote), “freedom’s just another word for nothing left to lose.”
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The Soul Syndicate followed the fireworks at Fifth Third Ballpark on Thursday. (Photo/Local Spins)
It’s also the overriding theme for Fourth of July weekend, with live music — and yes, pyrotechnics — taking center stage in communities across West Michigan.
It started on Thursday at Fifth Third Ballpark in Comstock Park with The Soul Syndicate churning out luscious, vintage R&B for an enthused crowd on the Pepsi Deck after a fireworks display and continued with the newly combined, two-day Fourth of July and Celebration on the Grand festivities in downtown Grand Rapids, with nine bands playing Ah-Nab-Awen Park on Friday and Saturday.
To be sure, Friday’s tiny turnout for the revamped Celebration on the Grand was disappointing, to say the least — possibly because pretty much every community across West Michigan was hosting its own fireworks and Fourth of July festivities. With fireworks on the schedule, however, Saturday was more like it: Thousands jammed the park for pre-pyro performances.
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Here’s Local Spins reporter DAVID SPECHT’s report on the unique new combo event:
FRIDAY: FULL MUSICAL LINEUP, MOSTLY EMPTY PARK
What was once the annual post-Labor Day Celebration on the Grand at Ah-Nab-Awen Park in downtown Grand Rapids has been reshaped into an Independence Day gathering, and on Friday, that left the few hundred folks who attended the afternoon of musical performances a bit confused.
Friday’s small crowd at Ah-Nab-Awen Park. (Photo/Anna Sink)
“It’s just like when you move your furniture around in your living room,” explained host Jay Round, who books Celebration on the Grand bands. For the past 34 years, the celebration has been held over a two-day period during the month of September. “It kind of makes things exciting for a bit.”
And while changing the format of the free event might not have proven to be so successful, with only a few hundred in attendance compared to the thousands that typically flock to the show, the lineup was solid and the sun was beaming.
Running from 3 p.m. until 10 p.m. Friday, the riverside show featured a handful of local musicians including an opening set by country’s Kris Hitchcock & Small Town Son, followed by nine-piece cover band Shimmie Pearl, with a mix of dance-friendly jams. At the day’s halfway mark, jazz/R&B quartet Kathy LaMar & Her Crew dropped some original works as well as a few renditions of tracks by the likes of Bob Marley and Ben E. King.
“It sure is hot out here,” LaMar said, as she fanned herself in between tunes. “But it isn’t 111 degrees like it is right now in Vegas. Be grateful!”
Kathy LaMar on the Ah-Nab-Awen stage. (Photo/Brad Miller)
Fortunately for roots rock/Cajun outfit David Molinari & Creolization, the sun had set just enough to provide a shady stage for their set. Sharing some of their original pop/rock/Zydeco pieces as well as new material, the authentic Creole sound had folks such as Grand Rapids’ Henry Ladewig on their feet.
“We go wherever the music is and the music here is good,” said Ladewig, who was resting between songs. Ladewig and his wife had been swing dancing on and off throughout the afternoon. “The lineup they have this year is great for dancing.”
Closing out the evening was Celebration vet Jimmie Stagger with a rocking blues sound, followed by rock alt-rock/pop band The Outer Vibe, who continued to build off of the day’s energetic vibe with a collection of original tunes.
SATURDAY: A TAD BIT CLOUDY AND ENTIRELY MORE ROWDY
If any West Michigan resident missed Friday’s Celebration on the Grand, it’s safe to say they were simply waiting for Saturday’s Amway Family Fireworks gathering, which drew teeming thousands to the riverside for the annual fireworks display as well as free live music from a select few local artists.
Saturday’s crowd at Ah-Nab-Awen Park dwarfed that of Friday. (Photo/David Specht)
Firing things up at 6 p.m. with their surf/rockabilly/swing sound were The Rhythm Aces, followed by four-piece indie rock/soul group Vox Vidorra. Fronted by fronted by former Blue Molly lead vocalist Molly Bouwsma-Schultz, the soulful quartet belted out a few lengthier tunes along with a quick encore, before giving way to the evening’s featured acrobatics team, Daredevil Circus. As the sun began to fall behind the city skyline, Grand Rapids-based trio Three’s a Crowd kept the audience grooving – and lively for the coming fireworks show – with its classic rock.
Elsewhere, the 23nd annual Pedro’s Pig Roast on the City Beach in Grand Haven drew a happy gaggle of attendees who danced in the sand on Saturday to Minnie Morey & the Pacific Island Dancers and Mighty Medicine, all for a good cause — supporting The Little Red House for senior citizen programs in Grand Haven, Spring Lake and Ferrysburg — and Grand Haven’s Scott Pellegrom Trio played Rockford Brewing Co.
WEEKEND PHOTO GALLERY: July 6, 2014
Celebration on the Grand photos by Anna Sink and Brad Miller
Fourth of July photos by Anna Sink
Pedro’s Pig Roast photos by John Sinkevics
Scott Pellegrom Trio photo by Kristine Carpenter
(Click on photo to enlarge gallery)
Email John Sinkevics at john@localspins.com.
Copyright 2014, Spins on Music
