After announcing three acts for its summer series, Meijer Gardens has since added The Counting Crows, Ray LaMontagne and Tegan & Sara to the lineup, with surprises expected in final roster revealed in April.
Big Crowds for Diverse Acts: Meijer Gardens getting set for 2014 series. (Photo/Anthony Norkus)
JUST ANNOUNCED: The Counting Crows will make their first-ever appearance at Meijer Gardens on July 21, part of the band’s 2014 world tour. Also, Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Ray LaMontagne will play Meijer Gardens on July 23; rock/indie-pop’s Tegan and Sara will perform at Meijer Gardens on June 28.
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Summer has never seemed farther away than it has this winter.
But take heart, because it’s closer than you might think: Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park has revealed several bookings for its summer concert series in hopes of whetting the appetite of members and concertgoers.
The Counting Crows
Earlier this winter, Meijer Gardens announced that alt-rock/Christian rock band Needtobreathe (June 21), country singer Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland fame (July 19) and disco’s KC and The Sunshine Band (July 24) will grace the 1,900-seat outdoor amphitheater in Grand Rapids Township this summer, with another two dozen or so artists expected to be announced this spring.
Since then, the amphitheater has revealed that Tegan and Sara will play Meijer Gardens on June 28, multi-platinum-selling The Counting Crows on July 21 and singer-songwriter Ray LaMontagne on July 23.
Chris Mautz, who books the annual series for Meijer Gardens, told Local Spins even these three teasers for the full series – which likely feature 25 or more shows – represent a philosophy of expanding the already diverse bookings.
“We never thought of ourselves as being just one thing or one genre or one audience base,” he said. “What we’ve done is look at different opportunities that present themselves or we seek out … and try to make it happen. Every time we have tried to expand it a little bit, it’s been received well.”
Harry “KC” Wayne Casey
Last year, Meijer Gardens hosted a record-breaking 29 shows at its amphitheater, with four of those concerts selling out on the very first day tickets were offered to Meijer Gardens members.
This year, the exclusive ticket pre-sale period for Meijer Gardens members begins April 26 and runs through May 9, with members receiving a $5 discount on each ticket. Tickets go on sale to the general public May 10.
Mautz vowed the final lineup, to be revealed in mid-April, would include surprises to pique the interest of audiences embracing up-and-coming indie or jam-band acts similar to 2013’s bookings of Grizzly Bear, The Head and The Heart, Owl City and John Butler Trio.
Needtobreathe
“You can count on that,” he said. “What’s so fun about creating a series like this is you never know what’s going to excite someone. It’s really cool that we have such an opportunity to really bring in a diverse mix of artists that will make so many different fans of those artists happy.”
This summer’s series ventures into Christian alt-rock with Needtobreathe, a veteran band that releases a new album in April, the “Shake Your Booty” ’70s disco/funk of KC and the Sunshine Band, and the country music of Nettles (best known as part of the Sugarland duo), who last month released a solo album, “That Girl.”
“She’s amazing,” Mautz said. “I think her solo career’s going to be remarkable.”
With a new title sponsor, the 12th season of shows at the outdoor amphitheater also has a new name: The Fifth Third Bank Summer Concerts at Meijer Gardens. In a prepared statement, David Hooker, Meijer Gardens president & CEO, called it a thrill “to put two great brands together” for the 2014 series.
GRAND RAPIDS MOVES CELEBRATION ON GRAND TO JULY
And because summer’s not as far away as it might seem, Meijer Gardens wasn’t the only organization to tease music lovers hankering for warm weather.
The city of Grand Rapids announced this week that it would condense its Celebration on the Grand (usually held in September) and the Fourth of July fireworks/entertainment into a single weekend in early July.
That means free Celebration on the Grand activities will take place downtown on Friday evening July 4, with the Amway Family Fireworks taking place after dusk on Saturday July 5, following family activities and live music. In a press release, the city described the move as creating “a patriotic powerhouse of entertainment.” TownSquare Media will once again join Amway in sponsoring the Fourth of July event.
LOWELL’S SUMMER CONCERT SERIES TO SPOTLIGHT REGIONAL BANDS
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The Lowell Showboat Sizzlin’ Summer Concert Series, meanwhile, revealed its lineup for its free Thursday night concert series featuring Michigan acts.
The series kicks off June 12 with West Michigan blues guitarist and singer Vincent Hayes. Here’s the full schedule of diverse acts, with bands performing starting at 7 p.m. on Thursdays on Riverwalk Plaza on the Flat River in Lowell:
June 12 – Vincent Hayes
June 19 – Jukejoint Handmedowns
June 26 – Skankadank
July 3 – Grand Rapids Jazz Orchestra with Edye Evans Hyde
July 10 – Kris Hitchcock and Small Town Son
July 11 (Friday) – Bronk Brothers
July 17 – Appleseed Collective
July 24 – Alive and Well
July 31 – Greg Nagy
Aug. 14 – K. Jones & the Benzie Playboys
Aug 21 – Nicholas James and the Bandwagon
The Meijer Gardens and City of Grand Rapids’ announcements are liable to spark a reaction from audiences. What’s yours?
Email John Sinkevics at jsinkevics@gmail.com.
Copyright 2014, Spins on Music
