Hip-hop, rock, Americana, rockabilly, bluegrass, folk and a Prince/MJ dance party: With spring weather springing, West Michigan heated up with an eclectic blend of live music, shared in images at Spins on Music. (Photos, videos)
Bass-ically Outstanding: Memphis singer/bassist Amy LaVere and her band pumped up a capacity crowd with a riveting Americana blend at the Tip Top Deluxe in Grand Rapids on Saturday. (Photo/Spins on Music)
“Step out of the shade and look at the day, out here the weather’s better, now the sky comes into view, step into the sun, let go of the rung … “
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Those lyrics from “Step Out of the Shade” by Americana singer-songwriter Amy Speace seem absolutely appropriate for Michiganders who’ve been waiting for some spring sunshine for an interminably long time.
The Nashville-based Speace made a tour stop Friday at Spring Lake’s Seven Steps Up, touring behind her brand new album, “How to Sleep in a Stormy Boat,” with The Sea The Sea also on the bill.
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But that was just the, yes, first wave of music shared in the Local Spins Weekend Photo Gallery, which also spotlights Delilah DeWylde & The Lost Boys at Rockford Brewing Co., Mark Vanden Berge’s Van Morrison Experience lighting up the stage at Forest Hills Fine Arts Center (with about 50 musicians and singers on stage at one point) for Habitat for Humanity’s 30th Anniversary Build benefit, Jim Spalink performing his “Bard Show” at Schuler Books & Music, Dead Prez’s hip-hop spicing up The Pyramid Scheme’s second anniversary show, Memphis singer-songwriter Amy LaVere and Grand Rapids’ own Karisa Wilson (debuting her new rootsy band) playing a rollicking Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill, Wisconsin’s Peter Mulvey returning to West Michigan for a show at Seven Steps Up, a Michael Jackson and Prince dance party at The Intersection, and a bluegrass/country extravaganza with Howard City’s Zellie’s Opry House unleashing special matinee and evening shows of Grande Ole Opry-styled fun.
Enjoy the pics … and the spring sunshine. And remember, if you’re out and about checking out live music any weekend, send photos — with band, venue and photographer listed — by Sunday morning to jsinkevics@gmail.com and your name could be tossed into the hat to win a gift card from HopCat.
Rockabrew: Delilah DeWylde & The Lost Boys brought rockabillly charm to Rockford Brewing on Thursday. (Photo/Spins on Music)
Into the Mystic of Morrison: Mark Vanden Berge, the Moondance Orchestra, Creolization and more uncorked an ambitious Van Morrison tribute at Forest Hills Fine Arts Center on Friday.
“Angelic and Beautiful”: Singer-songwriter Amy Speace delivered the tuneful goods at Seven Steps Up on Friday. (Photo/Kevin Reedy Photography)
Duo Duo: The Sea The Sea opened for Speace and impressed fans. (Photo/Kevin Reedy Photography)
Gorgeous Climate: Speace and her band, The Storm, with The Sea The Sea. (Photo/Kevin Reedy Photography)
Harping On It: Jim Spalink performing at Schuler Books & Music on Friday night. (Photo/Kristine Carpenter)
Jam-Packed Stage: The Grand Ole Opry show on Saturday at Zellie’s Opry House in Howard City was a truly bustling acoustic affair. (Photo/Terri Grannis)
Jam-Packed House: Zellie’s filled its concert hall for two bluegrass-infused shows on Saturday. (Photo/Terri Grannis)
Hip-Hop Duo: Dead Prez played The Pyramid Scheme’s two-year anniversary show in front of an animated crowd on Saturday. (Photo/Katy Batdorff)
Very Much Alive: Dead Prez at The Pyramid Scheme. (Photo/Katy Batdorff)
Stage Rap: Dead Prez on Saturday night. (Photo/Katy Batdorff)
Soulful Americana/Rock: Amy LaVere and her band at the Tip Top Deluxe. (Photo/Spins on Music)
New Start: Opening for LaVere, Grand Rapids’ Karisa Wilson unveiled her new rootsy, bluesy rock band at the Tip Top on Saturday with impressive results.
San Francisco Spinner: DJ Dave Paul created “The Prince and Michael Experience” at The Intersection on Saturday. (Photo/Anthony Norkus Photography)
Shakin’ It Up: The crowd danced the night away to the tunes of Michael Jackson and Prince. (Photo/Anthony Norkus Photography)
In Disguise: Mustached Prince/Michael fans. (Photo/Anthony Norkus Photography)
Moves Like Jackson: Getting into The Prince and Michael Experience. (Photo/Anthony Norkus Photography)
Story-Telling Master: Singer-songwriter Peter Mulvey brought his insightful songs and tales to Seven Steps Up in Spring Lake on Saturday. (Photo/Kevin Reedy Photography)
Wisconsin Bard: Mulvey covered material spanning his career. (Photo/Kevin Reedy Photography)
Starting Young: Mandolinist Jason Wheeler of the Fauxgrass Quartet was part of the Sunday acoustic jam at Rockford Brewing that entertained young and old. (Photo/Kristine Carpenter)
Email: jsinkevics@gmail.com
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