The teaser announcement of three 2015 concerts for the outdoor amphitheater boasts big names, with the full schedule revealed in mid-April. Tickets go on sale to members April 25.
Meijer Gardens Debut: Diana Krall’s busy summer tour will include an Aug. 3 stop in Grand Rapids.
Pianist and singer Diana Krall has won five Grammy Awards and eight Juno Awards, ranks as one of the best-selling jazz artists of all time with a new album released just last week, and consistently sells out her concerts worldwide.
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Trombone Shorty
Trombone Shorty has quickly ascended the ranks as one of New Orleans’ most sought-after performers, earning accolades for the trombonist, trumpeter and singer’s feel-good R&B, jazz, funk, rock and rap, fronting a band that “scorched the stage from its opening moments to its amazing encore” (The Times Leader) and, in the studio, delivers the “most savory blend of jambalaya the bayou could possibly offer” (PopMatters).
The Beach Boys and The Temptations, meanwhile, really need no introduction, considering that the legendary and venerable Rock and Roll Hall of Fame artists have sold more than 100 million records and influenced countless numbers of musicians with their memorable pop and soul songs.
That’s just a little taste of what Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park has planned this summer for its 2015 summer concert series in its 1,900-seat outdoor amphitheater.
As an early teaser to the April announcement of its entire series, Meijer Gardens today confirmed three summer concerts: Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue on June 21, The Beach Boys and The Temptations on July 31, and Diana Krall on Aug. 3. Krall and Trombone Shorty have never played the amphitheater.
MUCH MORE TO COME, WITH MEMBER TICKETS GOING ON SALE IN LATE APRIL
The rest of the 2015 series – which follows the most successful summer concert season in Meijer Gardens history – is expected to be announced in mid-April, with tickets going on sale to Meijer Gardens members on April 25 and to the general public on May 9.
“We’re shooting for 25 to 30 concerts, but we never know for sure until we get all the confirmations back,” said Andrea Wolschleger, Meijer Gardens’ public relations manager.
Return Engagement: The Beach Boys played Meijer Gardens in 2014. (Photo/Anthony Norkus)
Chris Mautz, who books the concerts for Meijer Gardens, said the three shows announced thus far show off the “diverse and eclectic” nature of the series, which once again will strive to cover a bevy of genres in 2015.
Mautz said the growth and increasing popularity of the series can be attributed to efforts to mix things up between established artists and emerging acts such as Trombone Shorty, aka 29-year-old Troy Andrews, a dynamic musician Mautz described as “a great ambassador” for New Orleans’ vibrant music scene.
The amphitheater hosted 30 concerts last year, with the majority selling out. Nine sold out in the first few hours of sales to Meijer Gardens members. That sparked complaints from some ticket-buyers who either couldn’t snag tickets online or in line, yet saw some of those tickets wind up in the hands of scalpers and ticket brokers.
“We’re still discussing logistics as far as ticketing goes,” Wolschleger said of this year’s sales policy, “but we’ll have that information prior to the member sale.” Get details about Meijer Gardens memberships ($40/year adults) at meijergardens.org.
For reviews and photo galleries from last year’s Meijer Gardens series, check out the Local Spins archive online here.
Copyright 2015, Spins on Music LLC
