Electric Forest, Tegan & Sara, Frankie Ballard, Freedom Cruise: The Weekend Photo Gallery (June 29)

Electric Forest electrified fans with psychedelic fun and fireworks while country star Frankie Ballard reveled in a Grand Rapids homecoming and Tegan & Sara made their Meijer Gardens debut.

 

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Summer in all its musical glory descended on West Michigan, led by the Halloween-in-June spectacle that is Electric Forest deep in the woods of Rothbury with everything from EDM- and jam band-driven romps to hip hop and folk-rock, the latter courtesy of Michigan’s sole representative at the festival, Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers, who played a Saturday afternoon set — wrapped in Michigan flags — for an approving crowd.

(Photo gallery and video from Electric Forest Day 1 here, and Electric Forest Day 2: Funky Fashion here.)

Saturday’s highlights also included sets by Flying Lotus and Schoolboy Q. And while Fourth of July comes next weekend, Electric Forest got the musical fireworks started early with a late-night blast on Saturday to wrap up the ultra-popular String Cheese Incident’s long set, as described by Local Spins photographer Anthony Norkus:

“The String Cheese show got really insane toward the end. When they first got on stage, the mood was pretty chill and relaxed. I left to shoot Flying Lotus and when I came back it was almost like a totally different band was on stage. Crazy lights, people getting down in the crowd, confetti cannons and fireworks.”

And there was more musical fun to be had, as described by Local Spins’ David Specht:

TEGAN AND SARA AT MEIJER GARDENS

Performing for the first time in Grand Rapids, Canadian indie-pop duo Tegan and Sara stopped by Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park at the start of their nationwide tour. The pair not only shared their poppy, synth-heavy sound, but also captured the hearts of those in attendance, who also were treated to several opening acts, including the striking My Midnight Heart.

“I’m really excited to be here,” Sara said. “I didn’t even know what Grand Rapids was, and it turns out it’s a little slice of heaven.”

Backed by a four-man band, the twin sisters built their set primarily around the 2013 release “Heartthrob,” while briefly touching on albums as early as “So Jealous” from 2004. No matter what album they were delving into, the audience seemed to know it all with an eruption of screaming/singing within seconds at the beginning of each song.

“I was scared for a minute there,” chuckled Tegan, taking time to talk to the audience after “Walking with a Ghost” as she did after each song. “I was like ‘Who the hell is singing my part?’ You guys are good: You’re hired!”

FRANKIE BALLARD AT THE INTERSECTION’S ROCK THE LOT

West Michigan’s own up-and-coming country star Frankie Ballard stopped by The Intersection for a wild evening at their “Rock the Lot” outdoor summer concert series. Playing to a packed parking lot of cowboy boots and ten-gallon hats, Lansing-based country outfit Brian Lorente & the Usual Suspects heated things up with a truly high-energy mix of original tracks and covers, joined by Grand Rapids singer and special guest Kari Lynch.

By the time Ballard and his crew took the stage to a rousing ovation, the sun had set and the crowd was rowdy as could be – a rowdiness only amplified by fan favorites such as “Helluva Life” and “Sunshine and Whiskey”
from the singer’s latest hit album.

MADISON RISING AND WEST MICHIGAN FREEDOM CRUISE AT THE DELTAPLEX

The country’s “most patriotic rock band” Madison Rising performed Friday at the less-than-packed DeltaPlex Arena in Walker for the third day of the inaugural West Michigan Freedom Cruise. While the quintet wasn’t exactly center stage at a NASCAR event or midfield at an NFL half-time show as they’ve experienced in recent years, lead vocalist Dave Bray belted out the group’s rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner” with great passion. Grand Rapids’ own ODR and Fled Five also performed for a tiny turnout.

In addition, Mark Lavengood’s Bluegrass Bonanza brought together some all-star players on stage at Founders Brewing Co. on Saturday night, with the Dobro player leading extended instrumental jams through two sets.

THE LOCAL SPINS WEEKEND PHOTO GALLERY (June 29)
Electric Forest photos by Anthony Norkus; Tegan & Sara, Freedom Cruise photos by Tori Thomas; Frankie Ballard photos by Eric Stoike and Tori Thomas
Click on photo to enlarge gallery

Email John Sinkevics at john@localspins.com.
Copyright 2014, Spins on Music