Thursday’s unusual event at 20 Monroe Live is a benefit for Kids’ Food Basket and will feature a Cat Footwear fashion show to boot. And things could get a bit ‘rowdy,’ says one performer.
Fashionable Pop: Detroit’s Flint Eastwood headlines Thursday night’s event at 20 Monroe Live. (Photo/Derek Ketchum)
A diverse collection of Michigan artists will be stepping it up Thursday for a Grand Rapids charity event that combines fashion and live music.
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What began in 2015 as a private event for Cat Footwear distributors has now become an annual affair and open to the public. This year’s “Fashion Rocks Out” event will combine a concert and footwear fashion show for Cat Footwear’s “Bolder Together” campaign.
Jesse Ray & The Carolina Catfish (Photo/Derek Ketchum)
It takes place at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at 20 Monroe Live in downtown Grand Rapids. Donations of food or cash for entry will benefit Kids’ Food Basket.
An eclectic lineup of Michigan artists are set to perform, including high-energy pop from Detroit’s fast-rising Flint Eastwood, rockabilly blues from Grand Rapids’ own Jesse Ray & the Carolina Catfish and a DJ set by Grand Rapids hip hop artist Adrian Butler. Also performing is the hip hop jump rope crew JumpLA.
“Honestly, I have absolutely no idea what to expect. I’ve never been to a fashion show,” said singer-guitarist Jesse Ray, noting that the folks at Cat specifically requested a set of the band’s more aggressive tunes.
“It seems like it’s going to be pretty rowdy,” he said. “I’m just really excited. I love playing that venue.”
Flint Eastwood’s performance in Grand Rapids is part of a busy spring and summer for singer Jax Anderson and her band, with a tour stop Saturday in Denver, followed by shows in Washington, California and New York.
Thursday’s Grand Rapids event also kicks off the Wolverine Worldwide’s Spring/Summer 2018 Global Brand Conference in Grand Rapids. Thousands of the Rockford-based footwear giant’s distributors from more than 200 countries and territories are expected to attend.
A.B. (Adrian Butler)
“It’s important for us to show our partners how this campaign can be implemented on a local level here in Grand Rapids, so they can take the concept and activate it on a global scale,” said Cat Footwear rep Alyson Roy.
Cat’s “Bolder Together” campaign aims to empower collaboration and a “get things done” attitude to make change.
“It was important to us to bring together a mix of the best Michigan-based artists to put on an incredible show, while also giving our eventgoers the opportunity to directly impact their local community through donations to Kids’ Food Basket,” Roy said. “On Thursday night, we will be bold, and together we will create bold change.”
Fashion Rocks Out is open to the public ages 18 and older. More details about the event online here.
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