Summer 2015 heats up with return of several popular music-related events and series in Grand Rapids, Walker, East Grand Rapids, Grand Haven and Sparta. See the full lineups.
Freedom Cruising: Patriotic rock band Madison Rising returns for the 2015 event. (Photo/Tori Thomas)
WEST MICHIGAN FREEDOM CRUISE ROLLS AGAIN IN JUNE
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The West Michigan Freedom Cruise will once again roll through several communities across several days this summer.
Wayne Baker Brooks
Hosted by Village Motorsports and benefiting the Finish the Mission Veteran Relief Fund, the five-day event kicks off June 24 with a classic car and bike show as part of the revamped 97LAV Summertime Blues concert series with Wayne Baker Brooks at DeltaPlex Arena in Walker. (Read more about WLAV’s relocated blues series in this Local Spins story.)
That’s followed by a Thursday “honor ride” of motorcycles to downtown Sparta with a flag presentation to the David Warsen family, a golf tournament, a Friday night cruise with a block party and music outside Garage Bar & Grill and a Saturday afternoon concert at the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans featuring Madison Rising, the patriotic New York rock band that performed at last year’s event.
Freedom Cruise wraps up on June 28 with a closing ceremony and “blessing of the rides” at the Home for Veterans.
Organizers also announced today that the “memorial week” celebration would include the tapping of a “unique Beer City, U.S.A. campaign” that includes a commemorative Perrin Brewing beer – Veterans Pale Ale – and the honoring of “very special American Fallen Soldier Project recipient.”
This year’s Freedom Cruise has tweaked a few activities from the inaugural 2014 event. Get the full schedule and more details online at freedomcruise.net.
CELADON SUMMER CONCERT SERIES KICKS OFF JUNE 25 WITH JIM SHANEBERGER
Firing Up the Celadon Blues: Jim Shaneberger (Photo/Anna Sink)
The intimate, picnic-styled summer concert series at Grand Rapids’ Celadon New Town amphitheater off Knapp Street NE returns for 2015 with a bevy of West Michigan’s most popular bands.
The free monthly Celadon Summer Concert Series launches on June 25 with the fiery blues of Grand Rapids’ Jim Shaneberger Band and the soul/rock/blues of Kalamazoo’s Fly Paper.
On July 23, one of the region’s hottest groups, Grand Rapids soul-rock band Vox Vidorra – which recently released its full-length debut album – will headline the show with opener Eric Kehoe. The series wraps up on Aug. 13 with singer-songwriter Lucas Wilson & The Bad Disciples. Country singer Kari Lynch opens the evening.
The concerts begin at 6:30 p.m. with food vendor sales beginning at 6 p.m.
The amphitheater in the Celadon New Town development is located just east of Celebration Cinema North at 2050 Celadon Drive NE. Get more information online at facebook.com/celadonconcerts.
COMMUNITY CONCERT SERIES TO LIGHT UP EAST GRAND RAPIDS, SPARTA, GRAND HAVEN
Summer is chock full of free weeknight concerts in communities across West Michigan, with series announcements previously made for Rockford, Lowell, Wyoming and Holland. Get those lineups here.
Mid-Life Crisis
Here are a few more:
United Bank Summer Concert Series
When: 7 p.m. Tuesdays
Where: John Collins Park, 650 Lakeside Dr. SE, East Grand Rapids
The Lineup:
June 16 – Jim Shaneberger Band
June 23 – Rachel B
June 30 – Mid-Life Crisis
July 7 – Kari Holmes & The Modern Day Drifters
July 14 – The Raisin Pickers
July 21 – The Mickeys
More details at eastgr.org.
Lazy Blue Tunas (Photo/Anthony Norkus)
Sparta Concerts in Rogers Park
When: 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays
Where: Rogers Park, downtown Sparta
The Lineup:
June 17 – Rick Lieder Band
June 24 – Lazy Blue Tunas
July 1 – Sea Cruisers
July 8 – Mane Street
July 15 – Cross Creek
July 22 – Freehand Band
July 29 – Paddy’s Cure
Aug. 5 – 6 Pak
Aug. 12 – Strike the Rock
More information at spartachamber.com.
Don Middlebrook
Grand Haven Tuesdays in the Park
When: 7 p.m. Tuesdays
Where: Central Park, downtown Grand Haven
The Lineup:
June 16 – The Trace Duo
June 23 – Prevailing Winds Community Band
June 30 – Plain Jane Glory
July 7 – The Niche
July 14 – Ruth & Max Bloomquist
July 21 – Don Middlebrook & The Pearl Divers
July 28 – Soul’d Out
Aug. 4 – Lomax Big House
Aug. 11 – Sea Cruisers
Aug. 18 – Sweet Lou & The Savages
More information at grandhavenchamber.org.
Copyright 2015, Spins on Music LLC
