With 60 bands vying to win a grand prize worth $10,000-plus, the Saturday afternoon bonanza of music takes over the lakeshore town. Get details about this unusual, diverse event.
Walking the Beat Again: Joey Frendo and Watching for Foxes, which won last year’s “best band” competition will perform in Grand Haven again on Saturday. (Photo/Anthony Norkus)
With an equal exchange of memories and reminiscent laughter, Watching For Foxes frontman Joey Frendo recalls the unorthodox nature and unique “fusion that took place” between artist and local business when the group performed at a heating and cooling company storefront last year as part of Grand Haven’s Walk The Beat.
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Storefront Sets: Last year’s Walk the Beat was spread among businesses across the Tri-Cities.
“We were just playing sad folk music on the lawn, and people were really gracious and loved the music,” said Frendo, who’s band won people’s choice for best band. “I think it’s a really cool idea to show that art can survive and thrive, and be showcased in really any format.”
Frendo and band return again this weekend as one of 60 diverse acts that will transcend 30 local businesses – ranging from insurance agencies, car washes, libraries, auto shops, even Grand Haven City Hall – into pop-up music venues.
The ambitious music gathering will take place in Grand Haven on Saturday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., with performers playing multiple sets within the four-hour time window while attendees make their way from one venue to the next listening and voting for their favorites.
Performers are eligible for prizes in two categories: best band and best song.
The best band will be determined by attendees who, throughout the day, will vote for their favorite musicians via text message using a five-star rating system, ultimately deciding the winner. The best song will be determined by a panel of judges who will listen to pre-submitted tracks entered by competing bands.
Organizer Dave Palmer
The winner of the people’s choice award for best band receives more than $10,000 in prizes, with another $7,000 award for the winning songwriter. And concertgoers can purchase raffle tickets for dozens of door prizes.
Winning artists receive an extensive package of professional artist services including a music video with D-Squared Creative, a website by Shape Web Designs, a photo session with SherryDirk Photography, attorney advice with entertainment attorney Manish Joshi, and studio recording time with renowned Grand Haven-based producer Bill Chrysler.
The winning act also will play the Local Spins “Victory Tour,” with the website booking the band for performances at four different West Michigan venues: Founders Brewing and SpeakEZ Lounge in Grand Rapids, Rockford Brewing in Rockford, and New Holland Brewing in Holland.
Winners will first be announced at a VIP after-party exclusive to artists and sponsors, prior to being announced publicly by way of social media Tuesday evening.
RAFFLE PRIZES, COMMUNITY AND GETTING KIDS INVOLVED
Through the raffle, fans and attendees have the opportunity to walk away with a number of prizes including “fishing poles, bicycles, kayaks, camping gear, guitars, keyboards, and even a moped,” Palmer said. Though there is no cost to attend, individuals have the option to make a $10 donation in exchange for the raffle tickets for door prizes.
The brainchild of Grand Haven musician and music maven Dave Palmer, Walk The Beat borrows concepts from more traditional music-centered functions – such as weekend festivals or audience-judged competitions – and infuses those familiar aspects with the ideals of community involvement, art awareness and an underlying mission of helping kids get involved with music.
Susan Picking
Vermont-based songwriter Susan Picking, who’s recent music endeavors and upcoming album, School of Life, revolve around “kid-focused issues,” was drawn to Walk The Beat because of its hand in bringing music to children.
“It’s so important,” she said. “We seem to cut the arts when time and time again, all research show how the arts develops the whole child on so many different levels.” Picking performs at The City Farmer, a pet supply store, and will be joined by a children’s choir of area youth.
Folk-americana group, Roosevelt Diggs, will hold their performance in a more traditional musical setting, playing their sets at Bill Chrysler’s Studio alongside songwriter Bleu VanDyke.
“I think what makes it unique is it’s a highly concentrated, condensed session of music,” said Jon Shears, upright bassist for the group. “You’re gonna be able to see 60 different acts within walking distance playing at the same time.”
Changes from last year include a slightly slimmed-down number of artists and venues, transitioning from 40 venues and 80 performers, to 30 venues and 60 performers, as well as a scaled-down perimeter that will see last year’s multi-city approach refined to a focus on Grand Haven, with all events taking place on two nearby city streets.
Roosevelt Diggs
“We were spread out last year, so what we’re attempting to do is just make it a hit right here in this small area,” said Palmer, also mentioning his hopes to get neighboring cities involved in the near future.
“The whole idea is to expand it again, but we want to get our core group rocking. We’ve got so much talent here in West Michigan, it’s incredible.”
In only its second year, Walk The Beat has garnered a strong support base of sponsors, artists, and a growing audience. Right now, Palmer says, things are going really well.
“If any one place did it by themselves, you’d go, ‘All right, there’s some music, there’s a couple prizes,’ but when you join the whole community together, you’re going ‘Holy crap, there’s bands everywhere and look at all these prizes and we’re all involved in it,’” he said.
“We’re going nowhere but up.”
For more information regarding the event, including artists, venues and a map of performance locations, visit walkthebeat.org.
