A throng of 20,000-plus at Ah-Nab-Awen Park, including 80 new U.S. citizens, got an eyeful and earful in a vibrant pre-fireworks show by four bands and the Daredevil Circus. (Video, photos)
Red, White and Blue Molly: The Grand Rapids band revved up the Ah-Nab-Awen Park crowd on Thursday. (Photo/Local Spins)
“Did you rock this house or what?”
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The father of Ultraviolet Hippopotamus drummer Joe Phillion said it all in that backstage greeting to his son after the band’s triumphant closing set before downtown Grand Rapids’ Fourth of July fireworks display.
UV Hippo drew an enthusiastic crowd of fans.
The Grand Rapids jam/rock band electrified the crowd of 20,000-plus jamming Ah-Nab-Awen Park — many of them diehard, writhing UV Hippo fans — after highly entertaining sets by country’s Kris Hitchcock & Small Town Son, blues/soul’s Blue Molly and rock’s Three’s a Crowd, along with the aerial grace of the Daredevil Circus. The show even included Blue Molly lead singer Molly B. joining UV Hippo for an unprecedented rendition of Stevie Wonder’s “Living for the City.”
Combined with an eye-popping fireworks spectacle, the 2013 edition of the Amway Fourth of July Family Fireworks show may have topped all previous years, serving as a fitting tribute and finale for longtime organizer Ed Kettle and his wife, Betsy, who were honored with an award for their dedication in assembling this challenging, mammoth event the past several years.
And once again it was an honor for Local Spins to be part of this community celebration, curating the bands and introducing them from the stage. They represent just the tip of the iceberg in terms of West Michigan’s burgeoning talent and it was impressive to see them win scades of new fans with their Fourth of July sets.
Here are video highlights of Thursday’s event, including the naturalization of 80 new U.S. citizens to kick off the evening. Look for more photos in the Local Spins Weekend Photo Gallery on Sunday.
GRAND RAPIDS’ FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION: THE LOCAL SPINS PHOTO GALLERY (JULY 4, 2013)
Email John Sinkevics at jsinkevics@gmail.com.
Copyright 2013, Spins on Music
