The long Thanksgiving holiday weekend got started early with hip hop at The Intersection and a jam band at SpeakEZ Lounge in Grand Rapids and wrapped up with a couple of lively shows by a Kalamazoo fave.
Greensky Devotees: Fans were out in full force for Greensky Bluegrass’ two Kalamazoo shows. (Photo/Derek Ketchum)
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Music fans had much to be thankful for this weekend, with MGP’s Hip Hop Heavyweights extravaganza getting things started inside The Stache at The Intersection in Grand Rapids on Wednesday night, boasting a host of local rappers.
Reveling in Rap: Fans at the MGP Hip Hop Heavyweights show. (Photo/Anthony Norkus)
The same night, considered one of the busiest bar nights of the year, Grand Rapids jam band Desmond Jones delivered its deliciously diverse mix of funk, rock and jazz for a happy bunch at SpeakEZ Lounge as part of the Local Spins Wednesdays series.
Meanwhile, at Kalamazoo’s State Theatre on Friday and Saturday, progressive bluegrass giants Greensky Bluegrass satiated its fervid fan base with two straight nights of sold-out shows. As Local Spins photographer Derek Ketchum put it: “The show was incredible. Awesome atmosphere. They had pretty much everyone was on their feet for the duration of the show.” The Jon Stickley Trio opened the shows.
And of course, The Verve Pipe’s annual holiday show — featuring Domestic Problems for the second year in a row, with Papa Vegas opening — drew another big crowd to The Intersection on Friday for a zesty evening celebrating some of West Michigan’s biggest bands from the ’90s. Click here for the separate Local Spins photo gallery from that show.
LOCAL SPINS WEEKEND PHOTO GALLERY: Nov. 29, 2015
Greensky Bluegrass, Jon Stickley Trio photos by Derek Ketchum
MGP Hip Hop Heavyweights photos by Anthony Norkus
Desmond Jones photos by Anna Sink
Copyright 2015, Spins on Music LLC
