Grand Rapids bluesman Jimmie Stagger resumes his new blues sessions on Sunday at downtown’s HopCat, but there are other under-the-radar musical events you might have overlooked this weekend. Take a look.
Jamming With a Local Legend: Jimmie Stagger this month kicked off his Sunday night blues jams at HopCat. (Photo/Spins on Music)
If the first night of the “HopCat Sunday Blues Jam with Jimmie Stagger” is any indication, Grand Rapids’ newest weekly jam session will become a must-attend event filled with stars of West Michigan’s blues scene.
Last week’s debut of the downtown event at HopCat, 25 Ionia Ave. SW, brought out a who’s who of the local blues scene sitting in with Stagger’s band: guitarist-singer Weezil Malone, sax whiz John Gist, guitarist Charley “River City Slim” Schantz, singers Karen Beard and Serita Crowley, and more, including a 15-year-old guitar wunderkind, Ray Hernandez.
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“I was thrilled,” said Stagger, who was asked by HopCat owner Mark Sellers to launch the Sunday evening sessions, the first jams at the bar/restaurant since September, when Randy Marsh’s jazz nights ended their run after more than year and moved to SpeakEZ Lounge. “I thought it worked out well. My challenge is to keep it rolling.”
Stagger was all smiles on the first night of the Sunday jams, delivering sweet and soulful guitar leads during the opening set with his band – guitarist Andrew Ogrodzinski, drummer Tim Cowart and bassist Don Simmons – and later, introducing and cheering on the succession of players and pals who took the stage for three songs at a time.
Stagger & the Unusual Suspex
Sellers has high hopes for the blues jams, committing to at least six months of the Sunday sessions, which hopefully, will extend well beyond that. The jams run 7-10 p.m. every Sunday night.
“I love blues and we play (recorded) blues at HopCat during the daytime, so it just kind of fits in with the vibe, the beer, the burgers and the artwork,” Sellers said.
Although Sellers said the HopCat Sunday night jazz jam was a terrific idea that eventually “ran its course,” he’s convinced “the crowd will build” for blues music featuring all-star lineups hosted by a local legend such as Stagger, recently honored by WYCE-FM with a Legacy Award. “You never regret hiring the best,” he insisted.
Admission to the blues nights is free and members of the West Michigan Blues Society who present their membership cards get a 20 percent discount on their food bill.
THE SATURDAY BUCKET LIST
Now that you’ve added the HopCat Sunday Blues Jam to your weekend entertainment lineup, here are a few other under-the-radar shows and events worth checking out today and Sunday.
Five Leaf Clover Band
The Ancient Order of Hibernians St. Patrick’s Family Day Concert at Quinn & Tuite’s Irish Pub in Grand Rapids, 1-9 p.m. Saturday – Get your St. Paddy’s Day celebration started early with this grand tradition: A day of music and free hot dogs at this pub at 1535 Plainfield Ave. NE. It all starts at 1 p.m. with Celtic Kilroy, followed by Twin Thistle, Grand Rapids Pipe & Drum, Conklin Ceili Band, Five Leaf Clover Band, The Billies, and finally, at 7 p.m. The Willeys/The Strain. Food and cash donations will be accepted for Kids’ Food Basket; get more details online at the Quinn & Tuite’s website. Of course, the bar will ramp it up again big time on St. Patrick’s weekend.
Blue Molly playing One Trick Pony, 8 p.m. Saturday, free — Fresh from her big wins at this year’s Jammie Award show hosted by WYCE-FM (including best new artist), Blue Molly returns to One Trick Pony for what promise to be highly energetic and entertaining sets of blues and soul. If you haven’t seen this band led by singer Molly Bouwsma Schultz, it’s high time you did. Call 235-7669 for reservations.
Color Café featuring Karisa Wilson and garner at the Division Avenue Arts Collective, 7 p.m. Sunday, $10 – Singer-songwriter Karisa Wilson and Robika Garner have teamed up over the past year to create some wondrous music and harmonies. They’re also teaming up to travel to Uganda later this year to record an album with some young artists at a shelter in Kampala. Consequently, all money raised at the door for this special show will go toward travel costs for their upcoming trip. Get details online here (including a link to their Kickstarter campaign).
Get the rest of the weekend lowdown – including monster shows by Stepdad and Alexis at The Pyramid Scheme, Serita’s Black Rose at Founders and guitarist Eric Johnson at The Intersection – in this week’s Big List Concert Guide here.
Email: jsinkevics@gmail.com
Copyright 2013, Spins on Music
Randy Marsh’s jazz jam session is now at SpeakEZ on Monroe, Sundays, 7-10 pm.
Thanks John, got ta LUV the Blues.—