First-timers Gary Clark Jr., The New Pornographers, Patty Griffin on tap with returnees Steve Miller, Indigo Girls, O.A.R., Bela Fleck, Colbie Caillat and Doobie Brothers. Member tickets go on sale April 25.
The series kicks off in early June with legendary Michigan rock band Grand Funk Railroad and wraps up in September with a fireworks-laden 20th anniversary finale featuring the iconic Tony Bennett.
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In between, the 2015 Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park summer concert series – matching its largest yet, with 30 concerts on the docket – boasts first-time appearances by critically revered artists such as Gary Clark Jr., Patty Griffin, The New Pornographers, Diana Krall, Trombone Shorty, Vince Gill and the Buena Vista Social Club, with returning favorites Lyle Lovett, Indigo Girls, Doobie Brothers, Bela Fleck, Steve Miller and Brandi Carlile.
“It’s fascinating to see the growth of it and the evolution of it and the ability to stay true to its core,” said Chris Mautz, the promoter who books the Meijer Gardens concerts every year with an eye toward keeping it a “dynamic, eclectic series.”
As usual, he said, there was an attempt to balance new shows that expand the Meijer Gardens audience – such as the “Dancing With the Stars” tour that stops at the amphitheater for the first time on Aug. 6 – with popular returning performers, including Pink Martini, Lovett, Umphrey’s McGee, O.A.R., The Beach Boys and Steve Miller Band.
BALANCING ‘FRESH’ WITH ‘FAMILIARITY’
“It’s hard to not bring back someone like the Steve Miller Band who will sell out historically very quickly,” he said. “If someone missed it last time, maybe they’ve got a shot to see it this time. We want to keep it (series) fresh, but not get away from the fact that some familiarity can be a very positive thing to keep in play.”
The Sept. 7 finale at the 1,900-seat amphitheater is billed as Meijer Gardens’ 20th anniversary concert, with fireworks following the performance by 88-year-old jazz and pop singer Bennett, who continues to perform regularly.
“To bring someone of this caliber to Meijer Gardens is definitely something special,” said Andrea Wolschleger, public relations manager. “A great way to celebrate our birthday.”
Mautz called Bennett “a class act. He’s a one-of-a-kind. I’ve wanted to have Tony part of our series for years and years, and I’m so pleased it came together. “
Public tickets for this year’s series range from $35 for The New Pornographers (with Thao & The Get Down Stay Down) on July 15 to $110 for Bennett in the series finale on Sept. 7.
Tickets go on sale to Meijer Gardens members starting at 9 a.m. April 25, with members receiving a $5 discount from the public ticket price during the two-week pre-sale. Tickets go on sale to the general public beginning at 9 a.m. May 9 (at which point, members receive a $2 discount on tickets).
The average public ticket price for 2015 concerts is $61.23, about the same as last year, although this doesn’t include handling and convenience fees ($3.50 per order and $5.25 per ticket). Tickets will be available online at startickets.com, by phone at 1-800-585-3737 or at the Meijer Gardens admission desk.
Mautz said the series did work around the much-anticipated June 13 opening of the Richard & Helen DeVos Japanese Garden which “certainly will be the focus in June” at Meijer Gardens.
So, if a few choice summer tours are missing from the lineup (Robert Plant, Wilco, The Decemberists), it could just be there simply wasn’t room in the schedule to get all the “puzzle pieces” to fit, especially with 11 concerts at the amphitheater in July and 10 in August.
“There are dozens of acts we’ll target and try to secure, and for any number of reasons, don’t end up being able to fit into our schedule,” Mautz said. “That’s been the case every year that we’ve been doing it.”
Still, Mautz said he’s thrilled he was able to book a date on the final tour for the historic Buena Vista Social Club on Aug. 27 (“a pretty special night”), snag singer-guitarist Gill on Aug. 21 (“he’s at the top of his field”) and launch the series with rock’s Grand Funk Railroad with Matthew Curry on June 3.
“What a great party to start things up,” he said.
During the first day of the pre-sale for Meijer Gardens members on April 25, the Grand Room will open at 7 a.m. to allow ticket buyers to line up. Details about Meijer Gardens memberships ($40 annually for a single adult ) available online here.
Last year, nine shows sold out the first morning of ticket sales to members. Despite some concerns expressed last year from those who didn’t get tickets to shows they wanted to attend — with some scalped tickets ending up on ticket broker websites — there currently are no new restrictions on ticket purchases for this year’s concerts.
MEIJER GARDENS 2015 CONCERTS
Grand Funk Railroad with Matthew Curry – June 3, $47 presale | $50 member | $52 public
Indigo Girls – June 17, $49 presale | $ 52 member | $54 public
Michael Franti & Spearhead with Nattali Rize & Notis – June 18, $40 presale | $43 member | $45 public
Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue – June 21, $37 presale | $40 member | $42 public
Gary Clark Jr. – June 24, $35 presale | $38 member | $40 public
Del McCoury Band and Béla Fleck & Abigail Washburn – June 29, $45 presale | $48 member | $50 public
Pink Martini – July 3, $44 presale | $47 member | $49 public
Doobie Brothers with Lara Johnston – July 5, $72 presale | $75 member | $77 public
Mat Kearney with Judah & The Lion – July 6, $36 presale | $39 member | $41 public
Patty Griffin & Mavis Staples and Amy Helm & The Handsome Strangers – July 9, $42 presale | $45 member | $47 public
Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo – July 13, $62 presale | $65 member | $67 public
The New Pornographers with Thao & the Get Down Stay Down – July 15, $30 presale | $33 member | $35 public
Steve Miller Band – July 16, $87 presale | $ 90 member | $92 public
Colbie Caillat & Christina Perri – July 19, $58 presale | $ 61 member | $63 public
Garrison Keillor’s A Prairie Home Companion – July 29, $70 presale | $73 member | $75 public
Brandi Carlile with Anderson East – July 30, $44 presale | $47 member | $49 public
The Beach Boys & The Temptations – July 31, $72 presale | $75 member | $77 public
Harry Connick Jr. – August 2, $90 presale | $93 member | $95 public
Diana Krall – August 3, $78 presale | $81 member | $83 public
Lyle Lovett and his Large Band – August 5, $63 presale | $66 member | $68 public
Dancing with the Stars – August 6, $68 presale | $71 member | $73 public
Umphrey’s McGee – August 9, $38 presale | $41 member | $43 public
Under the Sun Tour with Sugar Ray, Better Than Ezra, Uncle Kracker & Eve 6 – August 10, $50 presale | $53 member | $55 public
Styx – August 13, $64 presale | $67 member | $69 public
Vince Gill – August 21, $55 presale | $58 member | $60 public
Brian Regan – August 26, $50 presale | $53 member | $55 public
Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club – August 27, $53 presale | $56 member | $58 public
O.A.R. with Allen Stone – Sept. 2, $55 presale | $58 member | $60 public
John Hiatt & The Combo and The Taj Mahal Trio – Sept. 4, $48 presale | $51 member | $53 public
20th Anniversary Concert: Tony Bennett – Sept. 7, $105 presale | $108 member | $110 public
Copyright 2015, Spins on Music LLC
A lot of redundancy here relative to past years but, hell, who doesn’t love Steve Miller or the Doobies. A Farnerless Grand Funk? No. Styx? God, no. Diana? Absolutely if only to see her rail at the blabbermouths. Her new album is wonderful but it’s q-u-i-e-t. Lot of acts coasting on their laurals i.e. Haitt, Harry, Jr., Franti, McCoury. Vince Gill? Should be very interesting. Trombone Shorty too. I wondered about Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga as a possibility. I guess I was half right. He will be the first tickets I buy. The missus and I toyed with not renewing our membership but did so just the other day.