Shannon Stephens
7 p.m. Friday
Free
Schuler Books & Music, Grand Rapids (28th Street)
Seattle singer-songwriter Shannon Stephens plays a bluesy folk-rock with her “Fabulous Friends” that’s earned attention from the New York Times, Paste magazine, etc. Her brand new album, “Pull It Together,” is officially being released Tuesday by Asthmatic Kitty Records. This promises to be a fine, intimate show in the Schuler’s studio on 28th Street. Check out one of her videos below.
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By the way, singer-songwriter Jason Norman plays Schuler’s downtown store at 6 p.m. Friday, and Stephens also plays the New Holland Brewing Co. in Holland at 7 p.m. Tuesday.
Paul Vornhagen Quartet
8:30 p.m. Friday
Free
Ottawa Tavern, Grand Rapids
Renowned Ann Arbor jazz saxophone and flute player and singer Paul Vornhagen brings his “jazz standards, originals, bebop, latin-cubano jazz, bossa-nova/samba and some vocal ballads” to downtown’s Ottawa Tavern. Grand Rapids drummer Randy Marsh, pianist Steve Talaga and bassist Sam Weber will join him for “jazz/swing standards, bossa nova/sambas, soulful ballads and a mambo or two.”
The Red Hot Chili Peppers
8 p.m. Saturday
$38, $58
Van Andel Arena, Grand Rapids
As Anthony Kiedis told me in December, it would be “hard to imagine” the Red Hot Chili Peppers mounting a world tour without a homecoming show in Grand Rapids. Well, the iconic singer and West Michigan native will celebrate Memorial Day weekend with his mom, Peggy Idema of Grand Rapids, and other relatives and friends when the newly inducted Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Chili Peppers set up shop at Van Andel Arena on Saturday as part of their “I’m With You” tour.
It’s a near sellout, but some $67 seats in sections 210 and 220 (side stage) are still available through Ticketmaster so fans have one last chance to “Get Up and Jump” now for tix to see this dynamic band live.
Afterward, swing over to Founders to catch New York’s electro-dance-funk-rock band Rubblebucket and special guest Jes Kramer, $5. You can watch a video all about Rubblebucket below.
Keys N Krates
8 p.m. Saturday
$10
The Intersection (front lounge), Grand Rapids
It’s a “live remix” display the likes of which you may never have seen before. The Toronto-based trio Keys N Krates – Adam Tune on drums, David Matisse on keys, and award-winning Flowinsky on turntables – prides itself on creating a fresh live electronica experience, combining hip hop, electronica and jam elements in its shows.
And for a truly unique hip-hop experience, check out Lyrics Matter at The Pyramid Scheme at 9 p.m. Saturday, with Rick Chyme, Venson Dix, Duke Greene (MC3PO) and Azizi Hasani, $7. Chyme tells me it will be an evening “comprised of poets/emcees who live their craft. There will be moments of spoken word, lyric driven hip-hop and freestyle.” Sounds like an event definitely worth exploring.
HopCat Jazz Jam
Terry Lower, Jeff Beavan, Fred Knapp, Randy Marsh
7 p.m. Sunday
Free
HopCat, Grand Rapids
A sweet way to kick back on a long holiday weekend. As drummer Randy Marsh explains, this week’s jazz jam features “jazz piano virtuoso Terry Lower … along with bass legend and sick jokester Jeff Beavan. Fred Knapp will play the first set while I drive back from an afternoon gig in Traverse City.” Fine.
Marcia Ball
8 p.m. Sunday
$35
Saugatuck Center for the Arts, Saugatuck
The last time I saw Marcia Ball perform, she literally tore it up on piano, gleefully delivering that Southern boogie and New Orleans-styled roadhouse blues that makes you understand why the pianist and soulful singer is a five-time Grammy nominee. Ball returns to Saugatuck on Sunday, still touring behind 2011’s Grammy-nominated “Roadside Attractions.”
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