Check out images from a week of live music across West Michigan that featured performances by Rachel B, Hank Mowery & The Hawktones and another LadyFest GR. (Photos, video)
Foxlore Celebration: Kate Pillsbury and The Crane Wives regaled a capacity crowd at Founders Brewing on Saturday. (Photo/Anna Sink)
It was a terrific way to start the week. Singer-songwriter Ben Rector has proven that he’s a musical force to be reckoned with. The Nashville artist, who once used to tour solo in his Honda Accord to play empty bars and living rooms, is now selling out theaters across the country.
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The deafening, sold-out crowd at Grand Rapids’ Calvin College that greeted him at the Covenant Fine Arts Center on Tuesday could only be quelled with an evening of Rector’s music.
And he delivered, blowing through a fun, high-energy set amid more than a few shrieking fans, displaying impressive diversity by performing everything from R&B to rock ‘n’ roll – and of course, Rector’s signature singer-songwriter pop. East Nashville-based singer-songwriter Marc Scibilia opened the show.
PHOTO GALLERY: Ben Rector, Marc Scibilia at Calvin College
Photos by Jamie Geysbeek
THE CRANE WIVES AT FOUNDERS
When it comes to big shows at Founders Brewing Co., few bands draw the kind of attention and shoulder-to-shoulder crowds like Grand Rapids’ The Crane Wives, especially when the folk-rock band is staging a CD-release show.
That was the scene Saturday night as Emilee Petersmark, Kate Pillsbury, Dan Rickabus and Ben Zito — with special guest Steve Leaf on guitar — revved up their new album, “Foxlore,” for an adoring, sing-along throng with Olivia Mainville & The Aquatic Troupe igniting their own amped-up indie-folk display to start the evening.
“Holy crap, it is unreal to see so many of you singing with us,” Petersmark gushed at one point, before the band unfurled another selection from “Foxlore” amid a celebratory vibe at Founders. The new material, which stretches the band’s sound while retaining its harmony-laden approach, was more than well-received by fans.
“It is so special to share this night with you guys,” a grinning Rickabus declared.
Check out the photo gallery here, with some video highlights below.
PHOTO GALLERY: The Crane Wives, Olivia Mainville at Founders Brewing
Photos by Anna Sink
ULTRAVIOLET HIPPOPOTAMUS AT BELL’S
You know a band has a serious following and is serious about its music when it essentially plays six hours over two nights at the same place — packing the venue to capacity both nights.
Grand Rapids’ Ultraviolet Hippopotamus did just that at Bell’s Brewery Eccentric Cafe in Kalamazoo on Friday and Saturday, the first volley in a spring tour that will also have the band playing two-night stands in Florida and Colorado. As they put it, the band is “emerging from the murky depths for more than just a breath of air this time” as it works on a new recording.
Local Spins photographer Derek Ketchum noted that “people were on their feet dancing the whole night” during Saturday’s sold-out affair.
PHOTO GALLERY: UV Hippo at Bell’s Brewery
Photos by Derek Ketchum
