Al Green, Founders Fest, Vital Information, Cheap Trick, Frank Salamone tribute and more: Concert picks of the week (videos)

Al Green
7 p.m. Monday
The concert is sold out.
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, Grand Rapids Township

I fondly recall many things about soul singer Al Green’s much-ballyhooed homecoming concert at Welsh Auditorium in 2000: his ebullient nature and ever-present smile, the kind words he shared with me, the whirlwind “tour” of the city in which he grew up.

But mostly, I remember the electric, inspirational nature of the concert itself, a performance which literally raised the hairs on the back of my neck more than once with that unmistakable voice and killer falsettos as he trotted out his catchy soul hits with a terrific backing band (even if the show got cut a tad short because Green was battling a cold and some respiratory problems).

Well, tonight, Rev. Green returns to Grand Rapids to perform for the first time since that 2000 show, making his debut appearance for a sold-out flock of fans at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park.

In this intimate, outdoor setting Green is liable to send sweltering temperatures even higher with his arsenal of hits, from “Love and Happiness” to “Tired of Being Alone.” Let’s just keep our fingers crossed that this member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame can “turn the gray sky blue” (as he sings on “I Can’t Get Next to You”) and keep the rain away. By the way, jazz saxophonist Dayve Stewart, a member of Green’s band, will open the show.

It’s a soulful start to an incredibly busy week and this doesn’t even count the giant B93 Birthday Bash drawing hordes of country fans to the U.S. 131 Motor Sports Park in Allegan County over the weekend. Get the lowdown on that hoedown here.

Grupo Aye at Jazz at the Zoo
6:30 p.m. Monday
Free
John Ball Park, Grand Rapids

If you can’t attend Al Green’s show at Meijer Gardens, then get your fill of soul, jazz, salsa and more with West Michigan’s own Grupo Aye in the bandshell at John Ball Park, 1300 W. Fulton St., as part of the West Michigan Jazz Society’s Jazz at the Zoo series. This is one talented bunch, I assure you.

Blues Nights:

Greg Nagy at United Bank Summer Concert Series
7 p.m Tuesday
Free
John Collins Park, East Grand Rapids

Harper & Midwest Kind at Huntington Rogue River Blues Series
7 p.m. Tuesday
Free
Garden Club Park, Rockford

Big James & the Chicago Playboys at LAV Budweiser Blues on the Mall
6:30 pm. Wednesday
Free
Rosa Parks Circle, Grand Rapids

Vincent Hayes Project at Lowell Showboat Sizzlin’ Summer Concerts
7 p.m. Thursday
Free
Lowell Riverwalk Plaza, Lowell

As I wrote last week, the outdoor blues season has shifted into full gear with any number of communities hosting regional and national blues acts on various nights during the week. You can’t go wrong with either Harper in Rockford or Greg Nagy in East Grand Rapids on Tuesday, or Vincent Hayes in Lowell on Thursday. And on the national front, Chicago’s Big James Montgomery is touring behind the band’s latest album, “The Big Payback.”

Fauxgrass Quartet, Red Sea Pedestrians
9:30 p.m. Thursday
$5
Billy’s Lounge, Grand Rapids (Eastown)
Consider this an opportunity to catch a couple of rootsy, entertaining West Michigan bands in a single spot – the bluegrass strains of Grand Rapids’ Fauxgrass and the world music-inspired inventiveness of Kalamazoo’s Red Sea Pedestrians.

Soulive, Toubab Krewe, Seth & May, UV Hippo, The Crane Wives, Various Artists
Founders Fest
3-11 p.m. Saturday
$20 advance, $25 day of show
On Grandville Avenue SW in front of Founders Brewing Co., Grand Rapids

Yes, Founders Fest celebrates “beer and music” in what has become Grand Rapids’ ultimate street party (although I’d caution folks to take it easy with those high-alcohol IPAs, especially in this heat).

It also happens to showcase some crazily eclectic national and regional acts, like New York funk/jazz band Soulive, world music instrumental outfit Toubab Krewe and tons of Michigan acts: Seth Bernard ad May Erlewine, That 1 Guy, UV Hippo, The Crane Wives, Four Finger Five, Afro Zuma, The Soil and The Sun and, of course, the FBC All Stars and artist booths. If you’ve never attended this, prepare for throngs and a groovy musical vibe. Get tickets and details here.

Jimmie Stagger and David Cope
Frank Salamone Tribute and CD-Release Party
6 p.m. Saturday
Free
The Intersection, Grand Rapids

Ask any veteran West Michigan musician: In his heyday, before being stricken with a rare disease, the late Frank Salamone was one of the most influential West Michigan guitarists and singers of his time. Now, some of those musicians will pay tribute to Salamone while releasing an archival live 1976 album by the group Suitcase, which also featured Stagger (Jim Steigmeyer). Read more about this special show – taking place just down the street from Founders Fest – at Spins on Music later this week.

Cabbage Crik
Operation Injured Soldier Benefit Dinner/Concert
5:30 p.m. Saturday
DeltaPlex, Walker

Talk about archival, there was a time in the 1970s when the West Michigan oufit Cabbage Crik ruled the roost with its country- and bluegrass-flavored strains, with the band playing just about anywhere and everywhere. The much-beloved group is reuniting for this special benefit show and dinner which raises money to aid the physical and mental rehabilitation of wounded and disabled military veterans. Tickets are $70; get more information here.

Steve Smith and Vital Information
8 p.m. and 10 p.m. Saturday
$20
The Ottawa Tavern, Grand Rapids

Former Journey drummer Steve Smith has been acclaimed as one of the top drummers of all time. For 29 years, he’s also headed up the jazz fusion group Vital Information, which now tours with keyboardist Tom Coster, bassist Baron Browne and guitarist Vinny Valentino.

They’ll play two shows in the intimate confines of downtown’s Ottawa Tavern, so there’s probably no better way to see these musical wizards up close and personal. Get the lowdown here, along with information on other jazz shows at Ottawa Tavern.

The Twistin’ Tarantulas, Kim Lenz & the Jaguars, Various Artists
Tip Top One-Year Anniversary
Saturday-June 30
Various Prices
Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill, Grand Rapids

Hard to believe it’s been a year already, but the West Side’s most interesting music venue, Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill, is celebrating its one-year anniversary with a week of special shows, kicking off on Saturday with Detroit’s rockabilly-fired The Twistin’ Tarantulas and Sunday’s appearance by Los Angeles’ Kim Lenz & the Jaguars. Get more on the whole week of musical madness (which also includes Wayne Hancock and Al & the Black Cats) here.

Cheap Trick, The Verve Pipe, Mid-Life Crisis
7 p.m. Sunday
$32.50-$62.50
Van Andel Arena, Grand Rapids

Not only are West Michigan’s own The Verve Pipe and Mid-Life Crisis opening at the arena for one of the most fun rock bands around, Cheap Trick (which is taking time out from its tour with Aerosmith for this show), but the arena has decided to host a pre-show street party next door starring The Outer Vibe to warm folks up at 4 p.m. before the show, with beverages and giveaways. It’s a fabulous chance for several of Grand Rapids’ favorite acts to strut their stuff.

Not only that, but in a “Dream Police”-related move, the arena will also recognize Damon Lange as the Grand Rapids Police Department’s officer of the year, hosting Lange and his family to dinner and the concert. Guess fans should be ready to “Surrender” …

Peter Mulvey
Camp Blodgett Acoustic Sunset Series
7:30 p.m. Sunday
Free
Camp Blodgett, West Olive (south of Grand Haven)

I don’t know if he’ll be on his bicycle, but highly respected Wisconsin singer-songwriter Peter Mulvey swings back into West Michigan to play his distinctive indie-folk-rock as part of this concert series held on the deck of Camp Blodgett’s Retreat Center on Lake Michigan. Doors open at 6 p.m. and concertgoers are encouraged to bring picnic baskets and beverages. Details here.

Email: jsinkevics@gmail.com