Grand Rapids’ music offerings melt spring away with a diverse bunch of big national tours, plus a Grand Ole Opry show and a Van Morrison tribute.
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Mark VandenBerge as Van Morrison (Photo/Eric Bouwens)
The Van Morrison Experience
7:30 p.m. Friday
$40
Forest Hills Fine Arts Center, 600 Forest Hill Ave. SE, Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids singer Mark VandenBerge leads an entertaining tribute to Van Morrison, fully orchestrated with strings, brass, woodwinds and Creolization’s rhythm section. The event is a fundraiser for Habitat for Humanity of Kent County’s “30th Anniversary Build.” Details online at habitatkent30.com.
And tune into Local Spins Live on News Talk 1340 AM at 10 a.m. Wednesday when my guests will be VandenBerge, pianist Mark Kahny and saxophonist/flautist Ed Clifford.
Ordinary Neighbors
7:30 p.m. Friday
$5
Dimnent Chapel at Hope College, 277 College Ave., Holland
Featuring the experimental, ambient indie-folk tunes of Ordinary Neighbors, aka Hope’s own Joshua Banner and his wife, Susanna Childress, this show features a “reverse stage set-up” that has the audience facing traditional chapel seats. It’s mesmerizingly beautiful music. Jacob Bullard of Antrim Dells and Dooga Fruit open. Listen to Ordinary Neighbors here.
Official Sponsor of The Big List Concert Guide
Riveting Singer-Songwriter: Amy Speace plays Seven Steps Up.
Amy Speace, The Sea The Sea
8 p.m. Friday
$20 advance, $22 day of show (sofa and table seating also available)
Peter Mulvey
8 p.m. Saturday
$18 advance, $20 day of show
Seven Steps Up, Spring Lake
This is a truly impressive one-two punch of supremely talented, American-bred singer-songwriters.
Amy Speace’s appearance is actually a CD-release show for her brand new album, “How to Sleep in a Stormy Boat,” and judging from the spine-tingling title track, it’s bound to propel this East Coast actor-turned-folk singer even higher into the “critically acclaimed” stratosphere after already being tabbed by a host of critics as one of the country’s most promising Americana artists. According to her publicist, she’s bringing a guitarist and cellist on tour, with openers The Sea The Sea joining her on some songs.
Peter Mulvey, meanwhile, is familiar to West Michigan audiences, regularly bringing his insightful songs and fine guitar-playing from Wisconsin to the Grand Rapids area. I’ve seen him perform many times and he is always a treasure to listen to and talk to, meshing his indie folk-rock with entertaining stories. An ideal venue to catch both of these touring artists. Get ticket information at pindropconcerts.com.
Amy LaVere
Amy LaVere, Karisa Wilson
8 p.m. Saturday
$7
Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill, Grand Rapids
Memphis singer-songwriter and standup bassist Amy LaVere is one of those highly acclaimed sorts that’s highly acclaimed for good reason, creating haunting songs about “change, heartbreak and loss.”
She’s currently touring in support of her 2011 release, “Stranger Me,” and her 2012 collaboration with Shannon McNally, “Chasing the Ghost.” And with Grand Rapids singer-songwriter Karisa Wilson also on the bill, it promises to be a compelling evening of heartfelt music. Get details online at the Tip Top Facebook page.
Dead Prez
Dead Prez, Mama Sol, Punksuhate, Lomobb
8 p.m. Saturday
$20
The Pyramid Scheme, Grand Rapids
Two years and counting. That’s what The Pyramid Scheme is doing, celebrating its 2nd birthday with a return performance by hip-hop’s Dead Prez, aka the New York City duo of stic.man and M-1 who push the envelope politically and otherwise with socialist and pan-Africanist lyrics. They’re touring behind their new album, “Information Age.”
So blow out those candles, toast The Pyramid Scheme and get your tickets online here.
Patty Larkin
Patty Larkin
8 p.m. Saturday
$30
Saugatuck Center for the Arts, 400 Culver St., Saugatuck
It helps when you’re an amazing guitarist as well as an innovative songwriter and singer. That’s Boston-based Patty Larkin, whose 25-plus-year career has blazed a musical trail in the urban folk-pop and rock scene, earning kudos from critics and fellow musicians. Get details online at the Saugatuck Center for the Arts website.
Seth Bernard and May Erlewine
Seth Bernard & May Erlewine
9:30 p.m. Saturday
$5
Founders Brewing Co., Grand Rapids
Having recently had the intense pleasure of seeing this Americana/folk duo weave their vocal and instrumental magic in the acoustically pleasing St. Cecilia Music Center, this show by Seth Bernard and May Erlewine at Founders is liable to be a much different, yet just-as-riveting affair with a sure-to-be-lively audience of fans who embrace this mid-Michigan pair wherever and whenever they play.
Oh, and Founders hosts a free Thursday show by Saginaw Irish punk band The Tosspints, which promises to be every bit as lively. Calamity Cubes and Dead Eye Zack open things up. Get more details online at the Founders website.
Interlochen Arts Academy Choir & Dance Co.
3 p.m. Sunday
Free
Peter Martin Wege Theatre (GR Ballet Co.) 341 Ellsworth Ave., Grand Rapids
Be prepared to revel in the amazing young talent that Interlochen Center for the Arts continually nurtures and cultivates in northern Michigan without leaving Grand Rapids. The Arts Academy Choir and Dance Co. will perform selections from Edward Elgar, Gabriel Faure, Aaron Copland, Eric Whitacre and more. Admission is free, but make reservations online at interlochen.org/wege.
UNDER-THE-RADAR PICKS
Old Fashioned Opry Show with Miss Minnie, Gary Fountain and more, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, Zellie’s Opry House, Howard City, $8 – This is such a popular idea, the 7 p.m. show is sold out and Zellie’s decided to add a matinee. This bluegrass, folk and country-hued show aims to recreate the heyday of the Grand Ole Opry, with plenty of musicians and “cast members” involved. Get details online at Zellie’s official website As of Thursday evening, there were only 20 tickets left for the matinee, so don’t dilly-dally!
The Prince and Michael Experience playing The Stache inside The Intersection, 9 p.m. Saturday, $10 – Hmm. Billed as “a dance party tribute to The Purple One and The King of Pop with DJ Dave Paul from San Francisco,” this could be a real nostalgia-fest.
CANCELLATION: Due to a death in the family, Antilogical will not be performing at the roller derby bout that’s been moved from Rivertown Sports to the DeltaPlex.
Grand Raggidy Roller Girls double-header roller derby bout, DeltaPlex Arena, Walker, 5 p.m. Saturday, $12 – Grand Raggidy’s Attack vs Kalamazoo’s Killa Crew for the first session and the GRRG All-Stars battling Buffalo, N.Y.’s Queen City Roller Girls in Round 2.
The Twangtown Paramours playing Salt of the Earth, 114 E. Main St., Fennville, 7 p.m. Sunday, $12 — The music from this Nashville-based duo of MaryBeth Zamer and Mike T. Lewis is described as “sophisticated Americana” and “a hybrid of the Nashville and Austin” scenes. It’s also enchanting stuff. Details/directions online here.
Email: jsinkevics@gmail.com
