The new festival’s two-day rock ‘n’ roll assault at the Grand Rapids park shapes up for regional acts as ‘surreal and unbelievably exciting.’ The story and schedule at Local Spins.
Ready to ‘Leave It All on the Stage’ Saturday: Michigan’s Heartsick. (Courtesy Photo)
Grand Rapids rockers The Legal Immigrants call it “an honor” to play the inaugural Upheaval Music Festival this weekend at Belknap Park.
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Lansing hardcore/metalcore outfit Heartsick describes it as “surreal and unbelievably exciting all at once.”
Both bands are part of the Michigan representation at the metal/rock festival that was forced to delay its first-year debut due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
An Honor to Play Upheaval: Joe Bockheim of The Legal Immigrants. (Photo/Anna Sink)
Starting Friday, thousands of fans will flock to the Grand Rapids site for headlining sets by Korn, Chevelle and Pop Evil on Friday, and Rob Zombie, Staind and Skillet on Saturday. Other Michigan acts on the bill include Vestigial, Assume Nothing and Deadlight Holiday.
“We were so excited when we found out we were part of the inaugural fest in 2020 and heartbroken when we then found out it had to be canceled,” said Alfonso Civile, lead singer for Heartsick.
“COVID really did a number on everyone, but also grateful that it’s all worked out and we can come back and value shows that much more.”
The Legal Immigrants and Heartsick have performed for live audiences since COVID restrictions were lifted earlier this year but Upheaval clearly represents a major opportunity for both bands to strut their stuff for a huge audience.
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“We’ve been cooped up for a year, so probably safe to assume that we are going to lose our minds on stage, puke, swat the pretend bees with our guitars, and just absolutely leave it all on stage that day,” quipped Civile, whose band – Civile, bassist Waylon Fox, guitarist Richard Pruneau and drummer Talmadge Jake Bryan – will perform at 4:40 p.m. Saturday.
The Legal Immigrants, meanwhile, plan to unleash a few songs from all of their albums as well as “a couple of new ones that I for whatever reason just can’t seem to release,” said lead singer and guitarist Joe Bockheim.
“It’s an honor, really,” he said of the band’s Upheaval appearance at 4:40 p.m. Friday. “It’s really cool to play with another local rock band like Pop Evil, too.”
Indeed, Pop Evil – formed in West Michigan 20 years ago by North Muskegon’s Leigh Kakaty – celebrates a homecoming at Upheaval when it performs on Friday.
Pop Evil’s Grand Rapids appearance is wedged in between tour stops in Antioch, Ill., and the Rock Fest in Cadott, Wis.
Two-day tickets for Upheaval currently are priced at $139 plus fees; single-day passes are $75 plus fees. Get tickets online here.
Other bands in Friday’s lineup include Joyous Wolf, Gemini Syndrome and Royal Bliss. On Saturday, Nonpoint, Blacktop Mojo, Stitched Up Heart and Blue Felix also are on the bill.
Presented by MiEntertainment Group and WGA Entertainment, the festival takes place on the same site at Belknap Park as the annual Breakaway Music Festival, an electronic, pop and hip hop-leaning festival that debuted in Grand Rapids in 2017.
This year’s Breakaway takes place Aug. 27-28, with headliners Illenium, Quinn XCII, Gryffin, Big Wild, Chelsea Cutter and Madeon. Get more information about Breakaway online here.
Homecoming: Pop Evil plays Upheaval at 5:20 p.m. Friday. (Photo/Anthony Norkus)
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