The day-long, all-ages show boasting nearly 70 bands is headlined by Grand Rapids post-hardcore heroes La Dispute, who will give a special performance of their album, “Wildlife,” in its entirety.
First Michigan Show of the Year: Grand Rapids’ La Dispute headlines Saturday’s Bled Fest.
(Photo/Katy Batdorff)
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Concertgoers longing for an intimate, no-frills, punk-fueled show can find it — along with a swath of West Michigan talent — at Howell’s Bled Fest on Saturday.
Fall of Troy
Bled Fest 2017 boasts its most diverse lineup to date, with a headlining set by Grand Rapids post-hardcore giant La Dispute, which is set to perform its classic, 2011 album “Wildlife” in its entirety.
The band’s sophomore album was widely praised by critics and reached No. 25 on the Alternative Albums chart. (Watch a video of a live performance of a track from that album below.)
The festival marks La Dispute’s only scheduled outing so far for 2017. The band — which plays Stage A at 9 p.m. Saturday — last performed at Bled Fest in 2011.
Now in its 13th year, the festival sticks out like a sore thumb when compared to other Michigan festivals, and unabashedly so. Bands at Bled Fest forgo stage barricades and intricate light displays in favor of a close and chaotic concert experience.
In 2008, a partnership with Fusion Shows transformed the event from house party to an all-ages festival with attendance in the thousands in the cafeteria and classrooms of Hartland Performing Arts Center, an old high school east of Howell.
Bled Fest Debut: Southpaw performs on Saturday.
In addition to La Dispute and national touring artists such as The Fall of Troy, Bear vs. Shark, Into It Over It and The Flatliners, the bill includes a fair share of West Michigan talent, including Bike Tuff, Backpacks, Vagabonds, Bamfomania, JOYS and Southpaw.
Singer-guitarist Brandon Eikenberry, of Muskegon pop-punk band Southpaw, looks forward to playing alongside so many other notable bands at Bled Fest. The band opens up Stage D at 12:25 p.m. Saturday.
“I’ve never been to Bled Fest, but a ton of my friends have and they talk about how wild and fun it gets,” Eikenberry said. “We’re super proud to be a home team representative for the bill this year.”
New this year to Bled Fest is a “Community Room” for panels that will feature discussions with musicians and music industry professionals, including one entitled, “Safe Spaces, Not Boring Spaces,” about inclusivity and safety.
Bled Fest Bound: Grand Rapids alt-hip hop act Bamfomania.
Fusion Shows co-founder Nate Dorough emphasized the importance of the “Safe Spaces” panel in a recent blog post, which announced the removal of headliner PWR BTTM from this year’s lineup due to allegations of sexual assault.
Eikenberry said he is “stoked” to bring Southpaw’s brand of heavy pop-punk to Howell. “We are definitely going to blow out our vocal cords for this one.”
Bled Fest is set to kick off at noon Saturday at Hartland Performing Arts Center in Howell with nearly 70 bands on tap.
Tickets are $35 in advance, $40 day of show, and are available online here at bledfest.com, along with the full lineup of bands. See set times and the full schedule online here.
VIDEO: La Dispute, “The Most Beautiful Bitter Fruit,” from “Wildlife” (Live)
VIDEO: The Fall of Troy, “F.C.P.R.E.M.I.X.” (Live)
VIDEO: Bear vs Shark, “Catamaran” (Live)
VIDEO: Southpaw, “Habits”
Copyright 2017, Spins on Music LLC
