The 97 LAV Budweiser Blues on the Mall launches its 23rd year in Grand Rapids with blues guitar phenom Kelly Richey, moves to Fifth Third Ballpark on June 25 and features an early August tribute to Walter Trout.
Blistering Beginning: The Kelly Richey Band opens 2014’s LAV Budweiser Blues on the Mall.
Summer really must be here because Blues on the Mall is back.
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West Michigan classic rock radio station WLAV-FM (96.9) today revealed its 2014 lineup for the 23rd edition of the 97 LAV Budweiser Blues on the Mall series, a Wednesday night concert tradition that fires up again on June 18 with the Cincinnati-based Kelly Richey Band at Rosa Parks Circle in downtown Grand Rapids.
WLAV’s Steve Aldrich called Richey’s 2013 Blues on the Mall appearance “one of the most incredible shows in the two decades-plus” of the summer series, making the 2014 kick-off by Richey a real treat for fans, especially because her band features “superstar bassist” Freekbass and a new drummer, Michigan native Big Bamn, who formerly played with Bootsy Collins.
But the real highlight of the 10-concert summer series may be the special tribute to much-respected blues guitarist and Blues on the Mall favorite Walter Trout, who has been seriously ill with liver disease.
Walter Trout
On Monday, Memorial Day, Trout underwent long-awaited liver transplant surgery in Nebraska and “made it through surgery with an A-plus,” according to an update on Trout’s official website. (Read more about that at waltertrout.com, along with ways you can donate to a fund set up to assist Trout.)
To pay tribute to Trout, his guitar protégé Danny Bryant, of England, will lead Trout’s band on a special North American tour from late July through August. On Aug. 6, that benefit tour will make a stop at Blues on the Mall in Grand Rapids as part of “an evening for Walter.”
And for the first time, one of the mid-week concerts will be held in a special location: Fifth Third Ballpark in Comstock Park. As part of a partnership with the first-year Freedom Cruise event which stages a “Whitecaps Motor Rally” on June 25, Blues on the Mall will host Chicago’s Lil’ Ed & The Blues Imperials at the ballpark. The special guest for that show will be Grand Rapids’ own Tetrad. For more about the Freedom Cruise, visit freedomcruise.net.
“We really think it could be our very best Blues on the Mall,” said Tony Gates, host of WLAV’s Tony Gates Morning Show, who also thanked promoter Kevin Brady for helping book the series. “It’s going to be a sweet summer.”
Ana Popovic
Indeed, the series once again features a mix of popular returning veterans – Lil’ Ed, Larry McCray, Big James & The Chicago Playboys and Ana Popovic – along with emerging blues artists that have generated a buzz nationally, including Selwynn Birchwood, Samantha Fish and Jarekus Singleton, who Alligator Records’ founder Bruce Iglauer calls “a killer guitarist … a terrific young blues talent with a huge future.”
“We’re very happy, got everything we targeted and I’m really looking forward to seeing Jarekus and Selwynn,” Aldrich added.
The free outdoor concerts begin at 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays on Rosa Parks Circle. Featured performers play two sets, with food and merchandise vendors on hand.
Lil’ Ed & The Blues Imperials play a special edition of Blues on the Mall at Fifth Third Ballpark on June 25. (Photo/Paul Natkin)
Email John Sinkevics at jsinkevics@gmail.com.
Copyright 2014, Spins on Music
