Memorial Day weekend heated up nicely in the Grand Rapids area with some uncommon concerts — outdoors at a Buses by the Beach benefit in West Olive, indoors at Quinn & Tuite’s, Founders, One Trick Pony and more.
Out of the Shadows: Mandolinist Jason Wheeler of Fauxgrass at Rockford Brewing. (Photo/Kristine Carpenter)
Even though that equinox thing is still a few weeks away, there’s absolutely no doubt that summer officially kicked into gear this holiday weekend with streams of folks in trucks and campers headed north and to the lakeshore in hopes of catching some rays even with temps a bit cooler than usual.
Support our coverage of
West Michigan's music scene
That lakeshore attraction included the Buses By The Beach Bus Benefit at Camp Blodgett in West Olive south of Grand Haven, where several hundred VW enthusiasts have gathered for a few days to raise money for The Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors with oodles of family activities and performances by a host of local and regional bands, from Nicholas James & the Bandwagon to The Crane Wives (who wrap up the live music on Sunday night).
But Memorial Day weekend also boasted a hotbed of indoor shows in and around Grand Rapids, more than the usual for this late May holiday: Devin & The Dead Frets’ CD-release bash at Founders Brewing (a celebratory affair that delivered potent rock gems for an audience built, in part, from the band’s numerous appearances at Founders open-mic nights), the 500th open-mic night at Quinn & Tuite’s Irish Pub with the Jukejoint Handmedowns, 555 Blues and more commemorating the milestone event, Fauxgrass kicking out progressive bluegrass strains at Rockford Brewing, and singer-songwriter Liz Longley at Spring Lake’s Seven Steps Up, where she received several standing ovations and performed two encores.
Official Sponsor of the Spins on Music Weekend Photo Gallery
Remember: If you’re checking out live music next weekend, send photos by Sunday morning to jsinkevics@gmail.com for inclusion in the Weekend Photo Gallery and your name will be tossed into the hat for May to win a gift certificate from Founders Brewing. Pretty swell, eh? Just make sure you list the band name, venue and photographer.
THE LOCAL SPINS WEEKEND PHOTO GALLERY (MAY 26)
devinfounders1
Email John Sinkevics at jsinkevics@gmail.com.
Copyright 2013, Spins on Music
