Summer pumped up this sizzling West Michigan weekend with a cornucopia of bands playing from Grand Rapids to Rockford to the nether reaches of Barry County. (Photos, video)
Buttermilk Brouhaha: Nicholas James & The Bandwagon were just part of an eclectic weekend lineup that drew 2,000 people to the third annual Buttermilk Jamboree at Circle Pines Center south of Grand Rapids. (Photo/Local Spins)
Favorite things overheard or passed on from other folks this weekend:
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At the Buttermilk Jamboree from Crane Wives drummer Dan Rickabus: “If you want the full Crane Wives experience, you should eat a Crane Wives pizza while watching us.” (Crane Wives pizzas are, indeed, available at the weekend music festival.)
At Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park’s stellar Gov’t Mule concert: “They didn’t sound like that on Spotify.” (No kidding. Overheard by concertgoer Richard Kelley.)
On Facebook: “I put a Jose Valverde poster on my door and now it won’t close.”
It’s hard to find a favorite musical moment with so many on tap, so instead, we present the Local Spins Weekend Photo Gallery below with a litany of live music highlights, including the third annual Buttermilk Jamboree at Circle Pines Center in Delton, with three dozen diverse local and regional acts performing, along with headliner Rusted Root from Pittsburgh.
UBER-IMPRESSIVE FESTIVAL AURA
About 2,000 people turned out for the weekend festival in a remote but idyllic Barry County setting, twice the turnout from 2012. As my first Buttermilk experience, I was blown away by the easygoing-yet-bracing musical vibe, the family-friendly milieu and the well-organized cadre of upbeat volunteers. Clearly, this already has become special Michigan experience and I trust it will continue for many years to come. Check out some video highlights below.
Official Sponsor of the Local Spins Weekend Photo Gallery
Of course, there was plenty more: Gov’t Mule returning to Meijer Gardens, Willamena (and some special guests) playing a CD-release show at The Intersection’s Stache, The Dushanes, The Outer Vibe, Bronk Bros. and more performing at Rockford’s Start of Summer Celebration, and a host of vintage groups and some influential GR musicians from the past playing the Bavarian/Shamrock Reunion All-Star Concert at Grand Rapids’ Riverfront Hotel.
OK, fine, as a bonus — because it seemed to be “Blues Week” in Grand Rapids (including the start of the 97LAV Budweiser Blues on the Mall series) — I’ve also included photos of Hank Mowery & The Hawktones playing the first night of the Huntington Rogue River Blues Series presented by Rockford Brewing (along with performances in neighboring venues that night) and the Steve Hilger Band playing the Lowell Showboat Sizzlin’ Summer Concerts affair.
SEND WEEKEND PHOTOS TO LOCAL SPINS
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 June to win a $25 gift certificate to The Intersection. Nice, eh? Just include the band name, venue and photographer.
THE LOCAL SPINS WEEKEND PHOTO GALLERY (JUNE 16)
Email John Sinkevics at jsinkevics@gmail.com.
Copyright 2013, Spins on Music
