Built to Spill, Brenden Monroe, Judy Collins stir summer early

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A weekend of milestones: the first Bell’s Beer Garden show, the finals of B93’s Battle to the Bash, the State on the Street opener, Judy Collins at SCMC’s final folk concert and a rare Rush tribute show. Photos.

Kickoff: Bell’s Beer Garden opened its concert season on Sunday. (Photo/Derek Ketchum)

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You know summer’s right around the corner when Bell’s Brewery Eccentric Cafe in Kalamazoo fires up its first outdoor show of the season in its Beer Garden.

By the time opening act Sunbathe took the stage on Sunday evening, a good-sized crowd had gathered, even with temperatures in the mid-50s. Distant Family followed, warming things up for beloved indie-rock headliner Built to Spill, with the Idaho favorites in the midst of a May U.S. tour.

It was the capper to another weekend of musical milestones, led by Local Spins Fest on Saturday in downtown Grand Rapids. Read a separate recap with photos and videos of that day-long event here: Local Spins Fest weathers ‘vibrant journey of sound’ in celebration of Michigan music.

Battle to the Bash Winner: Brenden Monroe (Photo/Eric Stoike)

And there was more:

• Country singer Brenden Monroe was declared the champion of B93’s “Battle to the Bash” during the finals staged Saturday at Elevation inside The Intersection in Grand Rapids. As the winner, he’ll perform with the likes of stars Toby Keith, Joe Nichols and Ryan Hurd as part of the 2022 B93 Birthday Bash being held June 18 at LMCU Ballpark in Comstock Park.

• On Friday, West Michigan blues outfit James Reeser & The Backseat Drivers helped kick off 2022’s first State on the Street hosted by Kalamazoo State Theatre. The performances will take place twice a month, with Lisa Can’t Sing up next on June 3.

• Also on Friday, the Catch the Fish tribute to Rush rolled out at Grand Rapids’ Wealthy Theatre, with Squatch getting things started.

• Folk legend Judy Collins, meanwhile, made her return to St. Cecilia Music Center in Grand Rapids on Thursday, the season finale of the Acoustic Cafe Folk Series.

Browse the photo galleries below.