From one of the outdoor season’s first Michigan festivals in St. Joseph to an annual Bob Dylan tribute at Founders Brewing Co. in Grand Rapids, live music turned up the volume this weekend.
Sea of Country Fans: Chase Rice played the season’s first “Rock the Lot” show next to The Intersection on Friday night. (Photo/Eric Stoike)
BBQ, BLUES & BLUEGRASS IN ST. JOSEPH
Michigan’s unpredictable weather may be even more unpredictable in the spring.
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So, it’s no surprise that one of the outdoor season’s first big Michigan festivals — St. Joseph’s annual BBQ, Blues and Bluegrass event — would vacillate between raindrops and sunshine on Saturday.
Nevertheless, thousands of attendees persevered and riveting music prevailed, with sets by blues/soul guitarist-singer Jonny Lang and bluegrass phenoms The Steeldrivers, plus The Marcus King Band, Slim Gypsy Baggage (with Matt Rollings) and The Lil’ Smokies.
PHOTO GALLERY: BBQ, Blues & Bluegrass in St. Joseph
Photos by Joshua Nowicki
CHASE RICE PLAYS ‘ROCK THE LOT’
The Intersection heated things up outside for the first time in 2017 when country singer Chase Rice played the “Rock the Lot” series Friday night on a stage in the parking lot next to the downtown nightclub.
An impressive throng of exuberant fans cheered Rice, as well as Jameson Rodger and DJ Jay Vee. To borrow from one of Rice’s songs: “Ignite the Night,” indeed.
PHOTO GALLERY: Chase Rice
Photos by Eric Stoike (On the Run Photography)
BOB DYLAN TRIBUTE AT FOUNDERS BREWING
Grand Rapids singer-guitarist Nicholas James Thomasma closed out West Michigan’s weekend of music with a healthy wallop of Bob Dylan, hosting his annual Dylan tribute show on Sunday night at Founders Brewing.
The impressive lineup of regional artists — The Legal Immigrants, Barbarossa Brothers, I Believe in Julio, Ralston Bowles, Brother Adams, Deerfield Run and Thomasma — each gave a unique spin to classic Dylan tracks.
Highlights included I Believe in Julio’s revved-up punk rendition of “It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue” and The Legal Immigrants’ show-stopping, show-closing anthem, “Rainy Day Women 12 & 35.” Check out some video highlights here.
VIDEO: Bob Dylan Tribute Highlights (Founders Brewing)
Nicholas James Thomasma, Brother Adams, I Believe in Julio, The Legal Immigrants
VIDEO: Nicholas James Thomasma, “Mr. Tambourine Man” (Founders Brewing)
VIDEO: The Legal Immigrants, “Rainy Day Women 12 & 35” (Founders Brewing)
For a full concert review and photo gallery from Saturday night’s sold-out Primus show at 20 Monroe Live in Grand Rapids, click here.
For a roundup of Friday night’s Local Spins 5th Anniversary Show at Rockford Brewing with Jake Kershaw and The Honeytones, click here.
Copyright 2017, Spins on Music LLC
