From one end of Michigan to the other, the weekend launched with a celebratory flair, featuring a star-studded (Eminem, Jack White) christening of an iconic building and the return of a GR institution.
Eminem’s Spectacle: The show-closing extravaganza with Michigan Central Station as a backdrop. (Photo/Joe Maroon Photography)
SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTO GALLERIES, VIDEO
Support our coverage of
West Michigan's music scene
In Detroit, the big show was the rebirth of an iconic building.
In Grand Rapids, it was the return of a beloved festival that’s been a tradition for more than a half-century.
Suffice to say, amid all the performances and stand-out moments, Detroit’s own Jack White and Eminem stole the show during Thursday’s impressive re-opening concert for Michigan Central Station in the Motor City.
Streamed live on Peacock — with a one-hour special featuring highlights airing on NBC at 7 p.m. Sunday — the star-studded affair featured everything from the downtempo magic of DJ/producer Theo Parrish to singer/rapper Jelly Roll to the ever-Supreme Diana Ross.
But the rock spectacle unleashed by Jack White (with Detroit-bred bassist Dominic John Davis) that boasted a rousing rendition of “Seven Nation Army” and Eminem’s show-ending brilliance (with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra) with the renovated Michigan Central Station illuminated in the background will long be remembered.
Sun-Splashed Opening Day for Festival: Bruce Matthews Band on the Clocktower Stage. (Photo/Local Spins)
Grand Rapids, meanwhile, celebrated the return of its downtown Festival of the Arts amid sunny, breezy conditions on Friday with more than 40 performances on four stages — with 100-plus performances yet to come on Saturday and Sunday.
From the country- and Americana-fueled Bruce Matthews Band to the hard-hitting rock of Coldville to the singer-songwriter charm of Caitlin Cusack and Carmen & Maddy, there was plenty of diverse music for strolling fans to embrace, with crowds only beginning to thin around 9 p.m.
Some highlights:
• The Smokin’ Dobroleles on the DiSuvero Stage incorporated a wide array of genres into their toe-tapping tunes from bluegrass, to country-rock, to reggae, but the star feature of this band is the unique blend of the twangy dobro and bright ukulele. Lightning-fast fingerpicking from dobro player Abe Kurzer and ukulele player Mike Renna kept the set fast-paced and entertaining while bassist Brandon Tabor and drummer John Ellsworth kept the tempo moving. Each song in the set list added a new layer to the Dobroleles’ approach, captivating many fans who stayed put for the entire show.
• An audience member summed up Whorled’s 9 p.m. set on the Clocktower Stage perfectly when he described it as both “badass” and “whimsical” in the same breath. The usual trio, Thom Jayne, Keala Venema and Mariko Venema, were joined by special guests Lino Venema and percussionist Dede Alder, creating an even richer sound than usual. By the time the group’s traditional world music began drifting through the downtown streets, a dense crowd had formed around the stage. Fiddler Keala Venema described Whorled as “a road trip for your ears” and took care in describing the heritage of each song to the audience.
Scroll down for photo galleries and more coverage of both events.
Festival continues today and Sunday. Get Local Spins’ Festival music picks here, with a full schedule of performances at festivalgr.com.
PHOTO GALLERY: Michigan Central Station Grand Re-Opening Concert
Photos by Joe Maroon Photography
PHOTO GALLERY: Grand Rapids Festival of the Arts – Day 1
Photos by John Sinkevics, Holly Holtzclaw and Chelsea Whitaker
