Founders Fest will pump up the streets around the brewery on June 18 with ‘an extra special’ edition of the festival, and Local First Street Party returns for its 13th year on June 4.
Packing the Street: Founders Fest returns on June 18. (Photo/Anthony Norkus)
June is shaping up as one big party in downtown Grand Rapids.
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Local First will once again host its Street Party the first weekend in June – coinciding with Grand Rapids’ Festival of the Arts – and Founders Brewing Co. follows up on June 18 with “a little extra special” edition of Founders Fest, the brewery’s day-long celebration of beer and music.
The Motet
Denver jazz-funk band The Motet and Brooklyn soul/R&B outfit Lee Fields & The Expressions will headline Founders Fest 2016, the brewing company announced today.
Also on the bill: Toronto indie-blues band July Talk, Indiana roots phenomenon The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band, Los Angeles funk/soul group The Main Squeeze and Chicago Latin dance outfit Dos Santos Anti-Beat Orquesta.
On the local end, Kalamazoo’s The Go Rounds will play Founders Fest for the first time, with The FBC All-Stars – featuring Founders employees – making their annual appearance at the festival, which takes place from 3 to 11 p.m. on Grandville Avenue SW between Cherry and Bartlett streets near the brewery.
More than 6,000 people attend the annual festival. This is its 9th year.
Vice president Mark Dorich called it a special lineup because every band being featured at Founders Fest has performed in the taproom in the past. Roving entertainers form Super Happy Funtime Entertainment will also be on hand.
Early bird tickets, $25, go on sale starting April 22. Regular advance tickets, $30, go on sale May 1. General admission tickets the day of the festival will be $35 each, depending on availability. Founders mug club member can purchase discounted advance tickets starting April 22 for $20. It’s a 21-and-older event.
LOCAL FIRST STREET PARTY CELEBRATES MICHIGAN PERFORMERS
Street Party Fun: Returns on June 4. (Photo/Taylor Mansen)
The 13th annual Local First Street Party, meanwhile, will fire up from 3 p.m. to midnight on June 4 outside Bistro Bella Vita just west of Van Andel Arena with a bevy of top-notch Michigan acts: Joshua Davis, The Crane Wives, Tunde Olaniran, Chris Bathgate, Lady Ace Boogie, Mark Lavengood’s Bluegrass Bonanza, Triumph Music Academy students, 61Syx Teknique breakdancers and Audacious Hoops hula hoopers.
The Street Party, which takes place the same weekend as Festival of the Arts in downtown Grand Rapids, will also feature beer from Founders, local food trucks, recycled art and sidewalk chalk art and more.
Admission is free. Get more information online at localfirst.com/events/street-party.
Check out Local Spins coverage of last year’s Founders Fest, with video and photo gallery, online here.
For the 2015 Local First Street Party coverage, click here.
Copyright 2016, Spins on Music LLC
