Michigan music for free: It’s everywhere this summer, from jazz to rock to blues. Check out schedules for weekly summer series in the Grand Rapids area here at LocalSpins.com.
Sizzlin’ Band: The Kari Lynch Band plays the Lowell Showboat Sizzlin’ Summer Concerts series.
Ignore the thermometer readings. Things are heating up. Really.
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West Michigan's music scene
Dig out the lawn chairs, grab a picnic basket and kick your summer into gear … musically speaking.
Memorial Day marks the perfect time to plan your summer concert schedule, especially with a host of free outdoor community music series powering up in early June. It means folks can catch live music – representing the cream of the crop when it comes to local and regional acts – every day of the week. Literally.
So, here are the schedules for Jazz at the Zoo and Celadon Summer Concerts in Grand Rapids, the Rogue River Blues Series in Rockford and the Lowell Sizzlin’ Summer Concerts Series. And stay tuned for an announcement in coming days of the WLAV/Budweiser Blues on the Mall series, which draws thousands to downtown Grand Rapids on Wednesday nights starting June 12, as well as the GRAM on the Green series (not to mention weekly live music events on the lakeshore).
No excuses. Pick a night, pick an artist, pack up and join the musical party.
Mark Kahny
Jazz at the Zoo
Where: John Ball Park Bandshell, 1300 W. Fulton St., Grand Rapids
When: 6:30 p.m. Mondays
Admission: Free
The Lineup:
June 3 – Northview High School Jazz Band
June 10 – The Paul VornHagen Quartet
June 17 – The Tom Hagen Summer Swingers
June 24 – Max Colley III’s Sextet
July 1 – The Ides of Marsh
July 8 – The Fred Knapp Quartet
July 15 – Evan Hyde Group
July 22 – Paul Keller Quartet
July 29 – Mark Kahny Group
Aug. 5 – Michelle Covington
Aug. 12 – Grand Rapids Jazz Orchestra
Web site: wmichjazz.org
Hank Mowery & The Hawktones (Photo/David R. Banta)
Huntington Rogue River Blues Series
Where: Garden Park Stage, Rockford (along the White Pine Trail)
When: 7-9 p.m. Tuesdays
Admission: Free
Other: Bring lawn chairs, picnic baskets
The Lineup:
June 11 – Hank Mowery & The Hawktones
June 18 – The Rusty Wright Band
June 25 – Harper & The Midwest Kind
July 2 – Weezil Malone Band
July 9 – Little Frank & Premiers
July 16 – Blue Molly
July 23 – Serita’s Black Rose
After the Blues Series
July 30 – The Crane Wives
Aug. 6 – An Dro
Aug. 13 – Seth Bernard & May Erlewine
Website: therockfordnetwork.com
Rusty Wright Band
Lowell Showboat Sizzlin’ Summer Concerts
Where: Riverwalk Plaza, downtown Lowell
When: 7 p.m. Thursdays
Admission: Free
Other: Bring lawn chairs, bleacher seating available
The Lineup:
June 13 – Steve Hilger Band
June 20 – Lindsay Lou & The Flatbellys
June 27 – Harper & The Midwest Kind
July 4 – 126 Army Band
July 11 – Delilah DeWylde & The Lost Boys
July 18 – The Rusty Wright Band
July 25 – The Ragbirds
Aug. 1 – Kathy LaMar and Bob Van Stee
Aug. 15 – The Kari Lynch Band
Aug. 22 – 13th Hour
Website: lowellchamber.org
Dragon Wagon
Celadon Summer Concert Series
Where: Celadon Outdoor Amphitheater, 2050 Celadon Dr. NE, Grand Rapids (near Knapp & Leffingwell)
When: 6 p.m. Thursdays (monthly), music begins at 6:30 p.m.
Admission: Free
Other: Food by Licari’s Pizza Kitchen in June and August, Chet’s BBQ in July; bring your own beverages, with beer and wine available at The Crushed Grape.
The Lineup:
June 13 – Fauxgrass Quartet, Wazobia
July 25 – Lucas Wilson Band, Joe Hertler & the Rainbow Seekers
Aug. 15 – Dragon Wagon, The Turnips
Website: facebook.com/celadonconcerts
GRAM on the Green
Where: Plaza in front of Grand Rapids Art Museuem, across from Rosa Parks Circle, downtown Grand Rapids
When: 6:15 p.m.
Admission: Free
July 12 – The Moxie Strings
July 19 – The Crane Wives
July 26 – The John Gist Band
Aug. 2 – Orquesta Tradicion
Aug. 9 – An Dro
Aug. 16 – Randy Marsh/Ron Getz Trio
Aug. 23 – Neil Jacobs
Website: http://www.artmuseumgr.org/programevents/gramonthegreen/
Email John Sinkevics at jsinkevics@gmail.com.
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