ArtPrize hoopla aside, the Grand Rapids area is teeming with polkas, jazz, rock and hip-hop to help you get through the weekend.
Get on your polka shoes. Pulaski Days are here.
Oh sure, you’ve seen The Big List: From uber-hyped Saturday concerts like country star Rascal Flatts at Van Andel Arena to uber-intimate shows such as West Michigan-bred jazz pianist John Proulx’s CD-release concert at the Ladies Literary Club.
And then there’s all that ArtPrize hoopla with the winners’ announcement at 8 p.m. today (Friday), not to mention The Verve Pipe playing WOOD TV 8’s lunchtime Art Van Concert Series at 11 a.m. on Rosa Parks Circle, with The Outer Vibe moving to that same stage for a special encore performance at 6:30 p.m.
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But there’s more, which is why Spins on Music gives you a Friday lunchtime heads up on some under-the-radar events featuring Grand Rapids-area bands that will surely pique your interest … or at least, get you off your duff.
1) Pulaski Days, Friday-Sunday, Polish Halls throughout Grand Rapids — Granted, this is harvest festival season, so pretty much every community from GR to the lakeshore is harvesting or celebrating something, but what could possibly be more fun than the combination of Polish halls, pierogi, golumbki and other Polish food, beer and polkas? Add a passel of local rock bands to the mix and plenty of folks will be doing the hall-hopping Polish shuffle this weekend.
The lineup is impressive, with 15 halls (and two performing areas in some of them) from which to choose. On Friday, you’ve got the Detroit Polka Authority at 7 p.m. at the Polish Falcons Hall, 957 W. Fulton St., the Stan Mroz Orchestra at 8 p.m., at Little Hall, 823 Michigan St. NE, and way more polka madness than you can shake an accordion at. Grand Rapids’ Gerry Kaminski, nominated for past Grammys with the Versatones, is also debuting a new band this weekend at Fifth Street Hall (St. Adalbert’s Aid Society), 701 Fifth St. NW. Gerry Kaminski’s Polka Network — Kaminski, Dave (Nigel) Kurdziel, Pete Chacho, Steve Rodgers, Rick Vinecki and Andy Pawlak — performs much of Friday and Saturday.
The weekend boasts plenty of rock ‘n’ roll too, with Dennie Middleton and Mr. Whooha at Eastern Avenue Hall, 506 Eastern Ave. NE, on Friday and Saturday nights, and a host of other acts playing other halls. And there’s the Pulaski Parade at 11 a.m. Saturday.
See the full, official schedule and a listing of all the halls at the link here. And remember, there’s a shuttle to get you safely from hall to hall.
Organissimo helps kick off Vander Fest on Saturday outside Spring Lake.
2) Vander Fest, outside Spring Lake, 4-10 p.m. Saturday – Just ran across this one and couldn’t resist: This third annual fall craft beer and cider festival held at Vander Mill, 14921 Cleveland St., (aka, M-104 west of 148th) boasts products from local beer and cider producers and restaurants and some terrific live music.
From 4-5:30 p.m. Saturday, Organissimo brings its bluesy jazz strains to the festival, with Jim Alfredson, Randy Marsh and Ralph Tope delivering soulful, constantly shifting instrumental wizardry. Organissimo, by the way, has launched a Kickstarter campaign to help fund its next studio album, so fans should click here to get involved with that. At 6:30 p.m., Social Bones takes the stage with its jam-flavored classic rock and modern rock covers, meshed with blues, reggae, country, disco, soul, funk, and bluegrass.
Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 at the door; price includes five drink tokens. Get the lowdown at the official Vander Fest website or call 616-842-4337.
Chance Jones takes its Founders set indoors this weekend.
3) Chance Jones, Clear Soul Forces, Pistolbrides, Azizi Jasper, Founders Brewing Co., 9:30 p.m. Saturday – This is a local music festival in and of itself at Founders, 235 Grandville Ave. SW, with this eclectic, diverse lineup of acts, from the inventive rock of Chance Jones to the hip-hop of Clear Soul Forces and just about everything in between.
And to tip a hat to ArtPrize, there’s “live art by the gruesome twosome.” Cover is $5. More details at the Founders website.
Oh, and in case you missed ’em, here’s the rest of Spins on Music’s picks of the week.
Email: jsinkevics@gmail.com
