The free series outside Grand Rapids Art Museum and co-hosted by WYCE-FM starts July 20 with La Furia Del Ritmo and runs through Aug. 10. The schedule, plus a rundown of this weekend’s area festivals.
Back for GRAM on the Green 2023: Sarena Rae (Photo/Holly Holtzclaw)
SCROLL DOWN FOR A LISTING OF THIS WEEKEND’S FESTIVALS
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For years, the Grand Rapids Art Museum has showcased free summer concerts by bands from across the state, lighting up its piazza on Thursday nights while allowing visitors to roam its galleries.
For 2023, the four-concert GRAM on the Green series that kicks off July 20 will focus attention on a wide variety of Grand Rapids-area bands covering several different genres.
“This year we wanted to keep things hyper-local and shine a light on those West Michigan artists who have been making waves in the scene,” said Chris Cranick, music director for Grand Rapids community radio station WYCE (88.1 FM), which co-hosts the series.
The Setting: Outside Grand Rapids Art Museum. (Photo/Holly Holtzclaw)
“Not only does each artist represent each of WYCE’s primary music genres, but they also represent and give voice to our diverse communities here in Grand Rapids. Every artist lives and breathes their truths while also effortlessly creating catchy music that will get concertgoers up and moving.”
In that vein, GRAM on the Green 2023 — announced today — gets things moving in Spanish-language fashion with Grand Rapids’ popular La Furia Del Ritmo launching the series, followed by the soulful strains of singer Sarena Rae on July 27, vintage country’s The Bootstrap Boys on Aug. 3 and rock’s Pretoria on Aug. 10. (La Furia Del Ritmo also plays this weekend’s Division Avenue Arts & Culture Festival. Scroll down for details.)
The GRAM on the Green concerts begin about 6 p.m. on the museum’s outdoor terrace, with food trucks, a cash bar and hands-on artmaking available. The museum also will be open late on Thursdays for its “Meijer Free Thursday Nights” program.
The free shows featuring Michigan acts are just a small part of a robust summer of outdoor music taking place every night of the week in more than 130 communities across the state.
Check out schedules and lineups for these series exclusively in Local Spins’ Free Outdoor Community Concerts Guide 2023.
THE WEEKEND FESTIVALS ROUND-UP
Michigan’s music festival season also revs up to full gear this weekend, with several celebrations enticing music lovers:
• Rockford Start of Summer Celebration (Thursday-Sunday) – Several bands will perform throughout the weekend, with Rockford Brewing’s beer tent hosting sets by Nathan Walton & The Remedy, Overdrive Orchestra, The Insane Theatre Doors Tribute and more. Website: https://www.rockfordmichamber.com/rockford-start-of-summer-celebration-returns-in-2023
• Jackson Blues Fest at 10138 Tompkins Rd. in Rives Junction (Tompkins Center) – Scott Ellison, Brendon Linsley, Chris Beard, Ghost Town Blues Band and many more are part of this year’s lineup. Website: https://jacksonbluesfest.com/
SuddenRush (Courtesy Photo)
• Grand Rapids Asian-Pacific Festival on Calder Plaza in Grand Rapids (Friday-Sunday) – Headliner SuddenRush from Canada performs at 10 p.m. Saturday with plenty of other performances, a dance competition and much more on tap all weekend.
Website: https://www.grapf.org/festival-2023/entertainment-grapf-2023
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/events/706812257499602
• Nor-East’r Music & Arts Festival at Oscoda County Fairgrounds in Mio (Friday-Sunday) – More than 30 regional acts perform on several stages at this much-beloved northern Michigan festival. Website: https://www.noreastrfest.org/
• Division Avenue Art and Culture Festival at the corner of S. Division Avenue and 43rd Street in Grand Rapids (Saturday) – This one-day affair running from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. will feature performances by Grace Theisen, Dylan Tolbert, Low Phase, La Furia Del Ritmo and The Pacific Island Dancers. Website: https://www.facebook.com/events/197593193125306?ref=newsfeed
• Hippie Fest at 10834 W. Willard Rd. in Trufant (Saturday-Sunday) – Taking place on the Treetoad Family Farm, this festival features live music, shopping, a “hippie car show,” cirque performers, food, children’s activities and more. Website: https://www.facebook.com/events/894696228144757
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