Saturday’s festival on the city’s East Side featured performances by more than four dozen Michigan bands and solo artists in sunny, super-hot weather.
Winning Set: Izzy Joy during Saturday’s Walk the Beat (Photo/Jamie Geysbeek)
SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTO GALLERY, VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
Support our coverage of
West Michigan's music scene
With attendees and some bands baking in the searing sun and 90-degree weather, Grand Haven’s Walk the Beat on Saturday crowned singer-songwriter Izzy Joy and her band the winner of the 2025 competition that had more than 40 bands performing on two dozen stages.
The annual festival on the city’s East Side oozed energy and enthusiasm all afternoon in spite of the heat, with crowds roaming from stage to stage to vote for their favorite bands.
In the end, the Mount Pleasant native and her bandmates — who spent part of the afternoon wowing crowds with a soulful blend of indie-folk, pop and soul — took home the festival’s grand prize of a coveted recording package at Third Coast Recording Company in Grand Haven as well as a paid performance during next year’s Coast Guard Festival parade.
“We just came to have fun and play music,” said Izzy Joy drummer Kevin Stobbe. “We didn’t expect to win.”
Izzy Joy Partlo, the leader and namesake of the band, said she has a special place in her heart for Grand Haven.
Walking the Beat: Fans strolling the Beechtree corridor. (Photo/Jamie Geysbeek)
“I can tell you, I’ve met some of my biggest fans here,” said Partlo. “They are so supportive of new ideas and music.”
Partlo’s family was also on hand to celebrate their daughter’s win. Izzy’s mother, Airlia Partlo, said that the town has always been welcoming to her daughter and the music she brings.
“They appreciate art,” Partlo said of Grand Haven music fans. “They appreciate art, this is a hotspot for music in Michigan. I mean, I got chills more than once hearing the music today…”
“That’s why we do this,” interjected an excited Stobbe. “We do this to make people feel.”
The city’s Beechtree corridor — closed to vehicle traffic — had fans “feeling” an eclectic blend of music from rock to folk to soul and more, from original music to familiar covers, while texting in their votes in support of their favorite performers — performers who came from West Michigan, Detroit and beyond.
Terri Krizan-Ludmer played bass and performed lead vocals for Riot Babe, a group who played their way into the hearts of new fans at Walk the Beat.
Sun-Splashed: The Blue Pines heated up the City Auto Body stage. (Photo/Jamie Geysbeek)
“We’re just so grateful to be here, she said. “To come back into town, and participate in an event like this… and for such a great cause. Not to mention, the food, the music, the acts – it’s great to hear live music so … alive.”
Walk the Beat co-founder Dave Palmer stood in the middle of the crowd Saturday with his trademark smile. Palmer started the festival as well as its parent non-profit, Walk the Beat. Through raffles and donations at Walk the Beat, the non-profit works year-round, dedicated to supporting all things music – including managing donations of instruments and lessons to children, and contributing funding to several grants and school music programs.
Palmer and the late Ric Van Weelden, Palmer’s good friend and a widely beloved local musician, had started something that clearly has taken on a life beyond what the two friends could have imagined.
“It’s so great,” Palmer said with a smile. “It’s not my project anymore, but when I look down the street, and I see all this… I mean, it was just me and a buddy of mine. It just shows that a few people who really want to stand up and do something, really can make a difference.”
PHOTO GALLERY: Walk the Beat 2025
Photos by Jamie Geysbeek, John Sinkevics and Matt Marn
VIDEO: Grand Haven’s Walk the Beat 2025
Copyright 2025, Spins on Music LLC
