From Grand Rapids to the Lakeshore, live music options abound for ArtPrize visitors and West Michiganders during Week 2 of the art competition.
Martin Sexton, Brothers McCann
7 p.m. Wednesday
$20 advance, $23 day of show
The Intersection, Grand Rapids
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OK. You could say I’m true blue because I bleed blue for that team in Detroit and that other team in Ann Arbor. Or you could say I’m VERY blue because both of them and the Tigers lost ridiculous games over the weekend.
But, truthfully, nothing is as blue or as wacky as the Blue Man Group, that percussive, ever-inventive music-infused show that Broadway Grand Rapids brings to DeVos Performance Hall Tuesday through Sunday this week. Get times and ticket information here. If you’ve never seen ‘em, it’s way past time you did. And at 10 p.m. Friday, the SpeakEZ Lounge at 600 Monroe Ave. NW has Broadway Grand Rapids hosting Ellie Francis “singin’ the blues for the Blue Man Group” for a sweet after-party.
As for the rest of the Grand Rapids-area music scene, Week 2 of ArtPrize shows that there’s still plenty to absorb concert-wise following this past weekend’s sensational ArtPrize Musicians’ Showcase at St. Cecilia Music Center. And then there’s Corey Eno Ruffin’s “Artprize! The Musical” at The Pyramid Scheme on Saturday and Sunday. Get tickets for that here.
Touring behind his latest EP, “Fall Like Rain,” veteran singer-songwriter and guitarist Martin Sexton continues to impress audiences with his soulfully diverse musical approach and unusually compelling guitar work.
He’s a treasure live. Boston folk-pop/roots-rock band Brothers McCann opens the show at The Intersection on Wednesday. Details here. Watch Sexton’s “Fall Like Rain” video below.
The Intersection follows this up with a Thursday night country show: Thomas Rhett, Clayton Anderson, Kris Hitchcock & Small Town Son, and Brian Lorente & The Usual Suspects ($15.93/$18), with a separate front lounge concert the same night featuring Sun & Flesh, Romance For Ransom, The Scenery and Steinhart ($8/$10).
Peter Yarrow
7 p.m. Thursday
$20 adults, $10 18 and younger
Fountain Street Church, Grand Rapids
Peter Yarrow certainly is best known as one-third of the legendary folk band Peter, Paul & Mary which soared to fame in the ‘60s with “If I Had a Hammer,” “Blowin’ in the Wind” and “Puff (The Magic Dragon),” but the singer also has distinguished himself as of late for another important cause: He’s the founder of the anti-bullying foundation Operation Respect.
So, this week’s special “Art to Change the World” ArtPrize concert at Fountain Street Church will raise money to benefit anti-bullying initiatives within Grand Rapids Public Schools and the Kent Intermediate School District.
As a major bonus, it’s an opportunity to hear and see one of folk’s most influential icons up close and personal. Get tickets online at liveatthefountain.org or at all Schuler Books & Music stores. Check out a video of one of his anti-bullying songs below.
Girlyman
7:30 p.m. Thursday
$22 ($125 for a private table of four)
Seven Steps Up, Spring Lake
Atlanta-based folk-pop quartet Girlyman has sparked a bit of a buzz on the music scene with its bracing three-part harmonies and mesmerizing Americana-hued songs, with a sound that reflects influences as far-ranging as The Indigo Girls and Simon & Garfunkel.
The group is touring behind its sixth and latest album, “Supernova,” and will play a Pin Drop Concert in this acoustically pleasing Spring Lake venue, which should make an ideal setting for those vocals. See details and ticket information here.
Blue Molly, The Madcat Manfra Blues Band with Peter “Madcat” Ruth
8 p.m. Friday
$12 advance, $15 day of show
Saugatuck Brewing Co., Douglas
Billed as “An Evening of Blues in the Singapore Room,” this represents an unusual pairing of Grand Rapids blues-soul outfit Blue Molly, led by singer Molly Bouwsma, and The Madcat Manfra Blues Band starring harmonica whiz Peter “Madcat” Ruth, Brazilian guitarist Big Joe Manfra, drummer Mike Shimmin and bassist Mark Schrock.
This should be a singularly entertaining evening. Get the lowdown on the concert and directions here.
Indie Rock Music Festival
Various Artists
7 p.m.-midnight Friday and Saturday
Free
North Harbor Drive and Washington Avenue, Grand Haven
The fourth edition of this annual Indie Rock Music Festival once again features a bunch of talented and innovative up-and-coming West Michigan rock bands, playing a stage in downtown Grand Haven over two nights.
The event also features a beer-and-wine tent. Performing in order on Friday will be Redwood, The Fever Haze, K.Serra, Ghost Heart and Ice Station Zebra.
Saturday’s show starts with Flashing Blue Lights, followed by Bella Ruse, Valentiger, The Wallace Collective and Skies Revolt. A strong lineup, to be sure.
mewithoutYou, The Soil & The Sun
8 p.m. Saturday
$20 ($10 for Calvin students)
Calvin College Covenant Fine Arts Center, Grand Rapids
Pennsylvania experimental/indie-rock band mewithoutYou has toured Christian music circles but is not a Christian rock band per se and is no longer on the Tooth & Nail Records label, independently “self-releasing” their latest project, “Ten Stories,” which members themselves describe as “a return to old form.”
As they also put it: The album meshes the “brazen noisiness, hypnotic soundscapes, and derelict shouting of their old songs, the dead-level melody and extravagant orchestration of recent years, and a newfound reliance on ethereal harmonies.”
Perhaps more important for West Michigan audiences, the amazing The Soil & The Sun – the “experiential, spiritual folk” ensemble from Grand Rapids which just released its latest spacey-cool album, “What Wonder Is This Universe?” – opens the show. Get tickets and information here.
UNDER-THE-RADAR PICKS
• Colorado Americana/baroque pop/indie-folk band Paper Bird swoops into Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill on Grand Rapids’ West Side at 8 p.m. Tuesday, with the Tony LaJoye Trio and Hanna Rose & Friends (a fine young GR-area singer) opening the show. The fun and eclectic seven-piece Paper Bird is touring behind its latest live album, “Carry On.” Admission is $6. Get details here.
(By the way, West Michigan’s own James Reeser & the Backseat Drivers bring their tasty, blues-driven show to the Tip Top at 9 p.m. Friday, $5.)
• The Wurst Festival Ever returns to the Witches of New Salem in Dorr (south of GR), on the opening weekend for this terrifying Halloween attraction.
The live music kicks off at 11 a.m. Saturday and the day-long lineup of eclectic West Michigan bands is pretty darned scary-good too: (in order) The Williams Family, Milk House Band, Dave O’Neil, Andy Holtgreive/Domestic Problems, Cleverly Hillbillies, Switchback, Nathan Kalish, Delilah DeWylde & the Lost Boys, Trevor Menear, Tommy Steele Band, The Boss Mustangs and The Diamond Light (which will take the stage around about 10:30 p.m. to finish off the night).
Oh, and yes, there will be bratwurst, beer, hot dogs and more beer, and more bratwurst. Organizers recommend bringing lawn chairs and blankets. Get details and directions to the farm at 4516 24th St. at the Witches of New Salem website.
• CANCELED: Pop/hip-hop/electro artist Dev was to perform at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at Rosa Parks Circle in downtown Grand Rapids as part of Hot FM’s free 2012 ArtPrize concert. But earlier this week she canceled for personal reasons, according to Hot FM.
• Also at Rosa Parks Circle this week, the WOOD TV8 lunchtime ArtPrize concert series continues at 11 a.m. daily, with The Crane Wives today (Monday), followed by Alexis, The Kari Lynch Band, Kris Hitchcock & Small Town Son and Annabelle Road. (The Crane Wives knocked it out of the ballpark at their CD-release show on Saturday; see video and read about that here.)
• Schuler Books & Music at 2660 28th Street SE offers up a two-night stand of free shows that’s hard to beat: Potato Moon plays its harmony-driven Americana-styled music in the studio at 7 p.m. Friday and Kalamazoo’s The Go Rounds, touring behind their new album, “Feathername,” play at 7 p.m. Saturday. (Also Joe Reilly plays the Alpine Avenue store on Friday night.)
(And in a side note: Sazerac Lounge on Plainfield Avenue is changing its name, so the current moniker will be “laid to rest” this weekend with “dinner, drinks and dance.” The new name, REZERVOIR, gets ushered in on Oct. 5. See the intriguing details here.)
Email: jsinkevics@gmail.com
Red Tail Ring and Kalispell @ The DAAC on Saturday as well. . .
http://halfwayhousemusic.com/2012/09/10/halfway-house-sessions-kalispell/