Summer and fall concert announcements keep rolling out, with rootsy Michigan acts playing Riverside Park in June, Lynyrd Skynyrd firing up Bike Time, Steel Wheels launching the Acoustic Cafe series and more.
DREW NELSON, SETH & MAY, BENZIE PLAYBOYS TO PLAY GRAND RIVER WATER FESTIVAL
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The Grand River Water Festival flows back to Grand Rapids this year, combining unity, progress and fun with captivating regional bands on stage and children’s activities.
But there’s more than that: The June event along the Grand River aims to draw attention to West Michigan’s precious water sources and educate festival-goers about protection efforts.
And the organization is excited to talk about a project in the works that will finally allow the public to get up-close and personal with the Grand River, opening up opportunities for boating, kayaking and other fun activities.
“The Water Festival brings people together through music, then facilitates meaningful discussions and the sharing of ideas and information in a relaxed, festive atmosphere,” says singer-songwriter Seth Bernard of the Earthwork Music collective. “It’s about having a good time, and saying, ‘I can help and I will help’.”
The 6th Grand River Water Festival takes place from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday, June 28, at Riverside Park. Get details on the festival’s Facebook page. Admission is free and the lineup of rootsy regional acts is impressive:
Noon – Micah Ling with Nick Garreis
1 p.m. – Nobody’s Darlin’
2 p.m. – Drew Nelson
3 p.m. – Kathy Lamar
4 p.m. – Fauxgrass
5 p.m. – Dede and The Dreamers
6 p.m. – Hawks and Owls
7 p.m. – Seth and May
8 p.m. – Peter “Madcat” Ruth with special guest Drew Howard
9 p.m. – K Jones & The Benzie Playboys
JULY’S MUSKEGON BIKE TIME REVS UP WITH SOUTHERN ROCK’S LYNYRD SKYNYRD
With rock ’n’ roll headliners, lively local bands and a myriad of motocross stunt shows, Muskegon Bike Time rolls into Muskegon in mid-July to attract motorcycle enthusiasts and adrenaline junkies alike.
The four-day 2015 event will showcase live performances by Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Fabulous Thunderbirds and Night Ranger, with stunt teams and local musicians also revving things up in “Budweiser Beverage Tents,” including West Side Soul Surfers, Yard Sale Underwear, Let There Be Rock and Delilah DeWylde & the Lost Boys.
Muskegon Bike Time takes place July 16-19 at 4800 S. Harvey Street in Muskegon, with food vendors, beverage tents and entertainment at an expanded venue for 2015.
Tickets start at $20. Visit muskegonbiketime.com online for more information on ticket sales and events. The main stage schedule features:
July 16 – Night Ranger
July 17 – The Fabulous Thunderbirds
July 18 – Lynyrd Skynyrd
ST. CECILIA’S ACOUSTIC CAFE SERIES BOASTS THE STEEL WHEELS, SHAWN COLVIN
Americana’s The Steel Wheels and folk veteran Shawn Colvin will headline the 2015-2016 Acoustic Café folk series at Grand Rapids’ St. Cecilia Music Center, with clarinetist-saxophonist Anat Cohen kicking off the center’s jazz series.
Last year’s debut of the Acoustic Café series – partnering with Rob Reinhart, host of the syndicated radio show, “Acoustic Café” – featured nationally acclaimed acts Justin Townes Earle and Rhiannon Giddens, with the Giddens concert selling out the acoustically pristine Royce Auditorium.
Reinhart says the show has “explored different opportunities to present artists in unique settings,” which makes St. Cecilia Music Center an ideal partner.
Next year’s series opens Nov. 22 with the revered Americana band, The Steel Wheels, which meshes bluegrass, gospel, blues and country into the Virginia group’s award-winning music.
On Feb. 18, 2016, acclaimed folk singer Shawn Colvin will perform at St. Cecilia, bringing her Grammy-winning musical story-telling to Grand Rapids. At least one more concert is expected to be added to the series.
On the jazz front, SCMC Executive Director Cathy Holbrook says the center aims to bring “the most cultivated jazz musicians to Grand Rapids” by delivering some of the genre’s most influential and developed jazz musicians. And that includes a new “signature event.”
It all kicks off with jazz singer Dianne Reeves playing the Great Artist Gala at St. Cecilia on Oct. 29.
The three-concert Jazz Series begins on Dec. 10, with clarinetist-saxophonist Anat Cohen performing with her quintet. French vocalist Cyrille Aimée will perform on March 10, 2016, bringing a night of gypsy jazz to Grand Rapids. The April 21, 2016, jazz concert will feature legendary jazz drummer Jacket DeJohnette with his trio, Ravi Coltrane & Matt Garrison.
St. Cecilia will also host “The Monterey Jazz Festival On Tour” on March 19, 2016, with singer Patti Austin, trumpeter Terence Blanchard, saxophonist Ravi Coltrane and more.
Tickets go on sale June 18, 2015. Visit scmc-online.org to purchase tickets and find more extensive information on these events, as well as the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center Series that takes place at St. Cecilia.
ANN ARBOR’S SONIC LUNCH SERIES FEATURES MARTHA REEVES, JOSHUA DAVIS, MORE
Starting this June, a collection of talented regional, national and international bands will make their way through downtown Ann Arbor for the 2015 season of Sonic Lunch, starting with Motown legend Martha Reeves.
The idea is to bring a lawn chair, grab a bite to eat and join spirited crowds to listen to live performances by influential artists as part of a mid-day break.
Tim Marshall, president and CEO of Bank of Ann Arbor, noted the lineup represents “a terrific mix of music genres” and “every artist has Michigan ties – all in the spirit of ‘pure Michigan.’ ”
Bank of Ann Arbor’s Sonic Lunch is a free summer concert series that takes place at Liberty Plaza in downtown Ann Arbor at 11:30 a.m. or noon Thursdays from June 4 through Aug. 27.
For more details, visit soniclunch.com.
June 4 – Martha Reeves
June 11 – Joshua Davis
June 18 – Jessica Hernandez & The Deltas
June 25 – Michelle Chamuel, Absofacto*
July 9 – Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers
July 23 – Laith Al-Saadi
July 30 – Bennett
Aug. 6 – Luke Winslow-King
Aug. 13 – BøRNS, Chris Bathgate
Aug. 20 – Theo Katzman, Joey Dosik
Aug. 27 – Vulfpeck
Copyright 2015, Spins on Music