While folk and roots music fans — including British actor Tom Hiddleston — packed a field in rural Mecosta County for Wheatland, local faves Hank Mowery & The Hawktones made their Founders debut and The Soul Syndicate played Billy’s for the first time.
Maybe the Best Wheatland Ever? 10,000 folks packed the site near Remus. (Photo/Local Spins)
It was another weekend of firsts across West Michigan, with bands such as Kalamazoo’s Red Tail Ring and Traverse City’s The Accidentals playing the venerable Wheatland Music Festival for the first time ever, with 10,000-some folk and roots music fans on hand on the 160-acre plot near Remus.
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Actor Tom Hiddleston and Rodney Crowell at Wheatland. (Photo/Matt Jarrells)
But here’s another real first: British actor Tom Hiddleston, aka Thor’s sinister brother, Loki, in the Marvel films, took the stage to perform at Wheatland over the weekend, playing Hank Williams’ “Move It On Over” and later joining Americana singer-songwriter Rodney Crowell. Hiddleston will be playing Williams in an upcoming biopic. (Thanks to Matt Jarrells for the photos; YouTube video below.)
National acts such as The Steel Wheels, Crowell and Pokey LaFarge certainly got acquainted with the magic of Wheatland, too, though many of many of the weekend’s performers were veterans such as Claudia Schmidt, Rachael Davis and plenty more. (Story, video and full photo gallery from Day 1 of Wheatland online here.)
Meanwhile, in Grand Rapids, a pair of bands with a vintage sound were making debuts at a couple of venues, too.
Hank Mowery & The Hawktones brought their vintage blues to Founders Brewing for the first time, paying tribute at times to the late Lynwood slim.
The Soul Syndicate brought its authentic-sounding, horn-enhanced R&B to Billy’s Lounge on Eastown on Friday night, the first time the band — led by singer Diego Morales and guitarist Mike Coon — have played that stage, but likely not the last.
And in Spring Lake on Sunday night, the second annual outdoor Courtyard Concerts event held outside Seven Steps Up hosted a terrific performance by Shawn Mullins and JD Eicher & the Goodnights. Get a photo gallery and more details about that show online here.
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Hank Mowery photos by Anthony Norkus
The Soul Syndicate photos by Tori Thomas
Wheatland photos by Anna Sink and Jamie Geysbeek
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Copyright 2014, Spins on Music
Crowell along with Hiddleston and band wrapped up the 3 day show with a great rockin’ cover of Tobacco Road, followed by Ain’t Livin Long Like This. The lineup gets better every year!
!! 🙂