Wednesday’s double-header of major Grand Rapids shows included the opening night of the Meijer Gardens season and the second big concert at Acrisure Amphitheater. Review and photos.
‘Love and Memories’: O.A.R. endeavored to create lots of both at Meijer Gardens’ opening night. (Photo/Steve Baran)
EDITOR’S NOTE: It was a late May Wednesday unlike any other with the first show of the summer at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park and the second major concert at Grand Rapids’ new Acrisure Amphitheater, headlined by hip hop’s Kid Cudi. Check out reviews and images from both.
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Between temperatures climbing into the upper 80s and beachy, summery sounds of O.A.R. filling the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park amphitheater, it was a fitting kickoff to both the summer season and the start of the venue’s beloved summer concert series.
Upon a quick internet search, O.A.R. (aka, Of a Revolution) may simply be labeled as a rock band, but their catalog contains elements of reggae, ska, jam and alt-rock, all of which were showcased throughout their set list Wednesday night. The reggae-influenced tracks in particular had the crowd on its feet and an unexpected Stone Temple Pilots cover demonstrated the group’s rock edge.
The show didn’t sell out prior to the day of the event, a surprising change that remains true of many Meijer Gardens summer concerts this year (as of now, only six of this summer’s shows have officially sold out). But it did provide a slightly more spacious experience for fans, giving them room to dance and the kids in attendance space to roam and play.
OA.R.: Another crowd-pleasing return to Meijer Gardens. (Photo/Steve Baran)
After an opening set by the Pernikoff Brothers, O.A.R. — a returning favorite at Meijer Gardens — spent the band’s first show of the year with a dedicated audience of West Michigan fans who knew every word to crowd-pleasing favorites such as “Hey Girl” and “Shattered (Turn the Car Around).” (View the full set list here.)
“You guys always show up. We’ve seen a lot, we’ve been through highs and lows together,” frontman Marc Roberge said as he reminisced on the band’s previous Grand Rapids tour stops.
If anyone needed proof that the crowd featured plenty of longtime O.A.R. fans, it came at the end of the night when the Maryland band played its 2002 track, “That Was A Crazy Game of Poker,” and hundreds of playing cards were thrown into the air right on cue — honoring a longstanding tradition within the O.A.R. fan base.
The crowd filed out of the venue in high spirits after the joyful showcase of saxophone-heavy jam sessions, unique percussion elements and expressions of love and unity that defined the night. – Holly Holtzclaw
The Fifth Third Bank Summer Concert Series continues at Frederik Meijer Gardens on Sunday (June 7) with The Wallflowers and opener Early James. Tickets are available here: https://www.axs.com/events/1374113/the-wallflowers-tickets?skin=meijergardens
PHOTO GALLERY: O.A.R., Pernikoff Brothers at Meijer Gardens
Photos by Steve Baran
‘Man on the Moon’: Kid Cudi brings 18 Years of Music to Acrisure Amphitheater
Hip Hop at Acrisure Amphitheater: Big Boi on stage Wednesday. (Photo/Veronica Ann Dearborn)
“I can feel the excitement, I can feel it in the air tonight y’all. We’re gonna take a ride through my entire discography, y’all ready?”
Kid Cudi’s Rebel Ragers Grand Rapids’ stop delivered a galactic trip Wednesday through the history of his music, gravelly narration cuts aligning with electric, sky-focused psychedelic visuals to illustrate his journey of overcoming mental health battles, career struggles and more.
From a throwback to late 2009 with “Man on the Moon: The End of Day” and crowd classics such as “Day ‘n’ Nite” to titles such as “Mr. Miracle” and “Grave” from his latest album “FREE,” released in August 2025, he took fans with him on the journey he’s been experiencing through the last 18 years.
The Acrisure Amphitheater seats filled up the moment his set began, a chant waving through the crowds as he stared out in awe. For the rest of the night, fans kept the energy electric, arms waving in rhythm through “Mr. Rager”, “Maui Wowie” and “love.” They sang along, often with the hip-hop artist pointing a microphone back at the audience rather than at himself.
Filling the Big Screen: Chip Tha Ripper (Photo/Veronica Ann Dearborn)
“I broke my foot two years ago and didn’t know if I’d be able to tour again,” Cudi noted, his voice fueled by emotion. “This is such a powerful moment for me. You know, staying up all those nights when I was sitting up with my f—ing foot up, thinking about having this moment again. And now I’m here with y’all, and it’s f—ing magical. I love my job. I love my fans.”
With a fist over his heart, it became clear it wasn’t just about the fame — knowing his music had resonated with more people than he could imagine was the payoff he needed.
“I’ve been doing this for 18 years, and it never gets old, seeing y’all having fun every night,” he continued. “It’s beautiful.”
After a 24-song set, he dove into the four-song encore by bringing back opener Chip Tha Ripper, an artist he’s worked with on numerous projects in the past, for “Hyyer” and “Just What I Am,” sparking the crowd back with vigor before leading into “Reborne” and closing out the night with the vibrant extended remix of “Pursuit of Happiness”, originally debuted in collaboration with Steve Aoki in 2012.
Ohio-originated artist Chip Tha Ripper started the night strong with a rhythmic Midwestern hip-hop sound, playing upbeat tracks such as “Light One Up.” Canadian DJ and producer A-Trak followed with a bass-heavy DJ set, bringing a heightened spirit to the crowd.
A-Trak scratched through well-known modern pop history, including remixes of songs such as Sheck Wes’ 2018 hit “Mo Bamba,” Kendrick Lamar’s “DNA,” Too Short’s club hit “Blow The Whistle” and “Memories” by David Guetta ft. Kid Cudi. Tied with neon visuals, it got the crowd jumping before the final opening set.
Big Boi, half of legendary hip-hop duo OutKast, brought a dirty south dance electricity alongside Sleepy Brown in his set before Kid Cudi’s headlining performance. With live renditions of “So Fresh, So Clean,” “Ms. Jackson” and “Rosa Parks,” he made sure the full-house crowd was moving and ready to welcome the second-ever performance of Acrisure Amphitheatre’s inaugural season.
As Kid Cudi (Scott Mescudi), said himself, there was a magic to the night that makes live music an irreplaceable memory. Even 18 years in, he’d reminded himself, and everyone else, that the ride is worth every mile. – Sara Bagley
Up Next at Acrisure Amphitheater: Russell Dickerson performs at 7 p.m. Saturday. Tickets available online here.
PHOTO GALLERY: Big Boi, A-Trak, Chip Tha Ripper at Acrisure Amphitheater
Photos by Veronica Ann Dearborn
Note: Kid Cudi’s management prohibited professional photography of his set
