The singer-songwriter and new Calvin SAO director announced the call out for local bands during Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuted tracks by Political Lizard, Wuzee, Outer Vibe, Treeskin and more.
SCROLL DOWN FOR PODCAST, VIDEO PLUS PHOTOS FROM FRIDAY’S LISTENING ROOM CONCERT
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Grand Rapids singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Jack Droppers is uniquely positioned as Calvin University’s new Student Activities Director.
As frontman for the roots-rocking, Jammie Award-nominated Jack Droppers & The Best Intentions, he’s had first-hand experience in performing on the road and can identify with artists he now books for campus concerts.
It’s all about creating an environment “that’s valuable for the audience and for the artist.”
“I’m an advocate for the artist that we bring in,” said Droppers, who succeeded longtime Student Activities Office director and Calvin concert booker Ken Heffner.
“I get to sit on the opposite end of that now. It’s been exciting to learn that end of the industry, but the main thing I love about the job is I have these students that are just dying to have deep conversations about music and about films. To experience that kind of enthusiasm … is so enlivening for me.”
That enthusiasm has spawned a new event that’s seeking regional performers: Calvin University will host its first-ever “Local Showcase” at its Covenant Fine Arts Center on May 8.
Bands and solo artists within 50 miles of Grand Rapids are eligible to enter to play this event via the Opnr website online here: https://opnrmusic.com/event/calvin-sao-local-showcase-grand-rapids-mi-calvin-university-5-8-2020
Three bands/artists will be chosen by a committee of students to perform at the 1,200-capacity Covenant Fine Arts Center. Announced just a week ago, 47 artists already had applied as of late Friday. The deadline for submission is Feb. 24.
“It’s a tool helping Calvin connect with the local music scene and helping our students begin to articulate what we’re looking for in artists,” Droppers said.
As for his own music, Droppers released two recordings in 2019 – the full-length “Bottled Up Like a Neon Light” and the “Three on Three” EP – and both have been nominated for several Jammie Awards being presented Feb. 14 at The Intersection by WYCE (88.1 FM).
He and his band also played their first-ever concert at Listening Room in Grand Rapids on Friday night, unfurling an intimate, pared-back set and a full-electric rock set with Flint native Young Ritual performing in between. Scroll down to browse through photos of Friday night’s show.
Earlier in the day, Droppers was the featured in-studio guest for Local Spins on WYCE, performing solo versions of “Dog Years” and “Magic” on the air. Watch the video of “Dog Years” here, with the full radio show podcast below.
VIDEO: Jack Droppers, “Dog Years” (2/7/20)
The singer-songwriter conceded that his new duties as Calvin’s SAO director have altered his band’s performance and recording schedule.
“We will be back in the studio in May for a couple of singles that will be released in the summer or fall,” he said.
“Because of my role at Calvin, we will continue to do a minimal amount of local stuff during the school year and shift some of the bigger gigs and tours to my off-season, including working on a solo tour this upcoming summer and a few bigger shows for the band.”
The band also plays the Jammie Awards at The Intersection on Feb. 14 and 20 Front Street in Lake Orion on Feb. 21.
Listen to more of show host John Sinkevics’ interview with Droppers here as part of this week’s edition of Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuted new music by Political Lizard, The Ryne Experience, PHABIES (Droppers’ musician’s pick of the day), Wuzee, Treeskin (a project of The Accidentals’ Michael Dause), Outer Vibe, Overdrive Orchestra, Vintage Parlor Orchestra and Darcy Wilkin, as well as a classic track by Grand Rapids’ Valentiger to close out the show.
PODCAST: Local Spins on WYCE (2/7/20)
PHOTO GALLERY: Jack Droppers & The Best Intentions at Listening Room (2/7/20)
Photos by Nathan Purchase
Copyright 2020, Spins on Music LLC