The music weekend began with Joshua Davis’ debut at the new Listening Room and continued with a host of crowd-pleasing concerts in Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo. The images at Local Spins.
When Traverse City singer-songwriter Joshua Davis stepped onto the stage at Grand Rapids’ million-dollar, much-buzzed about downtown Listening Room on Thursday night, concertgoers literally could have heard a pin drop.
Support our coverage of
West Michigan's music scene
Playing the second official concert in the opening week for the glitzy, 200-seat concert venue, Davis clearly reveled in the experience: His voice and guitar resonated beautifully in all corners of the intimate, acoustically pleasing space and his colorful stories about his upbringing — and the subjects of his songs — resonated with the appreciative audience.
Afterward, he raved about the venue which is part of the $180 million Studio Park development south of Van Andel Arena – a project that also features a nine-screen movie theater, apartments, retail outlets, parking ramp, hotel, restaurant and office space.
“It’s such a great spot,” said Davis, who made a splash on “The Voice” in 2015 and released a new live album, “Live at the Robin,” earlier this year. “It’s exactly what Grand Rapids needs.”
The second “soft opening” event of the week for Listening Room came after Grand Rapids soul/pop singer Molly christened the venue on Wednesday for a near-capacity crowd. Read the review, browse the photos and watch video highlights here: Listening Room gets high marks in opening-night concert.
All of the hubbub surrounding Listening Room was just the opening salvo of another busy weekend of concerts across West Michigan — from road warrior Keller Williams teaming up with Traverse City’s The Accidentals at The Intersection to Michigan faves Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers playing two straight nights at The Pyramid Scheme to One Well Brewing’s anniversary bash in Kalamazoo to folk legend Judy Collins closing out the weekend at St. Cecilia Music Center and more — captured in image galleries at Local Spins below.
THURSDAY
PHOTO GALLERY: Joshua Davis at Listening Room
Photos by Anthony Norkus
FRIDAY
PHOTO GALLERY: Moon Hooch at The Stache inside The Intersection
Photos by Steve Baran
Photos by Anna Sink