The week leading up to Labor Day brought a diverse mix of artists — national and local — to area stages. Local Spins was there to document the late-summer revelry in photos.
Lighting up ‘The Garden Path’: Kamasi Washington on stage. (Photo/Derek Ketchum)
California-bred saxophonist Kamasi Washington is one of the most celebrated, envelope-pushing artists of the genre and of his generation.
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Nashville-based Emmylou Harris ranks among the most enduring and iconic Americana/country singers of the past half-century, not to mention being an animal-rescue heroine.
Virginian Keller Williams’ prodigious instrumental talent has had him dabbling alternately in everything from bluegrass, folk and alternative rock to reggae, electronica, jazz and funk.
Miami’s Magic City Hippies are up-and-coming “alt-pop psych-funk party starters.”
All of them made West Michigan tour stops in the week leading up to Labor Day. But there were local artists making an impact, too.
Jessica Ivey, a solo artist who’s also part of Kalamazoo’s celebrated hip hop ensemble Last Gasp Collective, landed the opportunity to open for the acclaimed Washington at Kalamazoo State Theatre on Thursday.
And another milestone performance came when teenage West Michigan singer-songwriter Izubel celebrated release of her debut album on Wednesday with one of the first indoor shows at Rockford Brewing Co. since early 2020, prior to the COVID pandemic.
Local Spins recaps the shows in photo galleries below.
PHOTO GALLERY: Kamasi Washington, Jessica Ivey at Kalamazoo State Theatre
Photos by Derek Ketchum
PHOTO GALLERY: Izubel at Rockford Brewing Co.
Photos by Anna Sink
PHOTO GALLERY: Keller Williams’ Grateful Grass, The Hillbenders at Bell’s Beer Garden
Photos by Derek Ketchum
