West Michigan’s live music weekend boasted national and regional stars, from a fast-rising country singer with a Michigander in tow to summer’s final blast at Bell’s Beer Garden and more. Photos, videos.
Country Whirlwind: Lainey Wilson with Sav Madigan on stage Saturday night at Van Andel Arena. (Photo/Eric Stoike)
INSIDE THE WEEKEND ROUNDUP: Lainey Wilson at Van Andel Arena, Sweet Dee & The Wild Honeys at SpeakEZ Lounge, The Fuzzrites at Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill (Farmer John’s Birthday), Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers at Bell’s Beer Garden, Kalamazoo’s Sounds of the Zoo fest (Friday-Saturday), Sierra Hull at St. Cecilia Music Center. Scroll down for photos and videos.
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Country brandished a new cool Saturday night at Van Andel Arena when Lainey Wilson’s “Whirlwind” world tour blew through Grand Rapids.
On stage, performing alongside her, was Michigan’s own Sav Madigan of The Accidentals, playing a slew of stringed instruments. Lainey made a point during the show to call out the “Michigan girl” and raved that “she can play any instrument she gets her hands on.”
The emerging country superstar’s show started with a bang and lavish stage production that featured a 20-foot horseshoe and dancing Edison-bulb lights. As the lights came up for “Somewhere Over Laredo” (Wilson’s latest single), the singer appeared adorned with a massive cape, and with the chorus, lifted into the air.
Lainey didn’t miss a beat, connecting with the sold-out crowd at every turn while performing fan favorites. At one point, Lainey noticed a fan near the stage on a FaceTime call, grabbed their phone and had a brief one-on-one chat with the fan on the phone. She showed them the crowd and finished the conversation with “Maybe next time will be in person, OK?”
“I’ve been in Nashville for 14 years, and I feel like the last three have been kind of, beautifully chaotic, if that makes any sense at all,” Lainey said, recalling the writing and creation of 2024’s “Whirlwind,” before performing an intimate acoustic performance of “Whiskey Colored Crayon.”
She then invited the boys of opening act Muscadine Bloodline back to the stage to perform “Pieces,” taking a moment to chat about how the crowd was “on another level” and that some of their favorite shows took place over the weekend in Michigan. (Wilson’s tour also made a stop Friday at Pine Knob Music Theatre in Clarkston).
The Van Andel faithful — clad in boots, fringe and bell bottoms — certainly were loud, with Lainey pausing multiple times to mention how well she could hear them singing back to her. – By Chelsea Whitaker
PHOTO GALLERY: Lainey Wilson, Muscadine Bloodline, Lauren Watkins at Van Andel Arena
Photos by Eric Stoike
JOE HERTLER @ THE BEER GARDEN
It’s an annual tradition: Michigan pop/soul/rock band Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers closing out the outdoor season at Bell’s Beer Garden in Kalamazoo. This time around, the Friday night affair amid perfect weather saw Grand Rapids’ jazzy Normal Mode opening the show, followed by a nearly two-hour set from Hertler and crew that featured the debut of a couple of new songs.
PHOTO GALLERY: Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers, Normal Mode at Bell’s Beer Garden
Photos by Derek Ketchum
SOUNDS OF THE ZOO – FRIDAY-SATURDAY
Sounds of the Zoo festivalgoers basked in both a rare warm set of festival days and Michigan music in Bronson Park Friday and Saturday. On Friday afternoon, Great Lakes Brass led a parade into Bronson Park, kicking off a night featuring Detroit’s Verzell, The Incantations and Cadillac’s Luke Winslow-King.
Saturday Night Blues: Kenn Olson Cartel (Photo/Derek Ketchum)
Saturday may have boasted the most diverse performance lineup yet, featuring artists from Grand Rapids to Detroit to Kalamazoo, along with three busking stations through downtown alongside the main set at Bronson Park, where local vendors, food trucks and lawn chairs were spread out.
People flowed through the park and gathered around the park stage for indie-pop’s Sophia McIntosh, Candid Antics’ funky jazz, Celestina y Lose Sanchez’s Latin sounds, Headband Henny’s pop/hip hop, BLKJAC’s pop, Louie Lee’s country hop ‘n’ roll and Kenny Olson Cartel’s blues-guitar romp. The event also featured the premiere of “Kalamazoo Gals,” a documentary about the women employed at Gibson Guitars during World War II.
Sounds of the Zoo founder Jennifer Hudson-Prenkert said this year’s festival — which began Monday and closes today (Sunday) — has given her “a burst of energy.” Today’s Bronson Park lineup, beginning at 1 p.m., will feature the Bahar Ensemble, Goh Kurosawa, Jennifer Westwood & The Handsome Devils, Yolanda Lavender and The Go Rounds. For more details and to support Sounds of the Zoo with a donation, visit http://www.soundsofthezoo.com. – By Cassandra Kipp
PHOTO GALLERY: Sounds of the Zoo – Friday-Saturday
Photos by Derek Ketchum
