Browse the resplendent Local Spins images from another weekend of diverse and crowd-energizing concerts, from Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo.
Weekend Funk: Lettuce performing at Bell’s Brewery during a rainy evening in Kalamazoo Saturday. (Photo/Derek Ketchum)
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When singer and guitarist Gillian McGhee of Chicago punk band Turnspit introduced the band’s last two songs of the night at The Pyramid Scheme on Saturday, she felt compelled to give a shoutout to Skitchin’ Fest and Tyler Dykema, who organized the third-year punk festival.
“We really like what it stands for,” she declared.
FLUSHED during Skitchin’ Fest. (Photo/John Sinkevics)
Bandmate Jason Swearingen praised the “nurturing culture” of the scene, something cheered by the 70 or so punk devotees on hand at the Grand Rapids venue, which saw rafter-rattling performances by FLUSHED, Blind Adam & The Federal League and Alien Dogs and hosts the second night of the event Sunday evening (June 2).
The unabashed enthusiasm of Skitchin’ Fest attendees was just part of a concertgoer’s dream weekend in West Michigan:
• On Friday, The Intersection hosted a pair of big shows, with rapper Xavier Wulf, Beau Young Prince and other special guests performing at Elevation with the “Battle to the B93 Birthday Bash” finals in the main showroom.
Sadie Bass, of Bath, Mich., won the multi-week country music competition, earning an opening slot in next Saturday’s B93 Birthday Bash at Fifth Third Ballpark and $1,000. Myron Elkins came in second, earning a slot at the upcoming Taste of Grand Rapids event and $500.
Winning Band: Sadie Bass (Photo/Eric Stoike)
• Bell’s Brewery Eccentric Cafe’s second night of the season for the outdoor Beer Garden in Kalamazoo on Saturday starred the funk-meisters of Lettuce (which releases its new album, “Elevate,” on June 14). An “unofficial” after-party followed down the street at Shakespeare’s featuring Southwest Michigan’s own Trifocal.
Check out the full Local Spins review and photo gallery from the Beer Garden’s opening night Friday with Steppin’ In It and May Erlewine & The Motivations, plus the Old Dog Tavern Beer Garden opener with Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers, which also served as an album-release celebration.
And read a separate Local Spins review with photo gallery from Twenty One Pilots at Van Andel Arena on Friday.
PHOTO GALLERY: Xavier Wulf, Beau Young Prince at Elevation
Photos by Eric Stoike (On the Run Photography)
Photos by Eric Stoike (On the Run Photography)
Photos by Derek Ketchum
