The mammoth street party will draw 6,000 folks for beer and sets by Lettuce, Charles Bradley, Break Science, Budos Band, The Giving Tree Band, Fauxgrass, Valentiger. Advance tickets on sale April 18.
Fans of beer, funk and soul have about two-and-a-half months to get in playing shape for what could be one of Grand Rapids’ biggest summer street parties yet.
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Founders Fest 2014 today announced that East Coast funk band Lettuce, New York soul sensation Charles Bradley and His Extraordinaires, EDM duo Break Science, Brooklyn funk/Afro-beat outfit Budos Band and Illinois’ The Giving Tree Band will play the June 21 outdoor festival that will occupy streets surrounding Founders Brewing Co. on Grandville Avenue SW in Grand Rapids.
What festival director and Founders vice president of retail operations Mark Dorich describes as “the highlight of our summer and our largest event of the year” will also feature home-grown bands Fauxgrass, Valentiger and, as usual, the FBC All-Stars (made up of Founders employees).
“Personally, I’ve been a fan of Lettuce for years,” Dorich told Local Spins. “I really enjoy their upbeat, funky sound and think they will be the perfect fit in closing our seventh annual Founders Fest.”
As for the late-blooming Bradley, who played a sold-out Pyramid Scheme late last year and has become an in-demand R&B phenomenon, Dorich says two words describe him to a tee: “Stage presence. Charles Bradley is one of those James Brown-type of guys. He feeds off the crowd and truly exudes passion for what he does.”
Advance tickets, $20, for Founders Fest go on sale April 18 at the Founders taproom, 235 Grandville Ave. SW, and online at foundersbrewing.com. From June 1-20, tickets will be $25 each, and if any are remaining, will go up to $30 the day of the festial. Mug club members can get discounted tickets starting April 18 at Founders.
This year’s festival will also include food vendors, a “Local Artists Row,” strolling entertainers and, of course, a variety of beer selections, including “quite a few taproom one-offs.”
Email John Sinkevics at jsinkevics@gmail.com.
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