As Local Spins counts down to the May 18 celebration of its 12th anniversary at Studio Park in Grand Rapids, we’re profiling the festival’s featured artists in Q&As. First up, Elijah Russ.
Launching the Summer in Style: The Elijah Russ Collective will help energize Local Spins Fest. (Photo/Holly Holtzclaw)
EDITOR’S NOTE: The third annual Local Spins Fest takes place May 18 at Studio Park in downtown Grand Rapids, celebrating Local Spins’ 12th anniversary with the theme “The Future of Michigan Music.” Five emerging West Michigan bands will be performing on that Saturday, including two teen bands spawned by area music academies and schools of rock, giving young musicians a chance to rub elbows with more established, ultra-talented acts. As part of the countdown to this musical celebration, Local Spins is profiling festival performers in Q&As, starting today with Elijah Russ and the Elijah Russ Collective. Get festival tickets and details here.
Support our coverage of
West Michigan's music scene
Grand Haven’s Elijah Russ oozes an eclectic, genre-bending soulfulness, something reflected over the years in his studio recordings.
But it’s in a live setting that his band, the Elijah Russ Collective, really comes to life with a vibrant array of guitars, keyboards, horns and more.
As one of the headliners at Local Spins Fest 2024 taking place at Grand Rapids’ Studio Park on May 18, that all-star band aims to engage and inspire attendees in an early evening set with songs both new and old, led by the guitarist, singer and songwriter.
To help preview this summer kickoff festival, Local Spins asked performers to answer the same five questions about their music, their advice to younger musicians and their future plans.
Today, learn more about Russ and scroll down to watch his band’s Dogtown Studio performance video. Get tickets and more details about Local Spins Fest here.
Local Spins: What’s the No. 1 goal for your band in 2024?
Russ: My goal is to get 10 new songs recorded and cover some new sonic ground for the Elijah
Russ Collective. I was able to compartmentalize the last albums into two pretty significant
vibes, but I would like to be more free in the styles we play and continue exploring
different genres.
Elijah Russ (Photo/Derek Ketchum)
Local Spins: Now that you folks have been performing for awhile, what’s the most important lesson for a young band to learn?
Russ: Go to shows and talk to everyone. Be as present as you can as often as you can in those moments and talk to the audience, as well as other artists. The majority of your connections and opportunities come from being in the same space as other artists and audience members (you are both artist and audience member) in the scene.
Local Spins: Who do you idolize as a success story in music?
Russ: Any person or entity that has been able to find their own happiness in the musical world is worthy of praise, no matter what stage they are at or if they’re ‘professional’ or not.
Local Spins: If you could send one of your band’s songs on a rocket ship as a message to another planet, which song would that be and why?
Russ: “Mind Your Business.” The only reason we’d hear from aliens, I imagine, would be if they need our resources.
Local Spins: What can folks expect from your set at Local Spins Fest?
Russ: A lot of highs, a few lows, and a couple of new tunes we’re performing for the first time. We haven’t performed together since last summer, so I’m sure there’s going to be a lot of intense energy coming from the stage during our set.
VIDEO: The Elijah Russ Collective at Dogtown Studio
Copyright 2024, Spins on Music LLC
