Local Spins Rewind No. 10: In this January feature, Local Spins gave readers a tour of the new downtown venue that later unleashed its first concert with Trombone Shorty and Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers.
EDITOR’S NOTE: As a Thanksgiving treat, Local Spins this week launched a series recapping the music website’s Top 10 most-read stories of 2017. Today’s story tied (ok, it was oh so close, so we called it a tie), for No. 10, with what was then a January sneak peek into a new downtown Grand Rapids concert venue that opened in February and has since packed ’em in by the thousands for a multitude of concerts covering a wide range of genres. This story first was published on Jan. 29, updated today with a bonus photo gallery showcasing photos from the first 10 months of 20 Monroe Live concerts.
Support our coverage of
West Michigan's music scene
SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO TOUR, PHOTO GALLERIES
There’s a palpable undercurrent of anticipation and nervous energy as 20 Monroe Live prepares to swing open its doors for the first time this week with a flurry of high-profile shows, including Trombone Shorty, Umphrey’s McGee, Lynyrd Skynryd and Shinedown.
Construction workers scramble to put the final touches on the much-buzzed-about, 2,600-capacity concert venue next to The B.O.B. in downtown Grand Rapids, new staffers undergo training sessions and curiosity-seekers poke their heads in for a first look at the multi-million-dollar project that’s poised to change the city’s live music landscape by adding about 100 concerts a year to the schedule.
The long-awaited project is also adding 100-plus jobs downtown while offering local and regional artists – Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers, Laith Al-Saadi and Wayland the first week alone – an opportunity to open for touring stars. Check out the opening week schedule to the right.
Speaking of tours, Local Spins today offers up a first-hand look at the new venue courtesy of a video tour and photo gallery.
Owned by The Gilmore Collection and managed by Live Nation’s House of Blues Entertainment division, 20 Monroe Live ranks among the larger venues in the House of Blues chain and exudes its own distinctive vibe with an art deco-styled sheen combined with pop culture accents (from Johnny Cash to The Beatles).
Come back later this week for another exclusive Local Spins look at the story behind 20 Monroe Live, then follow the first week’s concerts via Local Spins reviews and photo galleries. And read an exclusive Local Spins interview with Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers — slated to be the first band to play the venue’s stage on Wednesday — online here.
Get more information about upcoming shows and links to ticket sales online at 20monroelive.com.
20 MONROE LIVE: THE LOCAL SPINS VIDEO TOUR
PHOTO GALLERY: 20 Monroe Live
Photos by Anthony Norkus
BONUS PHOTO GALLERY: IMAGES FROM 10 MONTHS OF 20 MONROE LIVE CONCERTS
Photos by Anthony Norkus, Jamie Geysbeek, Anna Sink