The rock-oriented “Ryne Shyne” LowellArts series assembled by entrepreneur Ryne Clarke boasts a special atmosphere with shows captured on video and broadcast on radio. See the summer schedule.
Giving Bands a Platform: Bet on Rats performing during a recent Ryne Shyne House Concert in Lowell. (Photo/Veronica Leigh Anderson)
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Every venue adds a particular flavor to a concert.
The location for the LowellArts House Concert Series at the gallery space in quaint downtown Lowell, roughly 20 minutes east of Grand Rapids, offers some sweet eye candy via art-covered walls.
Ryne Clarke
A unique twist in the series this summer also offers a chance for concertgoers to observe what goes into the music sessions that 19-year-old Ryne Clarke organizes in order to post videos on his website, https://ryneshyne.club, as well as broadcast on WRWW-FM (92.3).
“We normally play at dank, weird places, but here there’s windows and art, which is nice,” Dan Smith of Grand Rapids punk band Bet On Rats said after a recent 30-minute show.
So nice that every member of the band will return later during the series to play with other bands: Smith, Derek Blossom and Don Carlisle with 78 Revolutions Per Minute and Athen Erbter with Ugly Flannel.
Bet on Rats (which later this summer will open in Chicago for one of the bands that inspired them, Harley Poe) was the second act to play the nine-concert “Ryne Shyne” series at LowellArts, 223 W. Main St. in Lowell.
“Every surface of the room is hard, so the show had a very boomy or intense sound to it, which is unique,” said Kate Zacharias of Ugly Flannel and Freshmen. She was also impressed by the video playing behind the band and the performance of her favorite song, “I Will Crawl.”
QUALITY CONTENT AND RADIO STREAMING
Clarke said the series aims “to provide quality content for basically free for the bands. We put about eight to 10 hours into each video, and we want to provide quality streaming on the radio station.”
His Ryne Shyne website is a multimedia content blog and online shop. In the past, Clarke recorded music sessions at his home studio. But he hopes this more public location will help give bands more exposure and promote future sessions.
The Summer 2018 Schedule
Al Eckerman, who assists Clarke with the radio element of the sessions, has known the teenage entrepreneur for roughly five years. The radio broadcast airs throughout the Lowell school district, but can also be heard anywhere across the globe online at lowellradio.org.
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“It’s a treat for me to hear these new bands and see what unique names they’ve come up with,” Eckerman said.
If and when funds become available to support the move, Clarke hopes to find a business in Grand Rapids to host future music sessions. The concert series host also plays bass with the Grand Rapids punk rock band Alien Dogs, and has released various compilation and solo work on his website.
The LowellArts sessions are free, although a $5 donation is suggested to help maintain and upgrade the equipment. Clark also is seeking sponsorship advertising; those interested in more information can email him at ryneshyne@gmail.com or call 616-263-7209.
Doors to the gallery open at 5:30 p.m. on Sundays, with music starting at 6 p.m.
PHOTO GALLERY: Bet on Rats at Rhyne Shyne House Concert
Photos by Veronica Leigh Anderson
Copyright 2018, Spins on Music LLC
