One fan called it the ‘best place to be on a Tuesday night.’ Singer Sarena Rae and Motherland Cultural Connections proved that with crowd-pleasing sets on a sunny, warm night.
The Kickoff to Summer at Meijer Gardens Amphitheater: The crowd at Tuesday Evening Music Club. (Photo/Chelsea Whitaker)
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The first Tuesday Evening Music Club show of 2023 unfolded as a vibrant, multi-cultural celebration.
Grand Rapids singer Sarena Rae and Motherland Cultural Connections regaled attendees at the half-full Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park amphitheater amid steamy temperatures, with fan J.D. Shumway calling it “the best place in Michigan to be on a Tuesday night.”
Starting a week earlier than usual, the extended series starring local and regional acts began with Motherland Cultural Connection’s multi-lingual set. Lead singers Myra Maimoh and Tausi Zaina weaved educational facts and stories from their native African regions into their performance, their call-and-response style songs and interactive questions keeping the audience engaged throughout.
Sarena Rae (Photo/Chelsea Whitaker)
Even tracks sung in Swahili or French had an inspiring meaning that could transcend language barriers. The band ended their set by teaching the audience a dance, with many in the crowd out of their chairs, eager to learn something new and share the group’s excited energy.
“It was a different style of music than I would usually hear,” noted one concertgoer, “and it’s really enjoyable to have that variety.”
Sarena Rae continued the evening’s storytelling theme with songs from her 2020 EP, “Heaven.” Rae sang about personal experiences, especially those of growing up in an interracial, single-parent household.
Throughout the set, she introduced and highlighted members of her all-star band, including bassist Justin Avdek, keyboardists Dutcher Snedeker and Adam Parada, saxophonists Mason Viilo and John Gist, guitarist Kevin Kozel, trumpet player Terrence Massey, and drummer Steve Harris.
Even with the band’s bold sound, Rae’s crystal clear vocals and larger-than-life personality soar above the instrumentals.
After playing a handful of originals, including her 2021 collab with West Michigan’s Melophobix, “Love in the Kitchen,” Rae covered hits from A Taste of Honey and Stevie Wonder — artists who undoubtedly inspired her own signature blend of Motown, soul and R&B.
To close out the set, Rae and her band paid tribute to Tina Turner with an impressive rendition of her 1970 hit, “Proud Mary.”
PHOTO GALLERY: Motherland Cultural Connections, Sarena Rae at Meijer Gardens
Photos by Chelsea Whitaker
