One of the amphitheater’s most popular returning stars delivered his intoxicating blend of reggae-rock amid a multi-media extravaganza on Sunday. Review, photos plus galleries from other Michigan concerts.
Fun, Fan-Involving Spectacle: As is his tradition, Michael Franti brought a young singer on stage to join the band during Sunday’s show. (Photo/Anthony Norkus)
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Ever the optimist, rock/reggae/fusion singer Michael Franti brought his trademark upbeat disposition and celebration of humanity to Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park Sunday evening for yet another sold-out turn on the amphitheater’s stage.
A familiar — and well-loved — summer sight at the popular outdoor venue, Franti and his band, Spearhead, delivered a reliably hopeful/celebratory/(insert-additional-positive-adjectives-here) 18-song* set spanning the artist’s 30-plus-year career.
(*A bonus, post-curfew, acoustic cover set included a medley of Franti’s favorite popular songs, such as “Lean on Me,” “Hey Jude” and others.)
Returning Favorite: Franti at another sold-out Meijer Gardens show. (Photo/Anthony Norkus)
Highlights from the set, proper, included familiar favorites, such as “I’m Alive [Life Sounds Like],” “The Sound of Sunshine,” and show closer “Say Hey [I Love You].” The triumphant “Brighter Day” — augmented with a particularly cool light design — stood out as a rallying point for the engaged crowd.
And because his shows revolve almost as much around the concept of community as the actual set lists, Franti dipped generously into his familiar connecting points of strolling up the hill to mix with his audience, inviting kids onstage to share the mic and encouraging fan participation by way of jumping, hand waving, dancing and (lots of) hugging.
Canadian-born Bombargo kicked off the evening with a well-received, 30-minute opening set of funky, retro-inspired pop songs that wouldn’t be out of place if blasted aboard a party barge.
Lead singer Nathan Thoen later returned to the stage to join Franti for his newest song “Sunny Lemonade,” while the rest of the Bombargo crew reappeared to help close out the show. The band’s sunny stage presence (gold tassels, sunflowers, synchronized kicks, saxophone) was the ideal warm up for a joyful evening of music.
Sunday’s show closed out a September weekend of rollicking events, including the multi-band Eastown Streetfair in Grand Rapids’ Eastown neighborhood, young country singer Avery Anna at Elevation inside Grand Rapids’ Intersection and Sophistafunk and Desmond Jones closing out the concert season at Warner Vineyards in Paw Paw. Check out all the photos below.
Plus, find reviews and photo galleries from Friday shows starring The Crane Wives and Sierra Ferrell here.
Up Next at Meijer Gardens: Buena Vista Social Orchestra closes out the season at 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 15. Tickets are $53-$55, available online here.
PHOTO GALLERY: Michael Franti & Spearhead, Bombargo at Meijer Gardens
Photos by Anthony Norkus
PHOTO GALLERY: Eastown Street Fair
Photos by Chelsea Whitaker
PHOTO GALLERY: Avery Anna at Elevation (The Intersection)
Photos by Eric Stoike
