Over the past week, three West Michigan establishments hosted live music in different ways — with and without audiences, and with pandemic restrictions in place. Local Spins captured it all in photos.
On Camera: King Biscuit Trio’s performance at St. Cecilia Music Center was live-streamed to fans at home. (Photo/Anthony Norkus)
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At a Kalamazoo-area brewery, Presidential Brewing Co., patrons reveled in a day of live music in shifts — reserving spots for table seating at different times during the day to meet the state’s capacity restrictions.
At a downtown Grand Rapids restaurant, 123 Tavern, diners were relocated upstairs to the Listening Room venue so they could listen to the piano strains of Dutcher Snedeker (Friday) and Rufus Ferguson (Saturday) for socially distanced dinner music.
Masked Pianist: Rufus Ferguison at Listening Room on Saturday. (Photo/Jamie Geysbeek)
And at St. Cecilia Music Center, Grand Rapids’ King Biscuit Trio cranked out harmonica-hued blues tunes for more than 600 empty seats in historic Royce Auditorium, with fans simply enjoying the concert online via a free live-stream.
It’s how live music is unfolding in 2021 during a COVID pandemic that’s approaching a full year of mostly locked down performance opportunities when it comes to indoor stages.
“Though these are not particularly ‘concerts’ or ‘shows,’ it is nice to enjoy dinner in a safe environment while actually taking in some live music,” said Listening Room general manager Quinn Mathews.
“We are at an extremely limited capacity, tables are spread far apart and guests are required to wear masks at all times unless seated at your table. Our musicians wear masks while performing.”
It remains to be seen how these opportunities will continue to expand in coming months, but it’s clear that many fans are embracing live music in whatever manner they can. Check out the images from the past week’s shows, courtesy of Local Spins photographers Anthony Norkus, Jamie Geysbeek and Derek Ketchum.
PHOTO GALLERY: Rufus Ferguson at Listening Room (Saturday)
Photos by Jamie Geysbeek
PHOTO GALLERY: King Biscuit Trio at St. Cecilia Music Center (Thursday)
Photos by Anthony Norkus
PHOTO GALLERY: Various Artists at Presidential Brewing (Monday)
Photos by Derek Ketchum
