Nervous But Excited plays the Pepsi Stadium Club on Friday. Photo by Brent Harrewyn.
Nervous But Excited
7 p.m. Friday, Fifth Third Ballpark’s Pepsi Stadium Club; $8 advance, $10 day of show
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West Michigan's music scene
Rumours Retold: A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac
8 p.m. Thursday, Wealthy Theatre; $12 advance, $15 day of show
I’m guessing that some people who gag on their bagels when they hear today that piano-pop star Barry Manilow plays Grand Rapids’ Van Andel Arena on April 26 (tickets, $29.99-$109.99, go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday at the arena box office and through Ticketmaster) probably have more interest in my under-the-radar picks, especially because one of them involves a ticket giveaway.
The first one comes from Michigan’s folk scene – which could be as vibrant, organic, eclectic and collaborative as any scene anywhere, with bands and solo artists ranging from Earthwork Music stalwarts Seth Bernard/May Erlewine, Steppin’ In It, etc., to the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti movement of bands Back Forty, Lake Folk and others along with singer-songwriters such as Chris Bathgate, to Grand Rapids artists like The Crane Wives, Nicholas James Thomasma and more.
It’s an immensely talented bunch of artists who are more likely to partner with each other and promote each other than compete for gigs.
Just ask the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti duo Nervous But Excited – Kate Peterson and Sarah Cleaver – which will play Fifth Third Ballpark’s Pepsi Stadium Club on Friday as part of The Outlaw Music Series.
“The Michigan folk scene is amazing,” Peterson told me. “We feel blessed to be a part of it. We’ve done a lot of touring and swept in and out of lots of local scenes, yet we’ve never been a part of one that holds such a collaborative mood as opposed to a competitive one. We try to do our part to keep it that way.”
Nervous But Excited is yet another great example of Michigan’s unique folk scene.
Billed as playing “pleasantly aggressive folk” music, Peterson and Cleaver first started performing in Lansing as a duo about six years ago, and their sound has evolved over the years “with different sounds and vibes that go in many different directions: some rock, some pop, some indie, some soul, always rootsy, and always based around the lyrics and the harmonies.”
Now based in the Ann Arbor area, Nervous But Excited has released three studio albums (including the duo’s most recent effort, “You Are Here,” which includes some members of that Michigan folk community), two live recordings and a few EPs.
And Peterson, insisted, fans can expect “a good time” at the hard-touring duo’s intimate Friday show, with plenty of storytelling likely.
Better yet, Fifth Third Ballpark is hosting a ticket giveaway for the show: Go to the ballpark’s Facebook page by clicking here and click that you plan to “attend” the concert for the chance to win a four-pack of tickets to Friday night’s show. Of course, it’s probably safer to just snag tickets: $8 in advance, $10 at the door. Get more details here.
My second under-the-radar pick involves a tribute at Grand Rapids’ Wealthy Theatre to Fleetwood Mac’s “Rumours,” a 1977 masterpiece that ranks as one of the classic rock era’s biggest sellers and most influential recordings.
With sponsorship by Founders Brewing Co., which allows all proceeds to support the theater’s Sustainable Centennial project, Thursday’s “Rumours Retold: A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac” also just happens to feature a couple of prominent members of Michigan’s folk scene along with some uber-talented West Michigan musicians: Joshua Davis, Dominic Davis, Casey Stratton, Hannah Rose Graves and Jason Scott.
They’ll re-present this rock gem, from “Second Hand News” to “Gold Dust Woman,” and Founder’s Centennial IPA will be available for sale at the concession stand. Sounds like a fine combination. Details here.
Email: jsinkevics@gmail.com
