More communities across West Michigan are re-entering the concert fray after a year that silenced live music due to COVID. View the schedules, from Monday night jazz to weekend rock and blues.
Jazz in the Park: Monday evening shows will return to Millennium Park Meadows this summer. (Photo/Autumn Babas)
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Eager to return to some sense of normalcy and ready to satisfy Michiganders thirsty for live music, communities from Kalamazoo to Ludington and beyond are plunging ahead with outdoor concerts this summer.
Recently announced free series include the much-anticipated return of the West Michigan Jazz Society’s Monday night “Jazz at Millenium Park Meadows,” which kicks off with Mary Rademacher on June 7 and will continue through mid-August.
And Rockford’s crowd-pleasing United Bank Rogue River Blues Series aims to re-launch in Garden Park with James Reeser & The Backseat Drivers on June 15, followed by nine more Tuesday night shows. The series closes out with up-and-coming blues/pop guitarist and singer Jake Kershaw on Aug. 17.
“What happens at the state level will determine how we proceed. It depends on what protocol needs to be in place,” said Steve Jazwiec, longtime organizer of the Rockford series. “I have always felt better about August than June. I’m thinking worst-case scenario would be canceling some early shows, not the whole series.”
Patty PerShayla: Playing Ludington and Rockford this summer. (Photo/Anthony Norkus)
Despite continued concerns about the COVID pandemic — with 50 percent of the state’s population getting at least their first vaccine as of May 1 — organizers of many popular weekly concert series showcasing mostly Michigan acts say they’re confident they can safely resume performances outdoors where experts say gatherings are much less likely to pose problems.
“We didn’t want to just cancel the events this year,” said Jennifer Tooman, downtown communications and marketing manager in Ludington, which is hosting several different series on various nights of the week starting in late May.
“With many getting vaccinated and the events being outdoors, we felt we could move forward on a smaller scale. … We will have smaller, satellite events around town.”
Ludington hosted some “Live in the Plaza” concerts last summer and officials were happy with the way concertgoers and bands stayed socially distanced.
“Our local music community has been awesome with live Facebook shows and neighborhood porch music all through quarantine. The community really embraced it,” Tooman said.
“We also have several other private bars and restaurants in the area that plan to host live music outdoors again this season. Our community has had a hopping live music scene for decades and it’s an important part of our culture.”
MORE THAN 30 WEST MICHIGAN COMMUNITIES WILL HOST SUMMER CONCERTS
The same could be said for Kalamazoo’s annual Art Hop, which resumes in downtown Kalamazoo on Friday (May 7) with 18 businesses and artists setting up tents outside, and State Theatre hosting an outdoor performance by the blues band Blue Veins starting at 5:30 p.m. DJ Todd Brown will spin tunes in Bates Alley from 6 to 8 p.m.
Attendees will be required to wear masks when visiting artists, with six-foot social distancing rules also in effect.
The first-Friday-of-the-month series is just part of the summer concert lineup, with “Summertime Live” concerts in Bronson Park and in other area communities still to be announced, said Erin Bruce, integrated membership and media specialist for the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo.
Playing Kalamazoo’s First Art Hop of 2021: Blue Veins. (Photo/Derek Ketchum)
“There will be plenty of opportunities to enjoy live music outdoors in Kalamazoo and surrounding areas this summer,” she noted, adding that organizers are taking safety precautions for these events and Art Hop.
“We are very confident that we can maintain a safe, socially distanced environment and comply with all state restrictions. With Art Hop stops being spread out across the Kalamazoo Mall, Bates Alley and other areas of downtown, there is far more room for people to spread out and enjoy. We are requiring masks while inside of tents. We will also have hand sanitizer pumps available at various spots throughout the booths.”
While more than 30 West Michigan communities so far have announced plans for outdoor summer concerts, a few cities still have not. Others which have hosted shows in past years have indicated they’re waiting until capacity restrictions and revamped health rules are clarified for the summer before moving forward.
Here’s a partial list of community concerts added to the schedule since Local Spins published an initial roster of outdoor shows on April 1. And view the complete roster of West Michigan shows in Local Spins’ Free Outdoor Community Concerts 2021 guide.
Balsam Brothers (Photo/Local Spins)
When: Noon Fridays
Where: Downtown Big Rapids
LINEUP:
June 4 – Whiskey Bound
June 11- Still Wonder
June 18 – Colmus Family
June 25 – Wyatt and Shari Knapp
July 2 – Peter Jordan & His Fun Lovin’ Crowd
July 9 – Divermento Jazz Duo
July 16 – Bob Craig
July 23 – Dave Yonker
July 30 – Strings and Things
Aug.6 – Dave’s Solo Show
Aug. 13 – Balsam Brothers
Aug. 20 – White Elephant Records Presents
Aug. 27 – Poppa Fish
Sept. 3 – Darrell Marvel Bank
FRUITPORT: DANCING INTO THE SUNSET
When: 7 p.m. Thursdays
Where: Pomona Park Bandshell, 47 S. Third Ave., Fruitport
LINEUP:
June 10- The Silverado Band
June 17- Sonny O Boon Band
June 24 – The 6 Pak Band
July 1 – The Silverado Band
July 8 – The Bourne Bros Band
July 15 – The Adams Family Band
July 22 – Sea Cruisers
July 29 – The Carl Webb Band
Aug. 5 – Butch Grenell and the Unbreakable Pride Band
Aug.12 – Sweet Justice
Aug. 19 – The Silverado Band
Aug. 26 – Steve Sprees
GRANDVILLE: MUSIC AT THE PAVILION
When: 6 p.m. Wednesdays
Where: Wedgewood Park, 3391 Wilson Ave. SW, Grandville
LINEUP:
June 23 – Main Street Dueling Pianos
June 30 – Pretzel Logic
July 7 – Whiskey Bound
July 14 – Don Middlebrook and the Pearl Divers
JENISON: MUSIC IN THE PARK
When: 6 p.m. Tuesdays
Where: Rosewood Park, 18th Avenue and Rosewood Street Jenison
LINEUP:
July 20 – Brian Randall Band
July 27 – Don Middlebrook and the Pearl Divers
Aug. 3 – The Adams Family
Aug. 10 – Main Street Dueling Pianos
LUDINGTON STATE PARK: BIG SABLE POINT LIGHTHOUSE
When: 1 p.m. Thursdays
Where: Big Sable Point Lighthouse, 5611 N. Lighthouse Dr., Ludington
LINEUP:
June 26 – AsparaGrass (Saturday)
July 8 – Rough and Tumble
July 22 – Gordy the Grinder
Aug. 5 – Chris Kennedy & Eric Michaels
Aug. 19 – Ruthie and Frank
Sept. 19 – Joe and Mark (Sunday)
Eric Engblade (Photo/Local Spins)
When: 5 p.m. Thursdays
Where: Legacy Plaza, 112 N. James St., Ludington
LINEUP:
May 27 – TBA
June 3 – Third Coast Gypsy Band
June 10 – Adam Knudsen
June 17 – Jason Hargreaves
June 24 – Eric Engblade
July1 – Cheryl Wolfram
July 8 – Tom Zatarga
July 15 – Merchant & Miller
July 22 – Brad Lee
July 29 – Canopy Space
Aug. 5 – Road Less Traveled
Aug. 12 – Bret Maynard
Aug. 19 – Gabrial James
Aug. 26 – Nick Veine
Sept.2 – Patty PerShayla
LUDINGTON: RHYTHM AND DUNES CONCERTS
When: 6 p.m. Saturdays
Where: Waterfront Park Pavilion, 391 S. William St., Ludington
LINEUP:
July 24 – Beach Party featuring the Landsharks Band
July 31 – 80’s Retro Night featuring Mega 80’s Band
LUDINGTON: SUNSET BEACH BONFIRES
When: 8 p.m. 4TH Thursday of the month (June – August)
Where: Stearns Beach Park, Stearns Outer Drive, Ludington
LINEUP:
June 24 – Tom Zatarga
July 22 – Medium Well
August 26 – Sunset Grove
Out of Favor Boys (Photo/Derek Ketchum)
When: 6:30 p.m. Fridays
Where: DDA New Amphitheater, Lions Sesquicentennial Park, 91 E. Main St., Middleville
LINEUP:
June 4 – Mike Struwin Band
June 11- John Lewis Good
June 18 – The Fat Animals
June 25 – The New Rule
July 2 – Blue Water Ramblers
July 9 – The Out of Favor Boys
July 16 – Allie Garland and the Awesome Sauce
July 23 – The Mickeys
July 30 – Schlitz Creek
Aug.6 – Jet Beats
Aug. 13 – Chameleon
Aug. 20 – Kari Holmes Band
MUSKEGON: MCGRAFT PARK
When: 7 p.m. Tuesdays
Where: McGraft Park, 2204 Glen Ave., Muskegon
LINEUP:
July 13 – TBA
July 20 – Carl Webb Band
July 27 – Country Currents
Aug.5 – Westside Soul Surfers (Thursday)
Aug. 10– Degrees Don’t Matter
Aug.17 – The Irish Music All Stars
Aug. 24 – Pan Franek Zosia & the Polka Towners
Aug. 31 – Legal Rehab
James Reeser & The Backseat Drivers. (Courtesy Photo)
When: 7 p.m. Tuesdays
Where: Garden Park near the dam, 7 E. Bridge St., Rockford
LINEUP:
June 15- James Reeser & the Backseat Drivers
June 22 – Kathleen & the Bridge Street Band
June 29 – Catfish and the Man
July 6 – Tomás Esparza Blues Band
July 13 – Root Doctor
July 20 – The Fast Hands Band
After the Blues
July 27 – The 6 Pak
Aug. 3 – Patty PerShayla & The Mayhaps
Aug. 10 – Deep Greens and Blues
Aug. 17 – Jake Kershaw
SILVER LAKE: NIGHTS AT THE LIGHTS AT THE LITTLE SABLE POINT LIGHTHOUSE
When: 7 p.m. Wednesdays
Where: Little Sable Point Light, 287 N. Lighthouse Dr., Mears
July 7 – Rough and Tumble
July 14 – Steel Doin’ It
July 21 – Mustard’s Retreat
July 28 – Olivia Mainville
Aug. 4 – Ark Harbor
THREE OAKS: MUSIC IN THE PARK
When: 6:30 p.m. Saturdays
Where: Dewey Cannon Park, East of Elm Street at railroad tracks, Three Oaks
LINEUP:
June 12 – South Shore Concert Band
June 19 – Nick Byrd
June 26 – Stealin the Farm
July 3 – Andrew Fisher
July 10 – Edgar Willbury Experience
July 17 – Cielito Lindo
July 24 – Fauxgrass
July 31 – Funky Mojo Daddy
Aug. 7 – Saraswathi Ranganathan
Aug. 14 – The Bergamot
Aug. 21 – The Backups
Aug. 28 – Andy Sutton Trio
Sept. 4 – The Newports
Bob Nixon and the Grand Rapids Jazz Orchestra (Photo/Taylor Mansen)
JAZZ AT MILLENNIUM PARK MEADOWS
When: 6:30 p.m. Mondays
Where: Millennium Park Meadows, 1415 Maynard Ave. SW, Walker
LINEUP:
June 7 – Mary Rademacher
June 14 – Paul Brewer
June 21 – Paul Keller with the Rosanno Sportiello Trio
June 28 – Michael Doyle with Big Band Nouveau
July 12 – Dave Proulx with Fred Knapp and Dave Rosin
July 19 – Benje Daneman and The Kanola Dixieland Band
July 26 – Grupo Latin Soul
Aug.2 – Greg Miller
Aug. 9 – Dave Collee Quartet with Ginny Dusseau, Eric Throne and Bob Nixon
Aug.16 – Bob Nixon and the GRJO
VIEW MORE COMMUNITY CONCERT SCHEDULES HERE
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