The first-ever tented event outside Perrin Brewing in Comstock Park in late January will preview the WYCE Jammie Awards. See details and a photo gallery from Mustard Plug’s holiday show at The Intersection.
Ska Jams: Mustard Plug played an annivesary show at The Intersection Thursday and headlines the inaugural Ice Jam at Perrin Brewing next month. (Photo/Eric Stoike)
SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTOS OF MUSTARD PLUG’S BIG SHOW THURSDAY AT THE INTERSECTION
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After wrapping up a rousing 25th anniversary and holiday show at The Intersection on Thursday night, popular Grand Rapids ska band Mustard Plug has set its sight on another milestone: The band will headline the first-ever Perrin Brewing Co. Ice Jam on Jan. 28.
Ice Jam, a one-day winter festival, announced today that Mustard Plug has been added to the lineup for the event being held outside Perrin Brewing Co. in Comstock Park, with Heaters, The Mainstays, I Believe in Julio and Jesse Ray & The Carolina Catfish also on the bill.
The Mainstays (Photo/Derek Ketchum)
The event – with adult and children’s winter activities – is a preview to WYCE-FM’s Jammie Awards, with extended sets by West Michigan bands nominated for 2016 awards. (The Jammies take place Feb. 10 at The Intersection in Grand Rapids.)
The inaugural Ice Jam will also serve as a fundraiser for Kids’ Food Basket, with admission fees serving as donations to the nonprofit organization which provides nutritious meals to thousands of children.
“We’ve never had a winter festival,” said Lindsey VanDenBoom, public relations manager for Perrin Brewing, 5910 Comstock Park Drive NW. “But we kind of wanted to bring people out in the off-season, something new. Typically, people don’t throw parties in the backyard when it’s snowing outside.”
I Believe in Julio (Photo/Anna Sink)
Perrin will do that in style, with a gigantic heated tent that will house an outdoor stage and hundreds of attendees.
“We hope people are dancing. It’s cold outside so we want to keep them warm in the tent and keep them grooving,” VanDenBoom said, noting that Perrin brews and food will be available outdoors as well as inside.
The day-long festival, running from 2 to 8 p.m. behind Perrin Brewing, will also feature bonfires, a cigar-rolling lounge, cornhole games and a variety of “family-conducive” children’s activities. Depending on the weather, Perrin also plans some snow- and ice-focused activities as well.
In addition, a “Frostbite 5K Run” will take place starting at 1:30 p.m. that day.
Jesse Ray & The Carolina Catfish (Photo/Local Spins)
The centerpiece, however, is the music, booked with the assistance of Joel Gordon.
The festival will feature a headlining set by Grand Rapids ska meisters Mustard Plug, which delivered its annual holiday show celebrating its 25th anniversary as a band this week at The Intersection, with several hundred fans on hand. (Check out photos from Thursday’s show below.) Mustard Plug is a past winner of a Legacy Award at WYCE’s Jammies.
Also on the bill for Ice Jam: Kalamazoo funk and soul band The Mainstays (nominated for best blues/soul album of 2016 at the upcoming Jammie Awards), Grand Rapids rockabilly/roots duo Jesse Ray & The Carolina Catfish (nominated for best roots/revival album), Grand Rapids punk band I Believe in Julio (nominated for best alternative album) and Grand Rapids psych-rock group Heaters (nominated for best alternative album).
Local Spins and WYCE (88.1 FM) will emcee Ice Jam performances.
Although donations – cash or needed food items – will be taken at the gate the day of the event, festivalgoers can make “pre-sale ticket donations” in advance online to avoid entry lines for Ice Jam. Those “pre-sale” donations can be made online here at perrinbrewing.com.
Outdoor Rock: Heaters will play the first-ever Ice Jam at Perrin Brewing on Jan. 28. (Photo/Taylor Mansen)
PHOTO GALLERY: Mustard Plug at The Intersection (Dec. 29, 2016)
Photos by Eric Stoike (On The Run Photography)
