Rusty Vining & His Friends win The Stray’s 2025 Battle of the Bands

The Grand Rapids indie-folk band topped three other finalists to take home top honors at Saturday’s finals in the fourth annual event. The recap and photo gallery at Local Spins.

 

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Tickets to attend the final round of The Stray’s fourth annual Battle of the Bands in Grand Rapids were in high demand, selling out in a record of three minutes.

And those who did manage to get their hands on a ticket Saturday night were treated to an evening of full-length sets from the winners of the first four rounds of the 2025 competition.

In the end, Grand Rapids indie-folk outfit Rusty Vining & His Friends were declared the winners of this year’s battle, determined by audience voting as well as input from the night’s guest judge, West Michigan keyboardist Dutcher Snedeker.

The winning band received a $500 cash prize and a month of advertising at Local Spins. All four finalists will receive a consulting session with Black Cat Management and a professional photo shoot with Isabel Elise Photography. The three runners-up also received $400.

The winning band had kicked off the evening with a set of uplifting indie-folk that weaved together stories of faith, positivity and experiences to which any human could relate. The acoustic quartet emulated calm and serene energy while Vining’s soulful voice delivered earnest lyrics that captured the crowd’s attention.

All four acts in the finals spanned a multitude of genres, showcasing the diversity of West Michigan’s music community. Hunter VanKlompenberg, music and arts manager for The Stray, also noted that this year marked the first time that none of the bands voted into the finals included an electric guitar.

The Battle of the Bands’ Week 2 winner, Y-Not, used their set to express the values they hold as a band while also showcasing their ability to play off of one another intuitively throughout lively jam sessions. The complex moving parts involved in each song kept audiences on their toes and wondering what would come next.

During the meditative track “Breathe,” bassist V Garvey took a moment to speak about their queer identity and their appreciation for communities in which people’s creativity and passion bring them together instead of dwelling on their differences.

Big Rapids’ Stanley & Quiggle followed up two full-band sets with low-key acoustic folk. The duo showcased delicate strumming, gentle harmonies, and deeply personal songwriting. They even included a John Prine cover in their set, much to the crowd’s delight.

For the latter half of their set, Stanley & Quiggle invited violinist Grayson Gajewski to accompany them. By the time they wrapped up their last song, they had the entire room clapping in time and singing along.

The final band of the night, Ethereal, described their sound as “a little different from everything you’ve heard so far tonight.” As the electronic pop duo began their set, the entire room was buzzing from the bass-heavy synths that accompanied their catchy pop tracks.

The band’s infectious energy onstage persuaded the crowd to dance and nod their heads along from their seats. Charming lyrics and vocalist Jules Camp’s soulful vocals added depth to their fun, upbeat performance.

The night concluded with a Q&A session with Snedeker, a member of the award-winning band Earth Radio, discussing his involvement in Michigan music and why the community here is so strong. Snedeker and VanKlompenberg agreed that Michigan artists tend to be more open to collaborative efforts and forming friendships than those in more competitive scenes such as Nashville or New York.

It all solidified the mission statement for Battle of the Bands: Despite the competitive element, the event encourages musicians to network and collaborate with one another to strengthen the local music community.

PHOTO GALLERY: The Stray’s Battle of the Bands Finals
Photos by Adam Briggs

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