West Michigan’s live music weekend boasted a Sam Hunt tour stop, an album-release show, a music benefit, the launch of a pop-up concert series and more — all recapped in Local Spins photos and videos.
Cozy Sellout: Audrey Pearson was part of Saturday’s first Sofar Sounds concert at Dogtown Studio;. (Photo/Cbelsea Whitaker)
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In one particularly poignant moment during Cameron Blake’s impressive and theatrical performance on Saturday at The Pinnacle Center, he poetically described all of the things, instruments and people his hands have come into contact with over the years — a dramatic example of the impact we all can have in touching lives and creating a better world.
Apropos, because the Grand Rapids singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist’s performance — with a special, emotionally charged and uplifting guest appearance by gospel’s Debra Perry & Majestic Praise — marked the final Music to Benefit Music concert after more than 20 years of the Bill Worst-organized event that’s raised more than $500,000 to purchase instruments and music equipment for area schools.
Blake, Perry & More: The scene on Saturday. (Photo/Joshua Tufts)
More than 200 people cheerfully opened their pocketbooks during the pre-concert auction and dinner before Blake, his top-shelf band and Perry’s choir heated up the stage for a memorable show that served as a fitting finale to this long-running benefit. (Scroll down for photos and video, plus read more about Blake and Music to Benefit Music here.)
On the same night, 16 miles away, Grand Rapids’ first-ever Sofar Sounds concert filled up the intimate Dogtown Studio with a sold-out crowd for sets by LVNDR, Olivia Vargas and Audrey Pearson — a lineup and location that had only been revealed earlier in the day for this pop-up show. (Read more about the unique Sofar Sounds at Local Spins here.)
Friday’s show lineup in Grand Rapids also featured an album-release show from Big Timmy & The Heavy Chevys at The Pyramid Scheme, with Nathan Walton & the Remedy and Virginia Violet also performing.
Sam Hunt (Photo/Joshua Tufts)
Earlier in the week, country singer Sam Hunt pumped up Van Andel Arena with help from Brett Young and Lily Rose, and Local Spins Wednesdays at SpeakEZ Lounge hosted the first-ever performance by Crazy Hearse, a Neil Young tribute which not only filled the venue to capacity but also left fans raving about the show.
Kalamazoo’s big show of the week proved to be a packed house on Friday for the emo/indie-rock of Saturdays at Your Place, along with Liquid Mike, Charmer and Headband Henny at Bell’s Eccentric Cafe (which is now hosting many 18-and-older versus 21-and-older shows), with The Daniel Staggs Band firing up Old Dog Tavern on Saturday. Scroll down for all the galleries, starting with Grand Rapids-area shows.
Find more show coverage from the past week at Local Spins:
Bootstrap Boys, Full Cord, Mustard Plug, American Hotel System hit it big at Jammies
The spectacle and power of Michigan music at the 2024 Jammie Awards
PHOTO GALLERY: Cameron Blake, Debra Perry & Majestic Praise at The Pinnacle Center
Photos by Joshua Tufts
PHOTO GALLERY: Audrey Pearson, LVNDR, Olivia Vargas at Dogtown Studio
Sofar Sounds Debut Grand Rapids Show
Photos by Chelsea Whitaker
PHOTO GALLERY: Big Timmy & The Heavy Chevys, Nathan Walton & The Remedy
Virginia Violet at The Pyramid Scheme
Photos by Chelsea Whitaker
