Already hosting Sunday night jazz jams and Local Spins Wednesdays shows, the cozy downtown Grand Rapids venue starts up Friday offerings in March. Get the full upcoming schedule at Local Spins.
Stellar Friday Lineup: Greg Nagy, Grace Theisen and Lynn Thompson are just part of the new series. (Local Spins Photos)
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With the Local Spins Wednesdays concert series entering its 10th year at SpeakEZ Lounge in downtown Grand Rapids, spring will bring another cavalcade of stars – established and emerging – for mid-week shows at the intimate venue.
But that’s not all: After resuming drummer Randy Marsh’s “Randissimo’s Sunday Night Jazz” jams to the weekly lineup starting earlier this month, SpeakEZ has announced plans for bringing live music to its stage on Friday nights, too.
“Live music is really rebounding post COVID. Guests have been starving for live music and I think some of them have not realized just how much they missed live music,” said owner Eric “EZ” Albertson.
Dynamo: Molly plays SpeakEZ on Wednesday, April 10. (Photo/Joshua Tufts)
“We are looking forward to bringing the Local Spins live grove in on Friday to really kick our weekend experience up a notch.”
The initial flurry of Friday shows – starting in mid-March – will feature a wide array of Michigan artists: blues/soul singer and guitarist Greg Nagy, Americana’s Grace Theisen Trio, the rootsy and robust Eric Engblade-Justin Avdek duo, ‘mountain’ music’s Lynn & The Moonshine Runners and the guitar-driven country-rock of the Austin Benzing Trio.
March shows will start at 7:30 p.m.; April and May shows at 8 p.m.
A celebrated Flint-area guitarist and singer who’s not only released blues-driven albums that have charted nationally and earned widespread critical acclaim, Nagy also has toured the country as part of the Larry McCray Band.
But it’s been several years since he’s played a solo Grand Rapids show and he’s tickled to be kicking off SpeakEZ’s Friday night series.
“Very excited to back performing for a Grand Rapids audience,” he said. “They always were very engaged and inviting. My home away from home for quite a while.
Nagy said while he’s been “juggling so many projects,” he hopes to release a new solo album this fall.
LOCAL SPINS WEDNESDAYS EXTENDS SCHEDULE THROUGH MAY 15
As for the continuation of Local Spins Wednesdays, this week features a special “Leap Day Eve” spectacle starring Garbage Angel, a Grand Rapids-based band that specializes in spooky covers of songs by the likes of Blue Oyster Cult, Danzig, Talking Heads, Michael Jackson and Kate Bush, along with “Time Warp” from “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.” The music begins at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday (Feb. 28).
Selkie (Photo/Chelsea Whitaker)
March brings a pre-St. Patrick’s Day party on March 13 featuring Celtic music’s virtuosic trio Selkie (which drew a jam-packed crowd for its performance during last weekend’s Jammie Awards at The Intersection) and the Firish duo, featuring Colin Tobin and Ashley Kooistra.
March closes out with a rootsy-yet-rocking double bill: The Nicholas James Trio (led by tunesmith Nicholas James Thomasma) and John Sanger & Co.
And things really heat up in April, with dynamic and soulful singer Molly performing with Scott Schultz on April 10, followed by the Alex Austin Trio and Annagail duo on April 24. Austin, frontman for Deerfield Run, recently released his debut solo album, “Nobody’s Home,” featured in an Artist Spotlight at Local Spins.
May kicks off with a bang, thanks to the Jammie Award-winning Schrock Bros, whose 2023 studio album, “Faith in Love,” won honors last weekend for best blues/soul album of the year. The West Michigan “family” band also features Ann Arbor harmonica whiz Peter Madcat Ruth.
An electric double bill follows, with Traverse City’s Marsupials pairing up with up-and-coming, jazz-fueled Pocket Watch for a night of jam-filled magic.
And finally, young singer-songwriter Izubel and her band will help warm up the week leading up to this year’s Local Spins Fest, which will roll out a youthful, emerging-artists theme. Opening the night will be a special mystery guest: Stay tuned for that announcement in coming weeks, along with details about the third annual Local Spins Fest taking place at downtown’s Studio Park, celebrating Local Spins 12th anniversary and showcasing up-and-coming Michigan talent.
A $5 surcharge is added to SpeakEZ patrons’ tabs to help pay the musicians. Local Spins Wednesdays are sponsored by SpeakEZ Lounge, Modelo Especial and Long Drink.
SPEAKEZ LOUNGE SPRING PERFORMERS PLAYLIST ON SPOTIFY
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