Performances by Luke Winslow-King and Asamu Johnson — along with the screening of several movies — will take place later this month on the piazza lawn of Studio Park in downtown Grand Rapids.
‘Listening Lawn’ Series Kickoff: Luke Winslow-King will launch the new outdoor series on July 23. (Photo/Anna Sink)
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With indoor entertainment severely curtailed due to COVID-19, Grand Rapids’ Listening Room and Studio C will move outdoors for socially distanced concerts and movies on Studio Park’s downtown piazza later this month.
In what’s described as a safe, ‘”thoughtfully” planned series of outdoor events, Studio C today announced two Thursday night “Listening Lawn” concerts – renowned Cadillac singer-songwriter Luke Winslow-King on July 23 and Grand Rapids blues band Asamu Johnson & The Associates of the Blues on July 30.
In addition, Celebration Cinema will roll out its “Sunset Cinema” series on Wednesday nights, showing the Beatles’ classic “Yellow Submarine” on July 15, “Baby Driver” on July 22 and “Parasite” on July 29.
‘Built for This Kind of Programming’: The Studio Park piazza. (Courtesy Photo)
To ensure physical distancing, ticket buyers for each event are required to buy a minimum of four tickets and each group will be separated from other groups by at least six feet. Studio C requests that guests bring their own low-profile lawn chairs and wear masks except while seated; all staff will wear face masks and personal protective gear.
Movie tickets are $5 each; concert tickets are $35.
With Studio Park’s Listening Room and Celebration Cinema movie theater shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic since March, Listening Room manager Quinn Mathews said the outdoor concerts and movies allow them “to get back to doing the things we love” in a thoughtful way.
“Holding events responsibly in 2020 requires some new thinking,” he said of using the outdoor piazza space off Oakes St. SW west of Ionia Avenue. “The piazza was built for this kind of programming.”
Asamu Johnson & The Associates of the Blues (Courtesy Photo)
Studio C stressed that “the total capacity of the space will be limited to the most recent state guidelines,” which currently restrict gatherings in lower Michigan to 100 or fewer people.
Food, movie treats and drinks will be available at the shows via One Twenty Three Tavern, along with offerings from other on-site restaurants.
All tickets must be purchased online in advance. Tickets for movies are available at celebrationcinema.com; concert tickets will be available via listeningroomgr.com starting next week. Convenience fees will be waived.
For more details and rules, visit studioparkgr.com/piazza-faq. More outdoor movies and concerts are expected to be announced in coming weeks.
The 200-capacity Listening Room opened in mid-October 2019 and quickly became a popular concert hot spot in Grand Rapids, attracting international stars such as David Bazan, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Mary Gauthier, Kittel & Co. and others, as well as a host of regional artists, before being forced to close its doors in mid-March due to the COVID-19 shutdown.
VIDEO: Luke Winslow-King, “I’m Glad Trouble Don’t Last Always”
VIDEO: Asamu Johnson & The Associates of the Blues (EightWest)
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