Things rocked this weekend — from ArtPrize’s music series at Rosa Parks Circle to pop and folk stars at The Intersection to an indie-rock festival and singer-songwriter charm along the lakeshore. (Photos, video)
Fiery Folk: Emilee Petersmark and Kate Pillsbury of The Crane Wives lit up The Intersection. (Photo/Anna Sink)
If this is Indian summer, let’s keep that season rolling.
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With throngs of thousands descending on downtown Grand Rapids for the second weekend of ArtPrize — which included the Art Van (WOOD TV8) Concert Series on Rosa Parks Circle, featuring Simien the Whale on Friday — organizers of the international art competition (and owners of bars and restaurants) probably couldn’t have worn bigger smiles, considering the stellar weather.
It represented a big change from the weekend before, which also meant good news for the fifth Grand Haven Indie-Rock Festival, which moved outdoors in downtown Grand Haven on Saturday after a Friday lineup of indie-rocking at the Dee-Lite with the likes of Brian Vander Ark, Carielle, The Hat Madder and The Locals on Friday, followed by Flashing Blue Lights, Pistolbrides, Bella Ruse, Lazy Genius and more on Saturday.
Carielle played the Grand Haven Indie-Rock Festival over the weekend. (Photo/Chris Fredricks)
The weekend actually got an early start on Thursday with a scream-fest at The Stache inside The Intersection, when pop singer Aaron Carter — apparently on a bit of a comeback tour — left a largely young and female crowd swooning and shrieking. Local Spins photographer Anthony Norkus caught much of the action from the evening, which included Carter giving smooches to fans during his set and performing covers of “Blurred Lines” and “Get Lucky.”
The Intersection followed that up on Friday with an energetic folk-rock/Americana celebration and jam starring The Crane Wive and Seth Bernard, among others.
The Rockford Harvest Festival, meanwhile, got things cranking with Rockford Brewing’s beer tent on Saturday, featuring the music of four bands, including Valentiger, The Campanellis, Lincoln County Process and Delilah DeWylde & the Lost Boys (and this after Serita’s Black Rose uncorked a muscularly soulful performance for a small but incredibly enthusiastic bunch at Rockford Brewing on Thursday.)
New York singer-songwriter Jillette Johnson, meanwhile, wowed a big crowd at Spring Lake’s Seven Step Up on Saturday, inspiring her to tweet later: “Tonight was magic … Thank you Spring Lake for renewing me.” On the same night, Billy’s Lounge hosted the Scott Pellegrom Trio, Chordis Bell, Rick Chyme and John Supplee, sparking similar sorts of fired-up comments on Facebook.
Of course, there were the usual buskers and other impromptu performances in downtown Grand Rapids, which you’ll see in the photo gallery and video below. And remember to scan Local Spins’ Big List Concert Guide on Tuesday for a chance to win tickets to the upcoming Five Finger Death Punch show at The Orbit Room.
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THE LOCAL SPINS WEEKEND PHOTO GALLERY (9/29/13)
Email John Sinkevics at jsinkevics@gmail.com.
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