The amphitheater this week revealed four shows for its 2016 lineup, with remaining concerts to be announced in mid-April. Tickets go on sale to Meijer Gardens members on April 30.
Meijer Gardens Debut: Of Monsters and Men will play the amphitheater for the first time in June.
Striving to create a “very robust” concert lineup, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park will bring indie-rock’s The Decemberists, folk-pop’s Of Monsters and Men, blues-soul rocker Ben Harper and The Monkees’ 50th anniversary tour to its outdoor amphitheater this summer.
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Back on Tour: Micky Dolenz and Peter Tork lead The Monkees’ anniversary tour.
The four concerts announced today are the tip of the musical iceberg: Meijer Gardens is expected to once again book about 30 summer shows at the amphitheater, with the complete 2016 lineup and ticket prices finalized by mid-April.
“There are a lot of different tastes we’re trying to connect with,” said Chris Mautz, the Utah promoter who books the annual Meijer Gardens series. “With 30 shows, it gives us a lot of width to carve our path. We’ve been charting a course over the last handful of years that expands what we’re able to represent, and it’s a beast, and it’s very robust with the caliber of artists that are showing up.”
Pop-rock icons The Monkees, featuring original members Micky Dolenz and Peter Tork, will play Meijer Gardens on June 8 as part of a 50th anniversary tour that kicks off May 18.
The group is playing nearly 50 dates as part of the North American tour and will release a new album on June 10, two days after the Grand Rapids show.
Mautz said the ’60s band has “had such a tremendous impact on people culturally” that Meijer Gardens is “thrilled” to be part of The Monkees’ anniversary tour.
Playing Grand Rapids on July 11: The Decemberists
Other summer concerts announced this week include:
• Icelandic indie folk-pop band Of Monsters and Men – which made a splash in 2012 with the hit single, “Little Talks,” and acclaimed debut album, “My Head Is an Animal” – playing Meijer Gardens on June 13. The five-piece band released its sophomore album, “Beneath the Skin,” last year, and has been touring the globe.
• Folk-rock’s The Decemberists performing at the amphitheater on July 11. Led by singer-guitarist Colin Meloy, the Portland, Ore., the highly acclaimed, genre-bending, Grammy-nominated band has released seven full-length albums since 2002, as well as a five-song EP, “Florasongs,” that came out last October.
Returning to Meijer Gardens: Ben Harper (Photo/Anna Sink)
• Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals playing Meijer Gardens on July 13. Harper last performed at the amphitheater in 2014 with renowned blues harmonica player Charlie Musselwhite. This time around, the Grammy-winning singer and guitarist brings his band, The Innocent Criminals, with whom he’ll be touring the United States this summer.
Discounted tickets for the 14th season of concerts at the 1,900-capacity amphitheater go on sale to Meijer Gardens members on April 30, with tickets available to the general public on May 14.
The 2015 series featured 30 concerts, wrapping up in September with singer Tony Bennett headlining a show that celebrated the 20th anniversary of Meijer Gardens.
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