The Weekend Bucket List: 10 West Michigan shows worth catching

August’s opening salvo of live music in the Grand Rapids area heats up with Orquesta Tradicion, John Butler Trio, Grizzly Bear, Fly Moon Royalty, Loverboy, Mark Farner and an unusual under-the-radar festival.

 

I know it seems crazy and completely unfair, but summer officially hits the halfway point this weekend.

That means you gotta get off your duff and power up that live music machine, with plenty of options to consider – 10 of ’em to be exact, if you count up this week’s Local Spins Weekend Bucket List. And remember, if you’re out and about embracing these shows, snap photos and send ’em to jsinkevics@gmail.com. We’ll use the best in the Local Spins Weekend Photo Gallery and put you in a drawing for a gift certificate.

1. Author Steve Miller book-signing
4 p.m. Friday
Free (Book lists for $16.99)
Vertigo Music, 129 S. Division Ave.

Fine, this isn’t a concert, but it’s one heckuva rock ride worth taking. Veteran journalist Steve Miller’s new book, “Detroit Rock City: The Uncensored History of Rock ‘n’ Roll in America’s Loudest City,” is a wildly entertaining journey through the emergence of the Motor City’s most influential rockers, an oral history told by the very stars who made Detroit the center of the rock universe: Iggy Pop, Jack White, Ted Nugent and tons more.

2. Orquesta Tradicion
6:15 p.m. Friday
Free
Grand Rapids Art Museum plaza, Monroe Center NW, Grand Rapids

This diverse Friday night concert series continues with an energetic splash of bolero, bachata, merengue and Caribbean salsa music courtesy of Orquesta Tradicion. Bring your dancing shoes.

3. John Butler Trio, Wild Child
7 p.m. Friday (gates at 6 p.m.)
$40 ($38 Meijer Gardens members)
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, Grand Rapids Township

Not sure I completely believe it, but there are still some tickets available for Australia’s John Butler Trio at Meijer Gardens.

I’m pretty darned sure this eclectic, talented bunch will launch the weekend in grand, jam-band style with some extended solos and a heaping helping of rootsy funk. Get info online here, with tickets available at the amphitheater box office.

4. Fly Moon Royalty, A.B!, Grand Rapids Soul Club
9 p.m. Friday
$8
The Pyramid Scheme, Grand Rapids

I was lucky enough to catch the innovative and soulful Fly Moon Royalty from Seattle a couple of years back as part of an ArtPrize concert and I was verily impressed. The duo features singer Adra Boo and musician/DJ Action Jackson (formerly of Grand Rapids). And Grand Rapids hip-hop fave A.B! says Friday night’s show is his last microphone performance of the year. Be there.

5. Grizzly Bear, Regal Degal
7 p.m. Saturday (gates at 6 p.m.)
$45 ($43 Meijer Gardens members)
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, Grand Rapids Township

As it turns out, plenty of tickets are still available for this show … and that’s very puzzling to me. For indie fans, this ranks as one of the most anticipated Meijer Gardens concerts of the summer, with New York’s highly acclaimed indie-rock/folk outfit making a Grand Rapids stop on its way to Lollapalooza in Chicago, where they’ll certainly draw a big crowd for their mesmerizing music. Get tickets online here.

6. Various bands/Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival
Saturday
Downtown Grand Haven

Saturday represents the entertainment climax of the 2013 Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival with what seems like hundreds of thousands of folks packing the lakeshore town for one of the most spectacular fireworks displays in the state. But there’s also lots of live music: The Eagles Post No. 925 beer tent features the Scottville Clown Band, POST530 and the Bob Seger tribute band The System (opens at 1 p.m., $5 cover); The Company Men do their best “Rat Pack” imitations in a concert at Waterfront Stadium starting at 8 p.m. ($20).

7. Steve Hilger Band
9:30 p.m. Saturday
$5
Billy’s Lounge, Grand Rapids

Get into a progressive blues mood with Steve Hilger and crew, featuring terrific West Michigan players such as pianist Steve Talaga and sax magician John Gist. Oh, and the ever-entertaining Blue Molly tears it up on the soul/blues front at 9:30 p.m. Friday at Billy’s.

8. Dave Arcari, Left Lane Cruiser
9:30 p.m. Saturday
$5
Founders Brewing Co., Grand Rapids

He hails from Scotland, but guitarist-singer Dave Arcari is fully steeped in America’s Delta blues, alt-country, punk and rockabilly. Which should make this an intriguing show.

9. Loverboy, Mark Farner (of Grand Funk Railroaders)
Noon Sunday
Free (but need tickets); parking $10 cars, $5 bikes
Cannonsburg Ski Area, 6800 Cannonsburg Road NE, Belmont

WLAV-FM (96.9) celebrates its 40th anniversary with an afternoon classic rock show that promises to keep plenty of its loyal radio listeners happy, especially by booking Michigan hero Mark Farner of Grand Funk Railroad fame. Local bands kick things off after noon, starting with Three’s a Crowd, followed by Tetrid and The Journey tribute band. Mark Farner is slated to take the stage around 4:15 p.m., with Loverboy at 6:30 p.m. Gates open at 11 a.m.

Get free tickets between 5 and 6 p.m. Friday at the Grand Haven Meijer store. VIP tickets also are available for $35, giving you access to a private cash bar at the show. These tickets can be purchased at WLAV offices on the 3rd floor of the First Community Bank Building at 60 Monroe Center NW. Some of the proceeds will benefit The Boys and Girls Club of Grand Rapids.

10. The Money Show with Eazy Money and Cory Gunz
8 p.m. Sunday
$15 advance, $20 day of show
The Intersection, Grand Rapids

This rap-fest also features Hi-Rez, Phreshy Duzit, DJ K Mo, D-Man, Sarge Tha Dame and more. Get details online at The Intersection website.

UNDER-THE-RADAR PICK:

Hughstock with a host of bands performing in Hastings Friday and Saturday – Just ran across this annual festival which has served as a birthday celebration for Hubert “Hugh” Porritt since 2007. Well, Hugh can celebrate big time this year with the likes of bracing local bands such as The Legal Immigrants, PotatoeBabies, Buddy Twist, The Swineharts, Wolfbruthas and many more on the two-day bill. Admission is free though donations are accepted. Get details at the official website.

Email John Sinkevics at jsinkevics@gmail.com.
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