In June, Chicago blues legend Duke Tumatoe kicked off a summer of music at the brand-new Allegan County venue, which followed up with a day-long Blues Fest. Revisit one of the Top 20 stories of the year.
Outdoor Blues: Liquid Note launched a series of summer concerts at its new outdoor venue in June. (Photo/Derek Ketchum)
EDITOR’S NOTE: Local Spins’ countdown of its top 20 stories of the year continues with No. 15 — the opening of new outdoor concert venue in Otsego. Scroll down for two photo galleries.
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West Michigan’s newest outdoor concert venue launched a summer of musical revelry when veteran blues icon Duke Tumatoe and his Power Trio took the stage in early June outside Otsego’s Liquid Note.
With 280 seats and an overall capacity of 540, the space represents the first phase of Liquid Note’s development of the outdoor area created after the property next door became available, said Mark W. McPherson, general manager for Liquid Note Brewing, Maude’s Taphouse and Mac’s Place in downtown Otsego.
Duke Tumatoe: Christened the new stage. (Photo/Derek Ketchum)
The new outdoor bar will offer food from Mac’s Place, with bi-weekly Friday night shows featuring Michigan bands planned for the summer.
On July 8, the venue hosted the first-ever, day-long Blues Fest, with seven bands performing – six of them regional acts contending for a cash prize donated by VanderVeen Excavating and Suburban Tank Co.
A self-professed blues fan, McPherson is also drummer for The DAM Boys which performed July 8, along with Slim Nichols Band, Resurrection Blues Band, Crossroads Resurrection, James Reeser & The Backseat Drivers and Out of Favor Boys. JR Clark & The All-Star Blues Mob closed out the festival.
EXPANDING ON A REPUTATION FOR ‘SUPERIOR ACOUSTICS’
It’s all part of Liquid Note’s aim “to be a premiere venue in Southwest Michigan for live music and events” in coming years.
Mark McPherson (Photo/Derek Ketchum)
McPherson noted that since opening three years ago, Liquid Note at 119 E. Allegan St. has earned a reputation for its sound and aesthetics.
“Liquid Note’s claim to fame is the superior acoustics it possesses. Nearly all musicians will tell us it is their favorite venue to play in,” McPherson insisted. “Not only are the acoustics incredible, but the layout is very focused on being comfortable for the performers.”
The outdoor venue expands on that approach, he said, while also offering 69 tapped beers between the outdoor and indoor bars, along with catered food on-site from Mac’s Place.
“This year (2023) is phase one of three that are planned in the development of the outdoor area,” McPherson said.
“Changes will be made next year to make the space even better.”
PHOTO GALLERY: Liquid Note’s New Outdoor Stage
Photos by Derek Ketchum
Photos by Derek Ketchum
