May Erlewine’s Winter Dance Party and Kari Lynch’s Very Merry Jingle Jam were part of a festive week of December shows across West Michigan. The recaps and photos at Local Spins.
‘The Darkness and The Light’: Trampled by Turtles on stage. (Photo/Eric Stoike)
Let’s just say we’re in the thick of the holiday season when it comes to live music.
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This past week alone, West Michigan enjoyed a “Winter Dance Party,” a “Very Merry Jingle Jam,” a “Pink Christmas Tree,” a “Funk Parade Holiday Show” and “Cold Rain & Snow” (which we’ve had plenty of thus far around here).
Indeed, Michigan’s May Erlewine & The Motivations heated up Kalamazoo’s Bell’s Brewery Eccentric Cafe and a packed Grand Rapids Pyramid Scheme with their annual Winter Dance Party revelry before heading up to play capacity shows at the intimate Alluvion in Traverse City.
Meanwhile, country/Americana singer Kari Lynch once again hosted her Very Merry Jingle Jam benefit for Mel Trotter Ministries for the second year in a row at Caledonia’ Butcher Block Social with an impressive cast of Grand Rapids-area artists.
The Dead South: Lighting up GLC Live at 20 Monroe. (Photo/Anthony Norkus)
The week also featured a capacity crowd for Minnesota bluegrass powerhouse Trampled by Turtles at The Intersection, with the band performing the aforementioned “Cold Rain & Snow” along with uber-popular fan tracks such as “Codeine” and “Wait So Long,” which closed out the 25-song show. (Set list here.)
The Dead South, meanwhile, made a Tuesday tour stop at GLC Live at 20 Monroe in Grand Rapids with the ultra-energetic Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band also on board. (Set list here.)
That same night, Gunnar Nyblad, frontman for West Michigan’s Gunnar & The Grizzly Boys, played a solo show at The Intersection’s Stache.
The following evening — amid a winter storm — Grand Rapids indie-rockers Phabies lit up a surprisingly good crowd at SpeakEZ Lounge for the Local Spins Wednesdays series, unfurling a bevy of their infectious songs, including the aforementioned “Pink Christmas Tree.”
Back in Kalamazoo, Americana/country rocker Chris Knight made a tour stop at Bell’s with a boost from opener Mic Harrison. (Set list here.)
And Michigan’s own All American Funk Parade close things out at Bell’s with a Saturday night holiday show that kicked off with DJ Joe Hertler (of the Rainbow Seekers) and continued with fun, dance-inspiring covers and holiday-themed tunes.
Browse all the photo galleries below.
PHOTO GALLERY: May Erlewine & The Motivations
The Pyramid Scheme photos by Chelsea Whitaker
Bell’s Brewery Eccentric Cafe photos by Derek Ketchum
PHOTO GALLERY: Trampled by Turtles at The Intersection
Photos by Eric Stoike
PHOTO GALLERY: Kari Lynch’s ‘A Very Merry Jingle Jam’ at Butcher Block Social
Photos by Eric Stoike
