Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park’s last local and regional spotlight concert of the summer had Grand Rapids’ iconic singer-songwriter reveling musically with help from a bevy of his pals. (Photo gallery, video)
Tuesday Evening Revelry: Ralston Bowles on the Meijer Gardens stage. (Photo/Local Spins)
A cast of real characters was out at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park on Tuesday night: James Dean, John F. Kennedy, Elvis Presley.
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And, of course, Grand Rapids’ own Ralston Bowles, a singer-songwriter who not only brought those well-known American icons to the stage in the lyrics to some of his best-known songs but added a host of familiar West Michigan musicians for the Tuesday Evening Music Club finale for 2013.
Kate Pillsbury and Emilee Petersmark of The Crane Wives.
With another robust crowd of about 1,800 on hand for the season’s last regional music spotlight at the outdoor amphitheater, the traditional “Ralston Bowles & Friends” show delivered some impressive West Michigan highlights: Emilee Petersmark and Kate Pillsbury of The Crane Wives performing some heart-palpitating harmonies as a duo, Michael Crittenden’s Troll for Trout uncorking their crowd-pleasing, Michigan-in-the-great-outdoors folk-rock and an all-star Grand Rapids cast backing Bowles: guitarist Crittenden, bassist Gabe Dutton, drummer Steve “Rat” Aldrich and The Big Blow horn section.
(Strangely, even I got into the act. Considering the dire situation in the Mideast, Bowles asked me at the 11th hour whether I could join him in performing Steve Earle’s powerful “Jerusalem” – an upbeat plea for peace – which we played at last fall’s Feedback benefit at Founders Brewing Co. Thankfully, we got that out of the way at the outset of Tuesday’s show so that the real stars could come out and play.)
Bowles and his band of friends.
The mood of the crowd was as upbeat as the attitude of the musicians on stage, with children and couples twirling and dancing in front of the stage, families picnicking in the lawn seats and teenagers starting a conga line that weaved its way through the amphitheater.
And as Bowles so aptly pointed out, the gathering storm clouds seemed to purposely skirt the outdoor amphitheater on Tuesday night until well after the final note had been played.
More than anything, it was a celebration of the importance of having and supporting a vibrant local music scene – one that generated possibly the most eclectically imposing Tuesday Evening Music Club lineup in its 10-year history, with Kelsey Rottiers, Lucas Wilson, Cabildo, Serita’s Black Rose, An Dro, Kent County String Band, Monica da Silva, Asamu Johnson, Nicholas James & The Bandwagon, Kari Lynch Band, Bennett, The Mines, Robin Connell, Grand Rapids Jazz Orchestra, Afro Zuma and The Soil & The Sun.
That roster – assembled by Ted Bufkin from Meijer Gardens and Bowles – ensured another successful summer for the Tuesday Evening Music Club series, and fuels anticipation for what might lie ahead for 2014.
But for now, enjoy some Local Spins photo and video highlights from Tuesday’s finale.
TUESDAY EVENING MUSIC CLUB: THE LOCAL SPINS PHOTO GALLERY (8/27/13)
Email John Sinkevics at jsinkevics@gmail.com.
Copyright 2013, Spins on Music
