Tuesday Evening Music Club’s 2016 series to boast regional hip hop, reggae, indie-folk, rockabilly, bluegrass at Meijer Gardens

This summer’s showcase of Michigan acts will feature La Famiglia, Zion Lion, Mark Lavengood, Delilah DeWylde, Brother Adams, Nicholas James, Ralston Bowles and more.

 

While internationally revered artists Diana Ross, The Decemberists, Bonnie Raitt, Tedeschi Trucks Band and others snagged headlines when Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park announced its main summer concert series last week, some regional stars are about to bask in the Meijer Gardens spotlight, too.

The outdoor amphitheater’s 2016 Tuesday Evening Music Club series – which showcases a diverse set of Michigan acts on Tuesday nights in July and August – will feature acts ranging from hip hop led by Grand Rapids Mike G to reggae from Kalamazoo’s Zion Lion to indie-folk, country and roots music from the likes of Camille, Olivia Mainville, Dave Hardin, Nicholas James Thomasma, Delilah DeWylde and others.

And suffice to say, these local artists are thrilled with the opportunity to play on the same stage as those aforementioned international icons.

“It was exhilarating news,” said resonator guitar whiz Mark Lavengood, who’ll bring his Bluegrass Bonanza outfit to Meijer Gardens on July 26, playing the same night at Zion Lion.

“When I got a response in my inbox about playing the Tuesday Evening Music Club series this summer, I gave a few yelps and hollers and whoot-whoots, slammed my palms on some congas for a few minutes and took a few deep breaths. It’ll be huge exposure for the Mark Lavengood Bluegrass Bonanza.

PLAYING THE SAME STAGE AS NATIONAL ACTS

For Delilah DeWylde & The Lost Boys, it’s an opportunity to uncork the band’s lively rockabilly and honk-tonk strains on Aug. 9 in a large venue and for a large audience. The Tuesday night shows often draw capacity crowds to the 1,900-capacity amphitheater.

“It’s a real treat for us to play the same stage as national touring acts,” DeWylde said. “Don’t get me wrong: I love a tiny, rowdy bar, but Meijer Gardens is a beautiful setting with top-notch sound. Also, it’s worth mentioning that it’s really fun to do a family event and see all generations there enjoying themselves.”

Travis Atkinson of Deep Green & Blues, a Grand Rapids folk and alt-country band which released a new album earlier this year and will play the series on Aug. 16, said it’s a thrill to play Meijer Gardens for the first time .

“This is certainly the biggest stage we’ve ever played, so we can’t wait to bring our music to the wonderful music enthusiasts at Meijer Gardens. It will be the highlight of our summer schedule.”

The series, launched more than a decade ago by Grand Rapids singer-songwriter Ralston Bowles, also features some special nights of collaboration ad musical exploration, including the “Tracing the Roots” opening night on July 5 with various artists performing “a musical montage that traces the evolution of hip hop, jazz and blues from their African roots.”

And on July 12, Grand Rapids’ Mike G and La Famiglia will unfurl a special night of regional hip hop with special guests.

“I’ve got a few ideas I’m throwing back and forth, but definitely want to showcase my band with a variety of local talent fronting the band also,” said Mike G, adding he wants to expose the Meijer Gardens audience to hip hop “in a way they never heard it” and “even maybe give the words ‘hip hop’ a new association.”

The Tuesday shows – sponsored by WYCE-FM and Corporate Sound – begin at 7 p.m. Admission is the cost of regular entry to Meijer Gardens ($14.50 for adults); Meijer Gardens members are admitted free.

Get more details online at meijergardens.org. And see the full schedule for the main 2016 summer series which kicks off June 6 with Tears for Fears in this Local Spins story.

Copyright 2016, Spins on Music LLC