Sets by Gojira, Magnolia Park and Izzy Reign highlighted a steamy, smoky opening day of the Grand Rapids festival — conditions that made Poppy a no-show and created other glitches. Recap, photos.
Flaming Hot: Gojira closed out the steamy night on the main stage. (Photo/Chelsea Whitaker)
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When band members for industrial alt-metal/electronic artist Poppy unleashed their much-anticipated evening set on Upheaval Festival’s main stage at Grand Rapids’ Belknap Park on Friday night, there were plenty of thematically apropos songs on tap.
Considering the wildfire smoke and intense heat engulfing Michigan for yet another day, the musicians’ delivery of “Have You Had Enough?” and “Bruised Sky” seemed tailored to the metal festival’s opening barrage of metal and hard rock.
Problem is, Poppy never took the stage to provide vocals for those songs and others.
The Fans: Rocking amid the haze. (Photo/Veronica Ann Dearborn)
The instrumental prowess of the masked musicians was impressive enough, but it was overshadowed by shouts of “We want Poppy” from fans who seemed as confused as they were disappointed, considering an announcement wasn’t made before the band took the stage.
“Stupid,” one fan remarked bitterly of the lengthy all-instrumental set. Another wearing a Poppy T-shirt seemed more perplexed than unhappy, saying he’d been checking social media for an explanation. One eventually came from Poppy via Instagram:
“Due to hazardous AQI (air quality index) reaching 350-plus around our set time, I was unable to join my band on stage. I was unable to breathe in those conditions. You might’ve noticed our set was instrumental only. For those who braved the conditions, I applaud you.”
The hot and smoky weather that silenced the Boston-bred, Nashville-raised and L.A.-based artist didn’t keep Gojira from its prog-metal headlining set or restrain energetic salvos from Magnolia Park, Story of the Year and Grand Rapids’ own Izzy Reign who rattled the park and Belknap Hill in defiance of the orangey haze and swelter.
In comparison to the rowdy and pumped-up crowds of previous years, the audience was noticeably smaller and seemed less enthused — a lukewarm reaction that certainly was evident during Poppy’s no-show. With no communication or announcement from Upheaval or the band about how the set would play out, fans demonstrated their disappointment by booing the emcee after the set concluded without so much as a glimpse of Poppy.
Hilltop View: The scene on Friday night. (Photo/John Sinkevics)
Kaya Watkins and Becca Brown of Manistee traveled to Upheaval on Friday to discover new music and interact with the community the festival has created over the years.
“I’ve had so many good pit interactions, especially at the main stage. The only downside or tension I’ve seen is Poppy not being addressed which is kind of annoying,” Watkins said.
Brown added, “I just like coming here and finding new bands to like. Two of the bands I’d never even heard of and now they’re probably new favorites.”
Poppy’s no-show on stage wasn’t the only glitch attributed to weather conditions. Zero 9:36’s set on the Lookout Stage was delayed by 20 minutes after the band’s laptop used for some backing tracks malfunctioned several times due to the heat and/or smoke.
“No one else is playing (right now), so at least you can watch us struggle,” lead singer Matthew Cullen quipped at one point before the band finally rolled out its crowd-pleasing set atop Belknap Hill. (The delay gave Cullen time to invite a fan and sketch artist onto the stage to draw a quick photo of the band.)
The Rising Stage, which moved to a new location this year but continues to focus on up-and-coming and regional acts, likely introduced many festival attendees to some new favorites.
Grand Rapids dark-pop/metal-core artist Izzy Reign closed out the Rising Stage Friday night after winning WGRD’s Battle of the Bands at The Intersection back in April. Her set mixed melodic vocals with metalcore elements and the crowd was happy to oblige her requests to jump and dance along.
Upheaval Fashion: A pair of festival fans. (Photo/John Sinkevics)
“I’ve lived here for six years now and it’s been lonely at times, but I’ve found so much support in this community,” Reign said as she thanked her supporters and spoke about her love for the Michigan music scene.
For those who dared to brave the steep and winding path (or the long line for golf cart shuttles) up the hill to the Lookout Stage Magnolia Park delivered one of the most energetic sets of the evening with their blend of metalcore, pop-punk and hip-hop.
As the sun began to sink lower into the hazy horizon, energized crowd-surfers and a couple of playful mosh pits seemed to revive people’s spirits just in time to get them warmed up for headliner Gojira’s main stage set.
The festival continues today (July 18) with headliner Papa Roach and main stage sets from Bilmuri, Jinjer, Dying Wish, Silly Goose and Rock City. View the full schedule below. One-day passes are $159.27, available online here.
PHOTO GALLERY: Upheaval Festival, Day 1
Photos by Chelsea Whitaker
Photos by Veronica Ann Dearborn
UPHEAVAL FESTIVAL: SATURDAY SCHEDULE
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