From Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo to Allegan, West Michigan celebrated the arrival of summer with live music and album-release shows, captured in images at Local Spins.
Ready to ‘Shine’: Molly performing with The Go Rounds during her album-release show Friday at Creston Brewery. (Photos/Anna Sink)
Indoors and outdoors, it was a week that celebrated the arrival of summer with live music, from Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo to Allegan.
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The roster of entertainment included release shows by the likes of Molly and Guitar UP, a “Surf Spectacular” to mark the eighth anniversary of Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill with The Concussions and more, the Kalamazoo Irish Fest and the continuation of outdoor community concerts in Kalamazoo with Yolonda Lavender and in Allegan with Jesse Ray & The Carolina Catfish.
Peruse the photo galleries at Local Spins below. And check out separate Local Spins coverage of Founders Fest in downtown Grand Rapids, the Grand River Water Festival at Riverside Park and Old Crow Medicine Show at Meijer Gardens.
PHOTO GALLERY: Molly and The Go Rounds at Creston Brewery (Friday)
Photos by Anna Sink
PHOTO GALLERY: Jesse Ray & The Carolina Catfish
Rollin’ on the River in Allegan (Friday)
Photos by Molly Long
Easily accessible, the location offers a splash pad and friendly atmosphere for kids, local brews for adults and an over-the-river zipline for any thrill-seeking concertgoers.
And this past Friday, it offered music for rockabilly, retro-rock and raw blues lovers.
Grand Rapids’ Jesse Ray & The Carolina Catfish shook the banks of the scenic Kalamazoo River with a two-hour set of their classics, and a couple of covers, including the danceable Georgia Satellites classic “Hand To Yourself” and a rockin’ redo of “You Are My Sunshine.”
The duo’s “simplicity with volume” was well received, with a dancing and smiling crowd taking full advantage of the first sunny evening of the week.
“The music has always been really great,” said Allegan native Ryan Burza, who’s been behind the soundboard for every Rollin’ On The River thus far, along with many other city of Allegan events. “We’ve never had a band that has been bad quality or hard to work with.” – Molly Long
PHOTO GALLERY: Guitar UP, The Madeira, The Troubadours
Bell’s Brewery Eccentric Cafe in Kalamazoo (Friday)
Photos by Derek Ketchum
