Grand Rapids’ Celebration on the Grand, Wheatland Music Fest, Rock for Crash’s and first Harmonica Summit top this week’s must-see list.
The heat is on. Summer’s still burning the candle at both ends and so is the outdoor and indoor music scene as this week’s big list proves. It may be a short week due to Labor Day, but it’s crammed with stuff.
Support our coverage of
West Michigan's music scene
Peter Madcat Ruth headlines the first-ever Harmonica Summit at St. Cecilia Music Center.
Grand Rapids Harmonica Summit
With Peter Madcat Ruth, Dennis Gruenling, more
7 p.m. Thursday
$10 advance, $12 day of show
St. Cecilia Music Center (Royce Auditorium), Grand Rapids
This tribute show to late harmonica great Gary Primich – a Chicago native and Texas blues player who died five years ago — represents the first-ever Grand Rapids Harmonica Summit, with some amazing blues harp players (Peter Madcat Ruth, Dennis Gruenling, Andy Wilson, Hank Mowery) and other musicians taking the stage to raise money for the West Michigan Blues Society’s Blues in the Schools program.
“I have wanted to do something to honor Gary for a few years and felt it was time,” notes Mowery, who’s worked hard to organize this show which also features The Hawktones, Doug Deming and others. “All of us were friends of Gary and influenced by him.” Sounds like a whale of a fine time and a whale of a fine cause.
Dirty Dozen Brass Band
7 p.m. Thursday
$17 advance, $20 day of show
The Intersection, Grand Rapids
This renowned New Orleans R&B/jazz fusion outfit might literally blow your socks off. The Dirty Dozen Brass Band is touring behind its latest album, “Twenty Dozen.” Get ticket details here.
West Michigan bluesman Vincent Hayes is part of this year’s Celebration lineup.
Great White, Various Artists
Celebration on the Grand
Free
Friday-Saturday
Rosa Parks Circle, Ah Nab Awen Park, Grand Rapids
Yes, veteran hard rock/metal band Great White is headlining this year’s event, but this is really a celebration of tremendous local talent covering several genres: Jimmie Stagger, Deborah Kay & the Bluebloods, Jack Leaver’s American Heartbreakers (Tom Petty tribute), The Tom Hagen Trio featuring Mary Rademacher, Creolization, Vincent Hayes Project, Delilah DeWylde & the Lost Boys, The Concussions, Brena, Alive & Well, 13th Hour, Mustang Band and The Cones.
Oh, and there’s fireworks and tons of family activities. See the full schedule here and more at the official website.
Delilah DeWylde & the Lost Boys
CELEBRATION ON THE GRAND
FRIDAY
Rosa Parks Circle
5:30 pm – Creolization
6:50 pm – Delilah DeWylde & the Lost Boys
8:10 pm – Vincent Hayes Project
Dusk – Fireworks
10 pm – Jimmie Stagger Band
Ah Nab Awen Park
5:15 pm – Brena
6:20 pm – The Concussions
7:25 pm – Deborah Kay & the Bluebloods
8:30 pm – Tom Hagen Trio featuring Mary Rademacher
Dusk – Fireworks
American Heartbreakers
SATURDAY
Rosa Parks Circle
1 pm – Roller Skating Party ($1 skate rental)
3:30 pm – Alive & Well
4:40 pm – American Heartbreakers: Tom Petty Tribute
5:50 pm – Mustang Band
7 pm – 13th Hour
8:10 pm – The Cones
9:30 pm – Great White
Ah Nab Awen Park
Noon – Illusionist Tom Coverly
1:10 pm – Juggler Will Oltman
1:40 pm – Live. Dance. Move. (w/ Kate Rehmus)
2:20 pm – The Flying Tigers’ High-Flying Trampoline Act
2:50 pm – Rick the Reptile Guy Animal Show
3:30 pm – Juggler Will Oltman
4 pm – Live. Dance. Move.
4:40 pm – The Flying Tigers
5 pm – Ducky Dash Down the Grand River
5:30 pm – Rick the Reptile Guy
6 pm – Juggler Will Oltman
6:30 pm – The Flying Tigers
7 pm – Magic Show
(Also all day at Ah Nab Awen Park: Mini-Golf, Jump Houses, Inflatables, Double Rush Obstacle course, Skee Roll, Hula Hoops, Twister and carnival games.)
Deke Dickerson and his crew are part of this year’s Wheatland roster.
Ruthie Foster, Deke Dickerson, Eric Bibb, Various Artists
Wheatland Music Festival
Friday-Sunday
$58-$83 weekend tickets ($10 children); $23 Sunday only
Remus (Wheatland Township in Mecosta County)
There’s so much going on at this 39th annual national folk festival with a slew of top-notch performers (including West Michigan stars such as Drew Nelson and The Crane Wives), workshops, dances, instrument tents, arts and crafts and, of course, all-day and all-night jam sessions, that there’s never a dull moment and there are plenty of under-the-radar performances to explore.
Check out the schedule for two stages here, and get directions and other details at the Wheatland website.
Drew Nelson
WHEATLAND MUSIC FESTIVAL
Main Stage
FRIDAY
6:00pm – Deke Dickerson
7:10pm – Hogwire Stringband
8:10pm – Carry It On, Sharon Leahy and Rick Good
8:50pm – Hoots and Hellmouth
10pm – Drew Nelson and Highway 2
11:10pm – De Temps Antan
SATURDAY
Noon – Hogwire Stingband
1:10pm – John Doyle Band
2:20pm – The Crane Wives
3:30pm – De Temps Antan
4:40pm – Paul Thorn
5:30pm – Dinner Break
6:30pm – Eric Bibb String Band
7:40pm – Ruthie Foster
8:50pm – Good Foot Dance Ensemble “Beat Retreat”
10:00pm – The Gibson Brothers
11:10pm – Deke Dickerson
SUNDAY
10:15am – Gospel Hour
11:30am – Ruthie Foster
12:40pm – Paul Thorn
1:50pm – The Gibson Brothers
2:40pm – Kids Parade
3:00pm – Eric Bibb String Band
4:10pm – Good Foot Dance Ensemble “Beat Retreat”
5:20pm – John Doyle Band
The Crane Wives
Centennial Stage
FRIDAY
6:00pm – Max & Ruth Bloomquist Band
7:15pm – Straight From Sweden, Anna Lindblad & Hilde Fjerdingoy
9:05pm – The Crane Wives
11pm – Black Jake & The Carnies
SATURDAY
11:00am – Open Mic
12:50pm – De Temps Antan
2pm – Paul Thorn, Eric Bibb and Ruthie Foster
3:15pm – The John Doyle Band
4:15pm – Fiddlin’ Around w/ Dirk Powell, Brad Leftwich and Cedric Watson
5 pm – Dinner Break
6 pm – Brother’s Duets w/ Leigh & Eric Gibson
7:20 pm – Michigan Songwriters, w/ Jamie-Sue Seal, C.Y. Butcher, Julie Ann Ankley and Pete Kehoe
9:20 pm – CD Release Party w/ Lindsay Lou & The Flatbellys
10:40 pm – Drew Nelson & Highway 2
11:50 pm – Hoots and Hellmouth
SUNDAY
11:30 am – Open Mice
1:15 pm – Community Sing-Along w/ Sally Potter, Cindy Morgan & Jim Hall
2:30 pm – Sister Wilene
Deal’s Gone Bad, The Amoebas, Sailor Kicks
8 p.m. Saturday
$8
The Pyramid Scheme, Grand Rapids
Chicago ska/reggae/rock band Deal’s Gone Bad returns to Grand Rapids … ready to kick things up a notch at The Pyramid Scheme.
Grand Rapids’ Legal Immigrants are headed for a Crash’s Landing bash.
Various Artists
Rock for Crash’s Landing
9:30 p.m. Saturday
$5
Founders Brewing Co., Grand Rapids
This annual benefit for Crash’s Landing Cat Rescue and Placement Center is always a good time for a good cause with really good local bands.
This time around, check out the rock of Legal Immigrants, Faux Fur & The Extra Texture, Varsity Killers and The Pilot Lights. More details at the Founders Brewing site.
Email: jsinkevics@gmail.com
