The week of live music across the region featured a robust mix of national and local stars, recapped in photo galleries exclusively at Local Spins.
Saturday Bluegrass Soiree: Sam Grisman Project at The Big Room. (Photo/Steve Baran)
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When blues-rock favorite Kenny Wayne Shepherd brought his “Ledbetter Heights” 30th anniversary tour to GLC Live at 20 Monroe in Grand Rapids on Wednesday, a line from his rendition of “What’s Goin’ Down” from that debut album hinted at more rollicking West Michigan shows to come.
“Have you looked around my friend, and really seen what’s goin’ down?”
Well, what went down after that in venues across the region proved to be something special for fans of the touring acts and local artists heating up stages.
Avatar: Brought a netal ‘freakshow’ to Grand Rapids. (Photo/Anthony Norkus)
Theatrical Swedish heavy metal band Avatar brought its circus-styled melodic onslaught (“Smells Like a Freakshow”) to Grand Rapids to the delight of ardent fans Thursday at GLC Live at 20 Monroe, with Fleshed Apocalypse and Frozen Soul on board as well. The 17-song Avatar set list ranged from “Captain Goat” to “Hail the Apocalypse.”
Meanwhile, the Sam Grisman Project’s jam-happy, acoustic romp Saturday at The Big Room in Grand Rapids unleashed more than two dozen songs for fans of blues, folk and “Dawg” music inspired by Grisman’s famous father, David Grisman.
As for regional stars, Greensky Bluegrass’ Dave Bruzza brought his all-star edition of Unsafe at Any Speed to Bell’s Brewery Eccentric Cafe on Thursday, with The Go Rounds also heating up a night that featured an impressive mix of songs from rock to surf to variations on Greensky Bleugrass tracks.
On Friday, mandolinist Brian Oberlin hosted the first of three album-release shows for “Troubadour Anew” at The Lit in Grand Rapids. View Carlton Macksam’s photos on Facebook here.
The same night, Southwest Michigan’s Yolonda Lavender, Asia Sings and Ja’Leeyna powered up Bell’s Spring Concert Series with inspiring sets. The following night, it was a night of indie-rock, alternative R&B and party pop with Micah Dailey-White, Ethan Marc Band and Loudfeli that had the crowd dancing at Kalamazoo’s Glow Hall.
Browse all of the photos below. And check out a full Local Spins review and photo gallery from Joan Osborne’s tour stop Thursday at St. Cecilia Music Center in Grand Rapids here: Joan Osborne unleashes ‘whole different animal’ of Dylan classics in GR tour stop.
PHOTO GALLERY: Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band at GLC Live at 20 Monroe
Photos by Eric Stoike
PHOTO GALLERY: Avatar, Fleshed Apocalypse, Frozen Soul at GLC Live at 20 Monroe
Photos by Anthony Norkus
PHOTO GALLERY: Sam Grisman Project at The Big Room
Photos by Steve Baran
