ArtPrize’s opening week also delivers artful live music: Kris Hitchcock, Mustard Plug, SP3, Cabildo, Rick Chyme, a 50-act showcase and way more around town, with the annual Earthwork Harvest Gathering up north.
Citizen Cope
Citizen Cope
7 p.m. Monday (doors open at 6:30 p.m.)
$33
The Orbit Room, Grand Rapids
Sure, ArtPrize is the big story in Grand Rapids this week, kicking off on Wednesday with what promises to be the biggest, baddest and most well-attended art competition yet. But live music is a huge part of the ArtPrize picture, so to speak – stuff that’s directly related to the much-hyped event and stuff that isn’t. Hence, The Big List …
Citizen Cope: Free tickets from Local Spins
The Orbit Room is back, kicking off its fall lineup with a solo show by alt/indie-rock singer-songwriter Citizen Cope, aka Clarence Greenwood, who’s touring the country behind his latest single, “One Lovely Day,” which aptly displays his soulful acoustic rock. Starting with a Washington D.C.-based hip-hop group in the mid-1990s, Citizen Cope has since honed his blend of infectious rock, soul, blues and folk.
Congrats to John P. Leonard and Natasha Corradin who each won a pair of tickets to tonight’s “intimate, solo acoustic” show courtesy of Local Spins. They were the first to email me at jsinkevics@gmail.com. with “Citizen Cope rocks with Local Spins” in the message field.
That’s just the beginning: Come back to LocalSpins.com prior to other upcoming Orbit Room shows – and listen to my Local Spins Live show on News Talk 1340 AM (WJRW) at 10 a.m. Wednesdays – for more ticket giveaways: Next up, Five Finger Death Punch on Oct. 6. Get ticket information and more at the Orbit Room website.
Kris Hitchcock
Kris Hitchcock & Small Town Son,
Union Guns, Kari Lynch, Brena
8 p.m. Wednesday
$6 advance, $8 day of show
The Intersection, Grand Rapids
If you’re a country music fan enjoying the first night of ArtPrize, it doesn’t get any better than this. The ultra-talented Kalamazoo singer-songwriter Kris Hitchcock leads an impressive lineup of West Michigan country acts performing at The Intersection, with rock’s Brena in the mix, too.
Cabildo
Cabildo, Punksuhate, AOK, Hundo,
The Boogiman (DJ Spydre Murphy)
9:30 p.m. Thursday
Free
Founders Brewing Co., Grand Rapids
After being closed for a couple weeks to complete the expansion and renovation of its taproom, Founders celebrates its re-opening with a live music bash featuring an eclectic blend of popular West Michigan acts: the Latin- and cumbia-infused Cabildo, folk-hop’s Punksuhate, electronic indie-pop’s AOK and psychedelic dance/metal’s Hundo, with The Boogiman DJing to boot. Lots of folks are looking forward to checking out the new digs and the new sound system, me included, so this should be an intriguing evening. Check out Charley Honey’s Local Spins story about the refurbished taproom online here.
By the way, Founders follows this up on Saturday with a 9:30 p.m. show by Texas one-man band Scott H. Biram who “lashes together blues, hillbilly and country precariously to raucous punk and godless metal.” Cover is $5.
Scott Pellegrom
The Scott Pellegrom Trio, Blue Molly
7 p.m. Friday
$10
Watermark 920, 920 Washington Ave., Muskegon
The Inside the Mitten concert series resumes with a real gem of a show: The Scott Pellegrom Trio, aka SP3, is led by world-class West Michigan drummer and clinician Scott Pellegrom, with Kevin Koezel on guitar and vocals and Ryan K. Wilson on keyboards and vocals. They’ve been working on two new EPs – one instrumental and one not – churning out music described as “powerful, soulful” rock ’n’ roll.
Meanwhile, Grand Rapids’ Blue Molly, led by dynamic singer Molly Bouwsma-Schultz, has become one of the region’s most in-demand soulful blues outfits with David Raffenaud on keyboards, Darryl Matthews on guitar, Mark Hicks on bass, and Earl Tolliver on drums. As usual, food and beverages are available. Get details online at the Watermark Live website.
And check out my Local Spins Live radio show at 10 a.m. Wednesday, when the Scott Pellegrom Trio will be in the studio on News Talk 1340 AM (WJRW). Listeners will also get a chance to win tickets to the concert, so tune in.
Mustard Plug (Photo/Katy Batdorff)
Mustard Plug, Alexis, PotatoeBabies,
Spit Spat Boys
8 p.m. Friday
$8 advance, $10 day of show
Midwest Skies (CD-release), Maybe Next Time
Priorities, American Wifi (plus Rick Chyme)
8 p.m. Saturday
$7 advance, $10 day of show
The Pyramid Scheme, Grand Rapids
The Pyramid Scheme isn’t fooling around on the first weekend of ArtPrize. In addition to hosting an artists’ reception that starts at 5 p.m. Friday (with Katy Batdorff, Danielle Dix, Charles Little, Jordan Rookus, Emerson Schreiner, Stafford Smith and Katie Swanson), the nightclub slams things into high gear with the ska mastery of West Michigan’s own Mustard Plug, not to mention the uber-entertaining Alexis, PotatoeBabies and Spit Spat Boys (Beastie Boys tribute).
On Saturday, Grand Rapids’ own Midwest Skies unleashes its fine new rock album, just to keep the rafters rattling. Get details on both shows online here.
And perhaps the most intriguing performance of all involves Grand Rapids’ hip-hop artist Rick Chyme, who’s hoping to break the world record for longest freestyle rap as part of his ArtPrize entry. He starts his 17-hour marathon at 8 a.m. Saturday at John Hartman Photography at 104 S. Division Ave., crisscrossing the downtown area all day, before “rapping” it all up after midnight at The Pyramid Scheme. More details here and read more about it Local Spins later this week.
Tokyo Morose
ArtPrize Musicians’ Showcase
3-10 p.m. Friday
Noon-10 p.m. Saturday
Noon-6 p.m. Sunday
Free
St. Cecilia Music Center, 24 Ransom Ave. NE, Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids’ ultra-popular ArtPrize competition that runs through Oct. 6 is about more than just compelling sculptures and paintings: Among the 1,524 entries are 82 musical compositions. And 50 of those songwriters perform as part of the third Musicians’ Showcase hosted by St. Cecilia Music Center, which offers separate $2,000 prizes to top vote-getters in five genres.
This is a truly unique three-day event, with beer, wine and food available, and as St. Cecilia’s Cathy Holbrook puts it, “a cool vibe” unlike any other. Come back to Local Spins on Tuesday for a full story about the showcase (with a complete schedule) and other ArtPrize musical events.
May Erlewine and Seth Bernard
Earthwork Harvest Gathering with
Various Artists
Friday-Sunday
Weekend: $90 adults, $50 teens, free for 12 & younger
Saturday/Sunday day pass: $35
Earthwork Farm, Lake City
Caravans loaded with some of Michigan’s top folk/Americana/rock musicians will be headed north this weekend for the annual Earthwork Harvest Gathering, a truly singular event that features more than 100 performances on three stages (and a café) over three days, not to mention workshops and family activities. There’s food from more than 40 local farmers, not to mention arts and crafts sales.
And it’s an astonishing lineup: Seth and May, Red Tail Ring, The Crane Wives, Ralston Bowles, Roosevelt Diggs, Nicholas James & The Bandwagon, Breathe Owl Breathe, The Macpodz, Kung Fu Rodeo, Drew Howard, Gifts or Creatures, Joshua Davis, Roostand, Fauxgrass and way more. Get the full lineup, directions and more at the official Earthwork Harvest Gathering website. As the Earthworks people put it, it’s a “culturally rich, positive, inspiring experience that features Michigan’s beautiful bounty of food, music and artisan culture.”
Over the Rhine
Over the Rhine, The Milk Carton Kids
8 p.m. Saturday
$20 ($10 for Calvin students)
Covenant Fine Arts Center at Calvin College, Grand Rapids
For those who’ve never had a chance to see Linford Detweiler and Karin Bergquist, aka Over the Rhine, live, you’ve missed out on something special.
And with a brand new double album produced by Joe Henry that came out just this month, “Meet Me at the Edge of the World,” Over the Rhine’s return to Calvin College this weekend – the opening salvo in Calvin’s compelling 2013-14 concert series — is liable to be a triumphant affair.
The Americana-laced outfit is considered Calvin’s “house band,” having played there almost every year the past two decades, with student activities director Ken Heffner noting that this was the first group he ever booked at the college. So, it’s not surprising that this would be one of the first shows on the duo’s U.S. tour in support of the album. And The Milk Carton Kids are wonderfully harmonious. Get tickets and information online here.
Tommy Emmanuel
Tommy Emmanuel
7:30 p.m. Sunday
$39.50, $49.50
DeVos Performance Hall, Grand Rapids
Consider me one of the true believers now. The last time he rolled through Grand Rapids, I got a chance to see guitarist Tommy Emmanuel playing up close (within a few feet of me in the radio studios during Local Spins Live) and in the seats at DeVos Performance Hall, and everything he did was jaw-dropping, entertaining and just plain fun. With help from PBS specials, this Australian native has rightly ascended the ranks in popularity as a U.S. touring act and become one of the world’s true great guitarists – one who deftly pays tribute to other musicians and bands in his concerts.
Believe me, folks will leave this show smiling and shaking their heads. Tune into News Talk 1340 AM after 9:45 a.m. Wednesday when Local Spins will give away some tickets to the show. Or don’t take any chances and get tickets and information online here. And check out more about Emmanuel, who has a new album with Martin Taylor dubbed, “The Colonel and The Governor,” at his website.
UNDER-THE-RADAR PICKS
Kenny White
Kenny White playing Spring Lake’s Seven Steps Up, 8 p.m. Friday, $22 advance, $25 day of show – Singer-songwriter Kenny White is lovingly familiar to West Michigan audiences, bringing his entertaining guitar and keyboard playing and well-crafted songs to his shows here. It’s the second time he’ll be playing this vibrant listening room and, I’m guessing, it won’t be his last. Get tickets and more information online at pindropconcerts.com.
The Soil & The Sun playing the Ladies Literary Club, 61 Sheldon Blvd. SE in Grand Rapids, 8 p.m. Friday, $5 – This ever-inventive, spacey folk-rock ensemble from Grand Rapids has rightly earned some national attention, not only for its recorded songs, but for its tremendous live shows. A great post-ArtPrize stop.
Reverend Raven and The Chain Smokin’ Altar Boys playing the Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill, 8 p.m. Friday, $10 – Chicago blues guitarist Reverend Raven is back to churn up musical trouble at the Tip Top. And Karisa Wilson and The True Falsettos follow that up with what promises to be a lively and swingin’ Saturday show, also starting at 8 p.m. More info online here.
Lucas Wilson Band and Valentiger playing Billy’s Lounge, 9:30 p.m. Friday, $5 – A tremendous pairing of Grand Rapids rock bands playing this Eastown venue.
Oktobeerfest with a German party band, Youngblood Brass Band and, of course, beer, outside The Intersection, 4-10 p.m. Saturday, $10 advance – The latest volley in The Intersection’s ”Rock the Lot” series is a celebration of German food and beer (and seasonal craft beer) hosted by Townsquare Media in the parking lot next to the nightclub, and in the middle of the first weekend of ArtPrize. Get tickets and details online at oktobeerfestgr.com.
Sharrie Williams
Blues singer Sharrie Williams performing the COVE (Communities Overcoming Violent Encounters) benefit at Hart Public Schools Auditorium in Ludington, 7 p.m. Saturday, $30 per person, $50 per couple – This may be a little far-flung for some folks, but the cause and the performer make it worth the trip: COVE provides shelter, protection and advocacy to victims of domestic and sexual violence and homelessness and has mounted a capital campaign to build a new facility to replace its 110-year old house that serves as the shelter and offices. And Sharrie Williams, the “princess of rockin’ gospel blues,” has distinguished herself, sharing stages with the likes of Dizzy Gillespie, Buddy Guy, KoKo Taylor, Delbert McClinton, Charlie Musselwhite, Taj Mahal and more. Get details online at the COVE website.
Randissimo’s Sunday Night Jazz at SpeakEZ Lounge in downtown Grand Rapids, 7 p.m. Sunday, free – Kick back with some jazz after your ArtPrize meanderings. This week, drummer Randy Marsh is joined by Robin Connell and Warren Jones.
Email John Sinkevics at jsinkevics@gmail.com.
Copyright 2013, Spins on Music
The post Over the Rhine, Citizen Cope, ArtPrize Musicians’ Showcase, Tommy Emmanuel: The Big List Concert Guide appeared first on Spins on Music.