By K.D. Norris
ken@wktv.org
Getting back to a large degree of summertime normalcy in West Michigan, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park’s Fifth Third Bank Summer Concerts will have a June-thorough-September series of 33 shows that will bring “an eclectic group of artists” to the amphitheater — maybe the region’s premier open-air venue and still at an intimate 1,900 seat capacity despite the massive renovations at the park.
The concert line-up will feature some familiar local faces and sounds —Elvis’s glasses and ZZ’s beards, Lyle’s country twang and Spearhead’s reggae rock, to name drop just a few — but also some fresh faces and, maybe, new sounds.
Amos Lee (he of “Worry No More”, the mantra-like lead single from his outstanding new Dreamland release) may be unfamiliar to many but not to those with an ear to where alt/pop music is headed next. And while Andrew Bird and his space fiddle are no strangers to Meijer Gardens, his concert with Iron & Wine will undoubtedly be as unique and memorable as was his 2019 visit before … well, you know.
And, oh ya, an acoustic evening with Trey Anastasio, the heart and soul and jamming master of Phish, will be nearest you’ll likely come to a tie-died Woodstock evening this summer. Breathe it in …
Tickets go on sale April 23 for members and May 7 to the general public (details to follow), and many concerts sell out quickly.
And speaking of getting those sometimes hard-to-come-by tickets, in their concert season announcement, Meijer Gardens introduced its new Concerts for the Community initiative, sponsored by The Steve & Amy Van Andel Foundation in partnership with the Kent District Library. The program will provide concert tickets, food and transportation to “guests that may not otherwise have the opportunity” to attend a summer concert.
Concerts for the Community is designed exclusively for those “facing economic hardship and is meant to diversify community exposure to world-class live music,” according to the announcement.
“Concerts at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park are a favorite summer activity for our family,” said Amy Van Andel. “We are … excited to help others make memories and experience the joy an evening of outdoor live music can bring.”
2022 Fifth Third Bank Summer Concerts at Meijer Gardens lineup
Drumroll please …
The concert series kicks off in June with Marc Cohn + Blind Boys of Alabama on June 12, followed by the aforementioned Amos Lee with Neal Francis on June 17, a doubleheader sure to have you up and dancing with Fitz & The Tantrums + St. Paul & The Broken Bones on June 19, An Acoustic Evening with Trey Anastasio on June 20, and Old Crow Medicine Show on June 23.
Then — get ready for this —Trombone Shorty’s Voodoo Threauxdown featuring Tank and The Bangas, Big Freedia, Cyril Neville: The Uptown Ruler, George Porter Jr. and Dumpstaphunk performing the music of The Meters and The Soul Rebels, all on June 24. Oh what title; oh what a night!
Closing out June will be The Temptations with Kimmie Horne on June 26, and Bluegrass Happening featuring Bela Fleck & My Bluegrass Heart, Sam Bush & The Jerry Douglas Band on June 27.
The summer concert season really gets hot in July with Sheryl Crow with Allison Russell on July 3, Corinne Bailey Rae with War & Treaty on July 6, ZZ Top on July 7, O.A.R. on July 8, and the first of several concerts featuring the Grand Rapids Symphony, Five for Fighting with the symphony on July 13.
Annual visits by two always welcome summer music makers are next: Michael Franti & Spearhead with The New Respects on July 14, and Lyle Lovett and his Large Band on July 15, followed by Norah Jones on July 17, Rick Springfield with the Grand Rapids Symphony on July 20, Buddy Guy + John Hiatt on July 21, America on July 27, and Arturo Sandoval with the Grand Rapids Symphony on July 28.
Elvis will be in the building to start August as Mr. Costello & The Imposters with Nicole Atkins will visit on Aug. 4, followed by Andrew Bird + Iron & Wine with Meshell Ndegeocello on Aug.5, The Dead South with Tejon Street Corner Thieves on Aug. 10, Lake Street Dive with Madison Cunningham on Aug. 12, with the The Beach Boys making it a beach party night on Aug. 15.
August closes out with The Decemberists — one of my favorite bands — Aug. 17,
Boz Scaggs with the Robert Cray Band on Aug. 22, and Umphrey’s McGee on Aug. 24.
The concert season will close strong in the fall with Emmylou Harris + Mary Chapin Carpenter on Sept. 1, Australian Pink Floyd — which is about the closest you can get to the Dark Side of the Moon these days — on Sept. 12, Goo Goo Dolls with Blue October, on Sept. 15, She & Him on Sept. 16, and (what a way to close the venue for the season) Foreigner: The Greatest Hits Tour on Sept. 18.
The details, please
Gate and show start times vary. All information is subject to change. All shows will take place rain or shine, and weather delays are possible. Check MeijerGardens.org/concerts for more details.
There are a lot of details to getting tickets, so much so that Meijer Gardens has created an Insider’s Guide to Buying Tickets, available at MeijerGardens.org/concerts.
The bottom line is that Meijer Gardens members have a members-only presale beginning 9 a.m., April 23, through midnight, May 6. Sales to the public begin at 9 a.m., May 7. Ordering is online at Etix.com (preferred method) or by phone at 800-514-etix (3849), both with per-order handling fee.
Hint: Get a membership, for early tickets and free entry to the grounds any time. To join or renew a Meijer Gardens membership before April 23, visit MeijerGardens.org/membership or call the Membership Department at 616-977-7689.
