Tag Archives: Big Dudee Roo

Big Dudee Roo brings ‘raw energy’ to Kentwood summer concerts series July 12

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, Local Entertainment, Recreation, Upcoming Events,
Big Dudee Roo will play the Kentwood summer concert series on July 12. (Facebook)

 

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org 

 

The next City of Kentwood Summer Concert Series, on Thursday, July 12, will offer some definitely “Dudee Free” music as Grand Rapids based Big Dudee Roo presents its heady concoction of psychedelic/grunge sounds, folk-rock fierceness in the style of Neil Young and Crazy Horse, and pointed social and political lyrics.

 

(Dudee Free is the title of the latest release by the band, by the way … I did not just make that up. And I caught up with them last year at a brew pub’s outdoor fest, and they are a great live band.)

 

The band is currently made up of Max Lockwood on vocals, bass and songwriting; Justin Dore on lead guitar and backing vocals; Nate Wagner on vocals, guitar and songwriting; and Daine Hammerle on drums.

 

The Summer Concert Series offers free concerts and family entertainment on select Thursday nights from June to August. All concerts will begin at 7 p.m., on the lawn behind Kentwood City Hall, located at 4900 Breton Road SE.

 

In addition to a variety of music, the concerts offer a variety of food trucks at each concert offering food and beverages for purchase. Concert-goers are also encouraged to bring a blanket or their chair, and are welcome to bring their own beer or wine.

 

While the series features an eclectic mix of indie, folk, country, blues and rock music, Big Dudee Roo may be a little hard to label.

 

“Big Dudee Roo is committed to rock and roll, and the making of it,” the band states on their website. “Started by high school friends Justin Dore, Max Lockwood, Kurt Rizley and Nate Wagner in the small town of Wayland, MI, the band has matured into a powerhouse of driving rhythms, heavy guitars, and thoughtful, poetic lyricism, combining the raw energy of Crazy Horse with the polish of Pearl Jam and Tom Petty.”

 

For more information on Big Dudee Roo, visit their website here.

 

After Big Dudee Roo, The Moxie Strings will play on July 19, The Crane Wives on July 26, and Blue Soul Express to close out the series on Aug. 2.

 

For more information on the City of Kentwood Summer Concert Series, visit here.

 

Second day of annual Winter Beer Festival sold out

Beer, Entertainment, Local Entertainment, Upcoming Events, , , ,

WKTV Staff

 

If you are thinking about attending the Michigan Brewers Guild Winter Beer Festival, held each year at the Grand Rapids area’s Fifth Third Ballpark, you might want to stop thinking about it and do it.

 

According to the event’s website, the second day of the two-day event scheduled for Friday and Saturday, Feb. 24-25, is sold out. But tickets to the Friday night event, running from 5-9 p.m., are still available.

 

Tickets are only available online and, according to supplied information, once online tickets are sold out, no additional tickets will be released.

 

The 2017 Winter Beer Festival, the 10th anniversary of the festival, will feature more than 100 Michigan breweries and approximately 1,000 different craft beers. There will also be music from local bands and a selection of food available for purchase. Friday night’s music will be The Concussions’ surf-instrumental-rock-n-roll sound, as well Big Dudee Roo self-described “oft-psychedelic, Neil Young-styled folk rock” sounds.

 

Fifth Third Ballpark is located at 4500 West River Road NR in Comstock Park. For more information visit mibeer.com/winter-festival .

 

Experience Grand Rapids has announced it will partner with the GR Hopper to offer a $10 shuttle service to and from the festival from participating hotels. (Email staff@GRHopper.com or call 616-606-0467.)