Blue Soul Express - WKTV Journal

By WKTV Staff
ken@wktv.org

You got to love a blues/soul band whose lead singer has the nickname of ‘Sookie” and hits the stage with a self-described “rock solid rhythm section.”

And anybody who has heard and seen Blue Soul Express, — stopping by the Kentwood Summer Concert series Thursday, June 27, at 7 p.m. — knows there is a lot to love here.

Blue Soul Express, based out of Grand Rapids, “will take you on a journey through classic soul, R&B, funk and blues,” the band says on their Facebook page. Oh, and remember to “Bring your dancing shoes!”

The band is led by vocalist of Brenda “Sookie” Harris, guitarist Darryl Matthews, Mike Phelps on keyboards and vocals, and “a rock solid rhythm section” of bassist Mark Hicks and drummer Mark Jilbert.

WKTV will not be covering this concert due to a scheduling conflict but will be covering the remainder of Kentwood’s concerts, replaying it on our community television Channel 25 — check out the complete WKTV schedule here — and also available on-demand. The replay schedule for this concert is: Tuesday, June 25, at 9 p.m., and Saturday, June, 29, at about 12:30 p.m. (after a Wyoming community concert).

For more information on Blue Soul Express, visit here.

Concert-goers are encouraged to bring a blanket or chair, and may also bring their own beer or wine. And while you can bring your own picnic dinner, food trucks will be at each concert.

The series runs on select Thursday nights through August.

The remaining lineup for Kentwood’s Summer Concert Series is as follows:

July 18 — Hannah Rose and the GravesTones, serving up some funk, blues and rock n’ roll. If you’ve never seen them, let’s just say Hannah can wail. For more information visit here.

July 25 — The Crane Wives, described by someone as “female-fronted, harmony-driven folk-rock”; lets just say West Michigan is lucky they are taking a local break from their busy summer tour schedule. For more information visit here.

Aug. 1 — Brena, offering up oldies, top 40 hits, classic rock, R&B and country. For more information visit here.

Aug. 8 — Melophobix, with “Cage Free” being not only the title of their latest release but also their funky musical outlook. For more information visit here.

All concerts will begin at 7 p.m. and conclude around 8:30 p.m. on the lawn behind Kentwood City Hall, located at 4900 Breton Ave. SE.

More information is available at kentwood.us/parks.

Cabildo performed July 10 at Wyoming’s Concerts in the Park.

Not able to make it to the Wyoming Concerts in the Park? Or was there one you missed that you would still like to see?

WKTV has got you covered. The station will once again host its Wyoming Concerts in the Park Marathon this Labor Day, Sept. 3. The program will air on WKTV Comcast Channel 26 and AT&T Channel 99.

The line up is:

9:30 am Wyoming Concerts in the Park: The Porters

11:00 am Wyoming Concerts in the Park: Delilah DeWylde

12:35 pm Wyoming Concerts in the Park: Valintiger

1:35 pm Wyoming Concerts in the Park: Kari Lynch Band

3:10 pm Wyoming Concerts in the Park: Cabildo

4:45 pm Wyoming Concerts in the Park: Soul Syndicate

6:20 pm Wyoming Concerts in the Park: Blue Soul Express

7:55 pm Wyoming Concerts in the Park: Matt Gabriel

9:30 pm Wyoming Concerts in the Park: Yellow Brick Road

11:12 pm Wyoming Concerts in the Park: Adams Family