Tag Archives: City of Kentwood Summer Concert Series

Dalmatian Stone, with a little stone soul rhythm, coming to Kentwood summer concerts

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Dalmatian Stone (Supplied/Dalmatian Stone)

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

There are times when Dalmatian Stone, bringing their soulful blues sound to the Kentwood Summer Concert Series this week, wants (or needs) to be small and tight, and times when it wants to be big and brassy.

Either way, the group — whose members make up the core of the The Stone Soul Rhythm Band — will be offering up a mix of sweet Motown soul to today’s hot funk and dance “and a whole lot of recognizable fun in between,” according to Diego Morales, the leader of what he calls his “mad musical laboratory.”

And why the two bands and two band names?

“Dalmatian Stone is its own entity as an original recording band and for special events, etc., which allows us to keep a good mix of covers with our original music,” Morales said to WKTV. “As that entity we were finding it difficult to secure as many gigs as we had hoped for since the market here really calls for cover bands and original bands need to either play for very little money or travel quite a bit.

“So we decided to resurrect my old band, The Soulz of Rhythm, to pick up extra gigs but found it easier to consolidate into something new, The Stone Soul Rhythm Band, covering songs from Motown soul, R&B through 70’s disco funk, and horn bands like Chicago, Ides of March, Lighthouse and such. … In short we can come to any venue as either entity with or without horns.”

So, while it will be the smaller Dalmatian Stone beginning on stage Thursday, July 22, Morales said “As a special treat we were planning on inviting our horn section up for the last few songs. In essence converting into The Stone Soul Rhythm Band.”

The best of both worlds of music.

For more information on The Stone Soul Rhythm Band (and Dalmatian Stone), visit facebook.com/StoneSoulRhythmBand.

The Kentwood Summer Concert Series, which will run most Thursday nights through Aug. 19, with David Gerald on July 29, The Accidentals on Aug. 5 and a rescheduled night with The Soul Syndicate on Aug. 19.

Concerts will be livestreamed by WKTV for those who would prefer to enjoy the performances from home.

All concerts will begin at 7 p.m., and conclude around 8:30 p.m., on the lawn behind Kentwood City Hall, 4900 Breton Ave. SE. Concertgoers are encouraged to bring a blanket or chair. Each concert will feature food trucks, which will have food and beverages available for purchase. Guests may also bring their own food and beer or wine.

All are also invited to visit the Kentwood Farmers Market, which overlaps with the concert schedule as the market will take place 4:30-7:30 p.m. each Thursday in front of the Kent District Library – Kentwood (Richard L. Root) Branch, 4950 Breton Ave. SE.

More information is available at kentwood.us/SummerConcertSeries.

Crane Wives return home for gig at Kentwood Summer Concert Series

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The Crane Wives performs July 26.

By Micah Cho, WKTV Intern

ken@wktv.org

 

The Crane Wives are set to take the stage on Kentwood City Hall’s lawn as part of the Kentwood Summer Concert Series on Thursday, July 26 at 7 p.m.

 

Made up of band members Dan Rickabus, Emilee Petersmark, Ben Zito and Kate Pillsbury, The Crane Wives got their start while attending college at Grand Valley State University.  Though the band has changed its sound over the years, listeners can expect to hear the mix of folk and indie pop in their music that gives them their unique sound.

 

“In Japanese folklore, the crane wife is a bird disguised as a woman who spins fine silks from her own feathers, until her identity is discovered,” according to the band’s website. “The Crane Wives spin fine songs from whole cloth, and you will never want the melodies to leave your head.”

 

After making recent tour stops throughout the country, the band will be returning home to play for the crowds that gave them their start.

 

“It’s special when we play back home,” Pillsbury told the WKTV Journal. “We’re incredibly thankful to the West Michigan community for being supportive of our art.”

 

Concert goers can expect to hear songs like “Here I Am”, which explores social injustices people face in urban communities. Listeners can also expect to hear songs from all four albums of the band’s seven-year career.

 

In addition to a variety of music, the Kentwood 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.

 

The Kentwood Summer Concert Series offers free outdoor concerts until August. The final concert will provide music from Blue Soul Express on Aug. 2 at Kentwood City Hall located at 4900 Breton Road SE.

 

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

 

For more information about The Crane Wives, visit here.

 

Kentwood continues to ask community to help ‘Plan Our Parks’

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WKTV Staff

ken@wktv.org

 

The City of Kentwood continues to seek public input for improving its Parks and Recreation Department programming as part of a series of Parks Master Planning events. The next in the series will take place Thursday, July 19, at the City of Kentwood Summer Concert series concert featuring The Moxie Strings at Kentwood City Hall.

 

Residents of all ages will have the opportunity to help shape the future of Kentwood’s parks by sharing their ideas which will be used as a basis for future parks and recreation development.

 

“We are eager to engage the community to help guide the future of our parks and recreation for the next 50 years,” Val Romeo, Kentwood Parks and Recreation director, said in supplied information.

 

Other upcoming community events include an ice cream social at Northeast Park from 6 to 8 p.m. on Aug. 1, the Celebrate Kentwood gathering on Aug. 11, and the End of Summer Food Truck Festival on Sept. 15.

 

“We welcome all residents and park users to join us at these events to help plan our parks,” Romeo said. “We want to know what improvements the community wants to see. These events offer the perfect platform to share stories and insights as we begin to transform our parks.”

 

For more information, please visit Kentwood.us/parks.

 

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

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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.

 

Kentwood summer concerts continue June 21 with May Erlewine

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May Erlewine will play the Kentwood summer concert series on June 21. (Facebook/John Hanson)

By WKTV Staff

ken@wktv.org 

 

The City of Kentwood Summer Concert series continues this week with “Michigan’s Songbird”, May Erlewine, on Thursday, June 21.

 

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.

 

“Some people might call May Erlewine ‘Michigan’s Songbird’, but her songs have traveled far beyond her home state,” her website states. “One of the most prolific and passionate songwriters of her generation, May’s music has touched the hearts of people all over the world. Her words have held solace for weary hearts, offered a light in the darkness and held a lot of space for the pain and joy of being alive in these times. When she starts to sing, there’s no way around it. Welcome to the moment, everyone.

 

“Raised in a family rich with art and music, May began writing songs and playing them for the people at a very young age. Her journeys have taken her all over the world, from street corners to renowned stages, May has performed for all walks of life. In her travels Erlewine came to know the land and the pulse of the people. Her songs show a very real connection and concern with everyday folk.”

 

For more information on May Erlewine, visit her website here.

 

After May Erlewine, the remainder of the concert series will have Big Dudee Roo on July 12, The Moxie Strings 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.