Tag Archives: Mike Klompstra

THE WHO announces special guest Dirty Honey for May 7 show in GR

Entertainment,

By Mike Klompstra, SMG


With THE WHO tour launching on May 7th at SMG-managed Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, an acclaimed lineup of artists has been announced for the slate of coveted special guest spots on the eagerly-anticipated trek! The rollout of diverse support acts includes some of the most impassioned artists in music, bringing a rousing repertoire of rock, country and bluegrass to audiences on the first leg of the tour. Confirmed for the Grand Rapids date are heavy rockers Dirty Honey.


For WHO fans everywhere, the upcoming tour means only one thing:  the world’s most untamable rock band is about to deliver the goods once again. Never ones for nostalgia, singer Roger Daltrey and guitarist and songwriter Pete Townshend will be unleashing the combustible force that is The Who with symphonic accompaniment each night. The opportunity to see the iconic band accompanied by some of America’s most renowned orchestras includes both summer and fall dates in 2019. Produced by Live Nation, The Who’s North American MOVING ON! TOUR will bring their indelible brand of powerhouse rock to 29 cities beginning in May.


Tickets are on sale now. Tickets are available at the Van Andel Arena and DeVos Place box offices and online at Ticketmaster.com. See Ticketmaster.com for all current pricing and availability.


The Who will also be releasing their first album of new songs in thirteen years later this year. On stage, the line-up will be rounded out by familiar Who players featuring guitarist/backup singer Simon Townshend, keyboardist Loren Gold, bassist Jon Button and drummer Zak Starkey, and complemented by some of the best orchestras in the U.S. and Canada.


Every pair of tickets purchased online includes a redeemable code for a CD copy of The Who’s forthcoming album when it’s released. This offer is available to US and Canada customers only and not valid for tickets purchased via resale. In addition, $1 from each ticket sold for the MOVING ON!TOUR will benefit Teen Cancer America (www.teencanceramerica.org.)

The secret’s out: Adam Sandler’s coming to Van Andel Arena June 6th

Citizen Journalism, Entertainment,

By Mike Klompstra, SMG Van Andel Arena & DeVos Place


Adam Sandler will be traveling across North America with his 100% Fresher tour this summer starting June 1st in Chicago, Illinois, before making a stop in Grand Rapids at SMG-managed Van Andel Arena at 8pm on Thursday, June 6, 2019.


Tickets go on sale to the general public beginning Friday, March 29 at 10am and will be available at the Van Andel Arena and DeVos Place® box offices and online at Ticketmaster.com. A purchase limit of eight (8) tickets will apply to every order. See Ticketmaster.com for all current pricing and availability.


A successful actor, writer, producer, and musician, Sandler has been performing for live audiences on a sold-out tour over the last couple of years across the U.S. and Canada. 100% Fresh was released on Netflix on October 23, 2018, and marked Sandler’s first comedy special in twenty years. In conjunction with Netflix, Warner Bros. Records released the audio companion to Sandler’s critically acclaimed Netflix special, 100% Fresh: A Netflix Original Comedy Special, on all streaming services and CD on March 22nd. Sandler’s comedy albums on Warner Bros. Records have gone multi-platinum and have collectively sold more than six million copies to date.


Beyond his beloved standup, Sandler’s films have grossed over $3 billion worldwide. His newest film Murder Mystery will stream on Netflix June 14th, with an all-star international cast including Jennifer Aniston and Luke Evans. Sandler will also star in the Safdie Brothers’ Uncut Gems out later this year.


Tickets for Oct. 8 Black Keys concert go on sale March 22

Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, Upcoming Events, , , , , , ,
Photo credit: Alysse
Gafkjen

By Mike Klompstra, SMG


The Black Keys have confirmed their extensive, thirty-one-date arena tour of North America — and the “Let’s Rock” Tour will hit Grand Rapids at SMG-managed Van Andel Arena on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2019, at 7pm. Special guests Modest Mouse will provide support on all dates, and Jessy Wilson will also open the Grand Rapids show.


Tickets go on sale to the general public beginning Friday, March 22 at 10am. Tickets will be available at the Van Andel Arena and DeVos Place® box offices and online at Ticketmaster.com. A purchase limit of eight (8) tickets will apply to every order.


Citi is the official presale credit card of The Black Keys — “Let’s Rock” Tour. As such, Citi cardmembers will have access to purchase presale tickets beginning Tuesday, March 19 at 11am local time until Thursday, March 21 at 10pm local time through Citi’s Private Pass program. For complete presale details visit www.citiprivatepass.com/.


Fans on Van Andel Arena’s email list will also have access to a presale beginning Thursday, March 21. To gain access, sign up to the arena’s email list here by Wednesday, March 20 at 3pm local time.


Formed in Akron, Ohio in 2001, The Black Keys have released eight studio albums: their debut The Big Come Up (2002), followed by Thickfreakness (2003) and Rubber Factory (2004), along with their releases on Nonesuch Records, Magic Potion (2006), Attack & Release (2008), Brothers (2010), El Camino (2011), and, most recently, Turn Blue (2014). The band has won six Grammy Awards and headlined festivals including Coachella, Lollapalooza, and Governors Ball.

Country superstar Alan Jackson coming to Van Andel Arena Feb. 23

Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, , ,

By Mike Klompstra, SMG


Country Music Hall of Famer Alan Jackson will bring a night of hits to Michigan with a concert at SMG-managed Van Andel Arena on Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019, at 7:30pm.


Tickets and information are available at Ticketmaster.com, by phone at 800-745-3000, at the Van Andel Arena and DeVos Place box offices or by visiting alanjackson.com/tour, where you can find information about Alan, his tour schedule, music and more. 


Alan Jackson’s concerts find the country icon performing hits that have gained him legions of longtime fans, songs that continue to draw new crowds as a younger generation discovers his music. Jackson’s repertoire stands the test of time; it has impacted a field of artists who cite Jackson as an influence. It’s these same songs – many written by Alan – that earned him his place alongside country music’s greatest names and cemented his place in its history with membership in the Country Music Hall of Fame.


Recently inducted to the Songwriters Hall of Fame, Jackson’s membership among music’s all-time greats is part of a long line of career-defining accolades that include three CMA Entertainer of the Year honors, more than 25 years of membership in the Grand Ole Opry, a 2016 Billboard ranking as one of the Top 10 Country Artists of All-Time, induction to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, and the Heritage Award as the most-performed country songwriter-artist of ASCAP’s first 100 years.


The man from rural Newnan, GA has sold nearly 60-million albums worldwide, ranks as one of the 10 best-selling male vocalists of all-time in all genres. He has released more than 60 singles – registering 50 Top Ten hits and 35 #1s (including 26 Billboard chart-toppers). He has earned more than 150 music industry awards – including 18 Academy of Country Music Awards, 16 Country Music Association Awards, a pair of Grammys and ASCAP’s Founders and Golden Note Awards. Jackson is one of the most successful and respected singer-songwriters in music. 


He is in the elite company of Paul McCartney and John Lennon among songwriters who’ve written more than 20 songs that they’ve recorded and taken to the top of the charts. Jackson is one of the best-selling artists since the inception of SoundScan, ranking alongside the likes of Eminem and Metallica. He’s also the man behind one of Nashville’s most-popular new tourist stops, AJ’s Good Time Bar, a four-story honky-tonk in the heart of downtown (along a stretch of Broadway known as the “Honky Tonk Highway”) featuring daily live music and a rooftop view of Music City.

Tickets go on sale Nov. 9th for May 15-19, 2019, Cirque du Soleil at Van Andel Arena

Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, Kids Activities, Senior Living, Upcoming Events, , ,

By Mike Klompstra, SMG

Cirque du Soleil’s CRYSTAL—the first acrobatic performance on ice—comes to Van Andel Arena for seven performances May 15-19, 2019

Cirque du Soleil is thrilled to return to Grand Rapids, Michigan with its coolest arena show yet—CRYSTAL. This one-of-a-kind arena production blends circus arts and the world of ice skating in a stunning new production that will take the audience on a journey into a whimsical frozen playground where figure skating mingles with acrobatics and aerial feats. CRYSTAL will perform at SMG-managed Van Andel Arena from Wednesday, May 15 through Sunday, May 19, 2019, for seven performances only.

Photo by Matt Beard

Tickets go on sale to the general public Friday, Nov. 9 at 10am. Tickets will be available at the Van Andel Arena and DeVos Place box offices, online at Ticketmaster.com, and charge by phone at 1-800-745-3000. See Ticketmaster.com for all pricing and availability. A purchase limit of 11 tickets will apply to every order.

 
PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE
  • Wednesday, May 15, Thursday, May 16 & Friday, May 17 at 7:30pm
  • Saturday, May 18 at 4pm and 7:30pm
  • Sunday, May 19 at 1:30pm and 5pm
More about CRYSTAL—A Breakthrough Ice Experience
Directed by Shana Carroll and Sebastien Soldevila, Crystal, our misfit heroine, takes you on an exhilarating tale of self-discovery as she dives into a world of her own imagination. Feel the adrenaline as she soars through this surreal world to become what she was always destined to be: confident, curious, and creative. CRYSTAL invites you to suspend reality and glide into a world that springs to colorful life with astounding visual projections and a soundtrack that seamlessly blends popular music with the signature sound of Cirque du Soleil. CRYSTAL is suitable for all ages.
The show CRYSTAL is about looking at things from fresh angles, peeking through the veneer of everyday life, reframing one’s daily reality to see what one might have missed. Sometimes the only way to appreciate things is to look at them sideways. Discovering one’s individuality and uniqueness requires venturing out on thin ice.
CRYSTAL is Cirque du Soleil’s 42nd original production since 1984. The company has brought wonder and delight to more than 180 million spectators in more than 450 cities on six continents. Cirque du Soleil has over 4,000 employees, including 1,300 performing artists from 50 different countries.

Sebastian Maniscalco to bring ‘Stay Hungry’ Tour to DeVos Performance Hall on April 6

Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, Upcoming Events, , ,

 

By Mike Klompstra, SMG

 

A string of record-breaking sold-out comedy appearances, a new top-ranked show on SiriusXM, “The Pete & Sebastian Show,” and inclusion on Forbes’ 2017’s “The World’s Highest Paid Comedians” who praised, “thanks to his enthusiasm and willingness to work, Maniscalco will likely continue to be on Forbes’ list for years to come,” comedian Sebastian Maniscalco is having an incredible year. People Magazine’s “the people’s comedian” is hitting the road after he was dubbed “Stand Up Comedian of the Year” at Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal, Canada.
 
He will make a stop in Grand Rapids at SMG-managed DeVos Performance Hall on Saturday, April 6, 2019, at 7pm.
 
Tickets will be available at the DeVos Place® and Van Andel Arena® box offices, online at Ticketmaster.com, and charge by phone at 1-800-745-3000. A purchase limit of eight (8) tickets will apply to every order. See Ticketmaster.com for all pricing and availability.
 
The tour title is appropriate as not only is “Stay Hungry” the name of his forthcoming 2018 book for Simon & Schuster, but it is also his personal motto.
 
“The Stay Hungry tour marks the release of my book while I also venture into this new chapter of my life: being a dad. Lately, I’ve found myself reflecting on my path and all of the hard work it has taken to get to this point in my career. I hope to one day pass these values on to my daughter and encourage her to stay hungry for more,” shares Maniscalco, who has expanded his major motion picture portfolio to include a voice-over for character Johnny the Groundhog in the animated feature Nut Job 2 and appearances in films including the Will Ferrell-starring New Line Feature comedy The House and a role in 2018’s TAG, starring alongside Ed Helms and Jeremy Renner.
 
Dubbed “one of the hottest comics” by Newsday and “one of the funniest comics working stand-up today” by Esquire, Sebastian’s live performance has become a critically-acclaimed event, with the Los Angeles Times raving, “onstage, there’s an impatience to Maniscalco’s delivery as well, a hair-trigger exasperation with people and modern life, punctuated with baffled expressions, percussive thumps on the microphone and wide-swung leg kicks more associated with an Olympic speed-skater than a stand-up comic.”
 
Instead of asking questions – a theme that has served as the foundation of his previous comedy specials and shows like Aren’t You Embarrassed? and Why Would You Do That? – Maniscalco’s new tour has the affable performer instead encouraging fans to follow in his footsteps and “stay hungry.”
 
Shares the man The New York Times raved for his “own kind of panache,” “Even though I’ve achieved some success, I will always stay hungry for more.”