Tag Archives: Soul Syndicate

Up next for Kentwood summer concerts is Soul Syndicate

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org


The Soul Syndicate performs this Thursday at the Kentwood Summer Concert series. (Soul Syndicate)

Popular local band Soul Syndicate returns to the area this week as the group performs at the Kentwood Summer Concert series on Thursday.

The free Kentwood Summer Concerts are located on the lawn behind Kentwood City Hall, 4900 Breton Ave. SE.

No stranger to the area, Soul Syndicate opened the Wyoming Concerts in the Park series earlier this month. Through the years, the group has performed with such artists as The Temptations, The Spinners, The Countours, Kansas, The Guess Who, The Beach Boys, Edgar Winter, Natalie Cole, Rosemarie Clooney, Elvis Presley Jr., and the U.S. Navy Commodores Band.

READ: The Soul Syndicate performs at Wyoming Concerts in the Park

“We love to see the energy from the crowd,” said drummer Tom Taylor in an earlier interview with WKTV. ”It is really about seeing the people and having fun.”

The group is not small, with up to a 11 musicians. Besides Taylor, there is Mike Coon on guitar, Matt Fouts on bass, and John Neil on keyboard. Male lead vocal is Collin Tobin, who has performed win several Grand Rapids Civic Theatre productions, and female lead vocal is Katie Sarb a. Rounding out the group is Nate Hansen on sax and Tim DeBesten on trumpet, and Jeff Carroll on trombone.

To learn more about Soul Syndicate and see a list of shows, visit www.thesoulsyndicte.com/shows

Also remember that the Kentwood Farmer’s Market takes place just before the concerts, from 4:30 – 7:30 p.m.

READ: Summer revs up with Kentwood concerts, farmers market combo

All concerts will be live streamed by WKTV Community Media. Watch the events live at: https://www.wktv.org/live25.html. If you miss a show you can watch it here at WKTV On Demand.

This year’s lineup includes

Gonzo’s Top 5: Summer is supposed to be fun any day of the week

By John D. Gonzalez
WKTV Contributing Writer

I love being in downtown Grand Rapids on a Tuesday night when it feels like the weekend.

That’s what happened for the opening of Broadway GR’s “Mean Girls.” The city was buzzing with activity with people out and about for a variety of events, including a very funny show. More on that in a moment.

The truth is, as we get closer to the Fourth of July, summer is supposed to be fun, any day of the week.

If you’ve been reading my Top 5, which you can find exclusively on WKTV Journal, I often talk about events Friday, Saturday and Sunday. But throughout the summer I’ll add other weekday events, too.

Here we go!

Gonzo’s Top 5

Whorled (courtesy)

5. Deos Ballet, Wholred at The Stray Cafe

Check out this cool collaboration event at 7 p.m. Friday (June 24) when Deos Contemporary Ballet performs featuring live music from award-winning band Whorled! Deos works to uplift artists through a culture focused on diversity, wellness and empathy by partnering with community-based organizations. And Whorled! – a recent winner of a Battle of the Bands competition at The Stray – offers a unique World Fusion sound with a blend of Celtic, bluegrass, French Café and jazz influences. There is no cover charge, but donations will be accepted. More info on The Stray Facebook event page. The Stray is located at 4253 Division Ave S Suite A, Wyoming.

The Soul Syndicate performs at The Ballpark Series and then heads over to the Kentwood Summer Concert series on June 30. (Soul Syndicate)

4. Ballpark Series: The Soul Syndicate, Shimmie Pearl

You will love this old, historic ballpark that dates back to 1937, and located on the West Side of Grand Rapids. The Ballpark Series at Sullivan (formerly Valley) Field is one of many events spearheaded by a group called Fans of Valley Field. On Friday (June 24) you can check out two great acts, The Soul Syndicate and Shimmie Pearl. In fact, we interviewed “classic soul, R&B and funk” band The Soul Syndicate earlier this month about shows in Wyoming and Kentwood. Founder and guitarist Mike Coon said their music is meant to keep your toes tapping and the young at heart dancing. “It’s a party!,” said Coon, who leads the 10-piece band through a long list of songs everyone knows and loves. “It’s a fun band. You don’t sit in chairs and watch us.” The show begins at 6 p.m. Tickets start at $15. Learn more on the Fans of Valley Field Facebook page.

By the way, The Soul Syndicate also performs Thursday (June 30) as part of the Kentwood Summer Concert series.

READ: Summer revs up with Kentwood concerts, farmers market combo

READ: The Soul Syndicate performs at Wyoming Concerts in the Park

3. Last Sundays Outdoor Market, Grand Rapids

Doing something on Sundays makes the weekend last so much longer! That’s why I love the concept of “Last Sundays,” which is a monthly outdoor market at Bridge Street Market in Grand Rapids. It features a variety of local makers, vendors, farmers, food carts, samplings and more. It takes place from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday (June 26) on the corner of Bridge Street and Seward Avenue. Other dates: July 31, Aug. 28 and Sept. 25. More info at https://www.bridgestreetmarket.com/blog/2021/6/3/last-sundays-outdoor-market.

2. Van Andel Arena

As I said earlier, the weekends are busy in downtown GR, especially when the Van Andel Arena is hosting big events.

  • On Saturday (June 25): It’s the Outlaw Music Festival with Willie Nelson and Family, Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats, Jason Isbell, Charley Crockett, Brittney Spencer and more. Doors open at 3 p.m. Particle Kid kicks it off at 3:50 p.m., followed by Brittney Spencer at 4:30 p.m.
  • On Sunday (June 26): The first-year Cheer Live 2022 stops in for a truly, one-of-a-kind live show from Emmy Award-winning Netflix docuseries “Cheer.” The live performance features 14-time National Champion coach and best-selling author, Monica Aldama alongside cheer stars such as Gabi Butler and Morgan Simianer. The show brings together fan favorites from the two most successful rival cheer programs in the country, Navarro College and Trinity Valley Community College.

More info on both shows at vanandelarena.com.

Get into the spirit when “Mean Girls” comes to DeVos Performance Hall next week. (Supplied)

1.”Mean Girls,” DeVos Performance Hall

Yes, I lived under a rock in the early 2000s. How else do you explain the fact that I never saw the popular 2004 film “Mean Girls”? Well, now I know what I missed: A truly hilarious, comedic and sometimes too-close-to-reality depiction of life in high school. Now an award-winning Broadway musical, “Mean Girls” opened Tuesday at DeVos Performance Hall as part of a national tour with performances through Sunday (June 26). Get all the details at https://broadwaygrandrapids.com/mean-girls. Earlier this week, WKTV Journal published my interview with Ann Arbor native Nadina Hassan, who plays the Queen Bee of Mean, Regina George, in the musical.

READ: Wearing pink, ‘Mean Girls’ take charge of the DeVos stage

Check out the full interview in my podcast “Then By All Means, Lead the Way.”

Listen to “Nadina Hassan says ‘Mean Girls’ is ‘pure joy'” on Spreaker.

That’s it for now.

As always, I welcome your input and recommendations for events to include in my Top 5 list. If you have something for me to consider, just send me an email at michigangonzo@gmail.com.

Have a great, safe weekend.


John D. Gonzalez is a digital journalist with 30-plus years of experience as a food, travel, craft beer and arts & entertainment reporter based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He also co-hosts the radio show and Podcast “Behind the Mitten,” which airs at 6 p.m. Sundays on WOOD-AM and FM. Follow him on his journey to discover what’s next. You can find him on Twitter as @MichiganGonzo, on Instagram @MichiganGonzo and Facebook at @GRGonzo. He also relaunched his YouTube Channel. Email him story ideas and tips at michigangonzo@gmail.com.

Wyoming Concerts in the Park returns June 7

By John D. Gonzalez
WKTV Contributing Writer

The Soul Syndicate kicks off the Wyoming Concert series on Tuesday, June 7. (Supplied)

The Wyoming Concerts in the Park kicks off with Soul Syndicate, which is one of the most recognizable bands in the area known for its horn section that cranks out classic soul, R&B and funk tunes meant to keep those toes tapping and the young at heart dancing.

“It’s a party!,” said founder and guitarist Mike Coon, who leads a 10-piece band through a long list of songs everyone knows and loves. “It’s a fun band. You don’t sit in chairs and watch us.”

Soul Syndicate opens the Wyoming weekly concert series at 7 p.m. June 7 at Lamar Park. Admission is free.

The Tuesday night series continues through Aug. 2. See the list of shows below. All will be recorded and aired on WKTV.

Coon said performing in front of fans at outdoor concerts like Wyoming, Meijer Gardens (June 28) and Kentwood (June 30) really brings out a wide range of ages. That’s the great thing about these classic songs by Aretha Franklin, Sam and Dave, KC and Sunshine Band and Chicago, he said, everyone knows them.

“These songs seem to transcend over a lot of ages, particularly in the outdoor shows like Kentwood and Wyoming where you got, literally, all ages,” Coon said.

Younger people know these songs from parents and grandparents or they’ve heard them in advertisements.

The Soul Syndicate performs at the Frederick Meijer Gardens June 28 followed by a summer performance at Kentwood on June 30. (Supplied)

“The younger people are like ‘Yeah, I know that song,” he said. “And the older people remember it when it was on the charts.”

“These songs just sort of resonate…. Nobody is hearing that old classic rock song that’s been in their head for 30 years. (Our show) is different. It’s refreshing.”

That was the goal when the band started in 2013. Even though the beginnings of the band had started, it was the urging of friend Juliet Dragos of WZZM-TV (Channel 13) who reached out to Coon, asking if he could put a group together for a Special Olympics event.

From there they started doing special events, corporate shows, outdoor festivals and casinos.

The premise has always been the same: To entertain crowds with music they know and love and keep them dancing and clapping along.

Their popularity took off because not a lot of bands had horn sections playing these classic songs, he said.

“I couldn’t think of anybody that really did that,” Coon said. “A lot of other bands had one Stevie Wonder song in their set. We had four of them. It set us apart, and the horns made it snap.”

The group consists of: Mike Coon, guitar; Tom Taylor, drums; Katie Sarb, vocals and backup; Matt Fouts, bass; John Neil, keyboards; Tim DenBesten, trumpet (horn leader); Nate Hansen, sax; Jeff Carroll, trombone; and Colin Tobin, lead vocalist.

They also have a couple other musicians who play sax and rotate through the band, Coon said.

They perform about 50 shows a year, which might not seem like a lot, but Coon emphasized that they’re not a “tavern band.”

“We’re all pros.” he said. “No matter the venue we’re given we seem to be able to adapt quickly and make it work.”

But it’s the horn section that really distinguishes the band from others.

“When they’re all in sync it adds that energy to the show, and the audience really responds to them,” Coon said.

“Everybody in the band is an accomplished soloist. Anybody, whether keyboards, bass, drums, anybody in the section can step up and rip your head off on a solo….When the horns  are on and in sync, it just blows your hair back. It’s cool.”

Learn more about Soul Syndicate and see a list of shows at https://www.thesoulsyndicate.com/shows.

Wyoming Concerts in Park 2022 are all at 7 p.m. at Lamar Park. Admission is free. More info: Wyoming Concerts in the Park Facebook page.

Concerts Lineup

June 7 – Soul Syndicate – Covers – Rock 

June 14 – Serita’s Black Rose – Funk, Rock, Blues 

June 21 – Nathan Walton Band – Soul, Rock 

June 28 – Jordan Hamilton – Cellist 

July 12 – Randy McAllister – Blues and Soul 

July 19 – Monty Pride – Folk 

July 26 – Bernadette Kathryn – Country 

August 2 – Grupo Latin – Latin Soul (13 piece band)


John D. Gonzalez is a digital journalist with 30-plus years of experience as a food, travel, craft beer and arts & entertainment reporter based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He also co-hosts the radio show and Podcast “Behind the Mitten,” which airs at 6 p.m. Sundays on WOOD-AM and FM. Follow him on his journey to discover what’s next. You can find him on Twitter as @MichiganGonzo, on Instagram @MichiganGonzo and Facebook at @GRGonzo. He also relaunched his YouTube Channel. Email him story ideas and tips at michigangonzo@gmail.com.

Soul Syndicate’s sweet ’n’ hot sounds opens City of Kentwood Summer Concert Series this week

The Soul Syndicate will kick off the Kentwood Summer Concert Series this week. Can you say “Party time!” (Supplied by the band)

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

Classic soul, R&B and a little ‘funk” for your summer evening will be provided by The Soul Syndicate this week as the City of Kentwood Summer Concert Series’ free concerts return for a summer run beginning Thursday, June 24, at 7 p.m.

The summer series, which will run most Thursday nights through Aug. 5, will also include West Michigan favorites The Accidentals, Bootstrap Boys, Benzing Graves Collective, Dalmatian Stone and David Gerald.

Concerts will be livestreamed by WKTV for those who would prefer to enjoy the performances from home. (Click on the Live Streams link in the upper right of the page.)

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.

New this year, Kentwood will offer essential workers and their guests special VIP seating near the stage. Essential workers who are interested can RSVP online prior to each concert.

More information is available at kentwood.us/SummerConcertSeries.

WKTV shows marathon airing of Wyoming Concerts in the Park

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