By K.D. Norris
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, in announcing their 2018 Fifth Third Bank Summer Concerts at Meijer Gardens series of 31 concerts, use words like “eclectic” and “diverse” to describe the spectrum of artists coming to town.
We could not agree more, or come up with better adjectives.
The series includes — to steal a line from another series of annual events held on the grounds of Meijer Gardens, weddings — something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue.
Taking them out of the wedding-rhyme order, while there will be some familiar returners coming back to the Gardens, the new school and New Wave acts may be the most impressive group.
With the likes of alt-nation favorites the Decemberists, Fitz and Trantrums and Jason Mraz on the bill, those who think compact discs are archaic will have their day, or night. With the likes of Blondie, Joe Jackson, and the Toad the Wet Sprocket teaming with The Verve Pipe, the older-alt crowd will get their 1980s and ‘90s flashbacks.
My anticipated favorite of the new school/New Wave alt grouping will be +LIVE+, the 1990s alt-rock (post punk) powerhouse whose 1994 “Lightning Crashes” is still one of favorite songs ever, and who recently reunited and put out new music.
The “old school” rock and country acts on the bill include the always worth-the-money annual visit by Lyle Lovett (this time with his Large Band), Jackson Browne’s return (check out a WKTV review of his 2017 show here), Huey Lewis and the News, Styx and TOTO. And can you get any more old school than The Beach Boys?
We’ll skip the “something borrowed” category because, well, it sounded good but I got nothing. The something (sort-of) blues and soul concerts will include Gladys Knight, Seal, Patti LaBelle and — what may be my second most anticipated concert of the season — the blues kings of Taj Mahal and Keb’ Mo’ together.
Under the somewhat undefinable but, also unmissable concerts include Alison Krauss, Herbie Hancock and the summer party provided by Lake Street Dive.
The concert series includes a special show with Alabama, the classic American country and Southern rock band, on Aug. 23 to benefit the Garden’s ongoing “Welcoming the World: Honoring a Legacy of Love” capital campaign. All net proceeds from this show will be contributed to the campaign.
The complete line-up — with date, showtime, and ticket range — includes:
Tedeschi Trucks Band, May 30 at 6:30 p.m., $75 presale, $78 member, $80 public
Gladys Knight, June 3 at 7 p.m., $68 presale, $71 member, $73 public
The Decemberists, June 4 at 7 p.m., $52 presale, $55 member, $57 public
Jackson Browne, June 6 at 7 p.m., $72 presale, $75 member, $77 public
The B-52s, June 8 at 7 p.m., $57 presale, $60 member, $62 public
Fitz and the Tantrums, June 10 at 7 p.m., $47 presale, $50 member, $52 public
Brandi Carlile, June 13 at 6:30 p.m., $56 presale, $59 member, $61 public
Alison Krauss, June 17 at 7 p.m., $84 presale, $87 member, $89 public
Seal, June 20 at 7 p.m., $91 presale, $94 member, $96 public
Old Crow Medicine Show, June 25 at 7 p.m., $45 presale, $48 member, $50 public
Herbie Hancock, June 27 at 7 p.m., $57 presale, $60 member, $62 public
Blondie, June 29 at 7 p.m., $82 presale, $85 member, $87 public
Huey Lewis and the News, July 8 at 7 p.m., $90 presale, $93 member, $95 public
Patti LaBelle, July 13 at 7 p.m., $75 presale, $78 member, $80 public
The Temptations & The Four Tops, July 15 at 6:30 p.m., $58 presale, $61 member, $63 public
Joe Jackson, July 20 at 7 p.m., $45 presale, $48 member, $50 public
Dispatch with special guests Nahko and Medicine for the People, July 23 at 5:45 p.m., $55 presale, $58 member, $60 public
Jason Mraz with special guest Brett Dennen, July 25 at 6:30 p.m., $83 presale, $86 member, $88 public
The Beach Boys, July 26 at 7 p.m., $64 presale, $67 member, $69 public
Air Supply, July 29 at 7 p.m., $50 presale, $53 member, $55 public
Styx, Aug. 1 at 7 p.m., $72 presale, $75 member, $77 public
Vince Gill, Aug. 6 at 7 p.m., $62 presale, $65 member, $67 public
TajMo: The Taj Mahal & Keb’ Mo’ Band, Aug. 12 at 7 p.m., $59 presale, $62 member, $64 public
Toad the Wet Sprocket & The Verve Pipe, Aug. 19 at 6:30 p.m., $44 presale, $47 member, $49 public
Trombone Shorty’s Voodoo Threauxdown featuring Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Galactic, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, New Breed Brass Band and special guests, Aug. 22 at 6 p.m., $75 presale, $78 member, $80 public
Alabama, Aug. 23 at 7 p.m., $150 presale, $153 member, $155 public (the special fundraising show to benefit the Welcoming the World: Honoring a Legacy of Love capital campaign)
TOTO’s 40 Trips Around The Sun Tour, Aug. 24 at 7 p.m., $53 presale, $56 member, $58 public
O.A.R. with special guest Matt Nathanson, Aug. 26 at 6:30 p.m., $75 presale, $78 member, $80 public
Lyle Lovett and his Large Band, Aug. 27 at 7 p.m., $63 presale, $66 member, $68 public
Lake Street Dive, Aug. 30 at 7 p.m., $48 presale, $51 member, $53 public
+LIVE+, Sept. 3 at 7 p.m., $60 presale, $63 member, $65 public
And, in case you were wondering, despite the ongoing renovation and expansion of the Meijer Gardens amphitheater, there will still be the same 1,900 general admission tickets available. The concert venue work is taking place over two years. Work on Phase One will conclude for the 2018 season and then resume to be completed for the 2019 season.
And now for the “getting the tickets” details/fine print:
Members may buy tickets during the members-only presale beginning at 9 a.m., April 28 through midnight, May 11. There is a limit of 8 tickets per show, per transaction. The preferred method to purchase tickets is online, but multiple options are available. For details see the Meijer Gardens websive’sa concert series page.
Sales to the public begin at 9 a.m., May 12. There is a limit of 8 tickets per show, per transaction. Also, see the website for options and details.
For more information on the concerts, and all the details on what to bring and not bring to the amphitheater, visit meijergardens.org .
