THE BIG LIST: June 2-7
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It’s here: Summer concert season. This is the week that the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park kicks off its annual series and Festival of the Arts commences in downtown Grand Rapids, along with the Local First Street Party. And there’s even more on The Big List…
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TEMPLES
nFEVER THE GHOST, HI-KER
nWhen: 7 p.m. Tuesday
nTickets: $18
nWhere: The Pyramid Scheme, Grand Rapids
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This British rock band, Temples, creates wondrous Beatle-esque psychedelic pop-rock that’s insanely catchy, which is probably why its 2014 album, “Sun Structures,” soared to No. 7 on the U.K. charts. The Kettering band – James Bagshaw, Thomas Walmsley, Samuel Toms and Adam Smith – is nearing the end of a North American tour that takes them later this week to Detroit (Saint Andrew’s Hall), Cincinnati, Cleveland and Toronto (Field Trip Music and Art Festival). I’d say catch this New Millennium version of the Fab Four before they really explode. Get tickets and details online at pyramidschemebar.com. Grand Rapids’ own hi-ker opens the show with L.A.’s Fever the Ghost also on the bill.
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GRAND FUNK RAILROAD
nMATTHEW CURRY
nWhen: 7 p.m. Wednesday
nTickets: $52 ($50 Meijer Gardens members)
nWhere: Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, Grand Rapids Township
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Michigan’s own Grand Funk Railroad (without singer-guitarist Mark Farner) launches the 2015 Meijer Gardens season with their familiar hit train from the 1970s: “Closer to Home,” “Feelin’ Alright,” “We’re An American Band,” “Walk Like a Man,” “Some Kind of Wonderful,” and, of course, “The Loco-Motion.” Original members Don Brewer (drums) and Mel Schacher (bass) are part of the Grand Funk package, along with Max Carl, Tim Cashion and Bruce Kulick. Soul-blues singer-guitarist Matthew Curryopens the show. Gates open at 6 p.m.
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LOCAL SPINS WEDNESDAYS:
nJESSE RAY & THE CAROLINA CATFISH
nWhen: 8 p.m. Wednesday
nAdmission: Free
nWhere: SpeakEZ Lounge, Grand Rapids
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This riveting local music series has been on quite the roll lately, with hot bands such as The Accidentals, The Crane Wives and Nathan Kalish & The Lastcallers playing the mid-week shows last month.That impressive run continues this week with up-and-coming rockabilly duo Jesse Ray & The Carolina Catfish, who won a Jammie Award for their debut album earlier this year and who continue to rattle the rafters with their hyper-energetic live shows.
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They’re certain to do the same in their debut at the cozy SpeakEZ Lounge, with Jesse Ray liable to do his share of table-hopping, alligator-ing and unleashing his typical, fun-loving rock ‘n’ roll mayhem.
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Photo by Anthony Norkus. To read the full article, click here.
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