“There are three possible parts to a date, of which at least two must be offered: entertainment, food, and affection.”
~Judith Martin
Zach Borichevsky (Supplied/Opera Grand Rapids)
Opera, June 14-15
Opera Grand Rapids presents tenor Zach Borichevsky in the role of Alfredo in the June 14 & 15 production of Italian composer, Giuseppe Verdi’s La Traviata, at St. Cecilia Music Center. The heartbreaking true story of Parisian courtesan Marie Duplessis, La Traviata is one of the greatest operas of all time. The classic novella inspired the films, Camille, Pretty Woman and Moulin Rouge. For the complete story visit here.
Matt Brewer
Jazz, June 19
Matt Brewer — a big-time jazz bassist who has played with the likes of Terence Blanchard, to name just one — will be featured in the upcoming Aquinas Jazz Camp faculty concert on June 19, at 7:30 p.m. at Aquinas College’s Kretchmer Recital Hall in the Art & Music Building. Admission to the concert is free.. For the complete story visit here.
Guitar master, June 14
Laurence Juber, who played with Paul McCartney’s Wings, will be at the Muskegon Museum of Art in concert at the museum’s Frey Auditorium starting at 7 p.m., with a pre-concert reception at 5:30 p.m. For the complete story visit here.
Fun fact:
$75
Pop and Rock and Roll Concert tickets are expensive, but not always so. Ticket prices have spiked since the mid-’80s, from a 1985 average of $15.13 to a whopping $74.25 in 2015.
The new entrance gates to the Meijer Gardens outdoor concert venue. (Supplied/Meijer Gardens)
By K.D. Norris ken@wktv.org
If you were letting your summer schedule settle out before you bought tickets for the summer concert at Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park, there is some good news and bad news awaiting you at the box office.
The good news is that there are some great shows in a spectrum of genres with original-price tickets available through the Gardens, including this Sunday’s Rodrigo y Gabriela visit, with the fine alt-folkie Justin Townes Earle opening, as well as July shows by Andrew Bird, The Mavericks + Los Lobos, and Dawes + Margo Price.
Foreigner will strut their stuff on Meijer Gardens’ outdoor stage. (Supplied/Foreigner)
But if you waited to get your tickets for the likes of classic rock stalwarts The Beach Boys, Styx, and Foreigner, you are going to have to pay the price for indecision — tickets for the sold-out Aug. 11 show with Foreigner had an original ticket price of $84 and now the cheapest we see are $155 on StubHub.
In all, and including the Nahko and Medicine for the People show on June 6, 15 of the 30 shows were sold out as of this week — but that means tickets are still available for (in addition to the one’s mentioned) Buddy Guy + Kenny Wayne Shepherd, June 10; Steve Miller Band + Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives, June 24; Gipsy Kings with Simi, July 21; An Evening with Lyle Lovett and his Large Band, July 26; JJ Grey & Mofro + Jonny Lang, Aug. 14; Stray Cats, Aug. 15; Mandolin Orange, Sept.4; Tash Sultana with Leo James Conroy, Sept. 8; The B-52’s + OMD + Berlin, Sept. 11; and the season closing show of Calexico and Iron & Wine, Sept. 18.
The three aforementioned “great shows”, in our humble but semi-knowledgable opinion, are worth the ticket price and worth deeper preview discussion.
Andrew Bird (Supplied/Meijer Gardens)
Anybody who saw Andrew Bird last year probably already have their tickets for his show. Bird has been around but you may only know him from his 2016 solo release “Are You Serious” and the single “Capsized”. His visit last year to Meijer Gardens with Esperanza Spalding was, arguably, the hippest night of the season.
Los Lobos in 2014 (Supplied by the band)
Los Lobos, the hard working, constantly touring band – led by David Hidalgo, Louie Perez, Cesar Rosas, Conrad Lozano and Steve Berlin – rolled into their fifth decade with 2015’s “Gates of Gold”, their first full length studio album since 2010’s “Tin Can Trust” — a great collection constantly on my playlist.
Margo Price. (Supplied/Angelina Castillo for Third Man Records)
And Margo Price is, borrowed from someone else, country as is should be. Price has played with Jack White and Willie Nelson … is there two more diverse musical mentors? At her 2017 concert at St, Cecilia Music Center, my review noted that Price came to the stage wearing a pretty pink little dress perfect for the stage of the Grand Ole Opry but with her exposed shoulders showing off a big ole tattoo, and proceeded with a rough-edged if not intentionally alt-country set of often introspective, intimate original songs and covers of the who’s who of classic and outlaw country.
As the Gardens opens its season it will do so with more audience entry gates in an expanded plaza area, an expanded and modernized concession area, and access to new and expanded restrooms first from the outside for those lined up and then from the inside.
The physical changes conclude a two-year effort of significant expansion and improvement of the venue while maintaining the 1,900-seat general seating area.
The Frederik Meijer Gardens Amphitheater tickets are general admission. Concertgoers are welcome to bring a blanket or low-rise chair to sit on. Low-rise chairs are defined as 12-inch maximum from ground to front of seat bottom and 32-inch maximum to top of chair back in highest position — these rules are strictly enforced. No other chairs will be permitted in the venue. A limited number of standard-height chairs will be available to rent for $10 (located in designated area-may not be removed) on a first-come, first-served basis.
All concerts take place rain or shine, and weather delays possible. Concertgoers are also welcomed to bring their own food, sealed bottled water and non-alcoholic beverages in their original sealed containers.
For more information and tickets for non-sold out shows visit meijergardens.org . For those seeking aftermarket tickets, you are on your own.
Laurence Juber not only knows hot to handle an electric guitar — and he has two Grammys to prove it — he also knows how to handle a camera lens.
Both talents will be on display at the Muskegon Museum of Art this month as, first, “The Photography of Laurence Juber” — photographs from his 2014 book, Guitar with Wings, which showcases the intimate photographs of his days as guitarist with Paul McCartney’s band Wings — is currently on display through September.
Then, on Friday, June 14, Juber will be in concert at the museum’s Frey Auditorium starting at 7 p.m., with a pre-concert reception at 5:30 p.m.
At the time of the book’s release, Vintage Guitar magazine called it “A treasure trove for fans of McCartney, Wings or pop music in general,” accord to the book’s website, while Beatlefan magazine said: “Juber’s book chronicling the last years of Wings is a fitting tribute to an under-examined period of McCartney’s career, and Wings fans in particular will find both his pictures and the eloquent text an enjoyable addition to their library.”
As far as Juber’s musical talents? If Pete Townshend, of The Who, no slouch with the guitar himself, called him “a master”, you got to believe. And then there are those Grammys.
Juber is a music graduate of London’s Goldsmith’s College, he was featured guitar soloist with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra before becoming established as a studio musician in the mid-1970’s, according to supplied material. As lead guitarist in McCartney’s Wings he won his first Grammy. After Wings broke up, Juber has gone on to released 27 solo albums. The latest, “Downtown”, is a 2018 collection of standards. His solo arrangement of “The Pink Panther Theme” earned him a second Grammy.
As a studio musician, he has worked with artists such as Dan Hicks & The Hot Licks, Seal, and the French chanteuse Sylvie Vartin. He also co-composed the soundtrack of the award-winning video game “Diablo III”, scored the NBC Dateline documentary “Children Of The Harvest” and was also featured in the Ken Burns’ documentary “The Tenth Inning.”
That is what you call not resting on your laurels.
And while you are at the MMA, catch “Lights, Camera, Rock ‘n’ Roll: Music Photography by Paul Jendrasiak”, which spans the career of the veteran Michigan concert photographer and includes “stunning front-row photographs of rock stars performing at venues throughout the state over the past two decades,” accord to supplied material. The exhibition also runs through September.
Tickets to the Laurence Juber in concert are $25 in advance (for non members) and $30 at door, and the ticket includes the pre-concert reception with a cash bar. The Muskegon Museum of Art is locate at 296 W. Webster Ave. For more information call 231-720-2580 or visit muskegonartmuseum.org .
Everclear will be the headline band at the Burning Foot Beer Festival in August, (Supplied by the band)
By K.D. Norris ken@wktv.org
Now in its fifth year, the Lakeshore Brewers Guild will host “the Great Lakes region’s only on-the-beach beer festival,” the Burning Foot Beer Festival Saturday, Aug. 24, at Pere Marquette Beach in Muskegon.
“We’re really upping our game this year,” Allen Serio, Burning Foot Beer Festival chairman, said in supplied material, with the festival having “more breweries, bigger bands and better sound.”
And they ain’t kidding when they talk bigger bands — with the likes of Everclear and Sponge lined up — or more breweries.
Something around 80 breweries from around the Great Lakes region will be represented at the festival — including those as close at Dutton’s Railtown Brewing Company and as far away as Sprecher Brewery form Wisconsin.
The festival will feature a “Hop Up” Art Tent with brewery inspired art by local and regional artists. Attendees can also look forward to “the flaming ‘Hop Tower’ installation and interactive element charging stations”. Not sure what either means, but they sound cool.
And as far as the music? The festival will offer two stages, one main stage and one waterfront stage for acoustic acts, with sets by country performer Matt Williams and regional bands like Tropadelic and the Melophobics. But the headliners will be 1990s alternative bands Sponge and Everclear — think back for Everclear hits “Santa Monica” and “Father of Mine.”
Festival goers don’t need to worry about getting home after the festival, either — with the purchase of camping tickets, they can camp on sites right next to the festival grounds.
“You get down there, you spend the whole day at the beach, you enjoy this great festival, and then you can sleep right next door and wake up and hear the waves 20 feet away, crashing on the shore,” Serio said.
Tickets for the festival will first be available at a ticket release party hosted at the downtown Muskegon beach volleyball courts located behind the Western Market chalets on Saturday, June 8, from 12-4 p.m. The party will feature draft beer and music, and all tickets will be on sale without a processing fee before they are released online. General Admission tickets will also be available at a discounted rate of $45. Online ticket sales will open at 5 p.m. on June 8.
For more information about the Lakeshore Brewers Guild visit lakeshoreguild.beer . For more informant on the Burning Foot Beer Festival visit burningfoot.beer .
Long Road Distillers named state’s best gin maker
Long Road Distillers was recently named Michigan Gin Distillery of the Year at the 10th Annual New York International Spirits Competition. More than 600 spirits from 29 countries were submitted and judged by a panel of “trade-only” judges at the annual event. The judges come from a variety of disciplines, but all work with spirits on a daily basis. They are made up of restauranteurs, sommeliers, retail buyers, distributors and importers.
The possibilities are not endless for craft distilled liquor at local distillers, but close. (Courtesy Long Road Distillers)
“We’re honored to claim this title,” Jon O’Connor, co-owner and co-founder of Long Road Distillers, said in supplied material. “We take a great deal of pride in crafting our portfolio of gins – it’s one of our favorite spirits to produce and share with others.”
Opened in 2015, Long Road has a long line-up of botanical spirits, including Long Road Dry Gin, Long Road MICHIGIN and Long Road Aquavit, as well as other year-round and limited-release gins, including Long Road Barrel Reserve Gin, Long Road Patriot Gin, and the very limited Long Road Barrel Reserve MICHIGIN.
Long Road’s distillery and tasting room is located on Grand Rapids’ West Side at 537 Leonard Street SW, and also available in many restaurants and cocktail bars.
Bike Nights (and beer rewards) return to Cedar Springs Brewing
Again this year, Cedar Springs Brewing is working with the Speed Merchants biking group to host two bicycling groups — one for leisure and another for serious training — on Mondays starting at 6:30 p.m., thorough September.
The training group ride is a 28-36 mile gravel ride for fat tire, mountain, gravel, or cx bikes. Led by Speed Merchants, the initial rides will be 1.5-2 hour rides, increasing to 2-2.5 hours as more daylight allows. The pace will be a minimum of 16 mph.
For those who like a more leisurely pace, a family friendly group will embark on a shorter paved ride on the White Pine Trail.
Helmets are required. Spare tube, bike pumps, and Strava app recommended.
At the end of each ride, riders will meet up at the brewery — after all good rides end with a beer with friends. Bike night participants receive $2 off appetizers, or refuel with Chef’s “Radfahrer Special” a power packed meal for cyclists.
For more information visit csbrew.com or email events@csbrew.com .
Fowling is a hybrid game that combines the equipment of American football and bowling into one sport with a similar layout as horseshoes and cornhole. (Wikipedia Commons)
By WKTV Staff ken@wktv.org
Reacting to increased public demand as well as the latest community recreation trends, the City of Kentwood will unveil four competition-grade beach volleyball courts and outdoor fowling lanes at a community event later this month.
Located at 5068 Breton Ave. SE, near the Kentwood Department of Public Works, the new facility will officially open with a grand opening on Friday, June 21, at 6 p.m., with with music, a food truck and a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
“We have experienced a growing need for additional beach volleyball courts within the community and are excited to grow our recreational offerings,” Val Romeo, director of Kentwood Parks and Recreation, said in supplied material. “We are proud to offer new high-quality sand courts right here in Kentwood. We are also excited to include fowling — an activity that’s growing in popularity.”
Fowling is a hybrid game that combines the equipment of American football and bowling into one sport with a similar layout as horseshoes and cornhole. It is maybe best known as a pastime at football and concert tailgate parties. According to Wikipedia, fowling was founded in 2001 in Detroit. The object of fowling is for teams to be the first to knock down all opponent’s pins by throwing a full-size, regulation football at 10 bowling pins positioned in a traditional bowling layout.
Following the new facility’s ribbon-cutting, volleyball teams of four will compete in a co-ed volleyball tournament. Those interested in signing up for the tournament, or a variety of competitive and recreational beach volleyball leagues set to begin July 15, can sign up at kentwoodvolleyball or by calling 616-656-5270.
For the opening day tournament at the volleyball courts, participating teams can pre-register online for $25. Day-of-event registration will cost $35. All teams are also encouraged to bring a donation of canned goods to benefit Kentwood’s Little Free Pantry.
The city’s parks department plans to have the fowling lanes available for open play during volleyball league games on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights.
For more information on the City of Kentwood Parks and Recreation Department and its many programs, visit kentwood.us .
The 15th Annual Metro Cruise, hosted by the Wyoming Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce, is still a summer-full of fun away — the event is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, Aug. 23-24 — but the wheels are already rolling toward the big event.
The chamber hosted the 6th Annual 28th Street Metro Cruise Dust Off in early May at the Moose Lodge on Burlingame Avenue SW, when the Miss Metro Cruise contest (formerly the Pin Up Girl contest) was also officially introduced. The next steps in the contest will be the preliminaries set to take place, Sunday, July 13, also at the Moose Lodge, with the finals set for Aug. 24 on the Metro Cruise Main Stage.
“The sixth annual Dust Off is our first event of the Metro Cruise car season,” Bob O’Callaghan, president/CEO of the Chamber, said to WKTV at the May event. “We have over 100 cars here. This kinds of kicks off the guys going to all the (local car) events.”
It was also the kick off of the re-engineered Miss Metro Cruise contest.
“The way the girls dress, it is more in eras, not like the old (pin-up) calendar thing you’d see in the past,” O’Callaghan said. “It is really a classy operation, so we thought we’d change the name to reflect the Metro Cruise.”
And while WKTV Journal was at the Dust Off, WKTV Community Media is deep in plans for its production of a 1-hour special live broadcast scheduled to air at 7 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 23, on WKTV Comcast Channel 25, AT&T U-verse Channel 99, as well as being live-streamed and, later, on-demand on WKTV.org .
“Each Metro Cruise is one of our highlights in covering the hyperlocal stories of Wyoming and Kentwood,” said Tom Norton, general manager of WKTV Community Media. “The Chamber of Commerce does an outstanding job of putting on a true community event that has become a staple of summertime. We’re looking forward to our one-hour, live broadcast on Friday night from Metro Cruise.
“Tune in for all the close-ups before you come out and discover Metro Cruise 2019, ” Norton added. “We encourage residents to come to 28th Street and be part of the fun, but they can also be part of fun by viewing our live show, which will also be available in cable replays and on-demand, as well as following our complete online coverage of the event.”
The Metro Cruise is an annual event that “invites car lovers and enthusiasts to reminisce and commemorate the vehicles that have driven down 28th Street for decades,” according to supplied material. The event brings in more than $3 million in business to the 28th Street corridor over the course of two days, with more that 250,000 attendees at an event staffed solely by volunteers.
Some of the Miss Metro Cruise contestants at the Dust Off. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
The Miss Metro Cruise contest is an contest that features women dressing in eras from the 1920s, 1960s, to modern-day in full hair, makeup, and costume. Currently there is about 30 participants, with a July 13 preliminary contest to select the top 10 finalists. Each finalist will receive personalized trading cards and a chance to be named Miss Metro Cruise 2019 with the top three finalists set to receive a cash prize.
From a recent Jazz In the Sanctuary concert at Grand Rapids Fountain Street Church, Xavier Davis, Matt Brewer and Robin Connell. (Supplied/Robin Connell)
By K.D. Norris ken@wktv.org
Local jazz mainstays Robin Connell and Paul Brewer have plenty to be proud of with the jazz music baselines being put down by two members of their family tree, and local audiences will get a chance to hear evidence of their pride over the next few weeks.
First, Connell and Brewer’s young son Benny Brewer will be on the bass Thursday, May 30, from 8-11 p.m., as the Robin Connell Trio hits the stage at downtown Grand Rapids’ One Trick Pony, with Connell on keyboards and Tim Froncek on drums. (For more information on One Trick Pony, visit here.)
Also, expected to sit in at the gig will be Paul Brewer on trombone, Peter Sage on trumpet, Evan Davis on trumpet and “maybe some other friends.”
Then Paul’s son and Connell’s step-son, Matt Brewer — a big-time jazz bassist who has played with the likes of Terence Blanchard, to name just one — will be featured in the upcoming Aquinas Jazz Camp faculty concert on June 19, at 7:30 p.m. at Aquinas College’s Kretchmer Recital Hall in the Art & Music Building. Admission to the concert is free.
“Matt is a world renown jazz bassist performing and recording with artists such as Antonio Sanchez, Ben Wendel, and Gonzalo Rubalcaba, among many others,” Connell said to WKTV. “Matt has been doing his dad a favor by teaching (at the jazz camp) every year for the past several years … (but) Paul (Brewer) is retiring so the Aquinas Jazz Camp will be changing … so this will be the last time Matt teaches at the camp. Therefore its very likely this is the last time he will perform in Grand Rapids.”
Matt Brewer, according to a supplied biography, was born into a musical family and was surrounded by music from an early age — both his father and grandfather were jazz musicians, and his mother an avid music lover and radio DJ (who, even before Matt was born, would play classic jazz albums for him).
After graduating from the Interlochen Arts Academy, Matt attended the inaugural class of The Juilliard Jazz Program and studied with bassists Rodney Whitaker and Ben Wolfe. After spending two years at Juilliard, he decided to leave school to make embark on a busy touring schedule. Since then he has worked with artists such as Greg Osby, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Lee Konitz, David Sanchez, Terence Blanchard, Antonio Sanchez, Vijay Iyer, Adam Rogers, Steve Coleman, Dave Binney, Aaron Parks, Jeff “Tain” Watts, and many others.
He recently recorded his second album as a leader on the Criss Cross Jazz label. He is an adjunct faculty member at The New School, and has been a frequent guest artist/teacher at the Banff Center.
At the planned Aquinas concert, the other faculty performing include Paul Brewer, Connell, Benje Daneman on trumpet, Froncek, Mike Hyde on guitar and Tom Lockwood on saxophone.
From The Beatles’ classics to “cage-free funk” — Got to love that description! — there will be something for just about everyone as the City of Kentwood’s Summer Concert Series returns with free concerts at 7 p.m. on select Thursday nights from June to August.
This year’s series features West Michigan favorites such as The Crane Wives, Brena and Melophobix. And while you can bring your own picnic dinner, food trucks will be at each concert.
“Our summer concert series is a great way to celebrate summer in Kentwood with family and friends,” Val Romeo, Kentwood Parks and Recreation director, said in supplied material. “This year’s lineup again includes a great mix of genres. We welcome all to enjoy the variety of live outdoor music and local eats we’ll have on the lawn behind City Hall.”
Concert-goers are encouraged to bring a blanket or chair, and may also bring their own beer or wine.
The lineup for Kentwood’s Summer Concert Series is as follows:
June 20 — That Beatles Thing offering hits from The Beatles classic catalogue. No more need be said. For more information visit here.
June 27 — Blue Soul Express, delivering classic soul, R&B, funk and blues. If this is not perfect for a summer boogie party, nothing is. For more information visit here.
July 18 — Hannah Rose and the GravesTones, serving up some funk, blues and rock n’ roll. If you’ve never seen them, let’s just say Hannah can wail. For more information visit here.
July 25 — The Crane Wives, described by someone as “female-fronted, harmony-driven folk-rock”; lets just say West Michigan is lucky they are taking a local break from their busy summer tour schedule. For more information visit here.
Aug. 8 — Melophobix, with “Cage Free” being not only the title of their latest release but also their funky musical outlook. For more information visit here.
All concerts will begin at 7 p.m. and conclude around 8:30 p.m. on the lawn behind Kentwood City Hall, located at 4900 Breton Ave. SE.
LowellArts announces the opening of a summertime exhibition titled Livin’ Is Easy. The exhibition consists of a collection of colorful paintings and drawings by six Michigan artists that will be on display at the LowellArts Gallery, 223 W Main St, Lowell, MI 49331 from June 1 to Aug. 17. Gallery hours are Tues-Fri 10am-6pm and Sat 10am-5pm.
The subject of the pieces range from depictions of beautifully weathered objects, local Michigan waterways, animal and aquatic life forms to whimsical figurative work. Artists include:
Justin Bernhardt, from Vicksburg
Lisa Mull, from Hudsonville
Kerry Rolewicz, from Rockford
Mariel Versluis, from Grand Rapids
Olivia Timmons, from Grand Rapids
Craig Cossey, from Eaton Rapids
A meet-the-artists reception will be held on Sunday, June 2 from 2-4pm. The event is free, and open to the public.
“One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain”
~Bob Marley
Tons of talent in one colorful exhibition
Dreaming, thinking ready for my happy day*
‘Livin’ Is Easy’ summertime exhibition opens June 1st at LowellArts. Feast your senses on depictions of beautifully weathered objects; local Michigan waterways; animal and aquatic life forms; and whimsical figurative work. More details here. *Lyrics from Uriah Heep’s Easy Livin’.
Ready for some summertime fun?
Don’t settle for the summertime blues
Soon the bell will ring on the end of the year and children will be home for the summer. Follow these handy-dandy tips to avoid the summertime blues. More here.
Look! It’s the International Space Station!
We are all made of stars
A gentle reminder that on Wednesday, May 29 (Hey! That’s tomorrow!), WKTV Government 26 will be featuring live coverage of the International Space Station Russian Spacewalk. Read all about it right here. Don’t miss it!
Fun fact:
3%
That’s how much more milk cows produce when they listen to relaxing music. Just ask the researchers at the University of Leicester. And then there is 2% milk, which is generally available at your local grocer’s. Has nothing to do with music, though.
(Do these look like Guernsey cows to you?)
The Ingenues, an all-girl band and vaudeville act, serenade the cows in the University of Wisconsin, Madison’s dairy barn in 1930. The show was apparently part of an experiment to see whether the soothing strains of music boosted the cows’ milk production. Go here to read the NPR story about it. Angus B. McVicar/Wisconsin Historical Society
The family friendly Tuesday Evening Music Club is always an excuse to dance a little. (Supplied/Meijer Gardens)
By WKTV Staff ken@wktv.org
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park recently announced its 10-show lineup for the Tuesday Evening Music Club, which brings local and regional musicians to the Amphitheater stage starting at 7 p.m. on Tuesday evenings throughout July and August, with a special “dress rehearsal” concert set for June 4 with the amphitheater plaza gates open at 5 p.m. and the show beginning at 7 p.m.
May Erlewine and The Motivations, June 4 at 7 p.m. (Supplied)
Concert goers who are not members of the Gardens will need a regular admission ticket but they can purchase that at the new box office at the amphitheater. But for that one night only, the venue will feature 50 percent off all food at the new concessions building as the Gardens unveils the amphitheater expansion and upgrades.
The Tuesday-night concerts — free to Meijer Gardens members and included with gardens admission for other guests — feature with a diverse schedule of live bands and programming ranging from jazz to indie, rock to folk, and even ballet. And there will be more to like off the stage as well.
The amphitheater has undergone significant expansion and improvement over the past two seasons, while maintaining the intimacy of the 1,900-seat venue.
A new concessions building has been added this season, with increased capacity for quicker food and beverage service, an improved point-of-sale system with quick chip technology to speed up purchases. and new restrooms outside of the entry gates for guests waiting in line. An expanded plaza area with additional entry gates will help shorten lines and wait times.
Meijer Gardens also announced two new series sponsors for the Tuesday Evening Music Club: Meyer Music and Michigan Radio 104.1 FM join WYCE and Corporate Live as partners for the series. Meyer Music will be bringing various instruments each week for guests to enjoy in a hands-on, “instrument petting zoo” at each concert.
The 2019 Tuesday Evening Music Club lineup includes:
May Erlewine and The Motivations, June 4 at 7 p.m.
Roosevelt Diggs and Jesse Ray and the Carolina Catfish, July 2 at 7 p.m.
Big Sherb and Paddlebots, July 9 at 7 p.m.
Matt Gabriel and Kari Lynch Band, July 16 at 7 p.m.
Boy From School and Manhattan, July 23 at 7 p.m.
Franklin Park and 6-Pak, July 30 at 7 p.m.
The Hip Pocket and Soul Syndicate, Aug. 6 at 7 p.m.
The River Rogues Jazz Band and Sam’s Swing Band, Aug. 13 at 7 p.m.
Grand Rapids Ballet, Aug. 20 at 7 p.m. This program will employ a full company of dancers performing works by some of today’s most in-demand choreographers. A mix of classical and contemporary ballets, including Trey McIntyre’s Wild Sweet Love, featuring the music of Queen, Lou Reed, Felix Mendelssohn and many more.
Local favorite Ralston Bowles likes to share the stage. (Supplied)
Ralston & Friends, Aug. 27 at 7 p.m. Local favorite Ralston Bowles shares the stage with friends and collaborators from the community and beyond.
For more information on concerts at Meijer Gardens, visit meijergardens.org.
Opera Grand Rapids presents tenor Zach Borichevsky in the role of Alfredo in the June 14 & 15 production of Italian composer, Giuseppe Verdi’s La Traviata, at St. Cecilia Music Center. The heartbreaking true story of Parisian courtesan Marie Duplessis, La Traviata is one of the greatest operas of all time. The classic novella inspired the films, Camille, Pretty Woman and Moulin Rouge. Buy tickets here.
Below, Mr. Borichevsky shares some more details about himself and his life on and off the stage.
Where are you originally from?
Suburban Philadelphia, PA
Who has inspired you/been your greatest influence professionally? Why?
Pavarotti is a cliché answer, but he’s the finest vocal technician I’ve ever heard, while also being deeply, yet simply expressive.
Who/what brought you into the world of Opera?
Actually, Andrea Bocelli was my gateway singer—I sang his hit “Con te partirò” in a church basement at age 12 or so.
Where do you live now?
Near Tarrytown, NY, just north of NYC
What are your hobbies when not performing?
I’ve always been a bit of a political junkie (double majored in music and political science), but when I’m not reading or listening to every last piece of wonky policy journalism, I’m keeping up with the Philadelphia Phillies, who are looking formidable in 2019.
What is your favorite Role/Opera/Piece?
Has to be Rodolfo in La bohème.
What are your favorite things about being a professional musician?
Endless variety, yet comforting rituals remain between gigs. Working with new and old brilliant pianist friends, working with an orchestra for the first time, meeting new singer colleagues and seeing old friends after a long absence.
Least favorite?
Long absences from home (will be home a total of 100 days this year)
Where is your favorite place to travel/perform? Why?
Santa Fe is a beautiful place to spend a summer—both my summers there have been restorative (and I got engaged there!).
What performances/plans do you have in the next year?
I’ll be singing with Washington National Opera in the fall and very excited to sing in Rigoletto with my wife in both Nashville and Colorado in the spring/summer.
Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center Artists Series co-artistic directors and chamber music power couple Wu Han and David Finckel (on cello) will be on the same stage this season. (Courtesy St. Cecilia/Tara Helen O’Connor)
By K.D. Norris ken@wktv.org
West Michigan jazz and Americana/folk fans — and I count myself in that crowd — eagerly await the early summer announcement of St. Cecilia Music Center’s next concert music series, which came down Tuesday with its 2019-20 season line-up.
Judy Collins (Supplied)
And with a Spectacular Jazz Series that includes the The Clayton Brothers Quintet and an Acoustic Café Folk Series featuring the return of the incomparable Judy Collins, both live up to the center’s reputation.
But, truth be told, the concert of the season will be one of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center Artists Series, as CMS co-artistic directors and chamber music power couple Wu Han (on piano) and David Finckel (on cello) come to town together on a program titled “From Prague to Vienna” but maybe more appropriately called “From New York City, with Love.”
Performing with violinist Arnaud Sussman and violist Paul Neubauer, Wu Hann and Finckel will perform in a concert which “celebrates friendship and family with three composers who mentored and inspired each other: Brahms, Dvořák and Suk,” according to supplied material. “Brahms discovered Dvořák through a composition competition and helped him rise to international stardom, and became his lifelong friend and mentor. In turn, Suk was one of Dvořák’s favorite students and eventually became his son-in-law.”
Of course, seeing and hearing Wu Hann and Finckel perform together is worth the price of admission whatever the program.
While fans can pick their favorites, St. Cecilia executive director Cathy Holbrook shows no such favoritism.
Cathy Holbrook St. Cecilia (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
“We are so excited about all of our concerts and the amazing artists coming to Grand Rapids to perform at SCMC this coming season,” Holbrook said in supplied material. “We’re happy to have three great series that appeal to everyone’s interests in music. The exquisite sound and intimate setting of the Royce Auditorium makes these chosen concerts at SCMC one-of-a-kind.”
Tickets are now on sale for all announced concerts including opening folk series concerts by Lee Ann Womack on Oct. 3 and Judy Collins on Oct. 20; the jazz series opener of Fred Hersch featuring special guest Julian Lage on Oct. 17; and “Great Innovators” – works by Stravinsky, Beethoven, Mendelssohn and Smetana, on Nov. 21, to launch the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center Series.
The chamber music series will continue with “French Enchantment” on Jan. 23, 2020, featuring the elegant works of Ravel, Fauré and Saint-Saëns; followed by the aforementioned “From Prague to Vienna” on April 30, 2020.
The Clayton Brothers. (Supplied by the artists)
The jazz series, after the Hersch/Lage pairing, will include Emmet Cohen’s Master Legacy Series featuring Ron Carter on Jan. 16, 2020; vocalist Luciana Souza on March 5, 2020; and The Clayton Brothers Quintet on April 16, 2020.
The folk series, after Ms. Womack’s and Ms. Collins’ visits, will continue with multi-Grammy Award winner Chris Thile on Feb. 25, 2020, immediately followed by “eclectic adventurist” singer/ guitarist Raul Midón on Feb. 27. (And, as in past seasons, additional Acoustic Café Series concerts will be announced at a later date.)
Season subscription tickets to the 2019-2020 Spectacular Jazz Series and Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center Concert Series are now available by calling 616-459-2224, visiting St. Cecilia Music Center at 24 Ransom NE, Grand Rapids, or online for new subscribers at scmc-online.org. Single tickets to chamber, jazz, and folk concerts are also on sale now and can be purchased by phone or online at the same.
For each concert, a post-concert party is open to all ticket-holders giving the audience the opportunity to possibly meet the artists and obtain signed CDs of their releases. There will also be pre-concert receptions for the CMS of Lincoln Center concerts and the Jazz Series concerts featuring wine and hors d’oeuvres for $15 per person.
Summer at the Muskegon Museum of Art starts in May and celebrates Pop Culture and Rock ‘n’ Roll, along with displays from the permanent collection and paintings by first-ever Bennett Prize finalists. An array of special programs accompany the gallery shows.
Pop
Replay: The Exhibition celebrates American Pop and Geek culture through a variety of media, including large-scale LEGO® brick sculptures. The galleries housing the colorful show have been newly refinished with walls resembling giant LEGO bricks to make a backdrop for artwork that explores how iconic cartoons, video games, movies, and comic heroes and villains influence our culture. Kids of all ages can enjoy racing LEGO brick cars on a downhill racecourse, draw self-portraits on a mirror, practice figure drawing with wooden models, and build their own plastic brick creations. A $5 admission upgrade will be applied for entrance to the Replay exhibition galleries. Replay opened on May 9 and will run through Aug. 18, 2019.
Rock ‘n’ Roll
Photo credit: Paul Jendrasiak
Lights, Camera, Rock ‘n’ Roll: Music Photography by Paul Jendrasiak spans the career of the veteran Michigan concert photographer. Stunning front-row photographs of rock stars performing at venues throughout the state over the past two decades will bring back memories for many viewers. The exhibition runs May 23 through Sept. 1, 2019.
Programs
Paul Jendrasiak will be at the MMA to talk about his work and experiences at the opening of the show on May 23.
A Rock Star Super Saturday family program on Aug. 10 will give budding artists a chance to create their own limelight-worthy artwork.
Guitar with Wings: The Photography of Laurence Juber features photographs by Juber from his 2014 book Guitar with Wings, which showcases the intimate photographs he took of the McCartneys during his days with Wings. The exhibition runs May 16 through September 1, 2019.
Photo credit: Laurence Juber
Laurence Juber in Concert: “A Master” – Pete Townshend (The Who) Laurence Juber will perform in concert at the MMA on June 14. $25 Advance Tickets are available at the MMA by phone at 231.720.2580 or online HERE. Tickets will be $30 at the door.
Juber was lead guitarist in Paul McCarney’s band Wings and has since established himself as a world-renowned musician, winning two Grammys. He fuses folk, jazz, and pop to create a multifaceted performance.
Ticket includes a 5:30 pm pre-concert reception.
The Bennett Prize
Margaret Bowland, Detail of White Fives, 2012. Oil on linen, 84 x 70 in.
Rising Voices: The Bennett Prize for Women Figurative Realist Painters opened May 2 with an announcement of the first-ever $50,000 prize winner, Aneka Ingold of Tampa, FL. Twenty-nine paintings by the winner and the other nine finalists from across the country comprise the show. The works exemplify universal issues as well as stories specific to the artists. The finalists were chosen from a field of over 600 entries. The Bennett Prize exhibition project and accompanying show catalogue were organized by the MMA, The Pittsburgh Foundation, and Steven Bennett and Dr. Elaine Melotti Schmidt—avid collectors of and advocates for women artists painting in the figurative realist style. Special films, a figure drawing workshop, and an original theatrical performance will accompany the exhibition. Rising Voices runs through Sept. 8, 2019.
The Muskegon Museum of Art is located at 296 W. Webster Ave. in downtown Muskegon. The Museum is open Tuesdays through Sundays and closed Mondays. Parking is free and bus parking is available. Go to www.muskegonartmuseum.org for up-to-date visitor information, including gallery and store hours.
The Barn Theatre, Michigan’s oldest professional summer theatre, under the artistic leadership of Brendan Ragotzy, is thrilled to announce the 73rd season of plays and musicals to be presented at the landmark theatre.
The Barn Theatre School for Advanced Theatre Training, which continues to operate as a nonprofit entity, is excited to continue to provide southwest Michigan with professional, high- quality theatre while also expanding educational youth outreach and training programs. The very popular program, Backstage Xperience*, will be offered once again this season, as well as select ASL performances!
Barn Producer Brendan Ragotzy and wife Penelope Alex are excited to continue to offer nightly dinners this season and hope you’ll once again take advantage of the improved seating, ticket options, and online ticketing system.
The Box Office opens May 20, for online ticket sales, in-person sales and purchase via phone.
New this season:
Season ticket booklets will be available online as virtual tickets.
Renovations throughout the season, including new bathrooms near the Rehearsal Shed, Barn structure updates, the addition of a kitchen in the Rehearsal Shed and this fall, a full remodel of the Rehearsal Shed itself.
SPECIAL EVENT! Our Annual Gala: A Celebration in Song, June 1, 2019 Join us as we kick off the 73rd season with an unforgettable evening of music and memories! Barnies will take you behind the scenes in song and stories and give you a preview of the upcoming season. This special event is $50 per person. Reception and silent auction to follow the performance.
Disaster! — June 4-9 — ONE WEEK ONLY! Back by Popular Demand! Earthquakes, tidal waves, infernos and the unforgettable songs of the ’70s take center stage in this side-splitting homage to classic disaster films. Rated PG-13.
Love, Lies and the Doctor’s Dilemma — June 11-16 — ONE WEEK ONLY! One little white lie leads to another in this hilarious farce that comes complete with a former movie star, a mobster hit man, a walking-accident neighbor, and a gardener inexplicably masquerading as a psychiatrist Will everyone survive the mayhem?
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee — June 18-30 In this wildly funny, fast-paced musical, an eclectic group of mid-pubescents vie for the spelling championship of a lifetime while candidly disclosing hilarious and touching stories from their home lives. A riotous ride, complete with audience participation, this bee is a delightful den of comedic genius. Rated PG-13.
Sweeney Todd — Starring Robert Newman and Penelope Alex — July 2-14 The dark, witty and Tony Award-winning musical tale of love, murder and revenge set against the backdrop of 19th century London. Rated R.
Big the Musical — July 16-28 The classic 1987 motion picture fantasy bursts onto the stage in this unforgettable theatrical experience where a frustrated adolescent magically becomes an adult, discovering that life is not simply child’s play. Rated PG.
Steel Magnolias with Kim Zimmer, Lori Moore, Jennifer Furney — July 30-Aug. 11 Alternately hilarious and touching, this brilliant play exemplifies the female bond and illustrates the beauty of friendship when wading through life’s hardest times.
Mamma Mia — Aug. 13-25 Over sixty million people from around the globe have fallen in love with Mamma Mia! The story-telling magic of ABBA’s timeless hit songs propels this funny, enchanting tale of love, laughter and friendship, creating the ultimate feel-good show! Rated PG-13.
Evil Dead: The Musical — Aug. 27-Sept. 1 — ONE WEEK ONLY! Evil Dead The Musical takes all the elements of the cult classic films and combines them for one of the craziest, funniest theatrical experiences of all time. Blood flies. Limbs are dismembered. Demons tell bad jokes… and all to music. It’s a bloody comedy start to finish! Rated R.
The Barn is located on Highway M-96 between Augusta and Galesburg. Performance schedule: Tuesday through Saturday at 8pm and Sundays at 5pm.
Multi-platinum rock band Shinedown has announced new fall tour dates on their 2019 Attention Attention World Tour, produced by Frank Productions, with a stop in Grand Rapids at SMG-managed Van Andel Arena on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2019, at 6:15pm. Shinedown has been selling out arenas and receiving rave reviews during their tour, backed by their biggest, most eye-popping production yet.
Tickets go on sale to the general public beginning Friday, May 17 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. For all current pricing and availability, visit Ticketmaster.com.
Shinedown’s chart-topping album Attention Attention, out now via Atlantic Records, simultaneously hit #1 on Billboard’s Alternative, Top Rock and Hard Rock Albums Charts, debuted Top 5 on the Billboard 200 and spawned current Top 10 Active Rock hit Monsters, #1 Active Rock hit Devil, and the rousing track The Human Radio, in addition to Get Up.
The Jazz Band, directed by Paul Brewer, in rehearsal for its coming concert. (Supplied/St. Cecilia Music Center)
By K.D. Norris ken@wktv.org
Improvisational jazz music is not for everyone, especially young musicians learning their craft. But it is challenging and rewarding for the youth who make up the St. Cecilia Music Center’s Youth Jazz Ensembles — including several local players from East Kentwood High School.
The public can get a reward of their own this weekend as those young players will be on stage at St. Cecilia during the center’s Youth Jazz Ensembles Concert, a free, public event scheduled for Sunday, May 19, at 7 p.m.
Both the small Jazz Combo group and the Jazz Band big band will be on stage, and both will showcase the developing talent of their young players.
Mitchell Arganbright is a student at East Kentwood High School and a member of the Jazz Band. (Supplied/St. Cecilia Music Center)
“The combo format has a lot of potential for learning because every aspect of musicianship is involved: sight-reading, learning by ear, music theory (chord structures, keys, form), improvisation, arranging,” Robin Connell, St. Cecilia Jazz Combo director and local musician, said in an email to WKTV. “The big band music is all written and presents challenging reading for most students. They also work on blend, balance, intonation, and style.”
While the combo format focuses more on the traditional improvisational aspects of jazz, Connell said the big band is more structured but has “improvised parts (that) are only for a selected few instruments within an arrangement that is otherwise all written out.”
The current Jazz Combo has five members, Connell said: piano, bass, drums, saxophone and two trombones.
“The combo learns jazz standards and, in the process, learns a lot about music and jazz,” Connell said. “They learn the tunes from a ‘lead sheet’ (melody and chord symbols without any intro/ending or arrangement). Then we put an arrangement together. We start the year with me giving all the direction but, by the end, I’ve encouraged them to take over the leadership and direction as they are able.”
The combo members range in age from 12 to 16 (four are in middle school), and they will play four tunes: “Listen Here” by Eddie Harris, “Moanin’ ” by Bobby Timmons, “Artherdoc Blues” by Jimmy Heath, and “So What” by Miles Davis.
The Jazz Band, directed by Paul Brewer, has the standard instrumentation, Connell said: five saxophones, four trombones, four trumpets, with piano, bass and drums — “But I will be playing piano with the band because he doesn’t have a student pianist.”
The Jazz Band are all high school kids, with half a dozen from East Kentwood high. Their program will be published pieces arranged for this instrumentation, but specifics are not known at this time.
“The Sixties are now considered a historical period, just like the Roman Empire.“
~Dave Barry
The Vibe keynote speaker Josh George, a six-time Paralympic world champion and world record holder. (Courtesy/Josh George’s website)
I’m pickin’ up good vibrations
Get your tickets TODAY if you plan to attend The Vibe, a gala benefiting Kentwood Parks and Recreation’s adaptive recreation programs, on Friday, May 17. The Vibe will highlight the City’s adaptive water sports programs, which include kayaking, canoeing, paddle boarding, wake boarding and water skiing for all ages and abilities. Tickets for the semi-formal event are $100 per person and can be purchased online at kentwoodvibe.com or by calling 616-656-5270. More on the story here.
Tickets must be purchased in advance by Friday, May 10.
These boots are made for walkin’ (well…)
It’s not only elite athletes and experienced runners who are preparing for this weekend’s 42nd River Bank Run. For the ninth year, former and current residents of Dégagé Ministries Open Door Women’s Center will participate in the Amway River Bank 5k Walk. Dégagé’s walking group, the ‘Heartside All Stars for Health’, is a group of approximately 12 women who have overcome or are working to overcome things like poverty, addiction and homelessness. With the support of Dégagé’s staff and volunteers, the organization’s walking group totals nearly 30 people. For more information, go here.
Courtesy Air Zoo
Can’t get no satisfaction? Check out these six destinations
Bored? Don’t be. The Air Zoo, Binder Park Zoo, Gilmore Car Museum, Kalamazoo Nature Center, Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, and the Kellogg Biological Station (KBS) Bird Sanctuary and Manor House are partnering for the sixth year of the Southwest Michigan Cultural Membership Exchange. Guests presenting a valid membership card and photo ID from any of these organizations can enjoy free admission at any of the six destinations May 1–31. More here.
Fun fact:
$4,743
That’s what the average salary was in the U.S. in the 1960s. But then, a loaf of bread was 45 cents, the average new car cost $2,752, and gas was about 31 cents a gallon. Ah, yes. The good, old days.
Fountain Street Church is launching a new series, the ‘Summer Screen Club’. One night each month this summer, the church will host a panel discussion featuring regional non-profit organizations, and film and television experts to dissect, analyze, and discuss some of today’s most thought-provoking TV shows.
Participants watch the shows at their own pace, on their own schedules. It’s like a book club that you can binge watch. The first event of the series will be held on Thursday, June 20, 2019, from 6-8pm at Fountain Street Church, and will feature panelists Lydia VanHoven-Cook, of Better Body Image Conference, and Sarah Vesely, Executive Director of Wealthy Theater. All Summer Screen Club events are free and open to the public. Registration is encouraged (not required) and can be done here.
The June 20, 2019, event will be discussing the Hulu series Shrill, based on the book Shrill: Notes from a Loud Woman by Lindy West. The series stars and is co-written by Aidy Bryant (Saturday Night Live), with Executive Producers Lorne Michaels (Saturday Night Live), Elizabeth Banks (Pitch Perfect), and Aidy Bryant. From the Shrill press site: “Annie [is] a fat young woman who wants to change her life — but not her body. Annie is trying to start her career while juggling bad boyfriends, a sick parent, and a perfectionist boss.”
Older Michigangians Day, on May 15th, is an opportunity for Michigan seniors to speak with a united voice about the issues that directly affect them. It is also an opportunity to meet new people and enjoy a beautiful day in our State’s capitol. Call Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan to register at (616) 222-7042. Go here for more info.
So good, you can’t read just one
“You just really can’t replace putting a book in a kid’s hands,” said district Superintendent Kevin Polston at a recent celebration of literacy” at the Early Childhood Center in Wyoming. “There is something special about touching, feeling, seeing the pictures, and engaging with the book. We know there is value to that.” Read all about it here.
Life’s too short, so go on … have some fun
Experience Grand Rapids (EXGR) invites locals to explore the Grand Rapids area during National Travel and Tourism Week through May 11th using EXGR resources such as Culture Pass GR and Vamonde. Check it out here.
Fun fact:
Details, details
There is actually a difference between coffins and caskets — coffins are typically tapered and six-sided, while caskets are rectangular.
WKTV offers on-demand viewing of the Wyoming and Kentwood high school sports, community events, and government meetings. (WKTV)
By WKTV Staff ken@wktv.org
WKTV’s spring baseball and softball schedule is in high gear; now Mother Nature just has to cooperate. Our coverage crew will be on the road twice this week starting with Wednesday, May 8, as Godwin Heights plays at Wyoming Lee in a conference baseball game.
But there is high school sports action all over the Wyoming and Kentwood area, so check out something live if you can.
The tentative schedule of WKTV featured game’s remaining this month are as follows:
Wednesday, May 8, boys baseball, Godwin Heights at Wyoming Lee Thursday, May 9, boys baseball, West Michigan Aviation vs Tri-Unity Christian at Pinery Park #3 Tuesday, May 14, boys baseball, Grandville at East Kentwood Wednesday, May 15, girls softball, Godwin Heights at Kelloggsville Wednesday, May 22, boys baseball, South Christian at Wyoming Friday, May 24, boys baseball, Zion Christian at Kelloggsville
Want to be a television sports announcer?
If anyone has ever thought about trying to announce a sporting event, WKTV has a great chance for you to do exactly that! The tentative schedule for May follows and we are always looking for additional announcers, especially for the spring games. If you would like to try it or have any questions, please email Mike at sportswktv@gmail.com .
Featured games are broadcast the night of the contest and then at least once later in the week.
WKTV broadcasts on Wyoming and Kentwood cable channels. On Comcast cable, Channel 25 is the Community Channel, where sports events and other community events are shown; Channel 26 is the Government Channel, where local government meetings and events are shown. On AT&T cable throughout the Grand Rapids area, viewers go to Channel 99, and then are given the choice to watch Wyoming (or Kentwood) Community (Channel 25) or Government (Channel 26) channels.
All Featured Games, as well as other high school sports and community events covered by WKTV, are available on-demand within a week of play at wktvondemand.com.
For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action each week, any changes to the WKTV feature sports schedule, and feature stories on local sports, visit wktvjournal.org/sports/.
Following is this week’s schedule:
Monday, May 6 Boys Golf South Christian @ East Grand Rapids – Kent Country Club East Kentwood @ Hudsonville Kelloggsville @ Wellsprings Prep – The Mines Wyoming @ East Grand Rapids – Kent Country Club Girls Softball Unity Christian @ South Christian – DH Wyoming Lee @ Godwin Heights – DH Hopkins @ Kelloggsville – DH Wyoming @ Covenant Christian – DH Boys Baseball Unity Christian @ South Christian – DH Wyoming Lee @ Godwin Heights Hopkins @ Kelloggsville Grattan Academic @ Zion Christian – DH Boys Lacrosse South Christian @ Jenison Girls Soccer South Christian @ Grand Rapids Christian Grand Haven @ East Kentwood Kelloggsville @ Godwin Heights Wyoming Lee @ Calvin Christian Wyoming @ FH Eastern Zion Christian @ Wellsprings Prep Boys / Girls Track Rockford @ East Kentwood Girls Tennis West Ottawa @ East Kentwood Kelloggsville @ Catholic Central Middleville T-K @ Wyoming
Tuesday, May 7 Girls Tennis Grant @ South Christian East Kentwood @ Grandville Holland @ Wyoming Boys Lacrosse East Kentwood @ Lowell Girls Soccer Tri-Unity Christian vs West Michigan Aviation – @ East Kentwood Freshman Campus Potter’s House @ Zion Christian Boys Baseball Zion Christian vs Tri-Unity Christian – DH @ Zion Christian Wyoming @ Christian – DH West Michigan Aviation @ Potter’s House – DH Boys Golf Zeeland West @ Wyoming – Gleneagle Boys / Girls Track Wyoming @ Wayland West Michigan Aviation – Alliance League Invitational Girls Softball Wyoming @ Christian – DH
Wednesday, May 8 Boys Golf Wyoming @ South Christian – Railside Golf Course Tri-Unity Christian @ Grand River Prep Boys / Girls Track South Christian @ Wayland Boys Baseball South Christian @ Catholic Central Loy Norrix @ East Kentwood – DH Godwin Heights @ Wyoming Lee – WKTV Featured Event Kelloggsville @ Hopkins Girls Soccer East Grand Rapids @ South Christian Caledonia @ East Kentwood Godwin Heights @ Belding Kelloggsville @ NorthPointe Christian Wyoming Lee @ Hope Academy of WM Wyoming @ Wayland Girls Softball Godwin Heights @ Wyoming Lee Kelloggsville @ Hopkins Wyoming @ West Catholic Girls Tennis Kelloggsville @ Coopersville
Thursday, May 9 Girls Tennis South Christian @ NorthPointe Christian Sparta @ Kelloggsville Wyoming @ Lowell Girls Softball Zeeland West @ South Christian – DH East Kentwood @ Rockford – DH Boys Lacrosse Lowell @ South Christian Jenison @ East Kentwood Boys Baseball West Michigan Aviation vs Tri-Unity Christian – @ Pinery Park #3 – DH – WKTV Featured Event Christian @ Wyoming Potter’s House @ Muskegon Western Michigan Christian – DH Boys / Girls Track Wyoming @ FH Eastern West Michigan Aviation @ Ravenna Girls Soccer Wellsprings Prep @ Grand River Prep
Friday, May 10 Boys / Girls Track South Christian – OK Gold Conference Meet @ Houseman Field Wyoming – OK Gold Conference Meet @ Houseman Field @ East Kentwood – OK Red Conference Meet Godwin Heights @ NorthPointe Christian – OK Silver Conference Meet Kelloggsville @ NorthPointe Christian – OK Silver Conference Meet Wyoming Lee @ Belding Girls Water Polo East Kentwood @ TBA – Districts Girls Softball East Kentwood @ Catholic Central – DH Godwin Heights vs Western Michigan Christian – @ Muskegon Catholic Central – DH Grandville @ Wyoming Girls Soccer Rockford @ East Kentwood NorthPointe Christian @ Godwin Heights Kelloggsville @ Grand River Prep Wyoming Lee @ Hopkins Fruitport Calvary Christian @ Tri-Unity Christian West Michigan Aviation @ West Catholic Boys Golf Kelloggsville – OK Silver Jamboree @ Broadmoor Country Club Boys Baseball Tri-Unity Christian @ Covenant Christian Grandville @ Wyoming
Saturday, May 11 Girls Tennis Wyoming @ South Christian – OK Gold Conference Meet @ East Kentwood – OK Red Conference Meet Kelloggsville @ Calvin Christian – OK Silver Conference Meet Boys Baseball South Christian @ Zeeland East – Zeeland East Invite East Kentwood @ Grand Ledge – DH Kelloggsville – @ Kellogg Woods – Liz Jensen Memorial Tournament Potter’s House @ Wyoming Lee – Rebel Invite West Michigan Aviation @ Zion Christian – DH Girls Softball South Christian @ Hudsonville – Milan Invite Kelloggsville – @ Kellogg Woods – Liz Jensen Memorial Tournament Catholic Central @ Wyoming Lee – Rebel Invite Girls Soccer South Christian @ Catholic Central Hopkins @ Kelloggsville Potter’s House @ Wyoming Lee – Copa Rebelde West Michigan Aviation @ Wyoming Lee – Copa Rebelde Girls Water Polo East Kentwood @ TBA – Districts Boys / Girls Track Godwin Heights – @ Lamar Park – Team 21 Fun Run Boys Golf Kelloggsville @ Hamilton – Diamond Springs
Monday, May 13 Boys Golf Holland Christian @ South Christian – Railside Golf Course Caledonia @ East Kentwood – Stonewater Golf Course Hopkins @ Wyoming – Gleneagle Girls Tennis North Muskegon @ South Christian Girls Softball FH Central @ South Christian – DH Kelloggsville @ Godwin Heights – DH Wyoming Lee @ Hopkins – DH Girls Soccer South Christian @ Middleville T-K Wyoming Lee @ Godwin Heights Hopkins @ Kelloggsville Hudsonville Hornets @ Tri-Unity Christian Boys Lacrosse South Christian @ Byron Center Boys Baseball Kelloggsville @ Godwin Heights Wyoming Lee @ Hopkins Tri-Unity Christian @ Holland Calvary – DH Covenant Christian @ Wyoming Holland Black River @ Zion Christian
Tuesday, May 14 Girls Softball South Christian @ FH Eastern – DH Grandville @ East Kentwood – DH Wyoming Lee @ East Grand Rapids Middleville T-K @ Wyoming – DH Boys Baseball South Christian @ FH Eastern – DH Grandville @ East Kentwood – DH Middleville T-K @ Wyoming – DH Potter’s House @ Kalamazoo Heritage Christian Girls Soccer FH Central @ South Christian Kenowa Hills @ East Kentwood Kelloggsville @ Wyoming West Michigan Aviation @ Grand River Prep Boys Lacrosse East Kentwood @ Jenison Girls Tennis Kelloggsville @ Muskegon Catholic Central Boys Golf Tri-Unity Christian @ Covenant Christian
Kentwood Parks and Recreation’s adaptive recreation programs — one of which is the annual Lost Limb 5K, shown here with program director Katelyn Bush talking — will benefit from the annual Vibe Gala coming later this month. (WKTV)
By City of Kentwood
All are invited to attend The Vibe, a gala benefiting Kentwood Parks and Recreation’s adaptive recreation programs, on Friday, May 17. The Vibe will highlight the City’s adaptive water sports programs, which include kayaking, canoeing, paddle boarding, wake boarding and water skiing for all ages and abilities.
The celebration will take place from 6 to 10 p.m. at Stonewater Country Club, located at 7177 Kalamazoo Ave. SE in Caledonia, and include a keynote speaker, dinner, dancing and a silent auction.
“Kentwood’s adaptive recreation programs exist to provide people of all abilities a chance to recreate in a positive and safe environment,” said Katelyn Bush, recreation program coordinator. “We take pride in planning and implementing quality recreation and enrichment programs that empower all members in our community and encourage health, wellness, positive socialization and overall an excellent quality of life.”
The evening will feature keynote speaker Josh George, a six-time Paralympic world champion and world record holder. At the age of four, George traded in walking for rolling after falling from a twelve-story window onto concrete. For more information on George, visit here.
The Vibe keynote speaker Josh George, a six-time Paralympic world champion and world record holder. (Courtesy/Josh George’s website)
George’s enthusiasm and beliefs possess a contagious energy that has helped people build confidence and have made him a highly sought-after motivational speaker.
George has explored the realm of adapted athletics, participating in everything from basketball to track and field, archery, table tennis and swimming. Basketball and racing quickly became his stand-out sports and, along the way, he has become a sought-after motivational speaker, as well as an entrepreneur. In his journey, George spreads the message of inclusivity, maximizing your potential and, above all else, the idea that we must keep moving fast.
“We are so honored to have Josh George provide the keynote at this year’s event,” said Val Romeo, Kentwood Parks and Recreation director. “We welcome the community to join us to hear his remarkable story and learn how inclusive recreational opportunities can really make a difference in people’s lives.”
Tickets for the semi-formal event are $100 per person and can be purchased online at kentwoodvibe.com or by calling 616-656-5270. Tickets must be purchased in advance by Friday, May 10.
This year’s Older Michiganians Day will be held on May 15, 2019. Michigan’s senior advocates and allies will rally on the lawn of the Capital in Lansing to let legislators know their positions on issues that affect older adults in Michigan.
This is the 11th year of Older Michiganians Day and all seniors interested are encouraged to attend. If you’ve never been involved in advocacy before, Older Michiganians Day is a great way to begin. This year’s platform focuses on four areas to improve services for older adults in the state of Michigan: Rebalancing Medicaid Long Term Care, Support AAASA In-home Services, Support the Direct Care Workforce, and Promote a Dementia Capable Michigan.
The MI Choice Medicaid Waiver Program helps Michigan’s older adults by providing the services necessary to live in their own homes and communities. Costing less than half of what a Medicaid-funded nursing facility costs, MI Choice saves taxpayers’ money, yet only 40% of the state’s Medicaid long-term supports and services (LTSS) budget goes to funding MI Choice and other Home and Community Based Services (HCBS). The national average for funding HCBS programs is 57%. Senior advocates are requesting an increase in the percentage of Medicaid LTSS funds allocated to MI Choice, as well as the ongoing preservation and protection of this important program.
Advocates support the Silver Key Coalition’s request for a $6,000,000 in the Aging and Adult Services budget for 2020. There are currently 6,247 seniors waiting for in-home services, like homemaker services, home delivered meals, care management services, and personal care. Research shows that seniors who receive these services are five times less likely to have been in a nursing home than those who stayed on a wait list. Reducing the wait list times by increasing funding for services will help more seniors remain independent.
Every day, there are professional caregivers going into the homes of older adults to perform all of the tasks that keep them safe, healthy and in their own homes. The wages earned for providing these vital services averages about $9.50/hour, while wages in other service industries like retail and restaurants are increasing to $13.00/hour, making it difficult for agencies to hire and keep enough workers to provide care. Advocates support policies that recruit, train and provide adequate wages, raise the Medicaid cap, include direct care services in Medicaid contracts and call for the inclusion of direct care workers in MI talent development initiatives.
Approximately a half million families in Michigan are caring for a loved one with dementia. Advocates at Older Michiganians Day will be letting legislators know they support a Dementia Capable Michigan in which dementia education, services and policies are enacted that recognize dementia as a public health priority.
Older Michigangians Day is an opportunity for Michigan seniors to speak with a united voice about the issues that directly affect them. It is also an opportunity to meet new people and enjoy a beautiful day in our State’s capitol. Call Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan to register at (616) 222-7042. While the event is free, your ticket provides you with a complimentary lunch. If you live in the Grand Rapids area, you can also ask about transportation to Older Michiganians Day. Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan is chartering buses to Lansing. Seats are limited and will be available on a first come-first served basis.
Grand Rapids Ballet—Michigan’s only professional ballet company—presents the highly anticipated return of its 2017 sold-out smash hit, Alice in Wonderland, May 3-5 and 10-11 at Peter Martin Wege Theatre.
Revue Magazine called it “a modern masterpiece!”
This exciting family-friendly show features the choreography of Grand Rapids Ballet favorite, Brian Enos, the artistic director of The Big Muddy Dance Company in St. Louis, Missouri. While known locally as a contemporary choreographer, Brian is just as talented at choreographing classical ballet. As Hedy Weiss of Chicago Sun-Times said, Brian’s work is “alternately sexy, playful, absurd, and quirkily exotic.”
The magical world and colorful characters are imagined by Argentinian visual artist, Luis Grané, best known for his award-winning illustration work on such major motion pictures as The Box Trolls, The Matrix, Hotel Transylvania, and Ratatouille. The ballet story will stay true to the beloved novel Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll originally published in 1865.
Evening and matinee performances will take place over two weekends:
Friday, May 3 at 7:30pm
Saturday, May 4 at 7:30 pm
Sunday, May 5 at 2pm
Friday, May 10 at 7:30pm
Saturday, May 11 at 7:30pm
Tickets are available on Ticketmaster, grballet.com, 616.454.4771 x 10, or at the box office at 341 Ellsworth Avenue SW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503.
Celebrating its 47th anniversary this season, Grand Rapids Ballet—Michigan’s only professional ballet company—is committed to lifting the human spirit through the art of dance under the current leadership of James Sofranko as artistic director, Glenn Del Vecchio as executive director, and Attila Mosolygo as director of Grand Rapids Ballet School and its Junior Company.
A proud recipient of the ArtServe Michigan Governor’s Arts Award for Outstanding Cultural Organization, Grand Rapids Ballet has a rich history marked by steady growth, a commitment to excellence, and strong community support.
Keep up with us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, and visit grballet.com today.
Kellye Howard (photo by Mike Jue, Mike Jue Photography)
By Sandi Weindling, Journeyman Distillery
Journeyman Distillery’s Maxwell Tidey is looking to build on December’s sold-out Comedy on the Rocks premier with a May lineup that’s sure to slay.
Tidey has pursued his passion for comedy, producing local shows and working at the Drop Comedy Club in South Bend. A part-time server at Journeyman’s Staymaker Restaurant, he brought the idea of a comedy show to owners, Johanna and Bill Welter.
“We were open to giving it a try, but no question, Max’s enthusiasm is what made it a success,” the Welters agreed. “His energy is contagious… and persuasive,” said Johanna.
Tidey will reprise his role as host and producer of Comedy on the Rocks, importing top Chicago talent to Journeyman’s Still Room.
Comedy on the Rocks featured performer, Adam Gilbert of Fort Wayne, IN, has opened for the likes of writer/comedian Brian Posehn and said that he is, “pretty great on road trips.”
Gilbert opens for headliner Kellye Howard. Named Chicago’s “boldest” comedian by the Chicago Sun-Times, Howard takes inspiration from her experiences as a mother, daughter, wife, and woman. She was recently featured at the Just for Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal and has been seen on Comedy Central, Last Comic Standing, FOX Laughs, and more. In her “spare” time she hosts the weekly podcast series Be Less Petty. Standup returns to Journeyman Distillery at 8:00pm ET on May 10th.
Admission is $20 per person and includes one complimentary beverage. Space is limited. Tickets are available online at journeymandistillery.com/calendar and on Eventbrite. For more information phone 269-820-2050.
Founded in 2010, Journeyman Distillery crafts, bottles, and serves organic and kosher-certified spirits at the historic Featherbone Factory in Three Oaks, Michigan. The distillery prides itself on using the highest quality grains sourced from Midwestern organic farmers in its award-winning spirits as well as at its Staymaker restaurant. Journeyman spirits are distributed in eleven states across the country and available for purchase direct from the distillery. Learn more and find your spirit at journeymandistillery.com.
WKTV offers on-demand viewing of the Wyoming and Kentwood high school sports, community events, and government meetings. (WKTV)
Mike Moll, WKTV Volunteer Sports Director sports@wktv.org
May is the last full month of high school sports schedules as the spring seasons along with the academic year are quickly ending.
Many high school graduations will be this month and we wish all students the very best as they take that next step in life, and for the student athletes that we have had the opportunity to cover and watch over the course of your high school careers, thank you.
There are many state tournaments beginning near the end of the month including state championships in girls tennis on the final day.
Take advantage of these last opportunities to watch in person, but then also catch the games that WKTV will be rebroadcasting on cable television as well as on-demand. The tentative schedule of WKTV featured game are as follows:
Wednesday, May 8, boys baseball, Godwin Heights at Wyoming Lee Thursday, May 9, boys baseball, West Michigan Aviation vs Tri-Unity Christian at Pinery Park #3 Tuesday, May 14, boys baseball, Grandville at East Kentwood Wednesday, May 15, girls softball, Godwin Heights at Kelloggsville Wednesday, May 22, boys baseball, South Christian at Wyoming Friday, May 24, boys baseball, Zion Christian at Kelloggsville
Want to be a television sports announcer?
If anyone has ever thought about trying to announce a sporting event, WKTV has a great chance for you to do exactly that! The tentative schedule for May follows and we are always looking for additional announcers, especially for the spring games. If you would like to try it or have any questions, please email Mike at sportswktv@gmail.com.
Featured games are broadcast the night of the contest and then at least once later in the week.
WKTV broadcasts on Wyoming and Kentwood cable channels. On Comcast cable, Channel 25 is the Community Channel, where sports events and other community events are shown; Channel 26 is the Government Channel, where local government meetings and events are shown. On AT&T cable throughout the Grand Rapids area, viewers go to Channel 99, and then are given the choice to watch Wyoming (or Kentwood) Community (Channel 25) or Government (Channel 26) channels.
All Featured Games, as well as other high school sports and community events covered by WKTV, are available on-demand within a week of play at wktvondemand.com.
For a complete schedule of all local high school sports action each week, any changes to the WKTV feature sports schedule, and feature stories on local sports, visit wktvjournal.org/sports/.
Following is this week’s schedule:
Thursday, May 2 Boys / Girls Track South Christian vs FH Eastern @ West Catholic Girls Tennis South Christian @ Holland Christian West Catholic @ Kelloggsville Sparta @ Wyoming Girls Softball South Christian @ Zeeland East – DH East Kentwood @ Grandville East Grand Rapids @ Godwin Heights – DH Wyoming @ Kelloggsville Union @ Wyoming Lee – DH Boys Baseball South Christian @ Middleville T-K Hudsonville @ East Kentwood Tri-Unity Christian @ Barry County Christian West Michigan Aviation @ Covenant Christian – DH Boys Lacrosse Kenowa Hills @ South Christian East Kentwood @ Northview Boys Golf East Kentwood @ FH Central – Ranger Invite – The Meadows Wyoming @ Kenowa Hills – Graewil Girls Soccer East Kentwood @ Grandville Tri-Unity Christian @ Wellsprings Prep West Michigan Aviation @ Holland Black River
Friday, May 3 Boys / Girls Track East Kentwood @ Traverse City – Ken Bell Meet Godwin Heights @ Kalamazoo Central Girls Water Polo East Kentwood @ Rockford Girls Softball West Ottawa @ East Kentwood Boys Lacrosse Comstock Park @ East Kentwood Girls Tennis Kelloggsville @ Cedar Springs Girls Soccer Belding @ Wyoming Lee Wayland @ Wyoming West Michigan Aviation @ Fruitport Calvary
Saturday, May 4 Boys / Girls Track South Christian @ East Grand Rapids – EGR Classic Wyoming @ East Grand Rapids – EGR Classic Kelloggsville @ Hopkins – Vikings Invitational Wyoming Lee @ Hopkins – Vikings Invitational West Michigan Aviation @ Hopkins – Vikings Invitational Girls Water Polo East Kentwood @ Rockford Girls Softball East Kentwood @ Northview – Northview Invite Kelloggsville @ East Grand Rapids Girls Tennis East Kentwood @ Jenison Boys Baseball Kelloggsvillle @ Wayland Grand Rapids Crusaders @ Wyoming Lee – DH Wyoming @ Union – DH Heritage Christian Academy @ Zion Christian Girls Soccer Kelloggsville @ Comstock Park – Kristen Stowie Memorial Invite Tri-Unity Christian @ Comstock Park – Kristen Sowie Memorial Invite Zion Christian @ Barry County Christian Boys Golf Tri-Unity Christian – Christian Schools Invitational @ Chase Hammond Country Club
Monday, May 6 Boys Golf South Christian @ East Grand Rapids – Kent Country Club East Kentwood @ Hudsonville Kelloggsville @ Wellsprings Prep – The Mines Wyoming @ East Grand Rapids – Kent Country Club Girls Softball Unity Christian @ South Christian – DH Wyoming Lee @ Godwin Heights – DH Hopkins @ Kelloggsville – DH Wyoming @ Covenant Christian – DH Boys Baseball Unity Christian @ South Christian – DH Wyoming Lee @ Godwin Heights Hopkins @ Kelloggsville Grattan Academic @ Zion Christian – DH Boys Lacrosse South Christian @ Jenison Girls Soccer South Christian @ Grand Rapids Christian Grand Haven @ East Kentwood Kelloggsville @ Godwin Heights Wyoming Lee @ Calvin Christian Wyoming @ FH Eastern Zion Christian @ Wellsprings Prep Boys / Girls Track Rockford @ East Kentwood Girls Tennis West Ottawa @ East Kentwood Kelloggsville @ Catholic Central Middleville T-K @ Wyoming
Griffin House will be making a stop at Spring Lake’s Seven Steps Up on Saturday, May 4. (Supplied/Griffin House)
By K.D. Norris ken@wktv.org
The song stories on Griffin House’s soon-to-be-released album Rising Star — some of which will undoubtedly be sweetly sung and appreciatively heard at his stop at Spring Lake’s Seven Steps Up on Saturday, May 4 — offer a peek in the real and/or imagined world of a singer who has spent much of the last 16 years on the road.
There are stories of the frustration with life if not the brutal business of making independent music. But there are also stories of understanding that, like a good country folk song lyric, “life is kinda what happens while you are making your way as best ya can.”
On “Hindsight”, House sings of a frustrating future: “Am I am fool for waiting / On a ship already gone / I only see the damage done in hindsight”. Yet there is also balance, an acceptance of whatever the future holds, as in “Cup of Fulfillment”: “There’s a light in the dark it’s the fire in our hearts / Even when our work is done / Long may your love live on”.
If that is not the true conflict of a singer wandering over the road of a music life, nothing is.
But I suspect listing to those tunes are just scratching the surface of House’s life and his music.
With something like 11 albums and 16 years of work in Nashville and around the country, House’s Rising Star (set for a June 28 release), described as “a self-reflective record that shows just how honed House is as a writer and musician”, is proof of the progression of his music and his life.
Rising Star cover art (Supplied)
Rising Star was created with old friends, Paul Moak and Ian Fitchuk, and also features co-writes with fellow Nashville musician Brian Elmquist of The Lone Bellow, longtime collaborator Jeff Trott (who also works with Sheryl Crow) and Joy Williams of The Civil Wars — with percussion from Grammy-winning “Album of the Year” producer Ian Fitchuk (he of Kacey Musgraves’ Golden Hour).
“This album seemed to come together with a little more grace and ease than records I’ve made in the past,” House said in supplied material. “And I think so much of that is attributed to how good the people I got worth with on this record are, they all just happen to be really good friends too.”
And that diversity of working relationships, of partners in musical crime, is clear on Rising Star.
The title tune is a sparse, almost spoken word poem of a song that leaves no doubt the writer not only knows what lonely feels like, but knows how to put that feeling into lyrics. And while “15 Minutes of Fame” give evidence of the dangers of getting what you pray for, “Crash and Burn” makes clear the dangers of not getting what you prayed for.
House song/stories often remind me of Gordon Lightfoot’s clear, cutting storytelling — and I liked Gord’s gold a lot — but with a very modern American outlook.
My favorite tune on the album, however, on first listen, is “Change”, which features some beautiful harmonies with Joy Williams, lyrical truths such as “We were never meant to stay the same”, and, maybe, a little glimpse of where House is in his home-life (with wife and two daughters).
Alas, the tune may not be on the program as he tours solo acoustic, often opening for the likes of John Mellencamp, Mat Kearny and Josh Ritter.
In addition to the release of the album Rising Star, House also stars in the full-length documentary film by the same title, set for release this year. According to supplied information, the film is co-produced with music video director and filmmaker Shane Drake, and chronicles House’s life as a musician and features music from his new album as well other tunes from his catalog.
Seven Steps Up is located 116 S. Jackson Street. For tickets and information call 616-930-4755 or visit sevenstepsup.com.
After building overwhelming anticipation, GRAMMY®-nominated multi-platinum powerhouse trio—Jonas Brothers—announce the details for their 40-city Happiness Begins Tour this summer and fall with special guests Bebe Rexha and Jordan McGraw. The announcement coincides with the launch of the pre-order for the band’s highly anticipated comeback album Happiness Begins, as well as the launch of their official merch store online.
Pre-order Happiness Begins (Republic Records) HERE. For exclusive items from the newly launched official merchandise store visit HERE.
Produced by Live Nation, the Happiness Begins Tour presented byAmerican Airlines and Mastercard kicks off Aug. 7th in Miami, FL before making a stop in Grand Rapids at SMG-managed Van Andel Arena on Sunday, Sept. 8, 2019, at 7:30pm. This marks the first headline tour for the Jonas Brothers in almost a decade.
Tickets go on sale to the general public beginning Friday, May 10 at 10am. Tickets will be 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. A purchase limit of eight (8) tickets will apply to every order.
The Jonas Brothers have also partnered with Ticketmaster’s Verified Fan platform to ensure tickets get in to the hands of their fans, not scalpers or bots. Fans can register now through Monday, May 6th at 10pm ET HERE for the Verified Fan presale. Registered fans who receive a code will have access to purchase tickets before the general public from Wednesday, May 8th at 10am local time through Thursday, May 9th at 10pm local time.
Additionally, TIDAL subscribers will also have access to an exclusive presale beginning Thursday, May 9th at 10am local time through 10pm local time. TIDAL members can find details for purchasing tickets on TIDAL.com/JonasBrothers or via the TIDAL mobile, web and desktop apps.
Jonas Brothers VIP packages will be available and sold exclusively through HOST VIP. VIP package details will be announced on Friday, May 3rd prior to all ticketing pre-sales. VIP packages will be available for purchase on May 10th. A limited number of LaneOne Premium Packages will also be available, including amazing seats in first 5 rows, GA First On Floor, B-Stage VIP Bar area, transportation, preferred entrance and more. CheckLaneOnefor details.
The Happiness Begins pre-order will include instant gratification downloads of the band’s hit singles Sucker and Cool, produced by GRAMMY® Award-winning songwriter, producer, and lead singer of the multi-platinum band One Republic, Ryan Tedder. The third instant gratification titled Only Human, produced by GRAMMY® Award-winning producer Shellback, will follow. Not only will this be the group’s first album since 2009, but it stands out as one of 2019’s most anticipated records.
These announcements set the stage for the boys to light up the Billboard Music Awards tonight with what promises to be a blockbuster performance. The band is expected to perform their first #1 hit at Top 40 radio Sucker, which has just clenched its second consecutive week at #1. Be sure to tune in to NBC at 8pm ET. Next up, you can catch them on Saturday Night Liveon May 11.
An artist’s rendering Woodland Mall’s new Von Maur wing, expected to open later this year. (Supplied/Woodland Mall)
By Woodland Mall
Nearly 20 West Michigan employers will be at Woodland Mall on Saturday, May 4, seeking to fill 100-plus positions in the mall and around the community during an Employment Expo.
Job seekers will have the opportunity to learn about positions with local employers such as Manpower Grand Rapids, Dean Transportation, Forge Industrial Staffing, SMS Service Management Systems, EG Workforce Solutions and more from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Woodland Mall retailers will also be participating with employment opportunities, such as permanent positions, including full-time management roles.
Recently announced first-to-market retailer A’Beautiful Soul will be hiring, along with Chico’s, which will be revealing its remodeled space in the Von Maur Wing on May 15. LensCrafters, Buckle, JCPenney, Soma Intimates and Victoria’s Secret will also be participating.
Hourly wages for entry-level sales associate positions at the mall range from $12 to $14. The average salary for management positions is $55,000.
“We are delighted to host this expo again this year and help connect job seekers with West Michigan employers,” said Cecily McCabe, Woodland Mall marketing director. “Woodland Mall is excited to participate as our own retailers offer many different career options with competitive wages for anyone interested in retail.
“It’s a great time to get involved because of the ongoing redevelopment at the mall, which is adding to our retail selections and creating a special shopping experience for consumers.”
Nearly 6,000 visitors are expected to pass through Woodland Mall on the day of the Employment Expo. Booths are still available for additional employers to participate. Registration includes free tables, chairs, wi-fi and parking. Businesses interested in registering may complete an application online.
For more information, contact McCabe at 616-430-8111 or email her at Cecily.McCabe@PREIT.com.
“We're all in the same boat ready to float off the edge of the world. The flat old world.”
― The Band (from the song "Life is a Carnival")
Wyoming’s annual Spring Carnival will open this weekend at Lamar Park. (Supplied)
Life is a carnival
West Michigan families are invited to come out to Lamar Park, 2561 Porter St SW, and enjoy carnival rides, food, and games April 26 – May 5. The carnival will be open Monday through Thursday from 4–8:30 p.m., Friday from 2– 8:30 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from noon–8:30 p.m. For the complete story, visit here.
VeggieCon is coming to Kentwood this weekend. (Supplied)
Eat your veggies!
VeggieCon, an event to educate the community more about healthy options, is coming at Encounter Church, 4620 Kalamazoo Ave. SE., Kentwood, on Saturday, April 27. 10 am. to 2 p.m. Along with many family friendly activities, there will be April 27, there will be a fresh produce display on site so people can see what produce is available at local farm stands. For the complete story, visit here.
This strange creature is part of Grand Rapids Public Museum’s “Expedition: Dinosaur exhibition” (Supplied/GRPM)
(Strange) creature comforts
The Grand Rapids Public Museum’s “Expedition: Dinosaur exhibition” has been extended, so visitors can now explore the fascinating world of dinosaurs and the hunt for their fossils through May 12. This exhibit has something for all ages, from life-sized and life-like animatronic dinosaurs – some controlled by visitors – to mechanical and electronic learning stations. For the complete story, visit here.
Fun fact:
240 million years
You may know that the world was full of dinosaurs 99 million years ago, but crocodilian creatures, including current crocodiles themselves – have been on Earth for an estimated 240 million years. Talk about adaptable! (Source)
Each year, a handful of special parades are held in which the participants travel across the 5-mile Mackinac Bridge. These events are fun not only for the participants, but for visitors in downtown Mackinaw City, too. Be sure to add these dates to your summer travel calendar:
Friday, April 26 4th Annual the Mack
Last year, more than 800 Jeeps participated in this annual trek. This year’s crossing will begin at 3pm in St. Ignace with all Jeeps heading south into Mackinaw City before looping around to return to the Upper Peninsula.
Saturday, July 20 6th Annual Mustang Stampede
Celebrating the classic Ford muscle car which was first introduced in 1964. Dozens of cars will be on display from 10am-4pm in Conkling Heritage Park, followed by the bridge parade at 4:30pm. Dinner follows, with live music and the awards ceremony.
Help break the English-held “World Record for Largest-ever MINI Cooper Parade” during this spectacular bi-annual (the current record of 1450 is held by the Surrey MINI Club Owners in the UK). In 2017, 1328 cars participated in the Straits area event (up from 1319 in 2015) and this year hopes to be the biggest group to date.
Saturday, Aug. 24 30th Annual Corvette Crossroads
File photo
Hundreds of Corvettes are on display at the Mackinaw Crossings Mall parking lot from 10-2, with awards in a variety of categories presented at 3pm. The procession lines up at 6pm, with the crossing of the Mackinac Bridge at 7pm. All Corvettes in town are welcome to cross the Mackinac Bridge (there is a nominal fee for non-show registered ‘Vettes to participate in the parade).
First held in 2008 (with 614 participants), this parade feature all makes, models, shapes and sizes of vintage tractors and farm equipment from around the country (and beyond). The line-up begins in downtown Mackinaw City at 9am, with the procession traveling across the bridge to downtown St. Ignace, ending at the Little Bear Arena. Last year, over 1,300 tractors joined in the parade.
Changing America: The Emancipation Proclamation, 1863, and the March on Washington, 1963, a special exhibition opening at the Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) on Saturday, May 25, examines the relationship between two great people’s movements, which both grew out of decades of bold actions, resistance, organization, and vision. One hundred years separate them, yet they are linked in a larger story of liberty and the American experience — one that has had a profound impact on the generations that followed.
Created by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture and the National Museum of American History, the exhibit was toured nationwide by the American Library Association’s Public Program Office. The Changing America exhibit is now a possession of the GRPM. In presenting and hosting it, the GRPM will be enhancing it for West Michigan by including artifacts and stories from a local perspective. In addition to artifacts from the GRPM Collections, many artifacts on display will be on loan from the Grand Rapids African American Museum and Archives. Local stories will be told through the eyes of our community and oral histories will be presented. The exhibition will also include a place for visitors to share their own stories. Shared stories will be added to the GRPM’s digital archive found at grpmcollections.org.
“The Grand Rapids African American Museum and Archives (GRAAMA) is proud to combine with the Grand Rapids Public Museum to present Changing America,” said George Bayard III, Executive Director of GRAAMA. “We are happy to lend support and artifacts to this important exhibit chronicling a slice of African American history between the Emancipation Proclamation and the March on Washington. We are eager to get our collection out where more people can view these authentic artifacts. Our loan of anti-slavery newspapers from the 1800s and buttons from the 1963 March on Washington will add detail to an already prestigious Smithsonian display.”
GRAAMA will launch a corresponding exhibit 1863-1963 American Freedom at its 87 Monroe Center, Grand Rapids, location featuring local civil rights activists, quilts and interviews. For more information, visit graama.org.
Courtesy Grand Rapids Public Museum
Changing America at the Grand Rapids Public Museum will run from May 25 through October 2019, will be located in the LACKS changing gallery on the Museum’s third floor, and will be free with general admission. Kent County adult residents receive reduced general admission and Kent County resident children aged 17 and under receive free general admission to the GRPM thanks to the county-wide millage passed in 2016.
In addition to the exhibition, the GRPM is partnering with several community groups to offer community programming as part of the exhibition. Mosaic Film Experience will host a summer camp “Mosaic Mobile Filmmaking” as part of the GRPM’s Camp Curious offerings in conjunction with the exhibit for students in grades 7 to 9. This Mosaic Mobile program is working with the GRPM to expand this story locally by capturing the stories of area civil rights leaders and will give students the opportunity to learn valuable media skills while broadening their knowledge of Grand Rapids history. The camp will take place from June 17 through June 21 and is only $25 per student to participate.
“It is important to connect youth to the past so they can understand their present,” said Skot Welch, Founder of The Mosaic Film Experience. “The Mosaic Mobile Filmmaking program with the Public Museum is a multi-generational project, making history relevant to our young people in a place where they become the story makers. This is an opportunity for them to tell the stories of Civil Rights in our community while allowing us to see this critical time in history through their eyes.”
Westside Collaborative is also partnering as part of the exhibition, and is working on a series of “I am Westside” videos that will be on display as part of the exhibition once completed. To learn more, visit westsidecollaborative.org.
For a full list of related programming, please visit grpm.org.
Changing America at the Grand Rapids Public Museum is sponsored by the David and Carol Van Andel Family Foundation, the Grand Rapids Community Foundation, and Steelcase Inc.
After a rousing start to his Double Down Tour,Eric Church spoke directly to his faithful Church Choir in a video message, announcing additional shows to extend his 2019 trek into the fall. In addition to the previously announced shows hitting more than 25 cities, Church has now added three more dates, including a stop in Grand Rapids at SMG-managed Van Andel Arena on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 4-5, 2019 at 8pm.
Tickets go on sale to the general public beginning Friday, May 3 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 six (6) tickets will apply to every order. See Ticketmaster.com for all current pricing and availability. *This show will utilize mobile tickets only. All box office purchases will be kept in will call until 2pm on the day of the show.
A pit ticket pre-sale begins on Tuesday, April 30 at 9:30am through the Eric Church Official App with a pre-sale for paid fan club members also running on April 30 from 10am through 10pm.
On March 14, the ACM Album of the Year nominee told his fans “I don’t want to be two months from the end of this thing — so we’re going to play a little more . . . I can’t thank you enough for what this is and what I’m seeing every night. I appreciate everyone giving me everything they’ve got, and I look forward to seeing you on the road!”
Church has set a new standard for touring with his back-to-back stands in each city of the Double Down Tour, with Rolling Stone pointing out each night’s unique “set list that dwarfs those of his country peers . . . where loose, funky explorations [are] given just as much space as the singer’s radio hits” and the Kansas City Star noting that the concept works “to showcase Church’s expansive range.” The St. Louis Post-Dispatch also praised the structure of the tour, proclaiming “it was perfection. And then, after two hours and 45 minutes of music, it was over. Until the next night
Church has also made a point to surprise unsuspecting fans with tickets to the pit encapsulated by the stage itself at various shows, handing out passes on the streets of Boston and in the top rows of the arena in Minneapolis. For a tour that has thrilled fans at every unpredictable turn thus far, the added shows are sure to bring even more excitement
About Eric Church
The three-time Country Music Association and six-time Academy of Country Music Award winner released his highly-anticipated album Desperate Man atop the Billboard Country Albums chart on Oct. 5. The album also debuted at No. 5 on the all-genre Billboard 200. Rolling Stone describes the album as “classic Church: expertly crafted and country-radio-friendly, while also pushing boundaries in a way that sounds natural and unforced” and American Songwriter notes that it “sublimates the pain of a tumultuous year into his most adventuresome album yet.”
“My advice to other disabled people would be, concentrate on things your disability doesn't prevent you doing well, and don't regret the things it interferes with.”
― Stephen Hawking
The City of Kentwood is offering the second annual Limb Loss Awareness 5K race on Saturday, April 27. (Supplied/City of Kenwood)
A lesson in running (and walking)
In conjunction with Limb Loss Awareness Month, the City of Kentwood is offering the second annual Limb Loss Awareness 5K race on Saturday, April 27. Open to people of all abilities, the family friendly event will continue to raise funds for Kentwood’s adaptive recreation programs. For the complete story, visit here. For a video interview with the director of the city’s adaptive recreation program, visit here.
Wyoming Mayor Jack Poll reads the proclamation at a previous year’s Arbor Day event. (WKTV)
A lesson in Mother Earth awareness
The City of Wyoming Tree Commission, “The Tree Amigos,” is partnering with Wyoming Lee High School Ecology Club in the City’s 2019 Arbor Day Ceremony set for 9:30 a.m. Friday, April 26 at the high school located at 1335 Lee St. SW. For the complete story, visit here.
Electronics, some but not all, can be recycled at local community clean-up days. (Supplied)
A (community) lesson in recycling
The City of Wyoming’s Community Cleanup Day, Saturday, April 27, is designed to encourage Wyoming residents to maintain their properties and dispose of unwanted items in a responsible manner. For the complete story, visit here. (And the City of Kentwood will do the same thing next week; see story here.)
Fun fact:
142,000 computers, trashed, daily
According to a recent report by the EPA, every day, we are to get rid of over 416,000 mobile devices and 142,000 computers either by recycling or disposing of them in landfills and incinerators. (Source)
Kentwood Public Works Department oversees the city’s recycling center. (Supplied/City of Kentwood)
By City of Kentwood
The City of Kentwood’s Community Clean-Up Day is scheduled for 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 4.
Residents wanting to “spring clean” their homes and yards may bring general debris, gently used items for donation, household hazardous materials and electronic devices to the Kentwood Recycling Center, located at 5068 Breton Ave. SE.
“With warmer weather and no more snow to shovel, residents now have the time to think about cleaning and decluttering homes and property,” said Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley. “Kentwood’s Community Clean-Up Day offers residents a timely opportunity to dispose or recycle items that are no longer wanted or used.”
The Salvation Army will be on hand to accept gently used items for donations and the Kent County Department of Public Works will accept household hazardous waste items. Comprenew will also be present to recycle electronic waste, such as mobile telephones, computers and fax machines.
The City of Kentwood will accept yard waste, including brush, leaves and grass clippings, on Community Clean-Up Day, after which the drop-off services will remain closed until the fall.
Latex paint, mattresses and tires will not be accepted at Community Clean-Up Day. CRT screens will also not be accepted but can be dropped off directly at any Comprenew location.
Community Clean-Up Day is free and open to Kentwood residents with photo ID for proof of residency. Residents are asked to enter the drive off Breton Avenue where volunteers will check for residence and approved items for disposal.
