Brena - WKTV Journal

Brena. (Photo: Brena. Used with Permission)

By Lillian Reiner
Wyoming-Kentwood News Today Contributor
greer@wktv.org

West Michigan’s premier cover band, Brena, is bringing its feel good covers to the Wyoming Concerts in the Park stage once again on Tuesday, July 14, at 6 p.m. at Lamar Park.

The Wyoming Concerts provide the chance for community members to come together for free music and food from local food trucks.

“Performing for an audience and seeing the joy that we bring into people’s lives is so rewarding and keeps us doing what we do,” said Craig Avery, vocalist and keyboard player. “I like to think that people come to see us to have fun and listen to good music, but also as an escape from whatever struggles they might be facing.”

Switching gears

The band met as music students at Grand Valley State University, but only two original members, Avery and multi-instrumentalist Steffan Copenhaver, remain.

The current lineup, consisting of vocalist Michele Moretti, guitarists Sam Parks and Matt Kok, vocalist, guitarist, and trombone player Sean Copenhaver, and drummer Sam Briggs, has been together since 2013. They also are joined by award-winning vocalist, Kelly Carey, on occasion. KM Denton is the band’s sound tech.

When the band was first formed in 2006, they played original music and performed at college campuses around the country. After releasing three albums and encountering financial troubles, they decided to make a change.

“In 2011, we decided to hang up the original band touring lifestyle and switched gears and became a cover band,” Avery said.

They began playing at bars, private parties and weddings, at first only playing 30 events per year, and now play an average of 130 events each year.

“We discovered we could actually make a living playing music,” Avery said.

Brena boasts an extensive and versatile song list for every occasion, from classic and modern rock to modern pop, R&B, rap, country and “Oldies.”

Brena origin

While Brena has undergone many changes since their inception, the name has stuck around, although the naming of the band was left completely to chance.

“We were rehearsing in our friend’s basement getting ready to perform at the Grand Rapids Festival of the Arts in 2007 and we needed a band name in order to submit for a potential spot in the lineup,” Avery said. “So we threw a bunch of names in a hat and drew Brena.”

The band often jokes about the origin of their name, saying that Brena is a girl they all dated at one time, or an acronym for something, but the truth is that no one knows who threw the name in the hat or its significance.

Memorable performances

Brena has played thousands of shows during their nearly two decades as a band, but there are a couple of performances that stand out. They played during the Detroit Tigers Opening Day Block Party, in the freezing cold for the NHL Winter Classic at the University of Michigan stadium on New Year’s Day, as well as for thousands of college students in Panama City Beach, Florida, for Spring break.

“Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival Street Dance is always a favorite of ours,” Avery added.

Brena treats every performance as an opportunity for people to let loose, leave their baggage at home, and just have a good time.

Looking to the future

While the band doesn’t have any immediate plans to start writing original music, they have tossed around the idea of writing children’s music in a pop rock style. Many members have started families of their own and naturally have felt drawn towards creating music for and about their kids.

But for the time being, Brena will continue being West Michigan’s premier cover band for as long as they can.

“We love what we do,” Avery said.

Wyoming Concerts in the Park 2026. (Photo: City of Wyoming: Used with Permission)

By Ty Marzean

WKTV Contributor

The Wyoming Concerts in the Park series will showcase West Michigan’s premier party band, Brena, on June 25 at Lamar Park at 6 p.m.

Brena’s lead duo, Craig Avery and Steffan Copenhaver, met in 2005 at Grand Valley State University. Copenhaver, a music education major, was studying trumpet, while Avery was a piano major focusing on music performance.

In 2007, Avery and Copenhaver – along with Copenhaver’s brother Sean – formed the band Brena.

“Both Steffan and Sean had other bands at the time,” said Avery, vocalist and keyboard player for Brena.

“Steffan’s band was called Broken Sunday, and Sean’s was called Smoothie, and both of those bands called it quits – and out of that, we formed Brena.”

“We literally drew it out of a hat”

When signing up for the Grand Rapids Festival of the Arts in 2007, Avery and the Copenhaver brothers needed to come up with a name for their new band.

“I wish I had a cool story, but we literally drew it out of a hat,” chuckled Avery. “When we became a cover band we thought about changing the name, but we already had a decent following so we thought we should just roll with it.”

Struggles in the early years

In the band’s early years, Brena created original music and released three albums before transitioning to a cover band due to financial reasons.

Brena performed original music before finding success as a cover band (Courtesy photo)

“There was a time where it didn’t seem like it would work out,” Avery said. “We were about to release our final original album, and our drummer got hurt and couldn’t play. We had plans to tour around and promote the album.

“That incident really took the wind out of our sails with promoting the original material; we also accumulated a substantial amount of debt recording original material, and that’s why we transitioned into doing covers.”

Growth as a cover band

Brena’s transition to a cover band proved to be successful, as they went from performing at 10 cover gigs to an impressive 157 shows per year.

“We are going to ride this train as long as we can,” said Avery.

Brena currently boasts a 400+ song library, from Motown Funk to Modern Rock and Roll, and everything in between. The band provides a fresh experience with each show.

“We try to mix it up every show,” said Avery.

Brena takes the stage with a wide range of talent. Avery plays the keyboard and provides vocals alongside Michele Moretti. Copenhaver plays multiple instruments, including violin, trumpet and guitar, while also providing vocals. Sam Parks plays lead guitar, Sam Briggs plays drums, and Matt Kok is on bass. KM Denton is the band’s sound tech and mixer.

Brena returns to Concerts in the Park on June 25, the first time since the pandemic (Courtesy, WKTV)

Return to Concerts in the Park

Brena will be returning to Concerts in the Park for the third time, the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It’s a fun atmosphere. It’s cool to see people from the community come together and enjoy music. A lot of perfect strangers,” said Avery. “Bring your dancing shoes, have fun and enjoy the music!”

Brena’s original material can be found on Spotify. Learn more about the band Brena here.

NOTE: There are two artists under the name Brena on Spotify, be sure to use this link to find the correct band.

Event details to know

Each concert will feature a food truck with food and beverages available for purchase. Concertgoers are welcome to bring their own food, however alcohol is not permitted in the park.

“We are excited to continue this tradition for our community,” said Krashawn Martin, Wyoming Parks and Recreation Director, in supplied material.

“Concerts in the Park are a highlight of summertime in Wyoming. We hope you will grab your blankets, chairs and friends and join us for some fun in the parks!”

All concerts are free of charge and open to the public.