Kalamazoo Academy Of Rock
This is an all ages event. Kalamazoo Academy of Rock is back at Bell’s! These youth bands have been wow-ing audiences for years – come on down for a show like no other! For more information about KAR visit www.kzoorock.com
Kalamazoo Academy Of Rock
This is an all ages event. Kalamazoo Academy of Rock is back at Bell’s! These youth bands have been wow-ing audiences for years – come on down for a show like no other! For more information about KAR visit www.kzoorock.com
May Erlewine & The Motivations Winter Dance Party
This is a 18 and over event with standing room only. 17 and under admitted with a parent or guardian On a few special dates each year, singer-songwriter May Erlewine breaks from her Americana and folk roots to front The Motivations: a seven-piece dance-party funk band that dishes up boogie jams and classic soul cuts. The project was born in the winter of 2016, when Erlewine set out to make music and create a positive space for the weary and grieving. That idea eventually took shape in the form of retro-groove dance parties meant to get people moving, make them feel connected, and help them celebrate the moment — and each other. The result? Shows that deliver feel-good fun and small revolutions to shake things up, just enough. The Motivations feature Phil Barry on guitar and vocals, Joe Hettinga on synth, keys and vocals, Eric Kuhn on guitar and vocals, Max Lockwood on bass and vocals, Mike Lynch on organ and keys, Terrence Massey on trumpet and vocals, Brandon Proch on saxophone and Michael Shimmin on drums, percussion and vocals.
The Arcadian Wild wsg River & Rail
This is a 18 and over event with standing room only. 17 and under admitted with a parent or guardian The Arcadian Wild is a four-piece indie folk/pop group from Nashville, TN. Led by songwriters Isaac Horn and Lincoln Mick and Bailey Warren on fiddle, The Arcadian Wild confidently inhabits and explores an intersection of genre, blending the traditional with the contemporary. Combining elements of progressive bluegrass, folk, and formal vocal music, The Arcadian Wild offer up songs of invitation; calls to come and see, to find refuge and rest, to journey and wonder, to laugh and cry, to share joy and community and singalong. The band’s 2023 album Welcome marks the start of a captivating new chapter for the genre-bending trio, who returned to the studio with renewed purpose and insight after devoting the last few years to a series of critically acclaimed singles and EPs. Like much of the band’s catalog, the album blurs the lines between chamber folk and progressive bluegrass, drawing on everything from country and classical to pop and choral music with lush harmonies and dazzling fretwork, but this time around there’s a rawness to the writing, an embrace of candor and simplicity that cuts straight to the heart of things like never before. The result is perhaps the most arresting collection yet from a band known for its ability to stop listeners dead in their tracks, an exquisitely beautiful celebration of community, connection, and the power of belonging that feels tailor-made for these challenging times.
Sean Rowe w/ Social Animals (solo)
This is a 18 and over event with standing room only. 17 and under admitted with a parent or guardian Though he grew up in the generally frozen landscape of Troy, New York, Sean Rowe spent many of his formative summers in DeLand, Florida where his father was a residential caretaker at a home for troubled youths. It was there, in a mercifully air-conditioned, mostly unused building filled with donated musical instruments, where he taught himself to play drums and then bass. Sean credits those early experiences for what has evolved into his distinctly low and percussive approach to guitar playing During those same years, when he wasn’t listening to heavy metal or building his early musical chops, Sean was in the woods exploring, foraging, and obsessively learning all that he could about the natural world around him. Since then, his fascination with the subject has only grown and through his web-series, Can I Eat This?, he’s found a means of indulging two of his great passions: music and nature. In each of the forthcoming episodes, Sean will guide a fellow musician on a foraging mission for all manner of wild foods. The two will use their harvest to prepare some tasty creations and end their adventure by performing a cover song together. Over the course of his career, Sean Rowe has recorded five full-length albums and several EPs. His music has been used widely throughout film and television, with notable examples including NBC’s hit dramas The Blacklist and Parenthood. Rowe’s song “To Leave Something Behind” was one of two non-score tracks to be featured in Ben Affleck’s hit 2016 feature film, The Accountant. The song accompanied the film’s final scene and has since received nearly 14 million streams on Spotify alone. For more information, including updates on the album, Can I Eat This?, and tour dates, please visit www.seanrowe.net. To learn how you can receive exclusive access to demos, videos, and a spot on the guest list when Sean comes to your town, please visit www.patreon.com/seanrowe.
Nate Smith
This is a 18+ event with standing room only with seating available17 and under admitted with a parent or guardian Nate Smith is a drummer, composer, & producer from Chesapeake, Virginia. His visceral, instinctive, and deep-rooted style of drumming has led to three GRAMMY® nominations and work with esteemed artists, including: Pat Metheny, Dave Holland, Brittany Howard, Van Hunt, The Fearless Flyers, Norah Jones, and Somi. Smith fuses his original compositions with an eclectic mix of music, including everything from jazz to R&B to hip-hop to pop. His latest album, Kinfolk 2: See The Birds (released September 2021 on Edition Records) is the highlyanticipated follow up to his 2017 GRAMMY® Award-nominated album, Kinfolk: Postcards From Everywhere. In recent years, Smith’s viral videos have been viewed by millions of people, underscoring his popularity as one of the most influential drummers of his generation.
All American Funk Parade
This is a standing room only 18 and over event. 17 and under admitted with a parent or guardian. The All American Funk Parade’s Annual Holiday Dance Party is the single greatest event of the year. There will be tons of moms mistletoeing. Countless piper boys piping. Everyone a’dancing. And music of an ilk so unprecedented, it will have you screaming for more.
Saxsquatch & Bridge Band wsg Basic Comfort
This is a 18+ event with standing room only17 and under admitted with a parent or guardian Saxsquatch: Multi-instrumentalist. Music Enthusiast. Doesn’t want to be in your pit orch. Basic Comfort: alternative pop band Basic Comfort from Kalamazoo, Michigan: Band members: Mitchell plays keys and sings, Schadig and Mike Anyonga play guitar and sing, and Ryan Edgar plays bass. Latest album: Dimensions is their self-produced second album, which explores connection to the self and others
Mighty Big Rig Album Release wsgs. Sean Anthony Sullivan & Ten Peso Version
18+ Standing Room Only Show 17 and under admitted with a parent or guardian Just by listening to their newest album, “Solitude,” you wouldn’t believe that members of the Kalamazoo-based Mighty Big Rig only have a few years of jamming under their belts. The rich grooves, the complex layers behind its instrumentation and solos that range from ear-melting to soul softening all resonate as they point to veteran musicianship.
Hot Like Mars with The All American Funk Parade
18+ Standing Room Only Show 17 and under admitted with a parent or guardian Hot Like Mars is Chicago’s funkiest, most soulful rock band, turning heads with their exhilarating live performances and consistently compelling studio releases. The dynamic quintet – Anthony Perry (Lead Vocals / Keys), Frank Minella (Guitar / Vocals), Patrick Walsh (Guitar), Donoven Brown (Bass / Vocals), and Wes Julien (Drums / Vocals), has earned regional acclaim in recent years, delivering high-energy, genre-bending live shows that leave audiences spellbound. Leading with exceptional song craft, intrepid improvisation, and world-class instrumentation, the group’s uplifting presence has earned them a reputation as one of the most exciting bands on the circuit today. Since their inception in December 2023, Hot Like Mars has rapidly risen through the music scene, garnering online acclaim, social media virality, and a fervent live following. They’ve shared stages with heavyweights like Pigeons Playing Ping Pong and Andy Frasco, packing iconic venues such as The Metro and Park West to the brim. Their Chicago residency alone saw them sell over 1,000 tickets, further cementing their status as a must-see act. In a testament to their growing influence, Hot Like Mars has gone viral on Instagram and TikTok, launched their live catalog on nugs.net, and had multiple singles spotlighted on Spotify’s “Modern Jam Band” editorial playlist. In just five months, the band unleashed seven live singles and a live album, all met with widespread praise from fans. This summer, they’re set to release their first studio single ahead of a full-length studio album dropping in Fall 2024—a project that will undoubtedly elevate their profile even higher. The album release will kick off an extensive tour across the Midwest and beyond, bringing their infectious grooves and inspiring tunes to an ever-growing audience. Diversity is at the core of Hot Like Mars, and their mission is to break down racial barriers, uniting people through the universal power of music. Each song is crafted to inspire, motivate, and get listeners dancing to their irresistible rhythms. As we look ahead to the rest of 2024, anticipation is building for what promises to be an exhilarating year for Hot Like Mars.
