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.
Payton & Annabelle: the songs of Simon & Garfunkel
This is an 18+ seated event | 17 and under admitted with a parent or guardian Advance tickets may also be purchased in person at the General Store by card only (no cash) Local duo Payton&Annabelle are bringing their previously sold out Simon & Garfunkel concert to bells, equipped with a full band and special guests. Having drawn inspiration from the pair for years, Payton&Annabelle bring new life to their well known and loved songs. Featuring a full band consisting of Alex Sherk (drums), Bradyn Weatherwax (guitar), and Michael Austin (bass), and special guests including Kait Rose, Mike Fuerst, Jeff Hale, and many others, they could not be more excited to bring their cover show back and better than ever. Payton&Annabelle are a dynamic duo blending folk and alternative genres, characterized by rich harmonies and intricate acoustic guitar arrangements. Their musical partnership blossomed at The Kalamazoo Academy of Rock band program in 2021, where a shared love for artists like Simon&Garfunkel and Taylor Swift ignited their creative spark. Payton&Annabelle are quickly making a name for themselves in Michigan. Their original song “projection” won the first ever state-wide New Moon Song Competition, and their music also garnered them first place in the Battle of the Bands at the Kalamazoo State Theatre. With over four years of performing together, and more than 80 performances, Payton&Annabelle recently had the honor of opening for four-time Grammy winner Sarah Jarosz at Bell’s Beer Garden in July 2024, which helped them expand their growing fan base. In addition, the recent performance at Bell’s Beer Garden, Payton&Annabelle also recently had the opportunity to perform at The Ark in Ann Arbor Michigan for the Battle of The Bands competition. Within the next year, you will be able to see Payton&Annabelle performing at Spring Fest in Ann Arbor, Bell’s Brewery, Buttermilk Festival, and many more places! https://www.paytonandannabelle.com https://www.instagram.com/paytonandannabelle/ https://open.spotify.com/artist/20Pz0ky33gWdsPScb8goBi https://www.facebook.com/people/Payton-Annabelle/61579818767274/
Hot Like Mars
This is a 18+ event with standing room only| 17 under with a parent or guardian Advance tickets may also be purchased in person at the General Store by card only (no cash) “From the furthest depths of the galaxy, Chicago-based funk phenomenon Hot Like Mars has been sending shockwaves across the music scene lately. Possessing a refined blend of soul, funk, and high-octane dance music, Hot Like Mars puts on a masterclass of musical patience, excellence, and enthusiasm, carefully curating their sounds into an explosive array of musical prowess. If the backbone of Motown and gospel met the psychedelic experience of the jam world, Hot Like Mars would emerge from the ashes to deliver the funk to all those fortunate enough to bear witness. While these cats have already become a cornerstone in the Chicago music scene, The Hot Like Mars experience continues to grow nationally and has become a can’t-miss act in venues across the country.”
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
