West Michigan's Arts & Entertainment Guide
HopCat is known for many things. It may be the relaxed outdoor patio, expansive bottle list, top-notch beer dinners, the 49 taps or the bar's recognition as the third best beer bar in the world by BeerAdvocate. One aspect that's somewhat overlooked however, is its beers.
Kris Hitchcock and Small Town Son: From Small Town to Big Dreams
Written by Jamie Linari | Wednesday, 21 September 2011 12:45 |Kris Hitchcock has many theories about why music-loving people inevitably turn to country. His strongest philosophy reveals that we all sprout from insubordinate teens that eventually need a story to cling.
Band Spotlight: Wires and Lights
Written by Kevin VanAntwerpen | Wednesday, 21 September 2011 12:44 |If you missed the West Michigan Noise! Convention at MXTP in Grand Rapids this summer, or the Dog Days of Summer festival at Old Dog Tavern in Kalamazoo last August, then you also missed out on seeing West Michigan's newest rising star, Wires and Lights.
Crush 'Em All Tour kicks off in Grand Rapids at The Intersection
Written by Robby Hartley | Wednesday, 14 September 2011 08:39 |Arkaik Clothing and Rockstar Energy Drink are planning to level 36 cities in September and October, and they're starting with Grand Rapids. The companies have teamed to host the second Crush ‘Em All Tour, starting Sept. 21 at the Intersection and featuring the vehement death metal of Veil of Maya and the riff-and-thrash technical prowess of After the Burial.
The Indie Experience
Written by Garrett Dennert, Robby Hartley, Lindsay Patton-Carson | Monday, 29 August 2011 14:51 |Indie rock is taking over Michigan this fall in the form of four festivals that are similar in genre, but very different in lineups. Reaching its third year, Indie Rock Fest will take place in Grand Haven on Sept. 23 and 24 and will feature several local indie bands from Michigan to play over the course of two nights.
Though the Grand Rapids classic rock/blues/reggae fusion group The Legal Immigrants has been in existence for almost two years now, the band was well-kept secret -- until now. That was when a series of networking victories led exposure with a drastically higher profile.
ConvoTronics: The industry of electronic conversation
Written by Kevin VanAntwerpen | Friday, 26 August 2011 14:11 |Earlier this year, ConvoTronics appeared on both the Detroit and Long Island stops of the Vans Warped Tour. They performed on the brand new "Bring It Back" stage — an experimental new platform for rap and hip-hop artists to showcase their music, which member Julius Hayes described as "euphoric."
September Microbrews: Central City Tap House
Written by Ben Darcie | Thursday, 25 August 2011 12:51 |In a street mall that intersects Michigan Avenue, there are browsing customers and colorful storefronts. Toward the end of the mall lies Central City Tap House with its sun-bathed outdoor patio and split dining room and pub sections inside.
ArtPrize 2011 Brings Robust Competition
Written by Kelli Kolakowski | Thursday, 25 August 2011 12:18 |The inaugural ArtPrize put Grand Rapids on the map as a place where art is loved and where conversations of art are fluent. ArtPrize 2010 exploded with more participants, venues and visitors and added the exhibition center concept.
This year, as the competition gears up for its third round, the emphasis may shift from what you see to what you hear.
