As Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park gears up for another summer of concerts, one could hearken back to the American Express slogan of yore — membership has its privileges.
With the members-only presale launching on April 25, the annual scrum for the most popular of the season’s 30 performances will begin. Last year, about a third of the dates at the 1,900-seat venue sold out during the first day of the two-week member presale period, and a similar number are expected to sell out this year, said spokeswoman Andrea Wolschleger.
“If there’s one that somebody really looking forward to, I would suggest getting a membership,” Wolschleger said. “That member presale lasts two weeks. That’s two weeks that 25,000 member households get the opportunity to buy tickets before the general public.”
This year’s 30-date lineup features popular returning artists like the Indigo Girls, Lyle Lovett and the Doobie Brothers as well as first-time performers like Diana Krall, Sweet Harmony Soul featuring Mavis Staples, Patty Griffin and Amy Helm), and Orquestra Buena Vista Social Club. The 20th anniversary concert with Tony Bennett on Sept. 7 is likely to be a hot ticket, and the returning O.A.R. was one of the shows that sold out in the first hour of pre-sales last year. Deviating from the typical concert format this year will be performances by the Dancing With the Stars people from the teevee and comedian Brian Regan.
The public sale starts May 9. But if you can’t bear the thought of missing, say, Styx on Aug. 13, ponying up for a membership might be advisable. For more information, visit meijergardens.org.
UPDATE: According to Meijer Gardens' Facebook page, a bunch of shows did indeed sell out within hours of going on sale. The quick sellouts include: Harry Connick, Jr., O.A.R., Colbie Caillat and Christina Perri, the Beach Boys and the Temptations, Styx, Diana Krall, The Steve Miller Band, the Doobie Brothers and Tony Bennett.
