Kalamazoo post-hardcore standouts The Reptilian return home from a tour with a show at Louie’s Back Room (629 Walbridge St.) on Sept. 2. Opening is touring Chicago outfit God Alone, as well as Kalamazoo bands The Short Life and Vines. The Reptilian is also releasing the group’s new LP, End Paths, on Sept. 16.
Grand Rapids rapper Joose The Conqueror releases his new album Insomnia Sept. 2. Joose is a co-founder and member of the Grand Rapids-based digital label and artistic collective known as AGO Music, aka The Astronaut Gang Organization.
An annual fall favorite, the Eastown StreetFair returns on Sept. 10. The free community event features all local art, food, and music on three stages, beginning at 11 a.m. on its outdoor family-friendly mainstage located in the Hub Lot on Wealthy Street. Performers include: The Triumph Music Academy, Bootstrap Boys, Olivia Mainville, Cardboard Swords, Potato Babies, The Legal Immigrants, Valentiger, Brother Adams, and Lady Ace Boogie.
Local hotspots Billy’s Lounge (1437 Wealthy St. SE) and Mulligan’s Pub (1518 Wealthy St. SE) are also hosting live music on their stages during the event. The lineup at Billy’s includes Kathleen & the Bridge Street Band, I Believe In Julio, Silverstiles, Lipstick Jodi, Moto, Red Legs, Paddlebots, and the GR Soul Club. Open to those 21 and older, Mulligan’s has Thomas Gun, Charlie Darling, Dance Contraption, Antilogical, Cosmonaut, Blackgate, and Teething.
Also on Sept. 10, Founders Brewing Company presents the first-ever Tribute on the Grand at Ah-Nab-Awen Park (299 Pearl St. NW). The free, all-ages event helps raise funds for Grand Rapids Whitewater, a nonprofit organization set on restoring the rapids to the Grand River. In addition to offering lots of local beer, Tribute is featuring a performance by Grand Rapids’ own David Bowie-tribute band Brother Wolf and the Wolf Pack From Mars, as well as L.A. Vation, a U2-cover band from Los Angeles, and Free Fallin’, a Tom Petty-tribute band from Minnesota.
Meanwhile in Muskegon, on Sept. 10 the Rock Against Abuse Benefit Concert takes place at Hackley Park (350 W. Webster Ave.) and Unruly Brewing Company (360 W. Western Ave.). The community concert is featuring local bands Lakeshore Drive, Two Heded Chan, Product of Society, Of All We Cherish, Kill Tomorrow, Biffy the Beat Slayer, Blanca Luz, and Minus Two. All proceeds from the event benefit the Muskegon County Child Abuse Council.
Those looking to make a trek northward this month should look no further than the annual Earthwork Harvest Gathering held Sept. 16-18 at the Earthwork Farm (4399 N. 7 Mile Rd. in Lake City). Founded by Michigan musician and Grand Rapids regular Seth Bernard 15 years ago, the three-day family-friendly festival features free onsite camping and over 90 musical acts this year, including such West Michigan roots music favorites as The Crane Wives, Big Dudee Roo, Valentiger, Red Tail Ring, Lindsay Lou & the Flatbellys, and many, many more.
Grand Rapids hard-rockers Dirt Chili release the long-awaited LP, Shot & A Smoke, during a show at The Stache (133 Grandville Ave. SW) on Sept. 17. Veteran Hastings metalheads 6 Prong Paw and Grand Rapids rock band The Holy Warheads open.
The West Michigan Jazz Society is offering up some fresh flavor with the return of the popular monthly Monday Night Jazz Gumbo series on Sept. 19 at The Guest House (634 Stocking Ave. NW). The evening features the signature gumbo served with a side of bluesy jazz standards from The Amy Williams Quintet, featuring Mark Kahny on keys, Freddy DeGennaro on guitar, Rob Jewett on bass and Bob Thompson on drums.
Long-running Grand Rapids troupe Super Happy Funtime Burlesque is retiring the cult-favorite ArtPrize: The Musical this year, and will premiere an all-new musical as an official ArtPrize 2016 entry on Sept. 24 at The Pyramid Scheme (68 Commerce Ave. SW). The super-secret performance will have two shows at 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. and is open to those 18 and older. Don’t miss out — this one is sure to have lots of shocks and surprises.
Grand Rapids’ own Gunnar & the Grizzly Boys hit up The Intersection (133 Grandville Ave. SW) on Sept. 30. The rising country stars just spent the summer crisscrossing the entire country on tour and are celebrating their return home with this revved up show.
