Appealing to both the daytime coffee crowd and the evening music/draft beer devotees, Grand Armory Brewing and the other businesses within this downtown building make this a fun hangout
By Matt Marn
Published by Local Spins August 30, 2016
As a brewery and a live music venue, Grand Haven's Grand Armory Brewing boasts an atmosphere unlike any other area establishment.
When I first entered the building on a recent visit, lively soul music was playing over the sound system. The front door to the seating area, off the building's lobby, first greets you with Aldea Coffee at the Armory. The coffee bar, complete with its own separate staff, espresso and drink equipment, and even T-shirts and other merchandise, is open 7 a.m. -6 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 7 a.m. -7 p.m. Friday-Saturday, and 8 a.m. -4 p.m. Sunday.
Beyond Aldea lies the main seating area of the venue. Industrial-styled Edison light bulbs hang from the center of the tall, lofted ceiling. Old pictures of the building in its earlier days at the center of historic downtown Grand Haven hang on the wall behind the music stage.
Off to the side of the seating room, a window looks into a food-prep kitchen, where Righteous BBQ sits ready to serve up fresh, amazing recipes - and rather quickly, considering how busy they were that evening. For the record: try the nachos. They are a true crowd-pleaser, but if you're going alone, trust me: the half order will do just fine.
Up the stairs in the center of the room, there's a loft featuring a more secluded seating area, with a great vantage point to people-watch and enjoy the musical features. And on the other side of the second level sits the Armory Art Center, an art gallery and studio that is open to the public, holding frequent events where community members can attend and flex their creative muscles.
In the back of the main seating level sits the Grand Armory Brewing bar. Full of original craft beers, complete with fun, creative names and labels, it sets the Grand Armory name right among other heavy-hitters in the West Michigan craft brewery scene - and all in just over a year.
Read the full Venue Spotlight on Grand Armory Brewing in the full Local Spins article, here!
Saturday, April 29, 2017
Tuesday, March 28, 2017
Local Spins Link: "Grand Haven's Walk the Beat seeking bands and songs for August festival, aims for biggest spectacle yet
In its third year, Walk the Beat wants to sign up 70 bands to play 35 venues and will host another song contest, with $12,500 in prizes for musicians at stake.
By Matt Marn
Published by Local Spins March 25, 2016
The idea began as an inspired dream to provide musical instruments and resources to those who could not afford them otherwise.
But in its third year, the effort has grown into a year-round, nonprofit organization known as Walk the Beat.
The Aug. 20 Walk the Beat Festival will feature 70 bands and singer/songwriters - many of them local - performing at 35 businesses in Grand Haven. The 2015 event had 60 acts playing 30 venues.
"The festival is in its third year now," said Dave Palmer, founder and executive director of Walk the Beat. "The first year was good, and the second year doubled in attendance from the first. And we plan to double in attendance this year, again."
Organizers are now seeking and accepting applications from bands and songwriters. Registration is now open online at walkthebeat.org for bands as well as sponsors/venues. Seventy acts will be selected from the pool of applicants to participate.
Read more on the background of Walk the Beat in the full 2016 preview article at Local Spins... and stay tuned to Local Spins for updates on the festival's 2017 plans, which should be even bigger!
Wednesday, March 1, 2017
Local Spins Sneak Peek: "KISS gets patriotic, loud, fiery, and 'Psycho Circus' theatrical in Grand Rapids tour stop
By Matt Marn
Lights flashed, fire raged all across the stage, and the four iconic members of KISS descended from raised platforms down onto the stage to greet the crowd. The group dove straight into their beloved hit, "Detroit Rock City," and rabid fans were up on their feet, screaming.
Most stayed that way all night.
Playing familiar titles from albums new and old all across their career, the legendary rock n' roll group - bass player Gene Simmons, guitarists Paul Stanley and Tommy Thayer, and drummer Eric Singer - uncorked an over-the-top night full of trademark theatrics to wow the crowd, backing it up with blazing guitar solos, thundering work from the drum kit, and the confidence of seasoned entertainers.
Read more about this theatrical, fiery concert in the full article, posted by Local Spins!
Wednesday, November 23, 2016
Local Spins Sneak Peek: Grand Haven braces for Season Two of "Music at the Museum" series
By Matt Marn
Published by Local Spins August 10, 2016
It all started with a little red house.
Locally organized concerts have helped put Grand Haven on the musical map, thanks in large part to the Red House Concert Series and the wildly successful first season of Music at the Museum, held at the Tri-Cities Historical Museum in downtown Grand Haven.
Now the museum staff, together with organizers of the Music at the Museum series, are ready to play the second verse of this hit song they have written, together with the announcement of another edition of the popular concert series.
Read more on the announcement, as well as the season schedule, on the full Local Spins article!
Published by Local Spins August 10, 2016
It all started with a little red house.
Locally organized concerts have helped put Grand Haven on the musical map, thanks in large part to the Red House Concert Series and the wildly successful first season of Music at the Museum, held at the Tri-Cities Historical Museum in downtown Grand Haven.
Now the museum staff, together with organizers of the Music at the Museum series, are ready to play the second verse of this hit song they have written, together with the announcement of another edition of the popular concert series.
Read more on the announcement, as well as the season schedule, on the full Local Spins article!
Local Spins Sneak Peek: Diana Ross hits all the right notes for passionate crowd at Meijer Gardens
By Matt Marn
Published by Local Spins July 26, 2016
Long before the gates opened early at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park on Monday to usher in the capacity crowd of fans, ticket holders understood they were in for something special.
They knew that the Queen of Motown, Diana Ross, was not far away.
And part of that royal family - Ross' daughter, Rhonda Ross - opened the concert, starting with a rendition of Roberta Flack's "Killing Me Softly with His Song," accompanied by a band and backing vocalists.
"I am so thrilled to be here as a part of my mother's show," she told the crowd during a short set that included a few songs from "In Case You Haven't Heard," her latest album. "I've learned, it doesn't matter what's going on around me, only I can decide how I feel."
Rhonda said she considers herself a social artist, one who uses her music to help make people think and add to the social conversation. She began a lively, upbeat jazzy tempo medley, including another favorite, "You've Got the Best of My Love," which had much of the audience clapping along with her music.
By the time she left the stage, the crowd already was cheering eagerly for the main performer of the evening to take the floor. As the band came out to take their places, fans rose to their feet, clapping for her grand entrance.
Read more about Ross' grand entrance and Meijer Gardens show at the full article on Local Spins!
Published by Local Spins July 26, 2016
Long before the gates opened early at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park on Monday to usher in the capacity crowd of fans, ticket holders understood they were in for something special.
They knew that the Queen of Motown, Diana Ross, was not far away.
And part of that royal family - Ross' daughter, Rhonda Ross - opened the concert, starting with a rendition of Roberta Flack's "Killing Me Softly with His Song," accompanied by a band and backing vocalists.
"I am so thrilled to be here as a part of my mother's show," she told the crowd during a short set that included a few songs from "In Case You Haven't Heard," her latest album. "I've learned, it doesn't matter what's going on around me, only I can decide how I feel."
Rhonda said she considers herself a social artist, one who uses her music to help make people think and add to the social conversation. She began a lively, upbeat jazzy tempo medley, including another favorite, "You've Got the Best of My Love," which had much of the audience clapping along with her music.
By the time she left the stage, the crowd already was cheering eagerly for the main performer of the evening to take the floor. As the band came out to take their places, fans rose to their feet, clapping for her grand entrance.
Read more about Ross' grand entrance and Meijer Gardens show at the full article on Local Spins!
Local Spins Sneak Peek: Old Crow Medicine Show turns Meijer Gardens amphitheater into backyard party
By Matt Marn
Published by Local Spins July 15, 2016
From the very first song, Old Crow Medicine Show set the bar high.
The bluegrass/folk/country band's headlining set thursday night at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park captivated young and old alike in the sold-out amphitheater, including longtime fans wearing shirts from tours and shows past and children enjoying their first concert of many to come.
After an opening acoustic set from Alabama songwriter duo Secret Sisters, Old Crow Medicine Show jumped right in with a fast, upbeat tempo, getting the crowd cheering from the get go. Trading bluesy solos from one instrument to the next, the group members seemed to feed off the member who played before them, then build on it as the song flew on.
Read the full article about the concert at Local Spins!
Published by Local Spins July 15, 2016
From the very first song, Old Crow Medicine Show set the bar high.
The bluegrass/folk/country band's headlining set thursday night at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park captivated young and old alike in the sold-out amphitheater, including longtime fans wearing shirts from tours and shows past and children enjoying their first concert of many to come.
After an opening acoustic set from Alabama songwriter duo Secret Sisters, Old Crow Medicine Show jumped right in with a fast, upbeat tempo, getting the crowd cheering from the get go. Trading bluesy solos from one instrument to the next, the group members seemed to feed off the member who played before them, then build on it as the song flew on.
Read the full article about the concert at Local Spins!
Thursday, June 2, 2016
Local Spins Sneak Peek: Singer/Songwriter Matt Gabriel takes eclectic, diverse approach on new EP, 'Fiction'
On his newest recording, the Grand Rapids artist aimed to "write something different." He'll perform those genre-spanning songs and more compelling material along the lakeshore in coming weeks.By Matt Marn
Published by Local Spins
It starts fast and energetic, coming at listeners with a country twang, like an Old West train robbery.
That was the scene that West Michigan singer/songwriter Matt Gabriel envisioned while writing the first track on his new EP, "Fiction."
That renegade image fits perfectly - not only with the song, but with the entire album - because Gabriel refuses to let himself be pigeonholed into one style or genre.
"I'm always trying to write something different," Gabriel said. "I'm surprised how people don't get bored, staying all within one genre, not even branching out simply for their own enjoyment."
The 27-year-old Jenison native's EP is versatile in the tone of its songs, an impressive feat considering there are only three tracks on the recording. The first, "True North," is a faster-paced, upbeat song, full of country twang in the guitar licks. The track's lyrics deliver a message about breaking ranks with what should be, in favor of following your own path instead.
Read more about this EP, and Matt Gabriel's songwriting style, on the Local Spins website!
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