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
JON HAYES & THE COMPANY W/ DEERFIELD RUN & WRITER’S ROUND FEAT. Jack Droppers, Pete & Bergie and Carrie Mcferrin
18+ Standing Room Only Show | 17 and under admitted with a parent or guardian Jack Droppers & the Best Intentions have released 4 albums in the last 8 years. Jack Droppers is allergic to guinea pigs. Jack Droppers & the Best Intentions have won a couple of awards for their last 2 LPs, received praise from critics across the world, and been featured in NPR music’s Tiny Desk Contest recap. Jack Droppers often feels sad when his favorite basketball team loses. Jack Droppers & the Best Intentions have toured all over the United States and have shared the stage with many Billboard charting artists. Jack Droppers has crashed two cars. Jack Droppers will be performing solo for this show. Pete & Bergie is a husband-and-wife folk duo from Kalamazoo, Michigan, comprising Chris and Hannah Peters. They perform friendly folk songs, drawing influences from 1960s and 1970s folk artists like Peter, Paul & Mary, Simon and Garfunkel, and Bread. Their music features pleasant vocal harmonization and intricate finger-style guitar playing. They have released several EPs, including “Pieces of Work, Vol. 4” in April 2024, featuring songs like “Claira,” “Best Friend,” “Keep Me Humble,” and “Radio Flyer.” In addition to their studio recordings, Pete & Bergie have performed live at various venues and festivals. Carrie McFerrin has been through it all: love, heartbreak, joy, pain, motherhood, personal and professional struggles, and an upbringing in northern Indiana. But she survives, she thrives, she persists, and most importantly for us, she writes songs of the deepest empathy and depth of feeling, and delivers them to us with a husky Michigan twang. Kinda country, kinda indie folk, all original, never one thing but everything she needs to say. Michigan’s Sweetheart belongs to the world, to her two children, and to her own restless muse. Deerfield Run blends blues rock with a touch of country and a dash of funk, serving up a tasty musical blend that’s irresistible to audiences. Hailing from Grand Rapids, MI, the band delivers strong original songs and surprising covers pulled from a deep back pocket of classic tunes. As a group of seasoned West Michigan musicians with influences ranging from Al Green to Eric Clapton to the Eagles, their powerful instrumental and vocal performances captivate audiences of all ages. Their debut, self-titled album was released in September 2017, and the group released their new album, Reckless, in September 2020. Jon Hayes with his soulful tones and a storytelling ability reminiscent of Bon Iver and NEEDTOBREATHE, this musician carries an unwavering commitment to authenticity and honesty. His mixture of storytelling and song-craft has made him a favorite among locals and Jon’s candid nature and humor have put him on a circuit of performing everything from house concerts and listening rooms to local eateries and festivals. His first album, “Between You & Me,” was a work of intimate honesty with his listeners, which was received well by fans, supporters, bloggers, and playlists alike, but he’s now returning with his next work: “Something More”. This project pulls in more of Jon’s influences such as Allen Stone, Gavin Degraw and of course… more John Mayer! CD’s will be available for purchase so that you can take this project home with you long before streaming services gain access.
WHITE DENIM
This is a 18+ event with standing room only17 and under admitted with a parent or guardian White Denim is a freewheeling American rock and roll band formed in Austin, Texas in 2006. Over nearly 20 years and 13 albums the band has continued to energetically explore new territory, consistently delivering a musically sophisticated and inventive product both on record and on stage. James Petralli and his exceptional group put the music first. You will not see a better live band if you live to be a million.
THE SINATRAS ’40TH ANNIVERSARY SHOW’ wsgs BROKEN HEARTS ARE BLUE
This is a 18+ event with standing room only17 and under admitted with a parent or guardian Summer of ‘85 – Battle Creek, MI’s Sinatras begin their run of scorching live sets at a hometown record store. Soon adopting stomping grounds in neighboring Kalamazoo, the band earn their high-energy stage reputation in Midwest venues stretching from St. Andrew’s to the Cubby Bear, to 7th Street Entry and beyond. Appearances on Chicago LP compilations It Came From Jay’s Garage and 20 Explosive Dynamic Super Smash Hit Explosions!, followed by vinyl, cassette, and digital releases through their Leppotone Electrical Recordings collective, expand the group’s cult following across the globe through the ‘90’s and beyond. Into the 21st century, bills shared with such diverse acts as Mission of Burma, ? and the Mysterians, and Kalamazoo punk pioneers the T-Snakes shake the senses of new and loyal audiences alike with fresh sounds and fan favorites. The Sinatras are proud to celebrate their 40th anniversary in concert at Bell’s Eccentric Cafe on August 9, 2025, following a rare live appearance by Kalamazoo’s native sons Broken Hearts Are Blue.
SOUTHERN CULTURE ON THE SKIDS
18+ Standing Room Only Show 17 and under admitted with a parent or guardian Southern Culture On The Skids has been consistently recording and touring around the world since 1983. The band (Rick Miller – guitar and vocals, Mary Huff – bass and vocals, Dave Hartman – drums) has been playing together for over 30 years. Their musical journey has taken them from all-night North Carolina house parties to late night TV talk shows (Conan O’Brien, The Tonight Show), from performing at the base of Mt. Fuji in Japan to rockin’ out for the inmates at North Carolina correctional facilities. They’ve shared a stage with many musical luminaries including Link Wray, Loretta Lynn, Hasil Adkins and Patti Smith. Their music has been featured in movies and TV, parodied by Weird Al, and used to sell everything from diamonds to pork sausage. In 2014 the band was honored by the Southern Folklife Collection at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill with an exhibition featuring their music and cultural contributions. Their legendary live shows are a testament to the therapeutic powers of foot-stomping, butt-shaking rock and roll and what Rolling Stone dubbed “a hell raising rock and roll party.” At Home with Southern Culture on the Skids is the latest full length album from the band and was released in March of 2021. It was recorded during the stay at home period of the pandemic when the band was at home and not touring. The album consists of 11 tracks recorded and mixed in Rick Miller’s living room with some additional tracks recorded at his studio, The Kudzu Ranch. The first radio single off the album is “Run Baby Run”—a rocking number with deep garage roots. SCOTS bassist Mary Huff provides an urgent vocal while the band pulls back the throttle on a full race fuzz fest—cause she’s gotta to go fast! Run Baby Run! The other songs on the album are a combination of the band’s unique mix of musical genres: rock and roll, surf, folk and country—all a bit off-center, what Rick proudly calls “our wobbly Americana”. Rick goes on, “We put a few more acoustic guitars on this one, as you would expect if you recorded in your living room, but it still rocks like SCOTS. So put your headphones on, get in your favorite chair/sofa/recliner, put on “At Home With” and let’s hang out for a while.”
Trevor Hall – The Monsoon Nights Tour with Daniel Rodriguez
2025 Bell’s Beer Garden Summer Concert SeriesThis is a 18 and over event. 17 and under admitted with a parent or guardian Trevor Hall and The Great In-Between marks the start of a new era for musician Trevor Hall. Releasing September 15th, 2023 on Hall’s own 3 Rivers Label, the highly-anticipated record delivers a future-folk masterpiece anchored in Hall’s beloved style, while simultaneously bringing a refreshing new sound to the forefront. Created solely within the confines of a barn-turned-studio in his own backyard, this record marks the first of Hall’s career where he helmed every aspect of the production process. Penned without external influence and from a purely creative and explorative space, Trevor Hall and the Great In-Between unveils raw and unfiltered facets of Hall that remain undiscovered. Hailing from a small island in South Carolina, Hall was raised in a musical family and began formally studying classical guitar in high school at Idyllwild Arts Academy. Quickly thrust into the world of major labels, Hall signed a record deal at the young age of sixteen. After realizing the restrictive nature of such deals, he decided to pave his own way and reclaim his artistic freedom. Starting in 2017, he began releasing music independently. Since then, Hall has sold hundreds of thousands of albums and amassed billions of streams, leaving an indelible mark on the lives of countless listeners. His memorable live performances have graced venues around the world, including multiple sold-out headline shows at the historic Red Rocks Amphitheater. Hall currently resides in Colorado with his wife, author & photographer Emory Hall, as well as his son.
Jon Spencer
18+ event | 17 and under with a parent or guardian standing room only Jon Spencer is back, and he is ON FIRE! Jon Spencer has been innovative force in the independent music scene since the mid-80s. An acclaimed live performer, he has toured all the continents except Antarctica and has amassed a dizzying discography as the leader of Pussy Galore, The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Heavy Trash, and Jon Spencer & the HITmakers, as well as with Boss Hog, The Honeymoon Killers, The Gibson Brothers, and Taxi Girls. His collaborations include (but are not limited to) working with Steve Albini, Add N To X, Nicole Atkins, Beastie Boys, Beck, Bomb The Bass, R.L. Burnside, James Chance, Coldcut, Chuck D, Dan The Automator, Jim Dickinson, DJ Shadow, Einsturzende Neubauten, Guitar Wolf, GZA, David Holmes, Japanese Popstars, Dr. John, Calvin Johnson, Steve Jordan, Khan, Moby, Money Mark, The Muffs, The North Mississippi All Stars, Princess Superstar, Puffy AmiYumi, The Sadies, Nancy Sinatra, Solex, Solomon Burke, Speedball Baby, Rufus Thomas, UNKLE, Unloved, Andre Williams, and Bernie Worrell. His production credits include: Cheater Slicks, Demolition Doll Rods, Experimental Tropic Blues Band, Perrosky, Mike Edison, Jesper Munk, Sunshine & The Rain, The Bobby Lees, and Samantha Fish & Jesse Dayton.
An evening with STARFARM
18+ event | 17 and under with a parent or guardian standing room only Do you want your MTV of old? Are you spending your Saturday nights watching VH1 count down your favorite ‘80s videos??? Then Starfarm is what you need! Starfarm brings the most “Totally Awesome!” collection of ’80s songs that you can dream of. Every song played instantly captures that nostalgic feeling, sending you back to the decade of pegged pants, mullets and Aqua Net. From the very first chord of the night you will be dancing and pumping your fist in the air, singing along to the much-loved songs of yesterday. Always ready to break a sweat, Starfarm comes complete with cardboard, old-skool adidas track suits, legwarmers and aviator sunglasses, plus a state-of-the-art sound system and light show.
THE WALLFLOWERS with EARLY JAMES
2025 Bell’s Beer Garden Summer Concert SeriesThis is a 18 and over event. 17 and under admitted with a parent or guardian Rock ‘n’ roll is often hard to define, or even to find, in these fractured musical times. But to paraphrase an old saying, you know it when you hear it. And you always hear it with the Wallflowers. For the past 30 years, the Jakob Dylan-led act has stood as one of rock’s most dynamic and purposeful bands – a unit dedicated to and continually honing a sound that meshes timeless songwriting and storytelling with a hard-hitting and decidedly modern musical attack. That signature style has been present through the decades, baked into the grooves of smash hits like 1996’s Bringing Down the Horse as well as more recent and exploratory fare like 2012’s Glad All Over. Even so, in recent years, Dylan – the Wallflowers’ founding singer, songwriter and guitarist – has repeatedly stepped outside of his band, first with a pair of more acoustic and rootsy records, 2008’s Seeing Things and 2010’s Women + Country, and then with the 2018 film Echo in the Canyon and the accompanying soundtrack, which saw him collaborate with a host of artists classic and contemporary, from Neil Young and Eric Clapton to Beck and Fiona Apple. But while it’s been nine long years since we’ve heard from the group with whom he first made his mark, the Wallflowers are silent no more. And Dylan always knew they’d return. “The Wallflowers is much of my life’s work,” he says simply
