The Movement – WAYS OF THE WORLD 5TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR With special guests Long Beach Dub Allstars, aurorawave
2024 Bell’s Beer Garden Summer Concert SeriesThis is a 18 and over event. 17 and under admitted with a parent or guardian New album Always With Me out now. The Movement has been winning the hearts and minds of alternative-reggae fans since their inception in Columbia, SC in 2003. Drawing inspiration from Sublime, 311, Slightly Stoopid and John Brown’s Body, they’ve made a name for themselves as reggae shapeshifters with a foundation of heavy drum and bass. Today the band consists of founding member, lead vocalist and guitarist Joshua Swain , bassist Jason Schmidt , drummer Gary Jackson ,keyboardist/multi-instrumentalist Matt Goodwin, and saxophonist/percussionist Kyle Jerome . Their seventh studio album, Ways Of The World (2019) debuted at #1 in the Billboard Reggae Chart, and remained in the Billboard Reggae Top 10 for more than 40 consecutive weeks. The band’s eighth studio album Always With Me – out July 29, 2022 on the band’s R4RE Records imprint – explores new musical territory while staying true to their champion sound. Featuring collaborations from their influences-turned-peers, Slightly Stoopid, Iration, and Clinton Fearon, and contemporaries HIRIE and Soom T, for The Movement, the only path is forward; pushing the boundaries and the future of reggae.
Seun Kuti & Egypt80
This is a 18 and over event.Standing Room Only Seun Kuti is the youngest son of Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti. He has spent most of his life preserving and extending his father’s political and musical legacy as the leader of his father’s former band Egypt 80. Kuti was born in early 1983. He showed interest in his father’s music from the age of five, and at nine began opening Fela’s shows, singing a select group of songs with Egypt 80 before his dad took the stage. As a developing saxophonist and percussionist, he entered the formal ranks of the band before he was 12. Fela passed in 1997, and Seun, in fulfillment of his father’s wishes, assumed the mantle as head of Egypt 80; he has run it ever since. During his teens, Kuti divided his time between the band and school, participating in African Football. From the time he was 18, he pursued music full-time. His shows were always a mix of his father’s tunes and his own. Although the elder Kuti never performed his recorded work on-stage, Seun felt it important that these compositions get a live hearing and added them to his own set. Along the way, Seun began to add his own twist to the music, digging deep into various African traditions to reflect the continent’s struggles and cultures. His debut recording, Seun Kuti & Fela’s Egypt 80, was initially issued by WM Recordings in 2008, and later picked up for distribution by Mr. Bongo. While many outside Africa criticized it for using the Egypt 80 name, critics embraced its musical drive and improvisational fervor. Mr. Bongo also released his Many Things set later that year, which drew more praise than criticism. Seun toured globally and played for enthusiastically receptive audiences in Detroit, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Paris, London, Tokyo, and especially Lagos. In 2011, He cut From Africa with Fury: Rise for Knitting Factory Records. It was co-produced with Brian Eno and John Reynolds. The set proved to be his breakthrough; it landed on both Billboard and digital International Charts. Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 toured the globe relentlessly, often playing multi-hour shows that were as heavy on group improvisation as they were on composition. The music never deviated from the overtly political. The younger Kuti continued to state that “Fela will always be number one,” despite the fact that he was shifting and transforming Afrobeat with his own growing, evolving musical signature. On December 9, 2022, Seun Kuti released a new EP titled African Dreams. The EP, featuring with Roots frontman and MC extraordinaire Black Thought., consists of three remixes of songs from Seun Kuti & Egypt 80’s 2018 Grammy-nominated album Black Times. The ep reached the top20 on the American Independent Radio Charts (NACC), the top3 on the Hip Hop Chart, and the top5 on the World Chart. In 2023 Seun Kuti collaborated on Janelle Monae’s album (Grammy nominee for Album Of The Year) with two singles: ‘Float’ and ‘Knows Better’. And he features also on “Liberation 2” – Talib Kweli and MadLib album – on the song “Nat Turner” ft Cassper Nyovest and he released a new version of the single “BadMan Lighter” with Black Thought, featuring Vic Mensa, reaching 1 million monthly listeners on Spotify.
The Go Rounds w/ Gitis Baggs & The Lasso
18+ Event standing room only The Go Rounds are one of contemporary indie rock’s most creative groups, a bold and visionary collection of talented musicians that have forged a reputation as innovators over the course of five studio albums and countless live performances. Hailing from Kalamazoo, Michigan, they’ve firmly established themselves in the Great Lakes music community, becoming staples of the local festival circuit while taking their electric live show from coast to coast, from SXSW to Otis Mountain Getdown. Having shared the stage with Jeff Tweedy, Delicate Steve, Mandolin Orange, The Wood Brothers, Caroline Rose, The War and Treaty, Liz Cooper & the Stampede, and Lucy Rose, The Go Rounds are seriously experienced performers with the material to back it up. Described as a blend of psychedelia, Americana, twang-rock and jelly-roll with a healthy dose of pop sensibility holding things together, The Go Rounds write music that sounds like bits and pieces of all your favorite bands exploded into rock ‘n roll confetti. Fingerpicked guitar, fuzzy distorted tones, introspective ambience, spellbinding vocals and effervescent synth-pop: they manage to effortlessly weave together a varied sonic palette through intricate arrangements that are at once accessible, engaging, surprising and evocative. —————— Acclaimed Kalamazoo songwriter, G’itis Baggs, performing with a stunning collection of Michigan talent, the new album Having The Same Dream
Adjy w/ Tambourina, The American Hotel System
This is a 18+ event with standing room only The mythical retelling of your summer camp romance, only the Greek chorus is the school band.” Adjy is a musical mythopoic apparatus based in undisclosed locations in the blessed, wild land of Appalachia. With it’s emphasis on storytelling, Adjy cants deeply sincere hymns commemorating doubt, philosophy, and the toil and trauma of attempting connection with others. After being approached by Triple Crown Records, the Project signed with the label, and after several tours, Christopher Noyes -composer and writer- recluse like an alchemical hermit and has spent the past 2 years writing and recording their debut full-length record. Adjy ‘s live musical performance is generally 5-6 musicians, who’s goal is to create moments of wonder and aporia though passionate performances, the inclusion of several idiosyncratic instruments and audience participation/bewilderment… While at times they’ll find themselves somewhere between an Andy Kaufmen bit, and a Punch Brothers concert… they feel perfectly at home amongst an “Emo,” “Indie,” or “Punk Rock” Show with their use of sing-along gang vocals, raucous climaxes, and emotional sets.
Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers Summer 2024 Tour w/ Low Phase
2024 Bell’s Beer Garden Summer Concert SeriesThis is a 18 and over event. 17 and under admitted with a parent or guardian Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers will make a sprightly young groove doctor out of anyone. With spectacular energy pulsating from every member of the band, the Rainbow Seekers could illuminate the very chambers of Heaven. Lead singer Joe Hertler splashes through lyrical puddles of golden rain, leaving his audience wearing flowery crowns and bubbling smiles. A ride on the Rainbow will take you across the mountains of Motown, through the fjords of folk, over the archipelagos of Americana, and-at last-into a funky firth, where only the fiercest of friendships can be found. The Rainbow Seekers began their historic quest 8 years ago, revolving around the pure, unadulterated songwriting of their fearless leader, Joe Hertler. Ryan Hoger was the first among the Seekers to find this lonely songsmith and recognize the twinkling magic in his beard. The young boy gave up all his earthly possessions (besides his guitar, of course) and became the first disciple of the Rainbow. With this, the core of the Rainbow was thereby established, and it didn’t take long for the Rainbow Seekers to continue their expansion. Multi-instrumentalist and notable auxiliary percussion maestro Micah Bracken journeyed from the bowels of Atlantis when he heard tell of the Rainbow, and the earth trembled as saxophonist and all-around badass Aaron Stinson descended from Olympus on a golden rainbow of his own. Then came thunder from the depths of space and as it picked up the bass, a soft exhale escaped the lips of every princess within a hundred moons, “Bambis,” they cooed. All the while, on the other ends of the earth, a young boy was hard at work, honing and sharpening his sticks for the day that the Rainbow would come his way, and when it landed at his door, Ryan McMahon climbed aboard. Since the early days, their quest has brought them across the nation and upon such noble gatherings as Bonnaroo, Electric Forest, and Summer Camp. As you’ll know if you’ve seen the band, seeking the proverbial Rainbow is all about the live performance. “The live show is the purpose of the band. This is why we make music. Playing music is a symbiotic process, the crowd is as much a part of it as the musicians. We give as much energy and love as we can and we can feel that coming from the crowd as well” says Hertler. “We believe that performance is not a High Art operation, and that you should do anything you can to ensure that the crowd is having a good time. From piñatas to confetti, to fog, to flowers, to drum solos, to strobe lights, to Thor, to sword battles-literally anything goes.” If you’re still reading this, at least one thing is true: The Rainbow Seekers have been waiting for you. If you’ll only let them, they will shake the dust from your wildest expectations. They will roar into your life with rapturous frequencies, exuberant tone, and a joyfulness of purpose that has truly become a rare sight on stage. Join them in their celebration, and they will take you on a never-ending journey to a place you’ll never be able to describe in words.
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
Earth Radio, After Ours & Fake Baseball
This is a 18 and over event.Standing room only EARTH RADIO Earth Radio are storytellers of a future yet to be realized. This Grand Rapids Future-Soul group consists of Justin Avdek (bass, vox), Hannah Laine (keys, vox), Dutcher Snedeker (keys, synth), and David Ward (drums, percussion). The band formed in 2017 when Avdek brought these unique West Michigan musicians together for a spontaneous recording collaboration, which turned into a progressive project, birthed from a shared passion of neo-soul and sonic ingenuity. You’ll hear elements of funk, rock, soul, and progressive jazz, reminiscent of Hiatus Kaiyote, Erykah Badu, Radiohead, and Knower, melded together into a sound that is uniquely Earth Radio AFTER OURS After Ours is a two-man wrecking crew with influences ranging from modern jazz to grunge to instrumental hip hop & experimental music. Hybrid 7-string guitarist Eli Kahn creates sonic layer cakes with loops atop drummer Arthur Schroeder’s ever-expansive jazz beat backdrops to create a unique sound that is all their own. FAKE BASEBALL Fake Baseball is an eclectic art-pop band based in Kalamazoo, MI. Fake Baseball bends pop music on its ear, and builds engaging soundscapes, with consideration toward making those booties drop. Come be bathed in the sweet and uneasy melancholy of a glitchy, introspective dream-zone, and wiggle your hips to an intricate groove with dazzling keys.
Rumours ATL: A Fleetwood Mac Tribute
This is a 18+ event with standing room only Formed in 2014, Rumours ATL has taken the U.S. by storm with their stage scorching renditionsof Fleetwood Mac songs. Fans from across the nation claim that Rumours ATL is the band to see if youare looking for an authentic recreation of live Fleetwood Macshows.In just under 7 years, Rumours ATL has landed themselves the reputation of being the bestFleetwood Mac Tribute band and additionally has made fans internationally. In the summer of 2019,Rumours ATL was invited to play a week in TheNetherlands at some of the top venues and festivals inthe country. The success of that tour brought them attention from plenty of new fans and promoters andthey will be returning in 2020. Specially crafted shows and not one detail left behind, Rumours ATLcontinues to sell out some of the top venues in the United States and gain fans at each show.Rumours ATL is fronted by Mekenzie Zimmerman (Stevie Nicks vocals), Adrienne Cottrell(keyboards and Christine McVie vocals), and Denny Hanson (guitar and Lindsey Buckinghamvocals).John Spiegel on lead guitar, Jim Ramsdell on bass, and Daniel Morrison on drums makeup oneof the best live band performances you will see at any show. The band prides themselves on being themost authentic Fleetwood Mac Tribute without coming across as a parody or a bore of a show. They willmake you dance, sing along at the top of your lungs, and you’ll even learn something new aboutFleetwood Mac at each performance.Rumours ATL will leave you wanting more. Rumours ATLwill make you relive those Fleetwood Macmemories.Do you believe in miracles and the ways of magic? Rumours ATL do.
Shemekia Copeland
This is a 18+ event with standing room only 17 and under admitted with a parent or guardian Shemekia Copeland possesses one of the most instantly recognizable and deeply soulful roots music voices of our time. The multi-GRAMMY nominee is beloved and honored worldwide for the fearlessness, honesty and humor of her revelatory songs, as well as for her winning, engaging personality. The Chicago Tribune says, “Copeland is the greatest female blues vocalist working today. There’s no mistaking the majesty of her instrument, nor the ferocity of her delivery.” On Copeland’s new album, Blame It On Eve, the songs all hit hard, with jaw-dropping performances that instantly take hold and command repeated listening. “There’s serious business on the new album,” Copeland says, “but there are a lot of smiles here too, a lot of joyous moments. It’s my blues for sure but it’s the brighter side. Issues are always important to me, but so is rocking, dancing and just having fun. And that’s something we all can all agree on.” Blame It On Eve was recorded in Nashville and produced by instrumentalist/songwriter Will Kimbrough (who also produced her previous three albums). It features 12 new songs that tackle subjects as important as a woman’s right to choose and climate change, but also leaves space for Copeland to have fun and unwind. From the autobiographical, rocking blues boogie Tough Mother to the anthemic title track’s good-humored but serious focus on reproductive self-determination to the happy hour of Wine O’Clock, Copeland is inspired throughout. Famed multi-instrumentalist Jerry Douglas adds his dobro to the fascinating, true story of Tee Tot Payne, the obscure early 20th century Alabama musician who taught Hank Williams the blues, and sacred steel player DaShawn Hickman brings his magic to the feisty and uplifting Tell The Devil. Shemekia’s friend, roots-rocker Alejandro Escovedo, joins in on the anguished, celestial query Is There Anybody Up There?. On the sad lover’s tale Belle Sorciere, Copeland sings the chorus in French, with the haunting melody composed by Pascal Danae of the Paris-based band Delgres (who were recently featured on the cover of Rolling Stone France). Copeland’s blistering, deep blues delivery of Down On Bended Knee—by her late father, the great bluesman Johnny Copeland—sets up the thought-provoking closer Heaven Help Us All, a song originally made famous first by Stevie Wonder and later by Ray Charles. Taken as a whole, the passionate, charismatic, joyous and at times confrontational Blame It On Eve is bound to become among the most celebrated releases of Copeland’s impressive, still-unfolding career. With Blame It On Eve, Copeland embarks on what she calls “a vacation from all the heaviness.” Blame It On Eve contains plenty of Copeland’s trademark bold and courageous songs, but here Copeland is also looking to unplug from the weight of world. “My last three records have dealt with breaking news,” she says. “This record is for people like me who want a break from the news.”
