VALENPINTS & PORTRAITS : A BELL’S PAINTING NIGHT
Love is in the air… Join us on February 11th in Bell’s Back Room for a date night that’s equal parts romantic and ridiculous—because, let’s be honest, your painting skills might be questionable, but the fun (and beer) will bring the laughter! Leading the way is our creative, artistic, and very talented co-worker Maria, who will guide you through the process of painting your partner. For just $30 per couple, you’ll get: Supplies for both of you to create your masterpiece of each other 2 drink tickets to keep the creative juices flowing A night filled with laughter, love, and likely some accidental abstract art Whether you’re unleashing your inner Van Gogh or just hoping your partner doesn’t disown you after seeing their portrait, this is the ultimate way to celebrate Valentine’s week. 💘 Spots are limited—grab yours now!
Basic Comfort + Justice Hill + Celeste Allison
18+ Standing Room Only Show 17 and under admitted with a parent or guardian The group takes inspiration from artists like Daniel Caesar, Parcels, Gil Scott Heron, and Daft Punk. They approach their music writing from more of a personal perspective, letting the grooving music juxtapose therapeutic lyrics. They believe that music is healing, and with each release, they hope to give people a sonic space to connect with themselves and be their most present. Basic Comfort is more than just a band or catalog of music— they are a perspective in growth.
Santino Jones, Hannah Laine and Jessica Ivey
18+ Standing Room Only Show 17 and under admitted with a parent or guardian Descending from Kalamazoo, Michigan’s lineage of makeshift studios and crowded basement shows, Santino Jones is merely looking to keep up with his peers. Since being introduced to music making in 2011 by friends on Kalamazoo’s Westside, he has produced beats, written raps, sang lead and played tenor saxophone in the former local band The Purple Lemurs, co-founded the music collective GLDN.RATIO, and collaborated with the likes of Jordan Hamilton, The Last Gasp Collective, Benna, Buddhahand, & many other local projects. In May of 2024 he released the El Sol – EP along with super producer Jack Harrison and local rising star Headband Henny. Their debut Single, Deep Cheese, has amassed over 300,000 plays since its release. Currently Santino is working closely with a group of musicians, The Just So Happens, on a fusion album rooted in Hip Hop and Jazz. 2025 will see this project begin to take form as it has been his most ambitious project to date, it’s oldest song dating back to conception in winter 2016. Multi-faceted, forever dreaming and most likely changing his plans about when he’s going to release music, Santino Jones is “pretty sure” he’s ready to break out of his shell. Hannah Laine is a Michigan-born singer-songwriter, pianist and loop artist, best known in the Michigan music scene for her work in the future-soul band Earth Radio. Inspired by singers Erykah Badu, Nai Palm, Zap Mama, Eva Cassidy, Minnie Riperton, and Cleo Sol, her voice is strong, colorful, and soothing. Much of her songwriting today comes from experimentation with looping, the practice of yoga and meditation, a love of nature, and a keen awareness of herself as a woman living in a world in need of healing. Jessica ‘Jess’ Ivey is a vocalist, songwriter, teaching artist, DJ and vocal producer from the West side of Detroit. Jess’ vocal style is an expressive blend of alternative R&B, gospel and melodic Hip-Hop. A classically trained vocalist and student of Black music, Jess blends her various musical influences in a multi-faceted one woman show with vulnerability at the center of all her live performances. She got her start performing live shows and recording music with Last Gasp Collective and released her debut solo album “First Time” in February of 2020. For more information visit singgjess.com
Gregory Stovetop & Seth Bernard
18+ Standing Room Only Show 17 and under admitted with a parent or guardian Seth Bernard is a Michigan treasure, known as a prolific producer of inventive original music, and a dedicated community caretaker. Seth has made Michigan proud at SXSW, on NPR, and as a musical ambassador on trips to Europe, Mexico, Jamaica and Ethiopia. He is the founder of the Clean Water Campaign for Michigan, Title Track, Earthwork Music, and the Earthwork Harvest Gathering. He is known for his captivating performances and full spectrum guitar work serving songs to lift our spirits and give us courage in turbulent times. Midwestern space cowboy playing romantic rock ‘n roll for the cosmic-hearted. Born in rural Michigan, Gregory played everything from folk and country to heavy metal. His music is heavy in classic riff rock and pop love songs that cut to core of the heart.
Yolonda Lavender, Normal Mode, and Brandon Fitzpatrick and the Element
18+ Standing Room Only Show 17 and under admitted with a parent or guardian Yolonda Lavender is an international recording artist with the independent label Truth Tone Records. She is a singer/songwriter, curator, composer, arranger and performing artist from Kalamazoo, Michigan whose sound is soul-based with gospel, r&b, hip-hop, blues and jazz influences. Yolonda has showcased her artistry in artistic spaces around the country and shared stages with the likes of artists such as Erykah Badu, En Vogue, Keith Murray, The Spinners and more. Additionally, Yolonda is an advocate and activist who takes pride in using her artistry to spread the messages of peace and love and to promote social justice all in an effort to evoke change. “I believe that the arts serve as a powerful catalyst to move the message of social justice. As an artist, I feel a responsibility to use my artistry to advance such messages.” – Yolonda Lavender Based in Grand Rapids, Normal Mode is a dynamic group exploring their distinctive style of lo-fi space travel music. Consisting of Dutcher Snedeker (piano and keyboards), Ian Thompson (electric bass), Nathan Coles (drums), and Adam Marth (guitar) they showcase an impressive versatility in their musical exploration. Normal Mode’s performances are a testament to their eclectic style, seamlessly weaving together floating ethereal soundscapes and head-bobbing grooves. Their music incorporates a variety of genres, including jazz, electronic, rock, and funk, all while leaving ample room for improvisation. Michigan Jazz Fusion pianist Brandon Fitzpatrick was born in Kalamazoo Michigan 1994. Fitzpatrick is a pianist, composer, producer, arranger, band leader and musical director. As a self taught pianist, he started playing keyboards when he was 4. Church was always the primary way of learning music. However Brandon had many other genre influences growing up. From old staples like Miles Davis, Fred Hammond, and Stevie Wonder, to new pioneers like Robert Glasper, Jacob Collier and Snarky Puppy, Fitzpatrick absorbed the style and language of everything he heard which is part of what sparked the love of Jazz Fusion in his playing and composing. Fitzpatrick Started the Jazz Fusion band “Minor Element” from 2012-2024. Now Embarking on his solo career, with new music and a fresh sound Brandon Fitzpatrick & The Element.
Molly & Kait Rose
18+ Standing Room Only Show 17 and under admitted with a parent or guardian Molly is an award-winning vocalist, singer-songwriter, and artist who brings a dynamic and unique blend of raw soulful expression to her songs and performances. Drawing from a deep spring of life experiences and influences, Molly’s desire for absolute freedom not only inform her emotive style of singing but also narrate her thought-provoking lyrics, making for an eclectic and colorful mixture of profound sound.On stage, she is joined by her husband and multi-instrumentalist Scott Schultz, concocting a mix of joyful and contemplative music drawn as much from the real world as their varied record collection. Molly will soon be releasing her deeply personal debut LP. She currently has her debut EP and video for lead single ‘Shine’ available everywhere and recently released video for her song ‘Don’t Be Surprised’ on YouTube & Bandcamp. Keywords: soul, indie, pop, r&b, singer-songwriter, analog, funk, lyrical. Has performed at numerous festivals including Electric Forrest, Mile of Music, and All Call, and has opened for Leslie Odom Jr., Ben Harper, Charles Bradley, Billy Strings, Jamila Woods, The Suffers, Lucius, Nomo, Lindsay Lou, Tunde Olaniran and many others in over 15 years of performing music. Kait Rose, (Kalamazoo) has been performing songs she has written for over 20 years. In this show, her music will be distilled down to only her acoustic guitar and voice in a rare solo show. Kait’s songs can be described as haunting, vulnerable and heartfelt in her delivery, and deeply universal. “With a smooth, captivating voice and dynamic, powerful guitar playing, Kaitlin’s music is the real deal. In a world full of singer/songwriters, she really stands out to me as a step above most.” Ian Gorman, recording engineer and producer at La Luna Recording & Sound.
Mustard Plug wsgs The Mushmen & Sierra Miffed
18+ Standing Room Only Show | 17 and under admitted with a parent or guardian Mustard Plug started out in 1991 in the punk clubs, basements, and dive bars of the Midwest, playing punk-influenced ska music before most people in the U.S. had ever heard of ska. They embraced a DIY work ethic that had been ingrained in them growing up in the 1980s hardcore punk scene, and applied it to everything they would ever do together as a band. Mustard Plug self-released their first cassette tape, 1992’s Skapocalypse Now!, and played constantly to earn enough money to record their first album, 1994’s Big Daddy Multitude, which was released on legendary NYC label Moon Records. With their newfound national distribution and exposure, the band climbed into their van and performed their music for new fans across North America. For their next album they enlisted their heroes, the Descendents’ Bill Stevenson and Stephan Egerton, to record their breakthrough ska-punk classic Evildoers Beware at The Blasting Room. After meeting the crew from Hopeless Records in the beer line at a Descendents show at the Whisky-A-Go-Go, the band teamed up with the then-fledgling LA punk label to release the album to an eager and rapidly expanding fanbase. Released in 1997, Evildoers Beware solidified the band’s own take on the genre, combining the edginess of punk and the danceability of ska with sure fire melodic pop hooks. Through relentless touring and word of mouth, Evildoers Beware sold over 150,000 copies and solidified the band’s position within the burgeoning third wave ska scene. The band even flirted with commercial radio play with their cover of The Verve Pipe’s “The Freshman,” but decided mainstream pop fame was not for them. They never shot a video or commercially released the song despite the radio buzz. During the first decade of the new millennium, as the media’s focus on ska waned, the band returned to the ska underground, touring constantly and taking their explosive live show further afield to Europe, Brazil, and Japan. While many of their 90’s ska peers went on hiatus or moved from the genre, Mustard Plug doubled down, organizing the hugely successful Ska Is Dead tours from 2004-2009. In 2007 the band returned to The Blasting Room and released their darkest and most critically acclaimed record, In Black and White. The 2010s brought more touring and playing higher profile festivals including Riotfest, Back to the Beach, Amnesia Rockfest, The FEST, Pouzza, Groezrock, and more. In March 2020, while touring Australia, Mustard Plug watched as the live music industry began to collapse in front of their eyes. As the COVID-19 pandemic spread, the band was forced to take a 16-month hiatus. Stuck at home, they workshopped songs for a new album. The band returned to The Blasting Room recording studio in January 2023 with their longtime producer, Bill Stevenson. Teaming up with ska label Bad Time Records, they released the new album on September 8, 2023. Where Did All My Friends Go is a return to form for Mustard Plug, with melodic dance floor bangers and darker lyrical themes inspired by the pandemic and the unraveling of modern society. The album is sure to please both older fans from the 90s and the new generation of ska fans who have been building the genre’s momentum in recent years. The band is currently doing what they do best: touring in support of the new album. They will be playing around the U.S. throughout the next year, continuing their 32-year run and adding to their career tally of over 2,000 shows.
The Red Sea Pedestrians wsg. The Nathan Moore Affair
This is a 18+ event with standing room only17 and under admitted with a parent or guardian The Red Sea Pedestrians are a one-of-a-kind, full-blown, instrument-swapping fusion between tradition and the here-and-now. We’re talkin’ high-energy world-beat grooves, hypnotic laments from the earth, songs of celebration and wonder, all filtered through the band’s original vision. RSP is a melting pot of six distinct singer/songwriters and multi- instrumentalists, exploring a warped and beautiful blend of Klezmer, Rock, Gypsy Jazz, and American Roots music.
Three Grebes with OVERLY POLITE TORNADOES and Hopie Jo
18+ Standing Room Only Show 17 and under admitted with a parent or guardian Overly Polite Tornadoes are a husband & wife duo from Kalamazoo, MI (featuring Mark Andrew Morris & Holly Klutts-Morris from Tambourina). They play a mix of Introspective Bedroom Pop and Shoegaze. They are celebrating the release of their 3rd full length album, available on Vinyl and CD! Three Grebes is a project born out of a mutual love of improvisational music, exploring new ways to create delicate music, and making sure they eat at the best empanada place in every town. Beth McDonald (tuba and electronics) plays in the Ken Vandermark-led Edition Redux, and is well-entrenched in Chicago’s improv scene; her solo work stands as a testament to sonic exploration. Franki Hand (guitar, violin, accordion, vocals) has been a cog in Kalamazoo’s new music scene for a decade (she’s a member of Petrillo, Kalamazoo Drone Society, Wowza, and handturner). Ike Turnds. er can be seen riding his bike throughout town, probably with Sleep’s Dopesmoker playing in his ears; he’s in a million bands, too (Wowza, Out, Kalamazoo Drone Society, New Standards Men). They have a new album out that they’re happy to share with you at this show! This performance will feature their dear pal Kenni Dankert providing visual elements throughout the show.
May Erlewine & The Motivations Winter Dance Party
This is a 18 and over event with standing room only. 17 and under admitted with a parent or guardian On a few special dates each year, singer-songwriter May Erlewine breaks from her Americana and folk roots to front The Motivations: a seven-piece dance-party funk band that dishes up boogie jams and classic soul cuts. The project was born in the winter of 2016, when Erlewine set out to make music and create a positive space for the weary and grieving. That idea eventually took shape in the form of retro-groove dance parties meant to get people moving, make them feel connected, and help them celebrate the moment — and each other. The result? Shows that deliver feel-good fun and small revolutions to shake things up, just enough. The Motivations feature Phil Barry on guitar and vocals, Joe Hettinga on synth, keys and vocals, Eric Kuhn on guitar and vocals, Max Lockwood on bass and vocals, Mike Lynch on organ and keys, Terrence Massey on trumpet and vocals, Brandon Proch on saxophone and Michael Shimmin on drums, percussion and vocals.
