Make 2018 Rock

The music you must see live and local this year

By Kristi Kates | Dec. 30, 2017

Another year’s worth of awesome concert events is just starting to rev up its engines here in northern Michigan! We can’t see all the way into the future, but we’ve definitely got a few great sneak peeks of some of the live shows you’ll love that are coming up north in 2018. 

Trout Fishing in America – February 17
The Grammy-nominated folk-rock outfit will be popping up at Interlochen’s popular Winterlochen event for two shows of their quirky, whimsical songs (“When I Was a Dinosaur,” “Big Trouble,” “Chicken Joe”), one a songwriting workshop at The Writing House (10am) and then a big concert in Corson Auditorium at 1pm.
GO! Interlochen Center for the Arts, 4000 Highway M-127, Interlochen. No tickets required, more info at interlochen.org or (231) 276-7200.
Artist link: troutmusic.com.

Blackberry Smoke – March 9
Hailing from Atlanta, Georgia — the heart of Southern-rock country — Blackberry Smoke are currently promoting its fifth studio album, Like an Arrow (which it produced itself). This set of new tunes points directly at the band’s main influences, which include The Black Crowes and The Allman Brothers.
GO! Show starts at 7pm at Ground Zero in the Streeters Center, 1660 South Garfield Avenue, Traverse City. Tickets ($30 plus handling fee) via groundzeroonline.com or (231) 932-1300.
Artist link: blackberrysmoke.com.

Six Appeal – March 10
You won’t find this group playing any instruments. The energetic Minneapolis outfit relies entirely upon their vocal skills to perform a cappella renditions of current hits like John Legend’s “Ordinary People,” classic favorites like “I Will Survive,” and originals of their own.
GO! Show starts at 7:30pm at the Crooked Tree Arts Center, 461 E. Mitchell Street, Petoskey. Tickets ($25 members/$35 non-members/$10 students) via crookedtree.org or (231) 347-5414.
Artist link: sixappealvocalband.com.

Manhattan Transfer – March 16
Not one, but two vocal groups are hitting northern Michigan this March (see Six Appeal above!) — and New Yorkers the Transfer is one of the pop groundbreakers in this category. The 10-time Grammy Awards winning outfit is celebrating its 45th anniversary this year.
GO! Show starts at 8pm at the City Opera House, 106 E. Front Street, Traverse City. Tickets ($45.50, $65.50, students $15) via cityoperahouse.org or (231) 941-8082.
Artist link: manhattantransfer.net.

Jonatha Brooke – March 17
She first snagged attention as singer for the band The Story back in the early ’90s, but it wasn’t long before her solo pop-rock songs started getting the attention of TV shows/movies like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Return to Never Land. You’ll find that plenty of her tunes still have staying power today.
GO! Show starts at 8pm at Milliken Auditorium in the Dennos Museum, 1701 E. Front Street, Traverse City. Tickets ($27 advance, $30 at the door, $24 for museum members) via dennosmuseum.org, mynorthtickets.com, or (231) 995-1055.
Artist link: jonathabrooke.com

Le Vent Du Nord – April 6
With lush instrumentation, sleek arrangements of their vintage-meets-modern tunes, and strong vocals, this progressive folk outfit hails from Quebec, performing the music of that region, as well as original tunes inspired by Irish and French music, with unusual instrumentation like the Irish bouzouki, piano accordion, and, yes, even the hurdy-gurdy.
GO! Show starts at 8pm at Milliken Auditorium in the Dennos Museum, 1701 E. Front Street, Traverse City. Tickets ($27 advance, $30 at the door, $24 for museum members) via dennosmuseum.org, mynorthtickets.com, or (231) 995-1055.
Artist link: leventdunord.com.

Rodney Crowell – April 16
Crowell is our third Grammy-award winner on this year’s list, having started out playing music as a garage-band teen in Texas, and advancing his career since the ’70s to become one of the most influential Americana singer-songwriters of today. His personal, in-depth lyrics dig into the depths of his own feelings and resonate with his fans as well.
GO! Show starts at 8pm at the City Opera House, 106 E. Front Street, Traverse City. Tickets ($32.50, $25.00) via cityoperahouse.org or (231) 941-8082.
Artist link: rodneycrowell.com.

Davy Knowles – May 5
He learned to play guitar by pulling influence from the skills of a wide range of British and Irish guitarists — Eric Clapton and Rory Gallagher among them — and his own career has plopped him in the U.S. at the age of 19 with a critically lauded debut album and big reviews for bluesy tracks like “Roll Away,” as well as for his latest album, 2017’s 1932.
GO! Show starts at 8pm at the Milliken Auditorium in the Dennos Museum, 1701 E. Front Street, Traverse City. Tickets ($27 advance, $30 at the door, $24 for museum members) via dennosmuseum.org, mynorthtickets.com, or (231) 995-1055.
Artist link: davyknowles.com.

The Swon Brothers – July 7
The two (real-life) brothers from Oklahoma first caught fire when they finished third on the fourth season of The Voice, signing a record deal shortly thereafter. They’ve been releasing charting music steadily since then, including their latest EP, Timeless, and toured with Carrie Underwood as opening act last year.
GO! Show starts at 7pm at the Charlevoix Venetian Festival, Charlevoix. Tickets (price TBA) via venetianfestival.com or (231) 547-3872.
Artist link: swonbrothers.com.

Montgomery Gentry – September 8
Eddie Montgomery’s first tour without his now late country music duo partner Troy Gentry will showcase the pair’s prior material as well as tunes from Montgomery Gentry’s upcoming album, Here’s to You, Montgomery’s bid to help honor and keep the duo’s name alive.
GO! Show starts at 7pm at the Little River Casino Resort, 2700 Orchard Hwy., Manistee. Tickets (price TBA) via lrcr.com or (888) 568-2244.
Artist link: montgomerygentry.com.

Hot Listens!
Your 2018 Album Watchlist
As always, the New Year begins and there’s a brand new list of albums on the horizon. Whether you choose streaming, download, or physical copies, these are all hot upcoming releases you should definitely add to your collection:

January 19: Kimbra – Primal
New Zealand pop singer Kimbra promos her third collection of songs by unveiling its first single, “Everybody Knows”; the second will be produced by Skrillex.

January 19: Fall Out Boy – Mania
Britney Spears gets a namecheck on early single “Young and Menace” from this nationally charting Wilmette, Illinois-born alternative rock outfit. 

January 26: Craig David – The Time is Now
Collabs with Bastille, GoldLink, and Kaytranada are a few highlights of David’s latest studio album, from which you’ve probably already heard lead single “Heartline.”

February 9: Vance Joy – Nation of Two
The Aussie singer-songwriter who brought you the smash indie hit “Riptide” is back with his sophomore set: songs about a couple who rely solely on each other.

February 9: Franz Ferdinand – Always Ascending
Franz’ first album with new members Julian Corrie and Dino Bardot was recorded in London and Paris and produced by Philippe Zdar (Cassius/Phoenix).

March 2: Moby – Everything Was Beautiful, and Nothing Hurt
Look for a tour this year to go along with this album reboot of the trip-hop and gospel-influenced styles that helped Moby’s 2002 album 18 become a huge hit.

March 16: Fickle Friends – You Are Someone Else
The Polydor pop buzz band arrive from the southern coast of England with their debut album, a collection of highly anticipated metaphorical pop singles.

April 6: Manic Street Preachers – Resistance is Futile
A big arena tour will accompany this album, too, as the Manics drop its 13th set, which was recorded at its very own Door to the River Studios in Newport, Wales. 

June 1: Owl City – Cinematic
Minnesotan Adam Young, aka Owl City, has prefaced this set with the single “All My Friends,” a catchy number sure to join the ranks of his prior hits like “Fireflies.”

June 1:  The 1975 – Music for Cars
Named with a nod to one of the band’s biggest influences, Brian Eno, The 1975’s latest is said to be a darker, “more under pressure” set than previous releases.

Also with albums arriving later this year (release dates to be announced), you can look forward to music from Jack White, BØRNS, Avril Lavigne, My Bloody Valentine, Vampire Weekend, Major Lazer, The Prodigy, John Cale, Echosmith, Muse, Toni Braxton, Interpol, The Vaccines, Celine Dion, and MGMT.

 

 

 

 

_____