Retro Rock And Cool Country

June 24, 2016

CHERRY FESTIVAL BRINGS IN THE MUSIC!

Traverse City’s National Cherry Festival is going mostly retro this year, hitting five decades’ worth of music with a round of ’60s nostalgia, a little ’70s rock, and some sounds from both the ’80s and the ’90s — plus some current Nashville acts thrown in for good measure. Let’s take a look at who you’ll be dancing to this July. By Kristi Kates

SATURDAY JULY 2

Fresh from his top-four finish on The Voice, Al-Saadi is actually a familiar face in northern Michigan, having performed here frequently over the years. Now he’s returning in a Cherry Fest headlining spot to offer up what’s sure to be a solid and compelling set of his trademark blend of blues and soul, honed by performances alongside such greats as B.B. King and Buddy Guy. Al- Saadi’s The Voice coach Adam Levine (Maroon 5) called him “incredible,” and if you like the blues, you’ll agree with Levine. The Detroit Soul Revue opens the show.

SUNDAY JULY 3

Early MTV adored Billy Idol, for both his ’80scentric brand of punk-pop music (“White Wedding”/”Eyes Without a Face”/”Rebel Yell”) and his distinctive, lip-curling persona, which came complete with white spiky hair and black leather togs. In 2014, Idol released a new album, Kings and Queens of the Underground, his first in over a decade. It’s got a sound instantly recognizable to Billy Idol fans and is sure to draw in a whole new generation of listeners. Opening for Idol are Civil Twilight, a standout rock quartet from South Africa who are influenced by The Police and U2.

MONDAY JULY 4

Kane Brown is one of the new breed of rising musical performers who built their career by self-promoting their own tunes on social media. After covering tracks by the likes of George Strait and Lee Brice, Brown’s own brand of farmraised country music sprinkled with R&B saw him complete a Kickstarter-funded six-song EP, which spawned a single that hit No. 2 on the Country Digital Songs chart. No wonder RCA Nashville snapped him up shortly thereafter. Fellow country artist Shelby Ann-Marie will open.

TUESDAY JULY 5

If you never got to see the real thing, this acclaimed Beatles tribute band is a great way to almost experience what it must have been like to see the Fab Four. Rolling Stone Magazine even called them “the best Beatles tribute on Earth.” This is no mere cover band — the four members of 1964 work with exceptional attention to detail to recreate an early ’60s live Beatles concert, complete with period instruments, familiar styles of Beatles clothing, Beatle haircuts, and even well-studied echoes of Beatles stage banter. It’s both fun and impressive.

WEDNESDAY JULY 6

Battle Creek, Mich., native Ballard performed Up North back in 2014, at the Southside Country Jamboree in Buckley. Since then, he’s headlined dozens of shows, including a 2015 tour with fellow Nashville musicians Florida Georgia Line, and he just released his third album, El Rio, late last winter. Ballard has a distinctive voice among his country compatriots in that he embraces a vintage style reminiscent of Waylon Jennings; his fans love to sing along to his classic country-western lyrics during his shows, and he’s pretty good with the guitar solos too. William Michael Morgan will open.

THURSDAY JULY 7

Grab your geometric-print neon T-shirt, your army surplus jacket, and a cold Snapple to catch Vanilla Ice headlining this retro-iffic trip back to the ’90s. Hammer dance to the iconic strains of “Ice Ice Baby,” or to one of the other co-headliners: R&B/pop act Dru Hill (“Tell Me”), vocal group Color Me Badd (“I Adore Mi Amor” and the New Jack City soundtrack), and Tone Loc, whose “Wild Thing” and “Funky Cold Medina” are still referenced in today’s popular culture.

FRIDAY JULY 8

They’re in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for good reason — well, reasons actually — specifically, 20 million records sold worldwide, and over four decades’ worth of live performances, more than 5,000 in all. This pretty much guarantees a top-notch show for you from these classic ’70s rockers, whose best-known singles include “Dream Police,” “Surrender,” and the famed “I Want You to Want Me.” Detroit-based guitarist and Kid Rock collaborator Kenny Olson, another familiar face around northern Michigan, is the opening act.

SATURDAY JULY 9

Iglesias is the only non-musical performance on this year’s big Bay Side lineup, but this current comedy favorite is worth more than just a mention. His live show is an ambitious mix of approaches, from character impersonations and sound effects to taletelling and parodies, all brought together by Iglesias’ own super-animated performance style. This native of Long Beach, Calif., who also has voiced characters for the animated films Planes and The Nut Job, is poised to start a stand-up comedy revolution — just as the title of his Comedy Central special said he would.

For concert start times and even more information on all of these performers, visit cherryfestival.org.