All the Sounds of Fall: September Concerts
September showcases a variety of acts Up North
Summer may be coming to an end, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to do. Au contraire, there are a number of concerts coming to the region. From local standouts to nationally-celebrated performers, venues across the area will showcase songs, sounds, and stylings from a variety of sources. Whether classical or classic rock, acoustic folk or heavy metal, there’s something for every taste.
Here are a few standouts from among the many shows and artists coming in September. Check the venue for ticket information except as noted.
LA Guns, Sept. 3, The Venue Event Center, Cadillac
Tracii Guns boasts an impressive hard rock CV, founding his namesake glam metal band as well as Guns N’ Roses and Brides of Destruction. He cites such metal gods as Johnny Thunders, Randy Rhoads, Eddie Van Halen, and Tony Iommi among his inspirations. His bands typically feature powerful vocals offset by his guitar work. While one version of LA Guns toured sans its namesake, he’s been back onboard since 2016.
Kittel & Co., Sept. 5, City Opera House
Acclaimed violinist Jeremy Kittel departed the Grammy-winning Turtle Island Quartet to form a band that leans more toward folk, bluegrass, and Celtic stylings, all while staying true to the jazz ethos of improvisation. Whorls, the band’s debut album, made the top 10 on Classical Billboard charts and claimed the #1 spot on the Bluegrass chart. Bluegrass Situation calls the music “whimsical, alluring, and magnificent.” Who are we to argue?
Cherry Capital Men’s Chorus, Sept. 7, City Opera House
Star light, star bright, the stars you’ll see that night are members of the longstanding Cherry Capital Men’s Chorus. The barbershop quartet organization formed in 1966, held its first concert in 1967, and has been going strong ever since. With songs from Broadway to the Beach Boys that all celebrate the night sky, the chorus (and special guests Five Star from Grand Rapids) guarantee they’ll have you humming along.
No Sugarcoating!, Sept. 12-13, Traverse City Philharmonic Center
Life is a cabaret, old friend. You can experience it for yourself at the TC Phil Center Nightclub. “No Sugarcoating!” is an evening of songs with stories about real life as it’s lived. Join four women with decades of stage and real-life experience, with Traverse City Philharmonic Music Director Kevin Rhodes on the piano. Spoiler alert: Maestro Rhodes will play, but he’s been forbidden to open his mouth.
Don Felder, Sept. 13, Odawa Casino
No word on whether the guitarist and vocalist has been livin’ it up at the Hotel California, but he’ll surely play that and other Eagles tunes as well as solo material. Famed for his tenure with that volatile superstar band (1974-1999, excepting the 1980-1994 hiatus—volatile indeed), Felder has since maintained a solo career. He’s also worked with Alice Cooper, Michael Jackson, the Bee Gees, Elton John, Diana Ross, Barbra Streisand, Andy Gibb, and Stevie Nicks.
Danilo Perez Trio, September 13, The Alluvion
Grammy Award-winning pianist-composer Danilo Pérez has collaborated with jazz giants Dizzy Gillespie, Wayne Shorter, Michael Brecker, Wynton Marsalis, and too many others to mention. His music blends his Panamanian roots, Latin American folk music, West African rhythms, and European impressionism into a style all his own. Bassist Ben Street has performed and toured with the likes of Roswell Rudd, Cyndi Lauper, and Shawn Colvin, while drummer Adam Cruz counts time with Chick Corea among his musical highlights.
The Dave Bennett Quartet, Sept. 13, Cheboygan Opera House
On the one hand, Dave Bennett draws inspiration from swing and Dixie icons such as Benny Goodman, and Pete Fountain. On the other, he admits to enjoying the music of Peter Gabriel, Phil Collins, and Genesis. So the Dave Bennett Quartet presents an evening of swing, rockabilly, jazz, pop, gospel, and originals influenced by the above plus Jerry Lee Lewis, The Beatles, Chris Isaak, and who knows who else.
Grand Rapids Ballet, Sept. 14, Great Lakes Center for the Arts
Michigan’s only professional classical ballet company presents a program including two ballets made exclusively for the company. Le Grand Jazz! features classic tunes and songs from contemporary jazz artists. Jump Cut, by resident choreographer Penny Saunders, is a nod to the Golden Age of Hollywood. Get there early and get in on the conversation with Artistic Director James Sofranko for behind-the-scenes insights.
Jason Vieaux, guitar and Tim McAllister, saxophone, Sept. 16, Dendrinos Chapel and Recital Hall
This Interlochen faculty recital features two instruments rarely heard together in a duo. Classical guitar virtuoso Jason Vieaux and acclaimed saxophonist Tim McAllister blend their instrumental voices for a unique program. Upbeat? Mellow? Mournful? Joyous? All the above? Their genre-defying program blends precision, passion, and unexpected sonic pairings, demonstrating music need pay no heed to predetermined boundaries.
East Bay Drive with Miriam Pico, Sept. 18, Music on the Mountain at The Homestead
Start with four of the region’s most versatile instrumentalists, add sizzling saxophone, and bring in a ringer on vocals. That’s a recipe for a great evening of music, with the backdrop of sunset over Lake Michigan. The originals and imaginative covers bring to mind David Sanborn, Steely Dan, Dave Koz, Grover Washington Jr., Deodato, and other pop/jazz/smooth outfits.
C.S. Lewis House Band, Sept. 19, Great Lakes Center for the Arts
As part of the C.S. Lewis Festival, the C.S. Lewis House Band will perform a set of songs inspired by Lewis’s writings. Curt Coffield, musician and pastor at North Life Church in Gaylord, last year wrote several original tunes with lyrics inspired by the acclaimed Christian author. He and the other members of the five-piece pop-rock band will reconvene for the festival with a couple new tunes.
Cadillac Community Big Band, Sept. 20, Cadillac Elks Club
Everything old is new again. The Cadillac Community Jazz Band plays everything from classic Glenn Miller to sassy N’Awlins-style tunes like “Iko Iko.” While some of its repertoire reaches back decades, the band itself is less than a year old. It features active and retired music teachers with over a century of combined experience, along with other jazz and swing enthusiasts.
The 1985 Totally 80s Mixtape Live!, Sept. 20, Little River Casino, Manistee
Those of you who wish the ’80s had never ended are in luck. The 1985 performs a veritable cornucopia of 1980s rock, pop, new wave, metal, and club classics from icons like Prince, Journey, Madonna, Michael Jackson, Bon Jovi (take a breath), Wang Chung, Whitney Houston, The B-52’s, Def Leppard, and yes, many more. Don’t stop there: The band features throwback video/song montages, period cosplay, and synchronized choreography to make the show a full-throttle flashback experience.
Maya de Vitry House Concert, Sept. 27 (GopherwoodConcerts.org)
Nashville-based singer/songwriter Maya de Vitry blurs the lines of folk, country, indie rock, and Americana in her original music. Think of a cross between Bonnie Raitt and Nina Simone performing music that combines the songcraft of John Prine, Gillian Welch, and Townes Van Zandt. She launched her solo career following an apprenticeship with the roots-Americana trio The Stray Birds, garnering praise from Rolling Stone Country, NPR Music, and No Depression.
Traverse City Philharmonic, Sept. 27-28, Milliken Auditorium
5 + 4 = 9…Or the TC Phil playing Ludwig van Beethoven and Philip Glass. Everyone can play “name that tune” with the iconic first four notes of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony (“da-da-da-DUM”). Less immediately recognizable is Glass’s “The American Four Seasons,” aka “Violin Concerto No. 2.” Violinist Yevgeny Kutik guests, and—oh my, is that a synthesizer in there? Yes. Yes it is.