Summer Rockin’ in the Porkies

Modern Rock

By Kristi Kates | July 13, 2019

Up and coming Detroit band The War and Treaty are set to headline the upcoming 15th Porcupine Mountains Music Festival in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. It’ll join fellow headliners Dustbowl Revival, as well as regional acts like The Crane Wives, May Erlewine and the Motivations, The Paperboys, and Finnish reggae band Conga Se Menne. The event has been stretching out its roster to bring in a more diverse lineup and making way for fresh voices too: A “Busking Barn” is included on site for both professionals and amateurs to take the stage and play for tips. The festival, to be held at the Winter Sports Complex of the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, will run Aug. 23–25 …

Big news for pop fans: Taylor Swift has announced her next album, the “romantically-themed” Lover, due in outlets on Aug. 23.The first single from that album “ME!” — Swift’s collaboration with Panic! at the Disco singer Brandon Urie — has already zoomed up the charts, with her second single, “You Need to Calm Down,” now streaming and on radio. Lover will be released in four different editions through Swift’s partnership with Target stores; each edition will include different content. The album will also arrive with an accompanying Swift clothing line designed by Stella McCartney …

Singer-songwriter James Bay has kicked off the 2019 Artists Den Spring Series with a concert event at New York City’s recently renovated Webster Hall, with his performance set to be part of season 13 of the Live from the Artists Den TV show on APT (American Public Television), coming this fall. The British musician performed for about 700 fans, including his hits “Hold Back the River” and “Let It Go.” Live from the Artists Den season 13 will also include performances and interviews from fellow singer-songwriters Vance Joy (“Fire and the Flood”/”Mess is Mine”) and Shawn Mendes (“Treat You Better”/”Mercy”) …

The new Studio Park project just south of Grand Rapids’ Van Andel Arena is set to be a major destination for entertainment, with a movie theater complex, restaurants, hotel, and retail space. Also being added to the layout is a brand new 200-seat venue called the Listening Room that’s expected to open in October, with its first public concert booked for early November. The venue will feature a specialized high-tech sound system over a semi-circle seating arrangement that will ensure great sound for every seat/ticket; at 4,000 square feet, it’s sure to be a performance spot that will be utilized for both local acts as well as international touring performers. To start with, the Listening Room is slated to host around 20 shows per month; keep an eye on the progress on both Twitter and Instagram @listeningroomgr …

LINK OF THE WEEK
Many Pixies fans might not know that while recording its latest album, Beneath the Eyrie, the band actually taped its entire studio process. Those recordings will be released into It’s a Pixies Podcast, a 12-episode series  showcasing the making of the album, plus interviews and more. Check it out at https://youtu.be/KKuukazuojw …

THE BUZZ
Grand Rapids musician Brandon Proch, known for his work with instrument foot pedals, has changed his marketing approach and will now bill himself in concerts as The Brandino Extravaganza …

The Bari Lee Band will be performing at the Concerts in the Park series in Sparta, Michigan, on July 24 in Rogers Park …

The Kari Lynch Band will be featured performers at the Canadian Lakes Lakeside Motor Sports Summer Concert Series on July 27 …

Jack Droppers and the Best Intentions will hit the stage at Albion’s Swingin’ at the Shell concert series Aug. 11 … and that’s the buzz for this week’s Modern Rock.

Comments, questions, rants, raves, suggestions on this column? Send ’em to Kristi at modernrocker@gmail.com.