Bluegrass in our community needs your support!
Folks, there is a new concert venue in West Michigan that we’re hoping you’ll support and patronize. It’s so important to show concert promoters and event venues that acoustic and bluegrass music have a following if we want more places to stick their necks out and try it. This event is not sponsored the West Michigan Bluegrass Music Association but we’re putting some effort into it and doing our part to help where we can.
Bluegrass and acoustic music at the 36th St. Lounge in Wyoming
Long time area residents might be surprised to see such music at the 36th St. Lounge, but it’s a welcome change. Dave from Clarus Promotions had the motivation to bring this kind of music to the area after seeing how popular it is online and in some other venues. He was inspired after hearing the music on a recent trip, and we’re glad he’s putting out the effort and joining forces with the 36th St. Lounge. In fact, Dave granted me an "email interview" recently, which you can read right here:
WMBMA: Thanks for agreeing to pass on some information to me Dave. Can you tell me what gave you the idea to try this?
Dave: I had just returned from a trip to the Great Smoky Mountains in TN, and there’s bluegrass down there everywhere. Being a fan of bluegrass, but not hearing it a lot locally, I thought to myself "I wonder if there are any good bluegrass bands in Mi, and how much fun would it be to do a night of live bluegrass?" From there the idea grew into a monthly event that we would hold on a Sunday. I then did a Google research and found the West Michigan Bluegrass Music Association website, I researched bands from the site and reached out to see if there was even any interest. I also posted an ad on Craigslist about the event. The response was overwhelming. I did not realize that there was such a fan base of bluegrass folks right here at home. I then set to book the dates as fast as possible. Currently I am putting on one show a month on the last Sunday of the month at 36th Street Lounge in Wyoming Mi. We just had our January show and it went over very well. Decent crowd for a Sunday, and the regular base of customers truly enjoyed the music. The Woodtones was the band that played, and even though it wasnt true bluegrass it was close enough to get the monthly event kicked off. We will be hosting our next one on Sunday Feb 27 with Nobody’s Darlin. March 27 with Northern Skies and April 17 (moved it up a week due to Easter) with Wooden Nickels. Not sure if we will continue through the summer months or wait until fall at this point in time. Or perhaps we will move the event to a different night for the summer. Those thoughts are still up in the air.
WMBMA: For those that don’t know, please tell us about the venue that the concerts are held at
Dave: The venue is owned by Lafayette Beers; he just re-opened the facility in October of 2009. Fortunately for me he likes live music and has brought me on to book, and promote as many live music events as I can, utilizing as many different types of music as I choose. The venue has live music every Friday and Saturday, the last Sunday of the month (bluegrass nite), open mic on Thursdays, and dueling piano’s on Tuesdays. So it’s truly a music venue. They offer a wide variety of good ole bar food. Burgers, Dogs, Pizza, Burrito’s, and some great appetizers. The website is www.36lounge.com. There are two levels to this venue, the entertainment for both levels is listed on the website. They also have a Facebook page, and a Twitter account which has Twitter exclusive food and drink specials for it’s followers. 36th Street Lounge is open 7 days a week. Opening at 11:30am Mon through Fri for lunch, noon on Saturdays, and 4pm on Sundays. They are open until 2am everyday except Sundays when they close at midnight. 36th Street Lounge is located at 945 36th Street in Wyoming, Mi.
What: Bluegrass & acoustic music
When? The last Sunday of the month through spring (might go into summer. Check website)
Time: 7:00pm
More info: www.36lounge.com
Thanks Dave!
We’re excited about this opportunity and we hope to see as many of you there as possible. Be sure to consult the website of the 36th St. Lounge (www.36lounge.com) for contact info and event details, and be sure to pay them a visit.
Bluegrass Paul
Social Media Director
The West Michigan Bluegrass Music Association
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