The Poetic Powerhouse – KFG
KFG began writing and performing spoken word poetry one year ago, and since those first steps, they’ve traveled around West Michigan, sharing stories of mental health, identity, sexuality, [Read more...]
It’s About Art, Not Facebook Likes – Kabare
The local Grand Rapids music scene is alive and flourishing with an exceptional, diverse share of creativity. Our ubiquitous passion for music flows through Grand Rapids’ rollicking streets, where [Read more...]
Of Mice and Musicians – “Sugar In The Raw”
By any objective measure, Detroit has always been a city of musical innovation. Ripples in the Detroit music scene have, time and again turned into tsunamis that have crashed both coasts and [Read more...]
Play It By Ear – Nick Arthur & The Habitat
If you haven’t already noticed, Grand Rapids has been experiencing somewhat of a renaissance of new and talented local acts lately. Last week I sat down with the up and coming band, Nick Arthur & [Read more...]
Rachel Gleason – For The Win
Rachel (Fantastic) Gleason slam-dunked a victory in the March 2016 Mentally Distilled Slam. A member of the Diatribe and an accomplished singer-songwriter, comedian, activist, and poet, she regularly [Read more...]
Fresh Outlook: An Interview with E-Will
It's springtime in Michigan. Birds aren't chirping. Flowers aren't blooming. Snow is falling. A caveat that I shouldn't go outside, yet rather continue hibernating with my endless array of frozen [Read more...]
Growing Pains – Ali Smith
Ali Smith featured alongside Motif for their combined twenty-first birthday party at The Drunken Retort in March. The crowd enjoyed honest, important poetry on topics such as abuse, disorder [Read more...]
LOUIS – Everywhere At Once
Grand Rapids, Michigan is a town known for great beer and an entrenched and established local music scene, dominated by veterans with sizable fan bases and audiences; however matters of scale can’t [Read more...]
The Queen of Performing – Siaara Freeman
Siaara Freeman took the stage twice (so far) this year at The Drunken Retort, kicking up laughs and howls from the entire room. Her personal, energy-charged performances connect deeply [Read more...]