The Greater Flint music scene is ready to heat up. From country and folk to rock and hip/hop, there’s a place nearby for fans of every genre. For complete line-ups, visit the website or Facebook page for your chosen venue. And, don’t miss this year’s Flint and Michigan music festivals. A summer of great tunes
For opera singer, Frank E. Pitts, the opportunity is finally here. He has taught vocal classes at Rochester University since 1995 and piano at UM-Flint since 2008, and has seen many students find their dreams, while delaying his own. “My former students sing on Broadway and in national tours,” he says. “Some have gone
Pure rock is back. The sound that energized the industry and youth of the 60s and 70s produced by legendary bands such as Led Zeppelin, The Who, Queen, Lynyrd Skynyrd and CCR was made rare by changes in the industry and fanbase diversification. In the 80s, rock took a backseat to synth, new wave
When I spoke with Joe Ryan III, he was leaving the Los Angeles College of Music where he just finished teaching a songwriting class. For Ryan, success has been a wonderful surprise. “I feel blessed every day,” he says. “It’s incredible.” From humble beginnings growing up in Flint to his home in Hollywood, his
For Gabrielle Davis, the Dream League Music Mentoring Program is about more than teaching music. “My job as a mentor is more important than being a music instructor,” she states. “The positive impact that mentors make on our students’ lives means everything to me. It’s a great thing to see the kids mature from
At The Good Beans Café in Flint, in the back room around the corner, away from the hustle and bustle of the morning tea-and-coffee crowd, you can often find Erik McIntyre sitting with a pair of ornate headphones on, drinking a cup of joe with a stack of books before him. Next to his
Musical talent runs in Katie Stanley’s family. “My grandfather’s cousin is Ralph Stanley of Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys, and my grandmother was the very first top saleswoman for Yamaha pianos,” Stanley shares. “She would go into Grinnell’s, when they wouldn’t hire women, and sell pianos. She sold so many as a
Did you catch the game last night? How about that halftime show? Did you applaud when the marching band finished their set? For many Flushing students and family members, the main attraction of the Friday night game is watching the band perform at halftime. Playing in the marching band takes organization, talent, dexterity and unyielding
I met The Plastic Bears at their studio in East Lansing, MI, and from the beginning of our conversation, their love of eclectic music was on display. “Check this out,” said drummer, Drew Duncanson, as he laid down a collection of old-school pop photos of the Jackson 5. He rifled through a stack of frameable
Happy Curmudgeons is a project a long time coming. Dave Hamilton (lead singer, guitarist) was playing in a band in the 80s called the Angel-Headed Hipsters, and during that time, had the opportunity to meet the legendary Lou Reed of The Velvet Underground. “Lou Reed had told me, ‘You’re a very good songwriter. Keep doing
“Braidedveins is a political band.” Never ones to shy away from their beliefs, Flint hardcore punk group, Braidedveins, released a statement immediately following the 2016 election that began with those words. “Don’t allow the monstrous and cruel to become normal. Interrupt and resist violence and domination. Interrupt and resist the logics of violence and domination,”
Steppes began last year as a solo project of lead singer/guitarist Joshua Kemp and has since become a full-fledged indie rock/alternative group. Kemp was writing and playing shows as a singer, but knew he wanted to expand on the sound and work with other musicians. Drummer, Austin Holicki, and lead guitarist, Caleb Doering had played
