Alter Bridge, The Beths, Full Cord, Polish Fest (Photo Recap)

Late Summer Blast: Alter Bridge, Return to the River, Polish Fest, The Beths, Full Cord (Recap) →

Another Memorable Week of Live Music: Captured in Local Spins photos.

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In downtown Grand Rapids, an historically long tradition unwound this weekend not far from a new one.

The city’s longest-running ethnic festival — the Dozynki Polish Harvest Festival hosted by the Polish Heritage Society of Grand Rapids — fired up polka music, Polish food and a colorful marketplace on Calder Plaza, where polka dancers scampered to and fro to upbeat strains from bands such as Gerry Kaminski’s Polka Network, Jimmy K & The All-Stars and the Bruce Packard Band.

Just down the road — in the city’s Monroe North District — the second annual Return to the River Festival sponsored by Downtown Grand Rapids Inc., meanwhile, drew crowds of folks who wandered from stage to stage along the Riverwalk Pathway flanking Sixth Street Park along the Grand River for art installations, food trucks, various activities and performances ranging from hip hop to soul to rock and world music.

Both festivals continue today (Sunday, Aug. 27) amid what can only be described as ideal weather for outdoor celebrations. Get the Polish Festival schedule here; the Return to the River Festival online at downtowngr.org.

The late-August musical fun didn’t stop there.

Downtown Celebration: Entertainers of every ilk at Return to the River. (Photo/Joshua Tufts)

On Friday, hard-rocking Florida band Alter Bridge heated things up indoors at GLC Live at 20 Monroe with Sevendust, while 34 miles away, West Michigan’s own Full Cord bluegrass band — along with special guest, banjoist Michael Bont of Greensky Bluegrass — pumped up a big crowd amid sunny skies at Lynne Sherwood Waterfront Stadium in Grand Haven for the final “Grand Haven Free Fridays” concert of the season.

In Kalamazoo, Friday’s lineup boasted The Baseball Project — the super-group featuring R.E.M.’s Peter Buck and Mike Mills, plus Scott McCaughey, Steve Wynn and Linda Pitmon — at Bell’s Brewery Eccentric Cafe, while Jesse Ray & The Carolina Catfish revved up Old Dog Tavern nearby. On Saturday, Presidential Brewing hosted a band battle to send the winner to the finals at Kalamazoo State Theatre on Oct. 6, with The Dots coming out on top.

And earlier in the week, The Beths and Disq made a tour stop at Bell’s Beer Garden.

Scroll down to browse all the Local Spins photo galleries.

PHOTO GALLERY: Dozynki Polish Harvest Festival at Calder PlazaPhotos by Holly Holtzclaw and John Sinkevics

PHOTO GALLERY: Return to the River Festival in North Monroe DistrictPhotos by Joshua Tufts and John Sinkevics

PHOTO GALLERY: Alter Bridge, Sevendust, MJT at GLC Live at 20 MonroePhotos by Jamie Geysbeek

PHOTO GALLERY: Full Cord & Michael Bont at Lynne Sherwood Waterfront StadiumPhotos by Jeff Brinn

PHOTO GALLERY: The Baseball Project at Bell’s Eccentric CafePhotos by Derek Ketchum

PHOTO GALLERY: Jesse Ray & The Carolina Catfish at Old Dog TavernPhotos by Derek Ketchum

PHOTO GALLERY: Band Battle at Presidential BrewingThe Dots, The Redtones, SwampbellyPhotos by Derek Ketchum

PHOTO GALLERY: The Beths, Disq at Bell’s Brewery Beer GardenPhotos by Derek Ketchum

Tags: alternative musichip-hopindie-rockoutdoor festivalsphotospolkasrock