Bryan Bolea, Author at Bluegrass Today

Yonder Mountain String Band at The Deck in Muskegon, MI

Yonder Mountain String Band at The Deck in Muskegon, MI (5/25/22) – photo © Bryan Bolea

West Michigan’s outdoor concert season got off to a raucous start with Yonder Mountain String Band shredding The Deck’s tented stage on the beach in Muskegon. The band came out hot and was in midseason shape as they played a full two and a half hours before closing things down just before the rain and lightning returned.

The crowd took a little longer to get warmed up, but by midway through, most had left their tables and pushed towards the stage, and by the fourth quarter, the poor security guard tasked with keeping dancers away from the stage was fairing no better than the kids on the beach trying to carry mounds of sand in their hands.

Watchhouse Band in Ann Arbor, MI

Watchhouse at The Ark in Ann Arbor, MI (4/3/22) – photo by Bryan Bolea

Bryan Bolea caught the Watchhouse band at The Ark in Ann Arbor, MI earlier this month. The group, formerly the duo Mandolin Orange, now expanded to a full band, had stopped in town on April 3 for a show.

He reports that it was a lovely performance, and shared this gallery of photos. Bryan took advantage of the sparse stage lighting to capture these dark and moody images.

However, just two days later, the primary members of Watchhouse, singers and songwriters Andrew Marlin and Emily Franz, were struck by a moving vehicle while crossing the street at a crosswalk in Iowa City. Both were only slightly injured, but suffered concussions severe enough to require them to take several weeks away from the stage.

Bes wishes to Emily and Andrew as they recover at home.

Railroad Earth in Grand Rapids

When Railroad Earth was at The Intersection in Grand Rapids, MI last night, Bryan Bolea was there with his trusty camera. He shared this gallery of images of the venerable jamgrass heroes on stage.

Photos from Sam Bush Band in Grand Rapids

In 1883, nine women with a shared interest in “promot[ing] the study and appreciation of music in all its branches” came together to form the St. Cecilia Music Center in Grand Rapids, MI. Today, St. Cecilia’s annual Folk, Jazz, and Chamber Music Series is a cornerstone of the city’s music scene, and was deeply missed during the 19 month COVID-induced hiatus.

Thankfully, on Wednesday October 6, with strict COVID testing requirements in place, Executive and Artistic Director Cathy Holbrook was able to joyfully welcome fans to their seats, and bluegrass legend Sam Bush to the stage, and for just a while, everything was right.

Molly Tuttle and Old Crow Medicine Show in Grand Rapids

Molly Tuttle at the Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids, MI (August 29, 2021) – photo © Bryan Bolea

Bryan Bolea was on hand with his camera last week when Molly Tuttle and Old Crow Medicine Show performed at Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids, MI. These are the photos he shared.

Emmylou Harris at Meijer Garden in Michigan

Emmylou Harris at Meijer Garden in Grand Rapids, MI (August 8, 2021) – photo © Bryan Bolea

The heat and humidity did not stop a capacity crowd from lining up, hours before the gates opened, in hopes of snagging prime real estate on the amphitheater lawn to see Los Lobos and Emmylou Harris in Grand Rapids. Both legends in their own right, it was clear each act brought their own contingent of fans, but it seemed most were excited to see both.

Harris, with her iconic gray hair and voice that must make even those she sings Happy Birthday to cry in their cake, had to fight through some problems with the audio system, but did not disappoint while playing a range of older and newer songs including Two More Bottles of Wine and an especially moving performance of My Name is Emmet Till.

Sierra Hull shares a bill with Greensky Bluegrass in Michigan

When COVID-19 forced Greensky Bluegrass to cancel its June Camp Greensky Music Festival for a second year in a row, the Kalamazoo-based band vowed to find a time and place to play for the home state fans. And the boys kept that promise over the July 16 weekend with a three-night mini-festival that brought camping, food trucks, merchandise vendors, and an outstanding roster of headliner quality opening acts including Sierra Hull, Railroad Earth, and Steppin In it to Shagbark Farm just outside Grand Rapids, MI.

With great weather, an incredible setting, and an outstanding sound and stage set-up, I think it’s safe to say that not even most optimistic expectations were topped.

These, and many other of his concert photos are available for sale as high resolution prints online.

Yonder Mountain String Band in Vail, CO

With bluegrass providing the official soundtrack to mountain towns and mountain sports everywhere, Yonder Mountain String Band was the perfect choice to open this year’s GoPro Mountain Games at the amazing Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater in Vail, CO. Though that choice was a no brainer, the organizers couldn’t have known was that this show would go off just days after Jared Polis lifted all remaining COVID restrictions in the state, meaning that Yonder Mountain String Band’s first post-shut down show turned out to be a celebration of health and freedom in front of a capacity crowd with 18 months of pent-up energy looking to party, and the band definitely brought the jam.

High quality prints of these, and other examples of Bryan Bolea’s concert photography, are available for purchase online.

Old Salt Union impresses in Michigan

Old Salt Union at The Intersection in Grand Rapids – photo by Bryan Bolea

I went into the March 4 Railroad Earth show in Grand Rapids not knowing much about Old Salt Union, but assuming that opening for such a renowned band could be a little intimidating. However, after their raucous set, I found myself thinking that following these guys would be no picnic either.

If you don’t know them, I’ll just encourage you to check them out.