Founders Fest: A Celebration of Beer and Music

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Founders Brewing Co. ninth annual Founders Fest, an outdoor celebration of live music and beer, is scheduled for Saturday, June 18 from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. Founders expects about 6000+ attendees at this year’s event, held in Grand Rapids, Michigan on Grandville Avenue between Cherry and Bartlett, very close to the brewery. Founders Vice President of Retail Operations Mark Dorich is ready for another incredible celebration.

“We’re very much looking forward to hosting Founders Fest again this June,” said Dorich. “The festival is our way of saying ‘thank you’ to Grand Rapids and West Michigan for contributing to the success of the brewery. This year is a little extra special, musically-speaking, as every band in this year’s line-up has performed in our taproom at some point in the past.”

Music is an important part of the festival and this year’s event will feature two headlining national acts: The Motet, an improvisational jazz and funk outfit from Denver, Colorado and Lee Fields & The Expressions, one of the innovators of soul and R&B hailing from Brooklyn, New York. Other musical performers include July Talk, an indie blues group from Toronto, Ontario; The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band, American Roots virtuosos from Indiana; The Main Squeeze, funk, soul and indie rock from Los Angeles; Dos Santos Anti-Beat Orquesta, Latin dance from Chicago; and The Go Rounds, country-tinged psychedelic indie rock from Kalamazoo. There will also be an appearance from the The FBC All-Stars, a classic rock super-group comprised of all Founders employees.

Founders will be serving its usual lineup of year-round beers along with several taproom-exclusives, which are difficult to find and not usually bottled and distributed. Local food vendors will be present, serving finger foods and other goodies. Fans of art will enjoy “Artist’s Row,” a space for local designers and artists to sell their wares. And additional entertainment will be provided by stilt walkers and aerial dancers, courtesy of Super Happy Funtime Entertainment.

Founders Brewing is ever mindful of waste control and will partner with The High Five Program, a local organization that strives to prevent litter and reduce overall waste at large events. Founders has been working with The High Five Programs for three years and has witnessed significant success, with waste diversion of over 90% – a number they hope to improve upon this year.

Ticket sales for Founders Fest will begin on Friday April 22, 2016 via foundersbrewing.com and at the Founders Company Store. Discounted General Admission early bird ticket sales will be available Friday, April 22 at starting at 12 p.m. and continuing to Saturday, April 30 with a price of only $25 each. A second discount period will run from Sunday, May 1 to Friday, June 17 with a ticket price of $30 each. General Admission tickets on the day of the show, June 18, will sell for $35 each. If you’re a Founders Mug Club member, the deal is even better: $20 for tickets purchased between Friday, April 22 to Friday, June 17 and $25 for tickets purchased the day of the event. Attendance is limited to those age 21 and older.

Here is a quick rundown of the musical performers scheduled for this year’s Founders Fest, complete with web site and video links:

Band: The Motet

Genre/Hometown: Funk, Denver, Colorado

Homepage: http://themotet.com/

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6KfA5kV5MI

Band: Lee Fields & The Expressions

Genre/Hometown: Soul, R&B, Brooklyn, New York

Homepage: http://www.leefieldsandtheexpressions.com/

Video: https://youtu.be/IlV1CUuygEc

Band: July Talk

Genre/Hometown: Indie Blues, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Homepage: http://www.julytalk.com/?lang=en