Jonny Lang and Bachman Turner added to Already Impressive Rock the Rapids Lineup

Mon, June 13, 2011 at 10:50am

Rock the Rapids, the original six-day music and entertainment festival in downtown Grand Rapids, is bringing in various music genres for the week of August 8th – 13th. The headliners, as well as openers, include several styles of music, including jam band, rock, country, classic rock, blues and hip hop/rap. “We are thrilled to bring so many different types of music to Grand Rapids for this event,” says Rock the Rapids founder, Denny Baxter. The festival will be located in parking lot 5 in downtown Grand Rapids, which is located between Oakes and Cherry Street, just south of the Van Andel Arena.

Limited quantities of six-day passes are priced at $79, two-day passes are $39 and single-day passes are $29. Tickets are on sale now, at http://www.startickets.com The t.icket prices reflect the original goal of festival founder, Denny Baxter, President of Blue Cap Entertainment, the event’s manager. “Our week long pass breaks down to a cost of only $13.17 per show. With the level of entertainers we are providing this is truly the best entertainment purchase value of the summer. And our two-day pass which allows the fan to select only the shows he desires is the most flexible multi-day discounted ticket offering anywhere”. All show tickets are general admission but there is a special upgrade option for a center stage chair seat for most shows. While chairs are not allowed to be brought into the facility, chairs will be available for rent at $2 apiece on site.

Here’s a look at the 2011 Rock the Rapids Artist lineup and Openers:

Lynyrd Skynyrd – Monday, August 8th

The last time the 2006 Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame inductees rocked Grand Rapids were a decade ago. Since forming in 1964 and achieving worldwide recognition in the mid-1970s, the band has continued to tour, record and entertain fans. The genuinely remarkable rock anthems “Sweet Home Alabama” and “Free Bird” have carried through the years and are still being played consistently on the radio today.

Jonny Lang – Opening for Lynyrd Skynyrd – August 8th

Jonny Lang started off his career as a twelve-year-old rock and roll/blues phenom, and hasn’t looked back since. The band that inspired him, Bad Medicine Blues Band, had given him guitar lessons which resulted in selecting him to join their band. They then renamed the band, Kid Jonny Lang and The Big Bang. Kid Jonny Lang and The Big Bang had independently released the album “Smokin” when Lang was only fourteen. Lang was signed to A&M Records in 1996 and released the critically acclaimed multi-platinum “Lie to Me” on January 28, 1997. In more than ten years on the road, Lang has toured with the Rolling Stones, Buddy Guy, Aerosmith, B.B. King, Blues Traveler, Jeff Beck and Sting.

Stone Temple Pilots – Tuesday, August 9th

Since 1986, “STP” has been rocking the nation in a deep, hard rock, grunge-reminiscent style of music. They swarmed the east coast and quickly spread across the nation with songs like “Plush,” “Sour Girl” and “Vasoline.” Over the years, the band has amassed 16 Billboard Top Ten singles, eight of which peaked at #1.

Willie Nelson – Wednesday, August 10th

AMERICAN CLASSIC. The two words that define Willie Nelson are appropriately used as the title of his newest album. Nelson will be performing a “Jam Band” style of music for his Grand Rapids show.

Alice Cooper – Thursday, August 11th

Whether he’s playing music, hosting a radio show, or acting on screen, the world can all agree that Alice Cooper is extremely talented and always puts on a great show. Cooper was born in Detroit, MI in 1948, and was inducted into the Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame earlier this year.

Bachman Turner  – Opening for Alice Cooper – August 11th

After twenty years apart, Randy Bachman and Fred Turner are back together and ready to take care of business once again. In the mid 70s, there was no one bigger than Bachman-Turner Overdrive. Over a four-year span, they earned a staggering 120 platinum, gold and silver discs, notching up hits in over 20 countries. BTO reached #1 on both the Billboard singles and album charts, as well as placing a half dozen more songs in the Top 50. “Takin’ Care of Business,” “Let It Ride,” “Roll On Down the Highway,” “Looking Out For #1,” “You Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet” – all are classic rock anthems written by Bachman and Turner.

Blake Shelton – Friday, August 12th

This year’s event is headlined by country musical sensation Blake Shelton. The first song of the album is “Hillbilly Bone,” an electrifying single that took the country by storm. Many other notable songs from Shelton that also topped charts include “Kiss My Country Ass,” “Some Beach,” “All about Tonight,” along with several others.

Ludacris – Saturday, August 13th

The game changing rapper “Luda” has been quite busy over the last couple of years. His latest album, “Battle of the Sexes,” has combined the viewpoints of both genders in order to “level the playing field” in the rap game. Chart-toppers include “Roll Out,” “Get Back,” and his recent hits, “My Chick is Bad,” and “How Low.”

Rock the Rapids began as a two-day festival in 2009 at Fifth Third Ballpark in Comstock Park, and expanded to a three-day event in 2010. Past performers have included Sammy Hagar, Flo Rida, Jason Aldean, Sean Kingston, Bret Michaels and B.o.B. Rock the Rapids also hosted young phenomenon Justin Bieber who at the time was just on the cusp of his popularity explosion. Over 20,000 concert-goers attended the three-day event in 2010. Festival information can be found at rocktherapids.org and facebook.com/rocktherapids.