Concert series opens with duo Gungor

FIVE NIGHTS OF MUSIC — Take a break from studying (or procrastinating) throughout the
semester, courtesy of the Hope College Concert Series. (Kelly Ocock)

Classes are in full swing at Hope College, yet summer is still fresh in the minds of students. For many, summer is synonymous with attending concerts, and that post-concert nostalgia lingers long after ears have stopped ringing from the eardrum-shattering bass.

For those yearning to attend one final concert in 2017, fear not. The Hope College Concert Series is bringing six acts to campus this fall semester with five dates for you to get your concert fix before the new year rolls around.

The first performers to step foot on campus on Sept. 22 are no strangers to Hope. The husband- wife duo Gungor returns to Dimnent Chapel bringing their catchy, Christian-themed alternative and indie-folk songs with them. In addition to being familiar with Holland, Michael Gungor studied jazz guitar at Western Michigan University and lived in Grand Rapids for a period of his life before moving to Los Angeles with his wife, Lisa. Tickets to see Gungor are $8 for Hope students.

Following Gungor’s Friday night performance, the indie- rock group Big Thief is set to perform on Saturday, Sept. 23. The concert is just a short walk from campus at Holland’s Park Theatre. The band, led by lead singer Adrianne Lenker and accompanied by guitar, bass and drums, released their second album in June of this year, so expect their set to have a fresh sound. Tickets are $5 with a Hope student ID.

Concert-goers will have to take a hiatus for about a month to get their bearings after the back- to-back concerts by Gungor and Big Thief, but on Oct. 26, the Concert Series returns with a performance by Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors. The foursome, led by the band’s namesake on vocals and accompanied by a guitar, drums and bass, will perform at Jack H. Miller Center for Musical Arts. Hailing from Memphis and East Nashville, Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors will bring a folk- rock vibe to Hope. With songs like “Yellow Rose of Santa Fe” and “California,” listeners will feel a sort of warm nostalgia of American summers filled with nights by a campfire. Tickets for this show are $7 for students or $25 the day of the show, and VIP options are available for access to a pre-show Q&A session with the band members.

On Nov. 4, the concert series will pick up the pace with performances by KB and Trip Lee. The double whammy at Dimnent Chapel provides an upbeat atmosphere compared to the calmer concerts before it. This performance will be the 2/3rds mark of their regional “Hometeam” tour that starts on Oct. 18 in Florida, KB’s home state. Both KB and Trip Lee are hip-hop rappers, and their popular songs include “Church Clap,” “Crowns and Thorns” and “Manolo.” Be sure to purchase your tickets for $18 in advance; there are only 300 available for the Saturday night performance.

For the final installment of the Concert Series, students will have a chance to listen to some familiar songs if they frequent the weekday chapel services. Liz Vice, the artist behind the songs “Empty Me Out” and “Abide” will be performing at Hope on Friday, Nov. 10. In addition to performing at the chapel service that day, Vice will also be performing a full-length show that evening. Students are able to purchase tickets for $5. For those unfamiliar with Vice’s music, the singer hailing from Portland has a gospel and Christian R&B feeling to her songs that are sure to make you tap your toes and sway to the beat while you listen.

Whether you attend all of these concerts or only one, you will not be disappointed by the selection of artists that the fall concert season has to offer the west Michigan community.