The Brett Lucas Band kicks off the 11th year of the Turn Up The AMP! concert series, presented by Lake Trust Credit Union, 7-8:30 p.m. June 12 in downtown Brighton’s amphitheater.
There are numerous parking lots downtown, and this interactive map will help visitors navigate the locations.
The family-friendly concerts are free and open to the public. Attendees can use The AMP’s seating or bring a chair (and an umbrella for shade). Many establishments are part of the city’s social district, and concert attendees can grab a to-go adult beverage and bring it to the show.
2 Stones Events (Cal Stone and Whitney McClellan-Stone) has been doing summer concerts at the Mill Pond venue since 2013, focusing on jazz and then expanding to other genres several years ago. The mission of the husband-and-wife duo is to present live music that is unique and totally different than the stereotypical bands that make up most other communities’ summer series.
THE BANDS
“Brett Lucas is, without question, one of the top guitarists in the Detroit area,” said Cal Stone. “We have been booking him in one form or another — solo, duo, trio, quartet, with Betty Lavette, Thornetta Davis, etc. — for 20 years now. His Allman Brothers tribute band, REVIVAL, crushed it at Brighton’s Smokin’ Jazz & BBQ Blues fest last year, so much so that the Brighton Chamber of Commerce asked us to get them for the Yellowstone Country Festival at Mt. Brighton on June 22.
“The Brett Lucas Band, which Whitney and I saw at the Willis Show Bar in Detroit earlier this year, blew us away. We HAD to have them our AMP series.”
The July 10 concert features Doug Deming & The Jewel Tones. Deming is a former Detroiter who has been residing in Florida for many years and carving an impressive niche in the blues world. The band has played Smokin’ three times since 2010, “which is impressive because we do not repeat acts for that festival very often,” said Stone. “Doug calls me early each year to let me know his schedule, and if I can make a hit work, I do everything I can to make it happen.”
The series’ third show on Aug. 14 will be another rare treat for music lovers – Jimmie Bones & The Snakebit Wanderers. For those who may not know, Bones has one of the music industry’s biggest sideman gigs touring the globe as Kid Rock’s keyboardist.
“Jimmie is one of the most soulful players you’ll ever hear,” said Stone, “and his song repertoire is incredibly deep. I booked him solo for one of Brighton’s Street Warming events last summer, and he blew me away.”
Bones’ Snakebit Wanderers band also includes bassist Dennis Burck and a couple of local heroes: drummer Quade Finnigan and guitarist Garret Bielaniec (who received a Gold Record for his work on Alice Cooper’s Detroit Stories, which debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart in 2021).
“Garret, Brett Lucas, Doug Deming, and Kris Kurzawa – our 2024 series is a guitar-lover’s dream,” said Stone.
Kurzawa leads the series finale, Music of Led Zeppelin with Barbara Payton, on Sept. 11. “We’ve booked Kris many times, including at Smokin’ with his Jeff Beck tribute band, which is a gutsy undertaking. Kurzawa can play Beck, Jimmy Page, Dickie Betts with absolute authority, but he’s also one of the most original guitarists I’ve ever heard. And, to me, that’s more important.”
Payton, like Bones, also boasts an impressive side gig – she was one of Bob Seger’s backup singers for many years.
“Again, taking on the vocals of someone like Robert Plant is gutsy,” said Stone, “but Barb is as Detroit as rock and roll gets. When she’s on stage, she OWNS it.”
COMMUNITY PARTNERS
Brighton-based Lake Trust Credit Union has long been the presenting sponsor of Turn Up The AMP! as part of its mission to support area events and initiatives that build stronger local connections. A key component to the series is the food drives for the Livingston County Hunger Council.
Attendees are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item – especially canned vegetables and canned meats – to donate, and monetary donations will be gladly accepted as well to help meet the needs of the hungry in our county.
“Another successful year even with the rain out in July and construction downtown! Thank you for continuing to allow us to inform others about what we do and give the community a chance to give back! (Last) year, $327 and 259 pounds of food was collected to help our mission,” said Amy Johnston, Livingston County’s Human Services Collaborative Body. “Together we nourish and educate our community by championing food access and education to promote a healthy life for all! This has provided 1,291 meals throughout Livingston County! That’s FANTASTIC!
“The Hunger Council is seeing a substantial increase in participation across our food network and with costs rising, support like this makes a big difference! Again, thank you for continuing to be our partner and advocate and keep fighting hunger in our community!”
DETAILS
- Turn Up The AMP! series, presented by Lake Trust Credit Union
- Four concerts — the second Wednesdays of June, July, August and September
- Music from 7-8:30 p.m. at downtown Brighton’s Amphitheater on Mill Pond
- Free, family-friendly event — sit in the amphitheater’s seating or bring chairs, blankets, and a picnic basket (or, better yet, take-out from one of Brighton’s restaurants)
- Visit www.2StonesEvents.com for more information.
