It is hard to imagine downtown Grand Rapids without the Pyramid Scheme. But here we are on the eve of its sixth birthday, and boy is our future weekend looking enticing at this wildly independent venue.
For starters, on Friday night the talented folks at Pyramid Scheme have programmed
a birthday showcase of talent with Tunde Olaniran, Paucity, I Believe In Julio, and JADE TV all jamming this intimate stage for an outstanding night of fresh and exciting music.
And while Friday is a nod to the diverse talent of our region, on Saturday night
is another chance to celebrate the anniversary with the indie band that opened The Pyramid Scheme six years ago: Guided By Voices (or GBV to insiders like local super fan and WGVU radio’s on air host Scott Vander Werf).
Part of The Scheme’s success is credited to the visionary venue owners, the brother and sister team of Jeff and Tami Vandenberg, who, along with area restaurateur Mark Sellers (Hopcat, Stella’s Lounge), labored to give birth a new kind of downtown indie-focused music venue that also could function as a neighborhood watering hole for residents. The space is unique because of the venue’s eclectic jukebox that is programmed to a seriously lovely array of beer taps devoted to Short’s Brewing Company’s artfully crafted brews.
But another part of the birthday celebration and success go to the venue’s team of hardworking members, including the music booker Nicole LaRae, who has invited many national and international acts for our enjoyment. LaRae was profiled in Mostly Midwest Magazine in 2016, and we could not be prouder of her contribution to our indie music scene in her role. Check out what the magazine had to say here about LaRae’s work
here.
We have a lot of music venues in our city and all are worth celebrating for their unique contributions, but as an arts writer, I can say beyond a shadow of a doubt that one of the beautiful aspects of The Pyramid Scheme is its unwavering commitment to our region’s indie-can-do spirit, from the diverse musical acts welcomed to our city to the numerous community-building events that it has been producing for years in our region.
So, happy birthday, The Pyramid Scheme. You have forever changed the landscape of our nightlife in downtown, and we are enjoying so much more now because of your diverse programming.