Summer in the city brings lots of opportunities, and one of my favorite trifecta moments is the combination of music, food with cold beverages, and a nice bike ride.
All three come together this weekend when The Spoke Folks, the area’s go-to bike non-profit co-op, spills out into the street in front of their warehouse to host the return of Crank.
The Spoke Folks, whose mission is to increase and sustain bicycle ridership in the West Michigan area and beyond, hosts Crank as a way to increase the camaraderie and access to the joys of urban cycling.
This year Crank, which is always free to attend, welcomes the delicious food of local food truck/caterer Daddy Pete's BBQ, which will be serving slow-cooked, delicious barbecue that can be washed down via one of their two beer vendors, Brewery Vivant and New Belgium.
For your musical entertainment, at 1 p.m. Vox Vidorra, led by the soul gripping voice of lead vocalist Molly Bouwsma Schultz, who is complimented via musicians Scott Schultz, Ryan K Wilson, and Theo Ndawillie II, will come together to make some of the sweetest soul music you would ever imagine this side of Motown.
After Vox Vidorra, at 4pm, The Gabriel Brass Band, with their infectious style of performing, will have the audience dancing in the streets with their New Orleans-style brass section that flows effortlessly between funk and soul. The band is spearheaded by Dameon Gabriel, a fifth generation musician, along with a few Gabriel’s family members and close friends rounding out this act with roots in both Detroit and New Orleans reaching as far back as the 1940s.
As always, The Spoke Folks will be offering games, obstacle course challenges for your bike, and the crowd favorite dunk tank with guest from the biking community on the hot seat.
Guests are encouraged to ride to the event but to also considering bringing an old bike to donate to their 1000 bike campaign. See their website for all the details on this ambitious program that gets used bikes in the hands of those who most need them …and at a fraction of the cost of a new one.
Admission: Free
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