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Swingin’ at the Shell kicks off Sunday concerts on July 22.
Albion, MI – When Swingin’ at the Shell (Swingin’atheShell.com) kicks off at 6 p.m. on Sunday, July 22 at the historic Victory Park Band Shell it will mark the 15th anniversary of the free summer concert series that draws music lovers from as far away as Detroit and Toledo, Ohio.
What started out as a pilot project to provide locals and employees at Caster Concepts Inc., a leading global manufacturer of heavy-duty industrial casters and wheels, an activity to spend time with their families, has turned into a staple of summer in West Michigan.
Crowds turn out for well-known regional performers like Toppermost, Magic Bus, Brian Vander Ark of The Verve Pipe, and Old Friends that have headlined at Swingin’ at the Shell. This year’s anniversary lineup features Thornetta Davis, known in the greater Detroit area as the queen of blues.
“We know the arts and community activities are a draw. We saw added value of giving [Caster Concepts] employees and locals a way to come out and enjoy the town,” says Emily Verbeke, a member of the Swingin’ at the Shell board of directors.
Caster Concepts, now in its 35th year, invests heavily in the community’s revitalization, renovating buildings in downtown Albion and working with community partners to draw more businesses and residents into the area.
Since launching the concert series in 2003, Caster Concepts has attracted a wide range of sponsors to help underwrite the annual event and pay for the band shell’s upkeep and renovations. The company’s partners are Homestead Savings Bank; Albion Community Foundation; Team 1 Plastics; Knauf Insulation; TruGreen Commercial; and John and Jan Shedd, retired pharmacist.
“The band shell is such a unique setting. We knew that we not only wanted to give locals a way to come out enjoy the town but to provide a purpose for the space or it would cease to exist,” Verbeke says. “In part, we wanted to make sure the band shell remained a central focus of the community.”
Swingin’ at the Shell is hosted every Sunday from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. for eight weeks starting July 22. The last concert of the summer will be on Sept. 9. Visit SwinginattheShell.com for details.
2018 Swingin’ at the Shell Concert Lineup
7/22/18 – Marshall Rotary Band
7/29/18 – The Founding (6 Piece Celtic Band)
8/5/18 – Thornetta Davis (Queen of Blues)
8/12/18 – First Call (Covers to Dance To) E3 Detroit First Call E3 Detroit
8/19/18 – Capital City Brass Band (Concert Band)
8/26/18 – Kevin Nichols and Blue Tuesday (Blues) Music by Kev
9/2/18 – Thunderwüde (3 Piece Bluegrass)
9/9/18 – Lookin’ Back (Bob Seger Tribute Band)
Visit SwinginattheShell.com
About Caster Concepts
Caster Concepts designs and builds industrial casters and wheels for virtually any application. ISO 9001-2008 certified, Caster Concepts manufactures heavy-duty products to withstand impact, corrosion, temperature extremes and industrial chemical environments. Caster Concepts’ multifunctional casters and wheels provide solutions in industrial, automotive, food service, aerospace, material handling and many other demanding markets. Visit CasterConcepts.com.
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