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Tickets are $12 in advance or $15 at the door.--
Austin Benzing is a West Michigan singer-songwriter and guitarist making a mess in the genre sandbox. His original releases boast a wide array of influences, resulting in Michigan made country-fied progressive rock with a silver of acid jazz that is guaranteed to excite crowds of all ages and interests.
Benzing's full band consists of other Michigan based genre rebels who lend their talents to create a vibrant music landscape. He also plays with Michigan country band, Gunnar and the Grizzly Boys, Red Thyme, and Hawks & Owls. Benzing also curates and leads a classic Grateful Dead Tribute Show with his “Heart of Gold Band” a few times a year, upon special request.
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Adrian Wright is a hip-hop artist based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Growing up in Flint's dynamic urban landscape during the 90's and early 2000s, Adrian found solace in music from a young age. His work reflects his lived experiences, exploring themes of family and identity through a unique blend of rap, hip-hop, funk, punk, R&B, and soul.
In 2022, Adrian's breakthrough solo album Future Love delved into his Flint upbringing, weaving stories of formative experiences with his brother, mother, and grandmother through both verse and melody. His work intersected with the fine arts world in February 2024, when he collaborated with local visual artist Scoob on local art installation TRAUMA PROJECT to dissect the impact of the prison industrial complex on his life and familial relationships. The TRUAMA PROJECT would later win the Juried Vote for ArtPrize 2024. Adrian's second album The Great Let Go, set for release in late 2024, takes a contemplative look inward, revisiting themes of personal discovery, belonging, and finding home.
Adrian's distinctive style has evolved through collaborations and solo work alike. As a founding member of the genre-bending music collective Avocadsquad, he showcased his funky lyrics and melodies in their debut album Good Luck Out There. He further stretched his lyricist and instrumentalist muscles in the experimental duo United Everywhere. His confident stage presence shines in performances with the modern cover band Da’Veonce and Da Funk Gang, where he blends nostalgic hits with original songs and arrangements. Adrian has collaborated with both local artists and nationally renowned names like Patty PerShayla and The Mayhaps.
Described as a soulful storyteller and a heartfelt intellectual, Adrian is a hands-on artist who writes, produces, records, mixes, and masters all his music. Influenced by Outkast, Nas, Missy Elliott, Talking Heads, Erykah Badu, Parliament-Funkadelic, A Tribe Called Quest, and Curtis Mayfield, Adrian’s music resonates with people from all walks of life.
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The Stray is a music and arts cafe located in Grand Rapids, MI. In addition to our craft beer, coffee and wine selection, our kitchen will be open serving our full dinner menu until 9pm! Get here early to snag your favorite seat and grab a bite to eat before the show begins. Save money by getting discounted tickets online in advance.
The Stray curates a listening room style venue, where performers are front and center, not background entertainment. We frequently ask attendees to silence their phones and keep conversations low out of respect to performers and other audience members.
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Event Venue
4253 Division Ave S, Grand Rapids, MI, United States, Michigan 49548
Tickets
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.
