12-31-17 Welch, MN
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Grand Funk ended a phenomenal 2017 with a great show at Treasure Island Resort Casino in Welch, Minnesota. Although it was well below zero outside, the Treasure Island Event Center was packed and gettin' hot when GFR took the stage on New Year's Eve. The band played a blistering show for the Minnesota crowd, hitting on all the Grand Funk staples from Rock & Roll Soul to We're An American Band.
Flying the band in the night before the show proved a good strategy allowing time for an emergency. DJ and Mel could not get out of Traverse City on Commercial Airlines due to weather and we had to charter a plane to get them to the show on time. It was the least we could do to insure that the awesome people who bought tickets and made arrangements to travel well in advance got to spend the evening with The American Band on New Year's Eve!
2017 will go down in our books as one of the best ever Grand Funk years.
Got a couple great pics to share as well as our annual "Band and Crew" shot.
Photo by Glenn Preston
Photo by Don Baker
Photo by Don Baker
We wish everybody good health and happiness in the New Year.
SHINE ON 2018!
11-17-17 Albuquerque, NM and 11-18-17 Greeneville, TN
Albuquerque, NM 11/17/17
SOLD OUT!
By popular demand, the boys returned to the Isleta Casino Resort for a second performance. Having played here first in 2015 to a sold out showroom, GFR was asked back this year and once again had another sold out show. The crowd of New Mexicans were packed in and Grand Funk lit them up with a high energy 90-minute show. Once again adding both "Heartbreaker" and "Sky High" to the show, the band is feeling good and the show keeps getting better.
Photos by Ralph Reichenbach
With a short night and a long travel day Saturday, the band had a 4:30 am lobby call and headed to the Albuquerque Airport for a 6 am flight to Atlanta connecting to Tri Cities Tennessee for their next show in Greeneville.
Greeneville, TN 11/18/17
SOLD OUT!
Arriving at the hotel in Tennessee at 3pm gave the guys a couple hours to kick back before a quick 30 minute drive to the Niswonger Performing Arts Center in Greeneville, and a soundcheck for a SOLD OUT show at this beautiful venue. The Niswonger PAC is now a regular tour stop for all entertainment genres and recent shows have included Huey Lewis, ZZ Top, The Doobie Brothers, and Kansas, as well as country stars The Oak Ridge Boys, Tracey Lawrence, Amy Grant, and Clint Black.
Grand Funk had the capacity crowd rockin' the entire show from "Rock & Roll Soul" to "We're An American Band".
With the band looking forward to a well deserved break, the guys gave the Tennessee crowd everything they had.
Photos by Ralph Reichenbach
Great show!
Next stop...New Year's Eve! Welch, Minnesota!
10-13-17 Lake Charles, LA and 10-15-17 High Point, NC
Grand Funk flew south this week for a return engagement at The Golden Nugget Casino Resort in Lake Charles, Louisiana. This incredible resort is the newest and most luxurious on the Gulf Coast, dubbed by savvy travelers as the "Las Vegas of the South".
The state of the art event center and showroom is where Grand Funk Railroad rocked the house Friday night with the capacity crowd on their feet and singing along to the great GFR hits of their youth.
What a great night way down south in Dixie!
Photo by Glenn Preston
Photo by Don Baker
Photo by Don Baker
GFR had a travel day Saturday and headed to Greensboro, NC for their next show in High Point just outside of Greensboro. This show was for the famous High Point Market which is the largest home furnishings industry trade show in the world, bringing more than 75,000 people to High Point every 6 months. Furniture retailers, interior designers, and architects from 100 countries come to High Point twice a year because "if you can't find it in High Point, it doesn't exist!"
Grand Funk took the outdoor stage at 7:30 as the sun was going down on a beautiful North Carolina day. The thousands that had gathered in this terrific concert venue got a chance to rock with one of the greatest classic rock bands.
Photo by Glenn Preston
And Rock They Did! Singing and cheering to all the GFR songs from "Rock & Roll Soul" to "We're An American Band".
Lovin' every minute of it!!
Photo by Colleen Songy
09-15-17 W. Springfield, MA and 09-16-17 Biloxi, MS
Grand Funk rolled into Hartford, CT for their first-ever appearance at one of America's oldest fairs, "The Big E", in nearby West Springfield. Playing to a huge opening night audience at the Xfinity Arena, GFR brought it's signature "All Hits Rock&Roll Show" to the stage and rocked the house!
"The Big E" (New England's Great State Fair) is the largest on the Eastern seaboard and the seventh largest fair in the USA. Born in 1916, "The Big E" is now 101 years old. Drawing over one and a half million people each year, this is probably one of the greatest events of its kind in the country.
Photos by Ralph Reichenbach
The American Band at "The Big E". God Bless America!
S-O-L-DÂ O-U-T!
Flying to the Gulf Coast on Saturday, Grand Funk took the stage at the Hard Rock in Biloxi for GFR's second Sold Out appearance in two years at this great venue. The place was packed and ready to ROCK!
Having played to a sold out house in 2016, The Hard Rock brought Grand Funk back for a second performance in 2017 and has already booked GFR for another performance next September 15, 2018.
Photo by Don Baker
Photo by Don Baker
The Mississippi/Louisiana Gulf Coast has always been a great place for Grand Funk going back to the early and mid 1970's. People who come to the shows always comment on GFR being one of the first rock concerts they ever attended. And Saturday night GFR had them all reliving their teen's up on their feet and shouting for The American Band...GRAND FUNK RAILROAD!
Photo by Don Baker
09-02-17 Noblesville, IN and 09-03-17 Royal Oak, MI
Photo by Ralph Reichenbach
WOW! What a great night in Indiana! Grand Funk and Bob Seger plus 24,000 Hoosiers at the Klipsch Music Center in Noblesville, Indiana! It was a picture perfect Labor Day weekend with gorgeous weather in the low 70's. Couldn't have been a nicer setting for a night of two historic classic rock bands from Michigan to hook up for the first time in nearly 50 years.
There has been a long and close association between the Grand Funk and Bob Seger camps with members and musicians from both bands doing stints in both bands. Don Brewer, Craig Frost and Tim Cashion all have appeared and recorded with both groups, and Alto Reed (sax player with Seger) appeared with Grand Funk at the Bosnia Benefit Concerts in 1998. Even Seger's management team, Punch Andrews and Bill Blackwell, handled GFR in 1996 when Grand Funk first orchestrated their "Reunion Tour". This was a terrific meeting of life long friends.
Photo by Don Baker
GFR took the stage first as the sun was about to set, and the crowd of 24,000 loved it. They were on their feet singing and dancing with "The Locomotion", "Some Kinda Wonderful", Closer to Home", and "We're An American Band".
Check out the great shots and video!
Photo by Don Baker
Photo by Ralph Reichenbach
Photo by Ralph Reichenbach
Photo by Ralph Reichenbach
Photo by Ralph Reichenbach
Photo by Ralph Reichenbach
Photo by Ralph Reichenbach
Moving "Closer To Home" the following night (Don's Birthday), Grand Funk played downtown Royal Oak for the 25th annual "Arts, Beats, and Eats Festival". Drawing a record crowd of over 7,000, the guys put on an extraordinary show.
Beautiful weather for a festival concert and even a train going by during "I'm Your Captain" put a nice touch on the show. The awesome crowd sang "Happy Birthday" to Don following his drum solo (prompted by Max) and had their hands in the air cheering at the opening cowbell to "We're An American Band". Opening the evening was country great Dwight Yoakam.
Photos by Ralph Reichenbach
Great to be back home in Michigan!
08-10-17 Tillamook, OR and 08-12-17 Branson, MO
Grand Funk flew to beautiful Portland to play a show in Oregon's "Cheese Country" Tillamook, Oregon. Situated right on the Pacific Coast, the weather stays cool most of the year and winters are mild. Known as the "Land of Cheese, Trees and Ocean Breeze", Tillamook County is a playground for anyone who likes to play. Whale watching, fishing, crabbing and clamming, fine dining, breweries, seafood shacks and scenic hiking and camping are just a few of the great activities to do here.
Grand Funk had a terrific turnout at the Tillamook Fair, drawing a lively crowd of all ages to the main stage. The Oregonians rocked with GFR all night and sang along to the Grand Funk hits. What a fantastic place with truly fantastic people!
Photo by Ralph Reichenbach
Photo by Ralph Reichenbach
Photo by Ralph Reichenbach
Photo by Ralph Reichenbach
The next day was a travel day and due to the West to East time change, the boys spent the entire day flying from Portland to Atlanta and then Atlanta to Springfield, MO.
Playing in Branson, Missouri the next night, GFR rocked The Mansion Theater, once home of The Oak Ridge Boys. Again playing to an enthusiastic crowd at this incredible 3,000 seat theater, Grand Funk had them on their feet and singing along to Closer To Home, Some Kinda Wonderful, The Locomotion and We're An American Band.
Photo by Ralph Reichenbach
Photo by Ralph Reichenbach
This was Grand Funk Railroad's first ever appearance in Branson and is sure to be it's first of many.
Another great weekend Out On The Road!
08-04-17 Kalamazoo, MI and 08-05-17 Ft. Worth, TX
GFR had a quick turnaround this week and were back on the road for two back-to-back shows, starting off in Grand Funk's home state of Michigan in Kalamazoo for the 30th Annual Kalamazoo Ribfest which draws in excess of 10,000 people each year.
Yes, there really is a "Kalamazoo", and it gets it's name from the Potawatomi Indian word "Kikanamaso" which means "boiling water". It refers to a footrace held each fall by local Native Americans who had to run to the river and back before a pot of water boiled.
Photo by Ralph Reichenbach
Photo by Ralph Reichenbach
"Anywho", Grand Funk played an incredible show for a large crowd of very wet fans that ventured downtown Kalamazoo in the rain for a great show by "The American Band"! Got some wonderful shots by Ralph Reichenbach to share.
Photo by Ralph Reichenbach
"From Timbuktu to Kalamazoo", yes there really is a Kalamazoo!
Returning for Grand Funk's fourth appearance in 20 years at the world famous Billy Bob's Texas, The American Band played to a terrific crowd at "The Worlds' Largest Honky Tonk". The 127,000 square foot establishment has hosted Country greats Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson, as well as every major country artist of the last 40 years. With seating and standing room for over 6,000, this great venue also features a rodeo arena and bullriding.
GFR took the historic stage at 10:30 pm and played an outstanding show for the enthusiastic Texas crowd. Nothing less than a high energy Grand Funk Railroad Rock & Roll Show would do.
Photo by Don Baker
Photo by Don Baker
God Bless Texas!
07-08-17 Greenville, WI
Following an amazing July 4th. weekend with three back to back Grand Funk performances July 1, 2, and 3, The American Band hit the midwest playing a great "Catfish Festival" for 10,000 plus "Cheeseheads" in Greenville, WI, just outside Appleton.
This incredible community supportive event started 29 years ago with locals actually racing their catfish in a 30-foot long tank. Over the years, the event has grown into a one-of-a-kind music celebration for both classic rock and country music. Joining Grand Funk Railroad for this years lineup was Foghat and George Thorogood & The Destroyers.
Photo by Don Baker
Photo by Don Baker
Grand Funk rocked the huge crowd as the sun was going down on a beautiful picture perfect night in the great state of Wisconsin. The fans love classic rock, and what better to rock out with than the classic hits of Grand Funk Railroad. GFR has always been loved in Wisconsin, probably because of the close proximity to Grand Funk's home of Michigan.
Photo by Ralph Reichenbach
Photo by Ralph Reichenbach
Photo by Ralph Reichenbach
Photo by Ralph Reichenbach
2017 set a record for attendance at this unusual "Catfish Festival" and we hope the trend continues. All profits go to the Greenville community which helps build playgrounds, support local police and fire departments, and improve community service programs.
Nice job Greenville!
Photo by Don Baker
Wisconsin Rocks!
Photo by Don Baker
07-01-17 Kokomo, IN
Photos by Ralph Reichenbach
05-07-17 Cocoa, FL
Grand Funk made a stop on their 2017 tour at Florida's "Space Coast" for a terrific concert in downtown Cocoa, Florida, overlooking the beautiful Indian River. The crowd rocked to all of GFR's hits and were on their feet for "Locomotion", "Some Kinda Wonderful", "Closer To Home" and "We're An American Band".
The yearly concert is called "Party In The Park", and The Doobie Brothers played it last year. Along with Grand Funk on Sunday was country band Confederate Railroad and local Cocoa band Hot Pink.
Photo by Sunny Quinn Brewer
Photo by Sunny Quinn Brewer
Photo by Sunny Quinn Brewer
Photo by Sunny Quinn Brewer
Photo by Sunny Quinn Brewer
Photo by Sunny Quinn Brewer
What a great Sunday in Southeast Florida!
04-01-17 Cleveland, OH
Grand Funk Railroad steamed into their old second home Cleveland Ohio Saturday for the band's second appearance at The Moondog Coronation Ball. Having played this incredible concert in 2009, GFR was very familiar with the history of this great event. The first Moondog Coronation Ball was a concert held at Cleveland Arena on March 21, 1952. It is recognized as the first major Rock and Roll concert ever..
Alan Freed, a Cleveland DJ in 1951, took up playing a different kind of music. Rhythm and Blues records by black musicians was growing in popularity, and Freed started playing these R & B Artists records on a three hour late night radio program. The popularity of this program led to the idea of holding a live dance event featuring these artists that Freed was playing on his show.
Freed (considered to have popularized the term "Rock and Roll") organized a concert. More tickets were printed than the arena's actual capacity, and 20,000 people tried to crowd into an arena that held less than half that amount, and the fire marshals shut it down after the first song by opening act Paul "Hucklebuck" Williams. The event has happened now every year since 1992.
Grand Funk brought the house down at the 25th Moondog Coronation Ball. Playing a great 60 minute "just the hits" GFR show, Quicken Loans Arena was ROCKIN!!!
Also on the show were Three Dog Night and Tommy James.
Photo by Glenn Preston
Photo by Mark Horning
Photo by Mark Horning
Photo by Mark Horning
Photo by Mark Horning
Photo by Mark Horning
Photo by Dave Johnson
Photo by DB
02-17-17 Lincoln, RI
Grand Funk returned to the Twin River Casino Event Center Friday night for their third appearance in five years. Playing to a SOLD OUT crowd of incredibly enthusiastic Rhode Islanders, the band rocked hard with all the Grand Funk Hits.
Lincoln, named after President Abraham Lincoln, is a great town right outside of Providence with decades of tradition and some of the best seafood in the world.
Opening the show was former Eagles guitarist Don Felder. Playing all the Eagles greatest hits, Don had the crowd dancing in the aisles.
Check out the pics of GFR.
Photo by Don Baker
Photo by Glenn Preston
Photo by Dan Wenc
Photo by Dan Wenc
Photo by Dan Wenc
Review and more photos from Northeast Rock Review
GRAND FUNK RAILROAD, The American Band, tour reports and photos.
