The Common Ground Music Festival returns to Lansing this week with headliners like Meghan Trainor, The Band Perry and Snoop Dog. Current State’s Scott Pohl has a preview with Anne Erickson of the Lansing State Journal.
The Common Ground Music Festival is back this week in Lansing’s Adado Riverfront Park. Meghan Trainor is probably the biggest catch for the festival this year, but there seems to be a little something for every musical taste again.
Current State’s Scott Pohl speaks with Anne Erickson of the Lansing State Journal about Meghan Trainor and the other Common Ground headliners.
INTERVIEW HIGHLIGHTS
On popular country band, Perry, performing at the festival
People are excited about this one. The band is actually wrapping up their third studio album right now. So they’re actually in the studio right now in Nashville and by the time they play Common Ground, they probably will have announced some details on the new album, but probably won’t play too much off the album because it won’t be out yet. But it will be neat to have them here right when they’re starting to do the big plug for their new music.
On what to expect from Three Days Grace, P.O.D., and Finger Eleven for top rock & roll acts Friday
I’ve seen all of them in concert, many times I have to say. They put on a great show, all three. Three Days Grace, they have a new lead singer, he sounds great, and that band has so many number one hits. And even with their new singer they’re still topping the charts so that really says something about the strength of the band. P.O.D., of course, is a huge Christian rap rock band and they have some reggae in there, they’re just amazing in concert. And Finger Eleven, another band that’s been gone for a few years but they’re back now, they have a new album coming out and they’re touring to support it.
On local talent to keep an eye out for
There are a lot of great local bands that have been booked this year. As always, Common Ground always reaches out to local acts. Just a few of them: Mr. Denton on Doomsday, they’re great Lansing rock band. The BLAT! Pack, they’ve been on for several years, they’re a Michigan hip hop collective and they have really positive great hip hop tunes. ANA, they’re a grunge band out of Flint that I like. Flint Eastwood, out of Detroit, they’re a great alternative rock band. Another great Detroit alternative band: Mike Mains and the Branches. So just some really great local bands I would highly suggest that you get there to check out the local talent.
On memories from past Common Ground festivals
One that really stands out to me was when the festival brought Stone Temple Pilots and it was just a, I want to say few months or about year after Scott Weiland joined back up with the band. So it was a big deal…it was a great show. They just sounded amazing and they put on such a good show so that one really sticks into my mind. Of course now, Scott Weiland isn’t with the band anymore and they have Chester Bennington, so it’s really special that they came when they still had Scott as their lead singer. A few other bands that I really enjoyed over the years Seether, Shinedown, and Alice Cooper, because what’s not to like about Alice Cooper?
