The City of Allegan is thrilled to welcome live entertainment back to the historic 600-seat Griswold Auditorium located in Downtown Allegan for the first time since the COVID-19 Pandemic began. On Friday, May 13, The Gordon Lightfoot Tribute brings the “Lightfoot – The Stories, The Songs,” tour to the Griswold featuring the Canadian icon’s classic radio hits along with popular album cuts accompanied by stories of how the songs were inspired and written.
Who knew that the 1974 smash hit Sundown was written about a girlfriend who wanted to go out on the town while Gordon wrote songs late into the night, and that the girlfriend later served prison time for her role in the death of a celebrated comic? Audiences will learn fascinating back stories like this and more during Mike Fornes’ portrayal of Gordon Lightfoot.
The tour’s stage set, lighting effects, instrumentation, clothing and mannerisms are identical to those presented by Lightfoot, live in concert. This remarkable program pays tribute to the artist’s legacy of music, songwriting, and history as a performer.
Two weeks later on Friday, May 27, Asamu Johnson and the Associates of the Blues make their triumphant return to the Griswold stage for the first time since 2019. This captivating blues group from Grand Rapids have played at various festivals and night clubs across the nation and have opened for blues legends Koko Taylor and Mud Morganfield, son of the late Muddy Waters. Asamu Johnson and his band, the Associates of the Blues, have played such notable venues as the Chenango Blues Fest in New York, Teddy’s Juke Joint in Baton Rouge, B.B. King’s Blues Club in Memphis, and Buddy Guy’s Legends club in Chicago.
The band won the West Michigan regionals in the International Blues Festival two years in a row. Natural performers and spirited entertainers, their blues covers and snappy originals captivate an audience whether it’s your first time or your tenth time watching Asamu Johnson and the Associates of the Blues perform live.
General admission tickets for both shows are $10 in advance or $15 at the door. Tickets may be purchased at the Griswold box office at 401 Hubbard Street on Tuesdays and Thursdays, at Allegan City Hall at 231 Trowbridge Street Monday-Friday between 8:30am-4:30pm or online at thegriswoldallegan.com.