Kalamazoo’s first Black Pride celebrates visibility, history, and queer Black joy
Kalamazoo’s inaugural Black Pride Festival aims to uplift queer Black voices, honor LGBTQ+ history and create a joyful space for community and belonging.
Arts & Culture
Coverage of visual arts, performing arts, cultural events, and artistic entrepreneurs
Latest in Arts & Culture
How a neglected alley became Kalamazoo’s midweek party
From youth rock bands to funk, hip-hop, reggae, and blues, Beats on Bates has turned a humble alley into the soundtrack of Kalamazoo's summer Wednesdays.
A little Paris, a lot of Vine: Friday nights at Martini’s
On Friday nights at Martini's, The Birdseed Salesmen's jazz drifts across the wildflower-edged patio where conversations about sled dogs, art weirdos, punk rock, and everyday life reveal the quirky sense of place that makes Vine unlike anywhere else in town.
Poet’s Press: Medicine of the Edison
For our third edition of Poet's Press, we feature a poem about Kalamazoo's Edison Neighborhood by Jezreel Cruz alongside the artwork of Savannah Scheffers.
New KSO President Amy Williams is on a mission to make orchestral music feel like home
Amy Williams, the new president of the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, brings a community-focused vision shaped by her success in Savannah, aiming to make symphony music more accessible and inviting to people across Kalamazoo.
Jazz went fearless, strange, and brilliant at the Gilmore Finale — and Kalamazoo loved it
At the Gilmore Piano Festival finale in Kalamazoo, Grammy-winning pianist Sullivan Fortner and fellow jazz innovators delivered a daring, emotionally charged performance that proved the city’s audience is sophisticated enough to embrace adventurous modern jazz.
House show or hair show? Inside Kalamazoo’s ‘secret’ salon concert scene
A downtown Kalamazoo hair salon is transforming into an intimate monthly live music venue, where Trim Salon owner Patti Ann McNulty hosts folk and Americana concerts in a uniquely DIY community space.
At Kalamazoo’s Stulberg Competition, audiences fall in love with the future of music
The 51st annual Stulberg International String Competition returns to Kalamazoo May 15–17, 2026, featuring elite young string musicians from five
countries and marking a new era under Executive Director Garret Jones.
Kalamazoo Choral Arts and Queer Chorus of Kalamazoo join voices for a powerful choral tribute to healing and hope
Kalamazoo Choral Arts and the Queer Chorus of Kalamazoo present "Considering Matthew Shepard," a powerful choral performance that transforms tragedy into a message of remembrance, community, and hope.
Keys to the future: Young jazz phenom Esteban Castro hits the Gilmore stage in Battle Creek
Jazz prodigy Esteban Castro returns to the Gilmore International Piano Festival in Battle Creek as a 2026 Young Artist Award winner, bringing a career that began on a toy piano to the Kool Community Center.
How a neglected alley became Kalamazoo’s midweek party
From youth rock bands to funk, hip-hop, reggae, and blues, Beats on Bates has turned a humble alley into the soundtrack of Kalamazoo's summer Wednesdays.
A little Paris, a lot of Vine: Friday nights at Martini’s
On Friday nights at Martini's, The Birdseed Salesmen's jazz drifts across the wildflower-edged patio where conversations about sled dogs, art weirdos, punk rock, and everyday life reveal the quirky sense of place that makes Vine unlike anywhere else in town.
Poet’s Press: Medicine of the Edison
For our third edition of Poet's Press, we feature a poem about Kalamazoo's Edison Neighborhood by Jezreel Cruz alongside the artwork of Savannah Scheffers.
New KSO President Amy Williams is on a mission to make orchestral music feel like home
Amy Williams, the new president of the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, brings a community-focused vision shaped by her success in Savannah, aiming to make symphony music more accessible and inviting to people across Kalamazoo.
Jazz went fearless, strange, and brilliant at the Gilmore Finale — and Kalamazoo loved it
At the Gilmore Piano Festival finale in Kalamazoo, Grammy-winning pianist Sullivan Fortner and fellow jazz innovators delivered a daring, emotionally charged performance that proved the city’s audience is sophisticated enough to embrace adventurous modern jazz.
House show or hair show? Inside Kalamazoo’s ‘secret’ salon concert scene
A downtown Kalamazoo hair salon is transforming into an intimate monthly live music venue, where Trim Salon owner Patti Ann McNulty hosts folk and Americana concerts in a uniquely DIY community space.
At Kalamazoo’s Stulberg Competition, audiences fall in love with the future of music
The 51st annual Stulberg International String Competition returns to Kalamazoo May 15–17, 2026, featuring elite young string musicians from five countries and marking a new era under Executive Director Garret Jones.
Kalamazoo Choral Arts and Queer Chorus of Kalamazoo join voices for a powerful choral tribute to healing and hope
Kalamazoo Choral Arts and the Queer Chorus of Kalamazoo present "Considering Matthew Shepard," a powerful choral performance that transforms tragedy into a message of remembrance, community, and hope.
Keys to the future: Young jazz phenom Esteban Castro hits the Gilmore stage in Battle Creek
Jazz prodigy Esteban Castro returns to the Gilmore International Piano Festival in Battle Creek as a 2026 Young Artist Award winner, bringing a career that began on a toy piano to the Kool Community Center.
