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.
Curtain Call
Curtain Call is your front-row seat to the unique, lively, and memorable performances shaping Kalamazoo’s arts scene. Supported by the I.S. Gilmore Foundation, this series highlights the creativity and community that make each show something special.
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.
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.
“I sing because I feel free”: Las Cafeteras led Kalamazoo on a musical journey of solidarity and joy
Las Cafeteras transformed a Sunday afternoon into a high-energy celebration, blending centuries of musical tradition with a joyful call for unity and shared humanity.
Symphonic Beats celebrates women, proves Kalamazoo’s hip hop culture is thriving
Blending symphony, rap, poetry and dance, the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra’s “Symphonic Beats” celebrated women in hip-hop culture while showcasing the strength of Kalamazoo’s local scene.
All aboard for a perfectly college ride at WMU Theatre
WMU Theatre’s intimate staging of Keith Bunin’s “The Coast Starlight” captures the restless hope, impulsiveness and emotional rawness of youth, showcasing how college theater turns a deceptively simple train ride into a poignant exploration of growth, connection and exhilarating uncertainty.
How Glow Hall is carving out space for Kalamazoo’s loud, eclectic, and community-driven art
With intimate shows that blend punk, experimental music, performance art, and fundraising, Glow Hall’s founder is betting that Kalamazoo’s crowded creative scene still has room for events that are deliberately small, collaborative, and a little extra.
Youth Reviewer Lab: Kalamazoo Academy of Rock musicians deliver high-voltage show at Bell’s
Check out our youth review of the Kalamazoo Academy of Rock's showcase at Bell’s Backroom.
Youth Reviewer Lab: ‘Northern Lights’ ignite Kalamazoo Junior Symphony season
The Kalamazoo Junior Symphony Orchestra opened its season with a polished, emotionally charged performance of Bruch and Sibelius, showcasing the young musicians’ dedication and artistry as captured through the perspective of a youth reviewer.
Madness, joy, and freedom: “The Colored Museum” Is a ‘love letter to Black people’
A bold collaboration between Face Off Theatre Company and the Kalamazoo Civic Theatre, "The Colored Museum" revives George C. Wolfe’s sharp, satirical look at Black identity — offering both celebration and confrontation as it challenges audiences to see why its message still matters in 2025.
