The Grand Rapids Symphony's popular Picnic Pops series will include bluegrass, doo wop and a group of guys you probably had a crush on in 1997.

The Picnic Pops has been ensconced at their current location at the foot of the Cannonsburg Ski Hill since 1994. The Picnic Pops has also retained D&W Fresh markets as their corporate sponsor.

The Picnic Pops season will open up on Wednesday, July 22 with Kittel and Company, featuring the skillful fiddle of Jeremy Kittel, of the Turtle Island String Quartet.

Here they are performing during a recent Michigan swing.

Two nights later, on Friday, July 24, the former boy band Hanson will take to the band shell as part of their String Theory Tour. The boys, now grown men, have matured into solid musicians who are way more than their sole number one hit from 1997, MMMBop.

Wednesday July 29 brings a trip back to the street corner sounds of the 1950s with the Doo Wop Project.  

The Broadway stars of “Jersey Boys” and “Motown: The Musical” croon the biggest hits of the great doo-wop groups plus doowapified songs of Michael Jackson, Jason Mraz and Maroon 5.

And last, but definitely not least, the great South African singing group Ladysmith Black Mambazo will entertain the hillside crowd on Thursday July 30.

The group has performed on the soundtrack to "Lion King II", Eddie Murphy's "Coming To America" and are probably best known for their lively performances on Paul Simon's Grammy Award winning "Graceland" album.

 

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