The Second Go-Around for Prospecto

The first thing you’ll learn upon meeting Ben Hunter is that he is all about community. If he senses you are also, he will most likely call you “brother” and give you a hug. Hunter is something of a jack-of-all-trades. Between being a communications professor at Grand Valley State University, one of the principals of the monthly Recoil Magazine and playing in Grand Rapids-based rock band Head, it may be an understatement to say that Hunter constantly has his hands full. However, this coming weekend will be the second year of what is most likely his most ambitious undertaking yet: The Prospecto Musical Showcase and Sonic Experience.

Last year, at this same time, Grand Rapids saw the debut of Prospecto, which Hunter describes as a “trial version.” The main idea behind it was to highlight to major labels and artists that Grand Rapids is a veritable city for arts and music, more than just a mid-sized city a little out of the way when going between Chicago and Detroit. Hunter and the rest of the Prospecto team went full out, with 10 venues all over the city and dozens of bands, including more than 60 local acts. “We worked our butts off to make it really cool,” Hunter says.

And cool it was. Hunter and his team assembled a lineup that included the likes of 90s rockers Presidents of the United States of America, hip-hop legend GZA, as well as underground acts like Flosstradamus and Baths. Despite the headliners, the first-year trial did not quite go off as all had hoped. This year, however, Hunter and the rest of the Prospecto team (Christina McDonald, director of operations; Nick Weaver, director of communications; Rachel Flower, lead designer; Rose McCarger, “volunteer impresario”) are banking that an equally ambitious lineup -- with an entirely revamped logistical plan -- will become a success.

“[We] realized having ten venues was a stretch,” Hunter says. “From a logistical standpoint, it made things run not as smoothly.” So this year, the Prospecto Musical Showcase and Sonic Experience will be centered entirely downtown, with three venues hosting. Each venue is located within six blocks of the others, making the whole thing totally walkable. Both The Intersection and Founders Brewing Company will be venues once more, with new downtown bar and rock club The Pyramid Scheme joining the mix.

Due the significant decrease in venues for this year’s event, the number of acts performing will obviously be decreased as well. But that does not mean that the scope or stature of acts is any less. If anything, Hunter and his team have assembled a lineup that goes beyond last year’s event.

This year’s main headliners include indie rock favorites The Walkmen, visionary hip-hop artists The Pharcyde and the Godfather of Funk himself, George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic. (Both Rapid Growth Editor Juliet Rylah and myself got to see Clinton at this summer’s Gathering of the Juggalos, and can confirm it’s an absolutely amazing show.)

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the behind-the-scenes action of a festival like Prospecto is the sheer amount of work that goes into booking the bigger acts. Hunter explains that when he was 15, he attended Lollapalooza and it was there that he met members of The Pharcyde. “Greg Campbell, who is [The Pharcyde’s] manager gave me his card, and I helped promote a show back in the late 90s when they came to town,” Hunter says of the relationship. Similar to GZA last year, Hunter was able to use direct relationships to get the booking done.

Unfortunately, not all the bookings were quite as simple. But due to Hunter’s love of community and collaboration, the acts could be put in place. “The venue owners are interested in helping make this happen," he says.

While the work for this year’s events basically began the day after last year’s Prospecto ended, the last couple weeks have been heavy with promotion. The Prospecto crew has an Artprize installation up in the front room of the Intersection where they are curating music videos from acts like Best Coast and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.

Another change is the partnerships Prospecto has formed. This includes teaming up with ArtPrize to provide this past Saturday night’s show at Rosa Parks Circle, which included performances by Charles the Osprey and Seattle act Fly Moon Royalty, of which Grand Rapids native Mike Sylvester (formerly of Sex Panther) is a member. Assistance from the Regional Air Alliance has helped Prospecto fly artists to Grand Rapids, and Prospecto has secured national sponsorship this year including Heineken and Redbull.

All of this fits in exactly with what Hunter wanted to create when he started Prospecto: "A community of creative people coming together.”

Prospecto officially begins this Friday night, Sept. 30, with music starting at 6:30 p.m. The same goes with Saturday and Sunday night. There are a number of options for tickets, but the best value is all three days for $70. For full details on ticket prices, lineup and schedule, please consult www.prospectogr.com.


Nick Manes is a freelance writer based in Grand Rapids. His work has appeared in Rapid Growth Media, Revue Magazine and other publications. He blogs at NickManes.com. Follow him on Twitter at @nickmanes1.