Sonic Lunch is Back, Shaed kicks off the summer concert series
Every summer, we are desperate for a midday lunch break that is both relaxing and exciting. That’s where Sonic Lunch comes into the picture. We returned to our favorite free concert series to check out SHAED and Aint Afraid. This was perfect timing as SHAED dropped off their new album today. Those who were there, however, got to hear the new songs from the new album a day before the release.
Need More? Check out Sonic Lunch Link
More About Sonic Lunch
Started in 2008, Bank of Ann Arbor’s Sonic Lunch is a free summer outdoor concert series happening at the corner of Liberty and Division in downtown Ann Arbor Thursdays from 11:30AM to 1:30PM. Sonic Lunch features a live band from an impressive array of talent in the region, as well as national and international acts. Each week, lunch will be available on-site for purchase from a local vendor.
Sonic Lunch concerts are free and suitable for all ages. Seating is available but lawn chairs are welcome. Join the crowds for an energizing mid-day break or just relax and enjoy the sounds.
Sonic Lunch is a collaborative effort spearheaded by Bank of Ann Arbor and ann arbor’s 107one. Morning show host Scott Vertical announces each show.
Perich Advertising & Design, a local advertising agency, contributes the annual design of Sonic Lunch posters, banners, t-shirts and stickers. THS Audio provides sound production. As a result, Bank of Ann Arbor’s Sonic Lunch has become one of the coolest summer events in Ann Arbor.
Bank of Ann Arbor would like to recognize and offer a tip-of-the-hat to both Jesse Bernstein, former Ann Arbor Chamber of Commerce President, and Hal Davis for all their great work in bringing some local music to Liberty Plaza in 2007.
SHAED
SHAED weren't immune to spinning out. The trio of Chelsea Lee and twin brothers Max and Spencer Ernst had been living in a whirlwind for a long time — a long, circuitous, sometimes stop-start arc that included meeting as teenagers playing around D.C., living and writing at home together, and a surprise breakout hit in 2018's "Trampoline." The runaway ascension of "Trampoline" led the band through an array of dream scenario milestones — soundtracking a MacBook Air commercial, two billion streams, and accolades from pop culture monoliths like iHeart and Billboard. But SHAED also experienced the pitfalls of following that unexpected success. Seeking a reset, the trio emerged from tumultuous times equally defined by existential crises and beautiful life changes to craft a sophomore album that was as true a statement of their identity as anything they had made thus far.
There was only one name for it: Spinning Out. Spinning Out is the sound of SHAED's core ethos, their connection as family and musicians. Inspired by new love and parenthood, the album cohered as a collection of snapshots and vignettes, reflecting on belonging and connection from all different angles. While aided by collaborators like POWERS' Mike Del Rio, the bulk of Spinning Out was built on SHAED, as always, writing and recording at home together, chasing a more organic and lived-in atmosphere. Across moving ballads and graceful bops alike — including the emotionally bare title track, the soaring "Rocket in the Sky," and the hazy earworm of lead single "Everybody Knows I'm High" (debuted in SHAED's February Kimmel performance) — the band catalogs all the trials, euphoria, confusion, and hope that ran through a messy few years. Once upon a time Spinning Out might've been born from fragmentation, but it became the story of SHAED doing what they've always done best — getting in a room and chasing the answer together.
Aint Afraid
Aint Afraid was born in MD and raised in Michigan. From spoken word, to singing, songwriting, hiphop, and other creative means, this multi-talented duo has performed on stages across the United States & Middle East including an NBA half time and Grammy Week for the Recording Academy. Since making their debut as a professionally recorded artist, Aint Afraid has garnered millions of streams and over one million followers collectively across social media and streaming platforms that showcase their dynamic mix of modern pop, soul, hip hop, and r&b. Sharing their talents is their hug to the world, so prepare for their embrace.
