Howard City Music Scene with Kevin Shell

by | Nov 3, 2025 | Discover Montcalm, Podcast | 0 comments

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Quick answer: The Howard City, Michigan music scene is vibrant, largely driven by local musician Kevin Shell. Shell regularly performs at events like Music in the Park and the Howard City Music Festival, and hosts a weekly open mic at Jean’s Pizza Café. Howard City acts as a music hub in Montcalm County, featuring annual festivals, regular live music events, and supporting emerging local talent, all sustained by strong community participation.

Key Takeaways

  • Local musician Kevin Shell is a central figure in the Howard City, Michigan music scene.
  • Shell performs at events like ‘Music in the Park’ and the ‘Howard City Music Festival’ and hosts a weekly open mic at Jean’s Pizza Café.
  • Howard City hosts regular community-concert series (‘Music in the Park’) and an annual ‘Howard City Music Festival.’
  • The community supports emerging artists, such as teenager Tyler Gitchel, fostering generational talent.
  • Howard City serves as a music hub in Montcalm County, sustained by consistent live music events, festivals, and strong local participation.

Howard City Music Scene with Kevin Shell

The Music Scene Around Montcalm County with Kevin Shell

Howard City Music Scene with Kevin Shell The Music Scene Around Montcalm County with Kevin Shell Howard City Music: In this episode of the Discover Montcalm Podcast, host Duane Weed sits down with local musician Kevin Shell, a familiar name among Montcalm County music artists and a key figure in Howard City’s vibrant and growing music scene. Kevin shares his musical journey, from his early love of drums and taking lessons to now performing across West Michigan. He’s a regular at various Howard City live music venues and local events, including Howard City’s Music in the Park and the Howard City Music Festival, contributing to the diverse local music genres found here. He also hosts a weekly open mic night at

Howard City Music

Kevin shares his musical journey with his love of drums, taking lessions and in his early years to now, performing across West Michigan. He’s a regular at local events, including Howard City’s Music in the Park and the Howard City Music Festival, and he hosts a weekly open mic night at Jean’s Pizza Café — a favorite local hangout where musicians come together to share songs, stories, and community spirit.

Through music, Kevin helps bring people together — supporting local talent and keeping live music alive across Montcalm County. His story is one of passion, connection, and the joy of creating something that brings people closer.

Howard City Music Scene Highlights the community

Community-concert series — “Music in the Park”
The village hosts a regular “Howard City Music in the Park” series at Ensley Park, encouraging locals to bring lawn chairs and enjoy music, food, friends and summer evenings.

Annual festival with live bands + vendors
The Howard City Music Festival is a multi-band event with craft/vendor components, held downtown (Edgerton St) and drawing a crowd from across the county. This is a link to the 2025 lineup. Facebook+1

Local live-music venues and open mics
Jean’s Pizza Cafe hosts an open mic every Thursday.  In the summer they close down part of Edgerton Street for an awesome outdoor experience.  A social district is available from a couple local resturants.

Emerging artists & generational talent
Howard City isn’t just about the big festivals — younger musicians are gaining ground. For example, Tyler Gitchel, a teenager from Howard City, has been releasing new music and drawing on his family’s musical roots.


A hub for connection and growth
Put all this together and you can see Howard City functions as a music hub in Montcalm County:

  • Weekly or monthly events keep the live-music pulse going

  • Annual festivals give local musicians a bigger stage

  • Young artists and venues give the scene sustainability

  • Local support, community participation and small-town charm make it special

Stay tuned, and remember to buy and shop locally!

The Discover Montcalm Podcast thanks West Michigan Technology & Design Solutions, WGLM106.3 FM, DW Video, and Business Growth Engine for their support.

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Howard City Michigan Music Scene with Kevin Shell – Episode 157

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Sources & Methodology

This article, “Howard City Music Scene with Kevin Shell,” is presented by Duane Weed, the host of the Discover Montcalm Podcast and founder of DW Video & Multimedia, LLC. With over 30 years of experience in video production, multimedia storytelling, and community engagement across West Michigan, Duane brings a deep understanding of local narratives and a commitment to showcasing the vibrant culture of Montcalm County, Michigan. His extensive work in local media and direct involvement in community projects provide the foundation for the authentic insights shared in the Discover Montcalm series.

The content of this post is primarily derived from an in-depth interview conducted with local musician Kevin Shell for Episode 157 of the Discover Montcalm Podcast. Kevin Shell’s firsthand experience as a performer and active participant in the Howard City, Michigan, music scene provides the core insights into local events, venues, and emerging talent. Information regarding community events such as “Music in the Park” and the “Howard City Music Festival,” as well as local venues like Jean’s Pizza Café, is based on direct reporting from the interview and the author’s ongoing engagement with the Howard City, Michigan, community.

For further verification and context regarding the Howard City, Michigan, music scene and community events, readers may consult the following resources:

Published on: [Insert Actual Publication Date of Blog Post] | Last Updated: [Insert Actual Last Update Date of Blog Post]

The Full Harmony: Exploring Howard City’s Deeper Music Connections

While the spotlight often shines on live performances and festivals, Howard City’s music scene thrives on a much broader ecosystem. Beyond the stage, the community actively nurtures its musical future through various initiatives. Local schools and private instructors play a vital role in cultivating young talent, offering lessons and programs that ensure a continuous flow of emerging artists, much like Tyler Gitchel. This foundational support helps musicians develop their craft from an early age, contributing to the rich tapestry of sounds heard across Montcalm County.

Delving into the history of music in Howard City reveals a vibrant past, with stories of past venues and influential local figures who laid the groundwork for today’s thriving scene. Understanding these roots helps appreciate the journey of local music. Furthermore, for artists looking to capture their sound, local recording resources, from dedicated home studios to collaborative spaces, provide essential opportunities for production and distribution, allowing their unique voices to reach wider audiences. This comprehensive approach, encompassing education, heritage, and production, ensures that Howard City remains a dynamic hub where music truly connects and grows within the community, embracing diverse genres from folk to rock, and even fostering community choirs and ensembles that bring people together through song.

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