Posted Tuesday, April 26, 2016 11:57 am

TUESDAY, April 26 — Michigan-based rock band Verve Pipe will headline the first-ever City Pulse River Rock Concert, which comes to Adado Riverfront Park June 10 and 11. Verve Pipe will perform June 10; Triple Lindy will open the show.

“We’re very happy to get Verve Pipe for this concert,” said Rich Tupica, City Pulse Turn it Down columnist. “It’s been 20 years since the release of the classic, platinum-selling album, ‘Villains.’”

To mark the anniversary, Verve Pipe will do something it has never done before: perform “Villains” live, cover-to-cover. The album includes the band’s breakthrough hit, “The Freshmen,” as well as singles like “Photograph” and “Cup of Tea.”

“Those songs are without a doubt some of the biggest radio hits this city’s ever produced,” Tupica said. “Celebrating a landmark anniversary of the album they’re on just makes sense.”

The two-day festival, hosted by City Pulse and Michigan Institute for Contemporary Art, includes two days of live music, as well as a June 11 party to recognize the winners of the City Pulse/Fox 47 News Top of the Town Contest. The Top of the Town Party will feature live music by local bands and special food offerings from over a dozen local restaurants. The festival is a fundraiser for MICA, which also sponsors Lansing JazzFest and Michigan BluesFest. Tickets are available at riverrockconcert. brownpapertickets.com .

Verve Pipe, which formed in Lansing in 1992, cut its teeth in the mid-Michigan rock scene.

“Verve Pipe’s Lansing roots are still strong in the area,” Tupica said. “Back in the ‘90s, they went from local guys playing the Small Planet to being on MTV and getting international airplay.”

While Verve Pipe was never able to recreate the commercial success of “Villains,” it has continued to perform and record albums, including two popular children’s albums. It’s most recent album, “Overboard,” was released in 2014.

“For locals looking to go back in time to 1996, this is the perfect concert,” Tupica said. “I’ve been told the band is re-learning songs they haven’t played in years. It will be a special night for Verve Pipe fans.”

City Pulse River Rock Concert

June 10-11

Tickets go on sale today at riverrockconcert. brownpapertickets.com

Friday night (featuring Verve Pipe): $15/$20 reserved VIP seating

Saturday night (Top of the Town Party): $12/$17 reserved VIP seating/$5 for the TOTT Party/$20 for VIP seating and TOTT party

Two-night combo: $25/$32 VIP reserved seating and TOTT Party