Cheers! We’re turning 3. Check out the big birthday events (including a new Local Spins microbrew), then tell us your favorite bands or music venues to win festival tickets, CDs, T-shirts and more.
A Rocking 3rd Birthday: Devin & The Dead Frets are part of the May 22 rollout of Local Spinsation Ale. (Photo/Anthony Norkus)
Brace yourselves for Local Spins Month.
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West Michigan's music scene
May officially marks the third anniversary celebration of the website that covers West Michigan’s music scene and we want to thank loyal readers with some special free events and giveaways to mark the occasion. It culminates May 22 with a rock show that boasts the release of, yes, the first-ever Local Spinsation Ale by Rockford Brewing.
Hoppy Birthday: The Local Spinsation Ale, courtesy of Rockford Brewing.
Before that, we want to give away some stuff.
In honor of our 3rd birthday, tell us your three favorite Michigan bands or solo artists (feel free to list why they’re your faves), and we’ll put your name in a drawing for a Local Spins anniversary gift package.
We’ll pick three winners who’ll each receive a Local Spins T-shirt, a Rockford Brewing gift card, a pair of tickets to an exclusive Local Spins house concert/podcast featuring The Accidentals, choice of a local CD, and choice of a pair of tickets to a stellar Michigan music festival (Founders Fest, Buttermilk Jamboree, Bus Benefit presented by Buses by the Beach or Hoxeyville music festival).
Just leave your picks in the LEAVE A REPLY comments section below, on the Local Spins Facebook page, or in an email to us by April 25, and we’ll select three winners by the end of April so you can celebrate Local Spins Month in style.
Here are just a few red-letter events in May to put on your calendar. Each show is free and will give folks opportunities for more Local Spins giveaways and a chance to see some amazing West Michigan acts who deserve additional exposure:
• The Accidentals, 9 p.m. May 6 at SpeakEZ Lounge in downtown Grand Rapids – This show represents the fast-rising Traverse City indie-folk/swing/rock band’s debut at this intimate venue and the trio promises to rattle the rafters with energetic tunes new and old.
• Bob Dylan Tribute, 9:30 p.m. May 16, Founders Brewing in Grand Rapids – Hosted as always by singer-songwriter Nicholas James Thomasma, this 8th annual tribute to Bob Dylan will feature The Carboys, Nicholas James & The Bandwagon, Jesse Ray & The Carolina Catfish, Bigfoot Buffalo and Great Notion. Local Spins will be on hand for stage intros and giveaways.
• Local Spins 3rd Anniversary Celebration with release of Local Spinsation Ale, 8 p.m. May 22 at Rockford Brewing in Rockford – Not only does this represent the debut of Local Spinsation Ale, but it’s also the Rockford Brewing debut of up-and-coming Grand Rapids rock band Devin & The Dead Frets, with The Honeytones opening the show.
• Local Spinsation tapping at SpeakEZ Lounge, 8 p.m. May 27 at SpeakEZ Lounge in Grand Rapids – The ale comes to SpeakEZ Lounge for what could be your last chance for a taste of this rockin’ hoppin’ beer, with Dan Rickabus of The Crane Wives brewing up a special musical concoction just for the occasion.
The Accidentals: Helping kick off Local Spins month. (Photo/Anna Sink)
It’s all part of a special month toasting West Michigan’s fastest-growing music website, so stay tuned for other show exclusives and other ways to win goodies.
When I first started Local Spins in 2012, I knew West Michigan’s music scene was poised to explode with talent and fans were ready to support it. I wanted to report, assess and embrace the West Michigan music scene like it had never been covered before.
And while there was plenty of uncertainty about whether the site would succeed, there was an unwavering certainty that this musically fertile region was producing some of the country’s most talented, eclectic and dedicated artists who deserved a much brighter spotlight – through in-depth stories, serious journalism, incisive reviews, top-notch photos, videos and commentary.
Three years in, Local Spins is growing faster than ever, clearly striking a chord with readers, musicians, venues, festivals, recording studios, labels and, perhaps most important, fans. We’ve done it with the help of a team of top-flight contributors – photographers, writers, graphic artists and interns.
Thank you all, and get ready for even bigger and better things for Local Spins in 2015 and beyond. We couldn’t do this without you, so cheers … and give yourselves a pat on the back.
After all, it’s gotta be a banner anniversary when a brewery names a beer after you.
Copyright 2015, Spins on Music LLC
My favorite local band is Billy Strings and Don Julin. I have seen them about 18 times in as many months since first seeing them at Wheatland 2013. They are absolutely amazing! I also really love the Accidentals right now.. they have so much talent for such young people and I think they are only going to get better and better. They put on a great live show! Thirdly, Mark Lavengood’s Bluegrass Bonanza put out a great album and put on some amazing shows last year.. everyone involved is so talented and Mark is such a great ambassador for Michigan music.
My three favorite Michigan groups are Greensky Bluegrass, UV Hippo, and Billy Strings & Don Julin. I picked these groups because they all put on great live shows.
1. Roosevelt Diggs
2. Moonrays
3. The Main Street Band
Love the local music and reading about them.
Billy Strings & Don Julin, The Accidentals, and Greensky Bluegrass are my favorite local bands at the moment. Love seeing all 3 bands live.
SO hard to pick only three!! The Accidentals, The Ragbirds and Hannah Rose Graves! Gotta love these talented women!
My favorite three bands would be Mid Life Crises, Mid Life Crises and Mid Life Crises.
The Eric Engblade Trio, Hannah Graves and Justin Wierenga, and the Rag Birds are my recommendations. Why? Eric has had a couple of different configurations as far as bands go, but his music and the show he and his band mates put on is always excellent. I love Hannah’s bluesy voice along with Jason’s talented guitar playing. The Rag Birds are a perennial favorite, but a band I haven’t had a chance to hear in a while..
Faves
1. Cameron Blake-old soul folk maestro
2. Billy Strings & Don Julin – Holy Smokes!
3.Faux Grass- just love ’em
Music is love – its at its best when shared.
Thank you for sharing Sink.
http://www.localspins.com is the bomb and it’s blowing up.
Devin and the Dead Frets is my pick because at their shows it’s like Bob Steger said “every ounce of energy, you try to give away” with these guys.