Local Spins’ annual Labor Day column highlighting challenges that continue to face working musicians in 2023 focuses on the views of three artists from widely varied backgrounds. Read their insightful observations and more in today’s special commentary.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows · Videos
In an interview with Local Spins, the one-time member of the iconic Fairport Convention talks about his music and upcoming U.S. tour hitting several Michigan cities.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
Get the back story on this fast-emerging Grand Rapids studio’s special niche. Plus, listen to live Dogtown tracks, watch videos of live performances and check out song debuts by several Michigan artists via the Local Spins on WYCE radio show podcast.
Playlists · Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
Local Spins previews the eclectic one-day music festival presented for the second year by Little Fleet over Labor Day weekend. The schedule, ticket links, playlist and more.
Album Releases · Artist Spotlights · Audio
Stricken with back issues and Lyme disease, the northern Michigan artist remains upbeat about Labor Day release of his star-studded album. The back story, with an audio peek into the new collection.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
Well worth the trip to Michigan’s East Side, two big music festivals unfold over Labor Day weekend, with some giants of jazz in the Motor City and 200-plus diverse acts in Royal Oak. Info and schedules at Local Spins.
Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
The Accidentals, The Crane Wives, Ruthie Foster, Joseph and more electrified 700-plus attendees at the inaugural event on Sunday. Get the recap, photo gallery and video, along with images from the weekend’s Holler Fest in Jackson County.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Summer Festivals
The Grand Rapids band performing at this weekend’s Dozynki Polish Harvest Festival talks about polka’s enduring draw for Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuts music by several other Michigan artists, including Kitten & The Tonics, Jake Godsil and Brandon Marceal.
Playlists · Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
With six female or female-led acts on the bill, Sunday’s celebration in Hastings aims to close out the summer with transfixing music. Get the preview, schedule and playlist at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
The West Michigan Americana band topped Low Phase and Jack Droppers & The Best Intentions as part of the friendly competition and one-day festival hosted by Rockford’s Rotary Club. Get the recap and photos at Local Spins.
Playlists · Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
Taking place in the picturesque, uppermost corner of the Upper Peninsula, this year’s music festival boasts more than a dozen national touring acts. Get the lowdown at Local Spins.
The second annual, one-day festival and friendly competition on Tuesday along the Rogue River benefits ShelterBox, with three West Michigan bands gracing the stage. The schedule, details, voting links and band videos at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
Fans at Friday’s sold-out Meijer Gardens show got a special treat when the Kalamazoo-bred Hurd joined the country/pop singer on stage. The review of her18-song show, photos and set list at Local Spins
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE
Local Spins traveled to Kalamazoo’s La Luna studio to showcase new projects from Seth Bernard, G’itis Baggs and Liz Townsend. Plus, the radio show debuts tracks by several other Michigan artists, including Nathan Walker, May Erlewine, Low Phase and Lowke. Learn more about Ian Gorman’s studio and listen to this week’s radio show podcast.
Artist Spotlights · Traverse City · Upcoming shows · Videos
The reggae-infused funk, jam and rock band plays a special 20th birthday show in Cadillac this weekend, with plans for recording new material in 2024. The back story and a video at Local Spins.
Local Spins’ Looking for the Perfect Beat columnist Todd Ernst previews this weekend’s Breakaway Music Festival taking place at Belknap Park in Grand Rapids. Plus, check out the schedule and[…]
Playlists · Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
Hoxeyville uncorks its unique musical charm in the Manistee National Forest west of Cadillac this weekend with Marcus King, Molly Tuttle & more. Get the lowdown on this much-adored gathering.
Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Summer Festivals · Videos
Today’s Local Spins on WYCE podcast travels the state to showcase new music from Michigan artists performing at several August festivals. Plus, get details — and links — for nine festivals taking place this weekend, with a chance to win tickets to one of them, and watch Local Spins publisher John Sinkevics recap the August festival lineup for TV8’s EightWest.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
It’s time to kick up your heels in Emerald Isle fashion. Sparta’s Rogers Park once again hosts the Sparta Celtic Festival with Steel City Rovers, Whorled and more on tap. Get the lowdown and festival schedule at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
The Grand Rapids folk-rock heroes made a triumphant return to Studio Park’s Listening Lawn Series downtown on Saturday. The recap, photos and video at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Hot Top 5 · Playlists
Patty PerShayla & The Mayhaps, The Schrock Bros. and Loren Johnson round out the regional chart of top releases for July at WYCE-FM. Learn more and listen to tracks from all the recordings at Local Spins.
Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Summer Festivals · Videos
Local Spins recaps Shagbark Music & Arts Festival’s Day 1 in words and images, plus features chief event organizer ‘Farmer’ John Crissman along with brand new Michigan music by Full Cord, Chirp, Daisybox, Au Gres and more as part of today’s Local Spins on WYCE podcast.
Two iconic bands played to separate, engaged Grand Rapids audiences just a block away from each other on Wednesday. The recaps and photos at Local Spins.
Playlists · Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
With no overlapping sets, more than a dozen Michigan acts will perform at the first-year Shagbark Music and Arts Festival taking place near Caledonia this weekend. Get the preview, schedule and a festival playlist.
More than just ‘The Way,’ the Austin rock/pop band delivered a weekend-ending romp that had a small-but-enthused crowd on its feet at downtown’s Studio Park. Meanwhile, Grand Rapids boasted two sold-out shows the same night: The Death Grips at GLC Live at 20 Monroe and The Regrettes at The Pyramid Scheme. Browse all three photo galleries.
Even as July comes to an end, live music starring Michigan acts continues to heat up across the state with free weeknight concerts, from Bronson to Sparta to Hillsdale and beyond. View concert schedules for several communities at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
The West Michigan native who plays home-state dates this weekend was featured for Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuted tracks by Pajamas, Ficus, Pink Sky, The American Hotel System and more. Get the back story on Beth Bombara and her upcoming new album, plus listen to this week’s radio show podcast.
Playlists · Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
For the third year, Allegan’s Fat Blossom Farm will host this cozy music festival starring regional acts. View the lineup and details, get ticket links and listen to a Top 10 playlist.
Billed as the ‘best tiny festival in the Mitten State,’ Tamarack rolls out more than 20 regional acts this weekend. Get the preview, playlist and schedule at Local Spins.
Local Spins on WYCE traveled to Grand Haven to chat with the veteran bandleader as well as Third Coast Recording founder Bill Chrysler while also debuting new tracks by Michigan artists, including Fire in the Attic, Cal in Red, FINKEL, Daves at 7, Lost Magic, Bradley Sinclair, Trifocal and more. Learn more about Carl Webb and Third Coast Recording, watch a video and listen to this week’s radio show podcast.
Sponge, Snacks & Five, Adrien + Meredith, The American Hotel System and more will heat up Beaver Island this week. Get the preview, schedule, festival playlist and more at Local Spins.
Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
The hard-rocking Grand Rapids festival returned to Belknap Park on Friday, with more than a dozen bands — some of them local — turning up their amps to 11. The recap, photo galleries and Saturday schedule at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
Set to close out a decade-long run later this year, the Grand Rapids rock band fired up Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuted music by Cordero, Veeze, The Armed, Desmond Jones and more. Learn more about The Fabulous Vans and listen to this week’s radio show podcast.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
Ludington’s 10th — and possibly final — two-day music festival at Waterfront Park raised money for a good cause and rocked thousands along the lakeshore. Photos, video.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Another July week of eclectic music unfolded across West Michigan, from Sparta to Grand Rapids to Otsego to Kalamazoo — showcased in photo galleries at Local Spins, from an inaugural blues festival outside Liquid Note to a Saturday album-release show for Veronica Eileen and a Black Arts Festival in Kalamazoo.
Local Spins on WYCE · Summer Festivals
Ludington’s two-day Ludrock on Saturday and Sunday boasts a bevy of Michigan bands for its 10th and final soiree. Plus, listen to our July festival round-up featuring new Michigan-bred music as part of today’s Local Spins on WYCE podcast.
Artist Spotlights · Hot Top 5 · Playlists
The Grand Rapids band’s full-length debut album topped releases by Michigander and Loren Johnson on the June chart. Learn more about the band, view the full chart and check out tracks from all five albums at Local Spins.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
The ever-treasured, long-running Blissfest fires up again north of Harbor Springs this weekend. Local Spins has everything you need to know about this three-day music festival — lineup, schedule, playlist and more.
The long holiday weekend offers the perfect opportunity to pump up the volume with Local Spins’ revamped “Freedom Rocks” playlist, from Billy Strings and Lindsay Lou to Pitbull and Jon Batiste.
Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
The holiday weekend festival outside Trufant boasted performances by more than a dozen bands on Friday, with two more days of music ahead, including The Accidentals and May Erlewine. The recap, photos and video, exclusively at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
The West Michigan musician known as “Huggy Bear” runs a studio north of Grand Rapids and helps organize this weekend’s Smiling Acres fest. The Artist Spotlight and this week’s Local Spins on WYCE radio podcast, with a video tour of The Bear Den studio.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
The Kalamazoo progressive bluegrass powerhouse Greensky Bluegrass brought its summer U.S. tour to a familiar venue, enchanting a sold-crowd Wednesday at the Meijer Gardens amphitheater. The review, photo gallery and video at Local Spins.
Playlists · Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
One of Michigan’s youngest music festivals has quickly become a favorite, lighting up Fourth of July weekend for the third year in Trufant. Get the lowdown and listen to music from this year’s performers.
Concert reviews · Features · Photos · Videos
‘Nobody cares what you do here.’ That was the theme as Electric Forest returned to Rothbury with wildly garbed attendees and bass-heavy romps. The Day 1 recap, photos and video.
In-Depth Report · Summer Festivals
After a Washington festival shooting, Electric Forest has revealed stepped-up security measures. And there’s a busy Michigan summer of packed outdoor events ahead. An in-depth report with safety tips for festivalgoers.
Playlists · Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
One of Michigan’s longest-running music festivals celebrates its 51st year this weekend in mid-Michigan. Check out details in our latest festival spotlight, along with a forecast and a playlist of some featured bluegrass performers.
The once curly-haired, golden boy of rock ’n’ roll returned to Meijer Gardens for a sold-out, tour-starting show Monday – nearly five decades after his first West Michigan appearance. The review and photo gallery at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Throngs of thousands cheered country stars in Comstock Park, a Michigan-bred bluegrass powerhouse at Pine Knob and Modest Mouse at GLC Live at 20 Monroe — just a smidgen of the live music lighting up the region this week, captured in Local Spins photos.
The mid-June music festival at Circle Pines Center in Delton basked in sunny, cool weather and kept things churning with upbeat performances on Friday. Get the recap, browse photos and view the Saturday-Sunday schedules at Local Spins
Local Spins on WYCE · Summer Festivals
Find lineups and updates for several upcoming festivals, plus listen to today’s special “Festival Edition” of Local Spins on WYCE, with music by artists playing Buttermilk, Electric Forest, Smiling Acres and more.
