The Ionia County-raised guitarist continues his meteoric rise, with his latest album, “Me/And/Dad,” making waves on a number of national/regional charts. See who else made the latest Hot Top 5 and listen to tracks from all of the releases at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
From Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo, December rolled in with a musical wallop — from national touring acts to local stars playing a smattering of venues. View the photos at Local Spins.
Announcements · Summer Festivals
Internationally acclaimed electronic music stars once again will dominate the Rothbury, Mich., landscape come June 22-25, along with The String Cheese Incident. Passes go on sale Friday.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
Songwriter Taylor Hottenstein basks in the Artist Spotlight and is this week’s special guest for Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuts tracks by Moss Manor, Dangling Participles, Sebastian & The Mood, The Shouting Bones, Josh Rose and more. Learn more about Daisybox and listen to this week’s radio show podcast.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
The liveliest Thanksgiving weekend for live music in three years delivered everything from country to rock to electronic music to jamgrass for West Michigan fans — from a packed house at Rockford Brewing to two straight nights of a bluegrass homecoming in Kalamazoo. The photos at Local Spins.
Album reviews · Audio · Videos
Raised in Ionia County’s rural Muir, Billy Strings embraces the traditions he grew up with, featuring duets with his stepfather, Terry Barber, on his latest Rounder Records releases. The review at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Upcoming shows
The band uncorks its traditional Thanksgiving weekend concerts at State Theatre. Our interview with mandolinist Paul Hoffman and this week’s radio show podcast with new music by Myron Elkins, Chain of Lakes, Jack Pine, Entransient and more.
Audio · Concert announcements · Upcoming shows
It’s a singer-songwriter double-header this Sunday: ArtRat’s first show featuring Darcy Wilkin precedes the evening return of ‘Songtellers’ at Midtown. Get the details and upcoming schedule at Local Spins.
From tour stops by Greensky Bluegrass, Straight No Chaser, Daryl Hall and Todd Rundgren to Thanksgiving eve parties starring Desmond Jones, Hannah Rose Graves and more, it’s a jam-packed week. Get the lowdown and a list of shows at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Nasty, snowy weather didn’t cancel everything over the weekend. Several shows heated things up from Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo, captured in images at Local Spins — from a Fleetwood Mac tribute to the Michigan return of a regional rock favorite.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
The veteran West Michigan artist unveiled tracks from the release for Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuted music by Billy Strings, Citizen Keen, Cal in Red and more. Learn more about Josh Rose’s new music and listen to this week’s radio show podcast.
Concert announcements · Festivals
Ani DiFranco, St. Paul & The Broken Bones, Patty Griffin lead a one-day Saturday event with a cozy ‘BanjoFest’ at The Ark on Friday. And Hoxeyville 2023 will feature Wood Brothers, Keller Williams and more. Get the lowdown at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Emerging Artists to Watch · Playlists · Videos
Perhaps poised to follow the path of pop phenom and inspiration Shawn Mendes, the 16-year-old from Grass Lake ascended to the finals on the hit NBC show. The Local Spins interview with the young singer.
Concert announcements · Upcoming shows · Venue Spotlight
After a pandemic-driven hiatus of nearly three years, the popular Fennville restaurant returns with Kate Pillsbury, Kyle Rasche and Kait Rose playing Sunday. Get details with the full concert schedule at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Audio · Upcoming shows
Touring behind “Powerful,” their first album since 2015, the Michigan band led by Dede Alder plays Midtown in Grand Rapids tonight. Get the back story and listen to a track from the release.
Concert announcements · Upcoming shows
The first of four early shows starring West Michigan rock bands rolls out at the Grand Rapids club in Eastown today. View the lineup for the first event and get details at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
After relocating from Grand Rapids to Nashville, the band plays two big homecoming shows this fall. Local Spins on WYCE also debuted tracks by Molly, Austin Benzing, Dede & The Dreamers and more. Read more about Brother Elsey and listen to this week’s radio show podcast.
Announcements · Special Offers
Get a headstart on your holiday shopping hoopla: Pre-order your resplendent 2023 Local Spins Calendars featuring not only photos of 27 Michigan artists, but music festival dates, too. The ideal gift for the music lovers on your list.
Features · Photos · Upcoming shows
COVID ravaged the region’s open-mic scene. While some venues still haven’t joined the fray, many open-mic nights are back and rocking stages. The lowdown at Local Spins, along with a link to a listing of dozens of area open-mic sessions.
The early November round-up of Michigan releases not only covers a wide swath of genres, but artists from Grand Rapids to the Detroit area to Petoskey. Listen to tracks from all of the recordings.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
From decades-old classics to music by emerging stars, the region’s week of live music boasted some intriguing tour stops beyond just the return of Michigan’s Billy Strings. Browse the weekend photo galleries at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
The Grand Rapids harp player and singer’s latest album basked in the spotlight for Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuted tracks by Billy Strings, Josh Rose, Jair, 84 Tigers, Nathan Walton and more. Read more about Bruce Madden and listen to this week’s full radio show podcast at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Audio · Hot Top 5
New releases by the West Michigan artists joined recordings by Djangophonique and Ficus as the most-played local/regional releases at WYCE (88.1 FM) in October. Listen to tracks from all of the charted releases at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins Rewind · Podcasts · Upcoming shows · Videos
The world’s Grammy-winning face of bluegrass plays Wings Event Center Thursday. But in 2015, Billy Strings was just Michigan’s emerging acoustic fave, wowing a handful of fans for Local Spins Live at River City Studios. Relive the milestone performance via video and podcast at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows · Videos
The British-born blues-rock phenom who splits time between Detroit and Nashville brings the tour behind a new album to Kalamazoo State Theatre on Wednesday. The Local Spins interview, with two music videos.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
The Grand Rapids band with an EP on the way debuted the title track for Local Spins on WYCE, which also aired new music by Overdrive Orchestra, Aspen Jacobsen, Dreas, Cole Hansen and more. Get the back story on Martyr for Madison and listen to this week’s radio show podcast.
Artist Spotlights · Emerging Artists to Watch · Photos · Videos
The Otsego product now based in Nashville has signed with Elektra Records, toured with Kaleo and Lucero, and aims to release a new album in early 2023. Get the back story on Elkins and watch a video of him performing his latest single. He plays Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill in Grand Rapids on Friday.
Announcements · Breaking music news · Upcoming shows · Venue Spotlight
To avoid confusion with other ‘Listening Rooms’ across the country, the rebranded venue instead reflects the name of the first Loeks theater in downtown Grand Rapids and ‘more spaciousness’ in entertainment offerings. Get details at Local Spins.
Breaking music news · Upcoming shows
The venue north of Grand Rapids hasn’t hosted regular concerts since early 2020, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. The back story at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Orchestral power, indie-folk charm, country crooning, alluring electronic music, rock and pop zest and mummified funk: All on display this past week and recapped at Local Spins in resplendent images and words.
The West Michigan rock band won out over 10 other acts competing earlier this month in Louisiana, part of the week-long Prize Fest event. Details at Local Spins, along with a couple of the band’s recent music videos.
Commentary · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
As the Grand Rapids radio station kicks off its Fall Fund Drive, Local Spins focuses its attention on the critical role that WYCE plays in supporting local and regional artists. And listen to today’s Local Spins on WYCE radio show podcast, which debuts tracks by several Michigan bands.
Commentary · In Memoriam · Videos
‘He made the world a better place.’ Grand Rapids drummer Bill Vits had a huge impact on musicians, fans and students. His death has sparked loving memorials to this local icon and Local Spins shares some of them with readers today.
This mid-October round-up of new Michigan releases includes creepy pre-Halloween fun and singer-songwriter charm from the Upper Peninsula’s Michael Waite to Detroit’s Mike Ward and more. Listen to tracks from all of the releases at Local Spins.
Kicking off the season on Friday with Serita’s Black Rose and Kait Rose, the free, four-concert series at Alger Park Church will spotlight folk, world music, soul, classical, blues and more. Learn more about the series and view the schedule at Local Spins.
Breaking music news · Concert reviews · Photos
The seasoned Grand Rapids blues outfit outpolled four other West Michigan bands to take home the top prize in Sunday’s competition hosted by the West Michigan Blues Society at Billy’s Lounge. Learn more and check out photos at Local Spins.
Local Spins presents bonus coverage of recent Grand Rapids concerts — hip hop, country, dubstep — from a mid-October flurry of tour stops.
Concert reviews · Festivals · Photos · Videos
Our weekend concert recap focuses on Saturday’s inaugural downtown street fest that also boasted sets by Kari Lynch, Melophobix and more. Plus, view photos from Joe Satriani’s tour stop Friday at State Theatre in Kalamazoo.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
The Grand Rapids band hellbent on doing things its own way debuted new tracks for Local Spins on WYCE, which also showcased creepy new Halloween songs and releases by other Michigan artists. Learn more about Second Hand Drugs, which plays Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill tonight.
With her new release, ‘Time Traveler,’ making waves, the Charlevoix-based singer-songwriter opens up to Local Spins about her music and her love of northern Michigan. Get the back story on Rae’s musical voyage and watch two of her latest music videos.
Artist Spotlights · Contests · Upcoming shows
Five groups will play Billy’s Lounge in Grand Rapids on Sunday, vying for a chance to travel to Memphis in January as part of the Blues Foundation’s International Blues Challenge. Learn more about the bands and the competition at Local Spins.
Festivals · Playlists · Upcoming shows
The all-day festival in downtown Grand Rapids will also feature Blue Jay Bridge, Vinylicious and DJ Jay Vee, performing under a mammoth tent. View the full schedule.
Music has sustained us through some pretty difficult times, all showcased in words, photos, videos and podcasts at Local Spins. Now, we hope you’ll help us sustain our mission — and you could win big in the process.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Videos
Led by Rachel White and Matt Plessner, the Grand Rapids rock band releases ‘Past Forward’ next week. The back story on the group’s new album, a video and the latest Local Spins on WYCE podcast.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
After a busy summer, the Grand Rapids band is hunkering down to promote two new songs and prepare for a 2023 record. The Artist Spotlight feature and this week’s Local Spins on WYCE podcast, which also featured Lighting Matches and debuted new tracks by Michigan artists.
Award-winning acoustic stars hailing from touring acts that include Punch Brothers and Bruce Hornsby will host workshops starting Thursday at Camp Blodgett along Lake Michigan. Learn more about the camp and view the full roster of instructors.
Artist Spotlights · Audio · Hot Top 5 · Upcoming shows
The Grand Rapids rock bands made their Local Spins Hot Top 5 Chart debut in September with new studio rrecordings. Check out the chart, listen to tracks from all of the releases.
Features · Local Spins Rewind · Summer Festivals · Top 10 Lists
As we dive into October, it’s time to look back at the Local Spins stories and reviews which got the most attention from readers over the summer.
Artist Spotlights · Breaking music news · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
The anthemic pop band frontman reveals details about his latest calamity while debuting a new track for Local Spins on WYCE, which also showcased fresh music by several other Michigan artists. Get the back story, watch Michigander’s new music videos and listen to this week’s radio show podcast.
Concert reviews · Festivals · Photos
The Mainstays, DC, DJ Boogie and The Incantations made it a manic Monday at Bell’s Brewery, kicking off the inaugural Sounds of the Zoo with an eclectic blast. View the photo galleries at Local Spins.
