Local Spins’ annual Labor Day column spotlights the financial plight of local musicians. For many, the unseen time and labor behind a band’s typical road gig means working 10-12 hours for $10 to $15 a day. Most bands will do it happily time and again. But is that fair?
The Grand Rapids singer-songwriter celebrates release of “Tom Hymn’s Tangerine Dream” with an ensemble of musical pals at Fountain Street Church next week. Read the back story, watch the video of his in-studio performance for Local Spins on WYCE.
Announcements · Upcoming shows
Two Grand Rapids concert halls kick off new seasons with touring stars this fall, while the downtown arena continues to make headlines nationally. Check out the lineups and details at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
Series host Ralston Bowles showcased a roster of Michigan stars — including Brian Oberlin, Nik Carman and Eric Engblade — for a full Meijer Gardens amphitheater to close out the summer. Check out video highlights, photos and a recap of Tuesday’s show.
Breaking music news · Summer Festivals
Organizer Cameron Strong cites lack of ticket sales and financial considerations for forcing him to scrap the mid-October event. He vows Cold Creek Campout will be back in 2018.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
With sets by Travis Scott, R.L. Grime, Waka Flocka Flame and more, EDM and hip hop acts pumped up Belknap Park on Friday on the first day of the national festival. Read the recap, browse the photo gallery, watch the video from Day 1.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
The late August edition of Local Spins on WYCE boasted Laine’s in-studio visit and regional music by The Hacky Turtles, Emma Loo, 78 Revolutions Per Minute, Rick Chyme & Nixon, Melophobix and more. Listen to the podcast and watch a video of Laine’s performance.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins Live · Podcasts · Videos
The emerging West Michigan singer-songwriter plays a CD-release show at Rockford Brewing on Thursday night. Peruse the Local Spins Artist Spotlight story, listen to the podcast, watch the videos.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
Travis Scott, Zedd and more play the two-day festival at a site that’s never hosted a music festival before. Breakaway shifts to Ohio in September and North Carolina in October. See and save the full festival schedule at Local Spins.
Billy Strings, Borns, The Accidentals, The Crane Wives and other Michigan acts have found a national spotlight in varying ways as of late. Musician Ralston Bowles and Local Spins publisher John Sinkevics debate the merits and pitfalls of ‘making it’ in music in the second episode of the RSVP Music Chat podcast.
Concert announcements · Summer Festivals
HopCat and WYCE will join forces to present live music on downtown’s Blue Bridge Sept. 29-30 with sets by Michigander, The Great Ones, Watching for Foxes, Bootstrap Boys, Yolonda Lavender and more. See the full schedule at Local Spins and learn what’s changed for this year’s ArtPrize song contest.
Breaking music news · Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
Two Grand Rapids-based bands took home the top prizes in what organizers called the biggest and most successful Walk the Beat ever, with thousands of fans strolling the city’s east side to vote for their favorite performances. Get the details, watch video highlights and browse the photo gallery from Saturday’s event.
Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
On the same day of its much-ballyhooed Sony Masterworks CD-release, the Traverse City trio lit up the Grand Rapids radio studio with new songs. Watch the video, read the story and listen to the radio podcast, which also features new local and regional music.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
Jamming more than three hours of jamming into Monday night’s sold-out show at Meijer Gardens, Gov’t Mule and Galactic created the kind of upbeat, festival-styled milieu for which they’re known. Check out the review and photos from the week-opening concert.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
Gov’t Mule and Galactic get one of the busiest weeks of the summer started, with Lil’ Ed, Ian Anderson, Tribute on the Grand and a birthday bash for Creston Brewery also in the mix. Get the lowdown on all of the big shows and under-the-radar picks.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Big crowds cheered The Soul Syndicate, Grasshoppah, Jake Kershaw, Jimmie Stagger, The Crane Wives, Michigander and all manner of Celtic bands in a week that embraced summer’s musical magic. Browse the images at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
Expanding this year to three days, Thursday’s opening night of Cowpie Music Festival on Shagbark Farm in southern Kent County oozed musical charm with sets by UV Hippo, Grasshoppah, Covert and White Rabbit. Check out the first-day recap, photo gallery and video.
The Michigan native continues to turn heads nationally as he prepares to release a full-length debut album in September. Read more about Billy Strings and listen to a track from his upcoming new recording.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
This weekend’s festival boasts performances by Zoso, Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers, May Erlewine, That 1 Guy, G-Snacks, Brotha James, Andrew Sturtz, Biomassive and more. Get the lowdown on this northern Michigan event at Local Spins.
Local Spins Live · Podcasts · Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
More than 20 bands and thousands of festival-goers will descend on Shagbark Farm in southern Kent County for an expanded three-day celebration of regional music. See the full weekend schedule and save it on your smartphone to take along.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
Inspired to reunite so they could play next weekend’s Cowpie Music Festival, the popular, one-time Grand Rapids band is revving up its first Michigan shows in seven years. Check out the back story, watch the video, listen to the podcast, which also features new music from Michigan artists such as Nordy, Jake Kershaw, Lushh and more.
Starting today, listen to regular free-wheeling podcasts in which two veterans from different sides of West Michigan’s music scene — Ralston Bowles and John Sinkevics — chat about anything and everything music-related. The first episode of RSVP (aka, Ralston & Sink’s Virtual Podcast) tackles the ticklish subject of concert etiquette. And sign up via iTunes and never miss an episode.
Concert reviews · Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
Blistering rock dominates this weekend’s roundup of images from Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo, but there was also the fetching indie-folk of Kalamazoo’s Thunderbolt & Lightfoot at an inspiring CD-release show.
Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
The 150th episode of Local Spins on WYCE featured performances by a popular Grand Rapids songwriter and his band, and plenty of new music from Michigan-bred artists. Get the back story on John Sanger, watch the video of his band’s in-studio performance and listen to the radio podcast.
Artist Spotlights · Features · Upcoming shows · Videos
With beat-up piano Shondra in tow, Adam Weiner and his Philly band return to Tip Top Deluxe this week, riding a reputation as one the best live bands in the country. Read the Local Spins interview; view videos of this emerging rock outfit.
Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
The July 21 episode of the Local Spins on WYCE radio show boasted two in-studio performances and lots of new tracks by Michigan artists. Listen to this week’s podcast and watch the videos.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins Live · Upcoming shows · Videos
Led by guitarist and singer-songwriter Tom Wall, the Grand Rapids-based super-group delivers distinctive music (tuned to 432 Hz), all aimed to ‘make the world a better place.’ Learn the back story about this unusual band and watch the video of its in-studio performance this week.
Costello’s first appearance at Meijer Gardens since 2011 focused heavily on tracks from his 1982 classic “Imperial Bedroom,” but also trotted out some earlier hits and unearthed some rare gems. Browse the photos, read the review.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Another busy summer week of live music saw everything from blues to rock to folk stretching from Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo to Hastings. Check out the images from the Kalamazoo Blues Festival, Grand Rapids on Tap, Mitski, Steel Panther, The Accidentals, Falling in Reverse, David J, Tim Reynolds, May Erlewine and much more.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
With a back story that involves Saddam Hussein’s piano and gospel roots, this Albion duo and backing band are creating a buzz with passionate performances and a new soulful, upbeat album. Plus, the debut of new music by Cosmic Knot, Gifts or Creatures, The Out of Favor Boys and more. Read the story, listen to the podcast, watch the video of The War & Treaty’s in-studio performance.
The singer and multi-instrumentalist rolled out familiar hits and brand new material for a sold-out amphitheater on a sticky summer night. Read the review and browse the photos from Sheryl Crow’s third appearance at Meijer Gardens.
Concert announcements · Summer Festivals · Videos
The Native Howl, The Gasoline Gypsies, Watching for Foxes, Desmond Jones, Biomassive, The Change and more play this “beautiful” northern Michigan site July 21-23. Get details and ticket links, and watch videos of some of the festival’s featured bands.
The Grand Rapids folk-rockers topped semi-finalists in fan voting, winning $5,000 and a performance slot at JBL Fest in Las Vegas. Read their reaction to winning and check out the video that sent them into first place.
Breaking music news · Hot Top 5 · Videos
The Local Spins compilation boasting live tracks by 12 West Michigan artists racked up the most spins among regional acts at WYCE-FM in June, followed by solo CDs from Mark Lavengood and Dan Rickabus. And see what new regional music has been added on the air.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins Live · Podcasts · Upcoming shows
The Americana duo with deep Michigan roots is eyeing a new studio album as it continues to travel the country building an audience for its unique music. Read the Local Spins interview with these Petoskey natives and watch a rare video from a performance at South by Southwest 2017.
Features · Upcoming shows · Videos
In what ranks as one of Park Theatre’s biggest shows yet, keyboard icon Booker T. Jones will make a tour stop there on Friday night with Kalamazoo soul/funk band The Mainstays opening. Read about the upcoming concert at watch Booker T videos at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
The 2017 season of weekly regional music at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park had more than 1,500 people smiling and dancing to sets by Green on Blue and The Red Sea Pedestrians. View the video highlights.
Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
The final Local Spins on WYCE radio show for June also featured tracks from Detroit bands Flint Eastwood, Talking Ear and Saajtak, as well as music from West Michigan acts Flushed, The Extra Texture, Ty Beat, Parlor Voice, Mark Lavengood and Hey Marco! Listen to the full podcast.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows · Videos
The second weekend of Electric Forest kicks off today, which makes this the perfect time to look back at a wondrous Weekend 1 from Rothbury in photos, stories and reports from Local Spins and publications across the country. Check out the photo galleries and see how other media outlets view this Michigan festival.
Artist Spotlights · Traverse City · Upcoming shows
Moving from Nashville back to the Great Lakes State earlier this year after releasing a ‘painful’ and poignant album inspired by the late Pat Carroll of Kalamazoo, the artist inspired by West Michigan’s music scene plays Fountain Point Resort on Thursday evening. Read the profile, watch the video of his single and listen to his music.
Artist Spotlights · Live at River City · Podcasts · Videos
The long-running Grand Rapids band of buddies made a stop at River City Studios for a thought-provoking interview and a compelling, intimate performance. Watch the video, listen to the podcast.
On Saturday, the night before the Red Hot Chili Peppers were set to play a sold-out show at Van Andel Arena, drummer Chad Smith made the musical rounds at Flanagan’s, Mojo’s and 20 Monroe Live. Check out the photos and videos.
Announcements · Local Spins Live
Support Local Spins and receive the first-ever “HopCat presents Local Spins Live at River City Studios” Greatest Hits CD from Local Spins and a brewery gift card. And, of course, our eternal thanks.
Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
To gear up for a new EP and July tour, Angela Gail and Jeffrey Jacob of In the Valley Below appeared on this week’s Local Spins on WYCE, which also featured tracks by Michigan Mafia, Alexander Lynch, Fauxgrass and more. Listen to the podcast, watch a video of In the Valley Below’s recent performance at Founders Brewing.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
With 40,000 wildly adorned attendees flooding Double JJ Resort on Thursday, the West Michigan music festival dodged rain for a celebratory explosion of national and regional stars. Read the recap, browse the photo galleries and watch a highlights video from Day 1 at Electric Forest 2017.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows · Videos
For 45 years, this venerable bluegrass festival held at the Eaton County Fairgrounds has hosted national stars and weekend jams as “the home of parking lot pickin’.” See the 2017 lineup and details about the Michigan festival that kicks off Thursday.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
Two major music festivals unfurled south of Grand Rapids on the same weekend with distinctly different vibes: Country music’s B93 Birthday Bash in Martin and the eclectic Buttermilk Jamboree in Delton. Browse photo galleries from both events that took place just 14 miles apart.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
The sold-out street party drew thousands to downtown Grand Rapids Saturday with regional and national stars playing a super-sized stage. Get the recap, browse the photo gallery and watch video highlights of Founders Fest at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
Two members of the Kalamazoo-area indie-folk band performed on air for Local Spins on WYCE, which also featured new music from The Accidentals, Kevin B. Klein and Steve Leaf & The Ex-Pats. Learn more about Cousin Avery, watch the in-studio video and listen to the entire radio podcast.
Audio · Breaking music news · Hot Top 5 · Videos
The Grand Rapids bluegrass musician’s latest solo album soared to WYCE’s top spot, with the Jim Shaneberger Band appearing on the chart for the third month in a row. Listen to music from all five artists who made May’s Hot Top 5 and check out the list of new local releases.
