The Eagles reminisce, croon, rock and ban cellphones during Monday’s enjoyable ‘History’ tour stop at Van Andel Arena, and credit a West Michigan DJ for helping put them on the road to stardom.
Touring behind their latest album, “Turn Blue,” Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney deliver a brilliantly constructed chronicle of their career during their Grand Rapids tour stop.
Crow’s return to the outdoor amphitheater for the second year in a row impresses a sold-out crowd and proves she’s now a darling of the popular, record-setting series.
While folk and roots music fans — including British actor Tom Hiddleston — packed a field in rural Mecosta County for Wheatland No. 41, local faves Hank Mowery & The Hawktones made their Founders Brewing debut and The Soul Syndicate played Billy’s Lounge for the first time.
Concert reviews · Features · Photos
From The Accidentals to The Steel Wheels, the folk and roots music festival has turned the rural Remus site this weekend into a ‘village’ of 10,000 very happy Wheatland devotees.
The Kalamazoo duo of Michael Beauchamp and Laurel Premo has wowed audiences across the country and in Europe with its ‘tight sound.’ They play Wheatland for the first time this weekend.
Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
Mat Churchill is our in-studio guest on the second episode of “Local Spins on WYCE” with host John Sinkevics. Mat plays songs from his new album ‘Mat Churchill and The[…]
Album reviews · Breaking music news · Features
The co-producer of the chart-topping new folk compilation helped assemble an all-star cast, including Judy Collins, Pete Seeger, Janis Ian and some Michigan faves.
Some 10,000 folk fans will flock to the rural site in Remus for sets by Rodney Crowell, Claudia Schmidt, The Steel Wheels, The Accidentals, Billy Strings & Don Julin, Rachael Davis and more. See the full schedule.
The unseen time and labor behind a band’s typical road gig: working 10-12 hours for $10 to $15 a day. And most bands will do it happily time and again. But is that fair? A commentary on Labor Day.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
The holiday weekend launched with a big Thursday of shows and boasted local acts such as An Dro, Scott Pellegrom Trio, David Molinari, Mail Order Monsters and Hannah Rose.
Hard-touring Grand Rapids jam band to call it quits for awhile in hopes of re-energizing shows and music; up-and-coming teen duo gets boost from big names Marshall Crenshaw and Stewart Lerman in New York.
Artist Spotlights · Podcasts · Videos
This week’s Local Spins Artist Spotlight shines on an 18-year-old, up-and-coming West Michigan artist with a new album and a tour under her belt. (Story, video, podcast)
Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
The first episode of “Local Spins on WYCE” with host John Sinkevics features an in-studio performance by guests Wilson Whitley, the folk soul duo of Lucas Wilson and Hannaniah Whitley.[…]
Check out the new video for the first single from the lovable Grand Rapids pop duo’s forthcoming album. The song’s radio debut comes on the first “Local Spins on WYCE” show today.
Unlike the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday night, these bands plus the Plain White T’s know how to clear the bases and leave fans happy. (Review, photo gallery)
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
Separated by nine miles, Tuesday’s two outdoor concerts in the Grand Rapids area boasted different vibes but the same enthusiastic crowd support. And T-Pain’s hip hop lit up The Intersection. (Photo gallery)
The weekend started early with a long-awaited Meijer Gardens show, a rap battle and a CD listening party, and kept right on rolling from Grand Rapids to Traverse City.
The August batch of Local Spins reviews spotlights some much-anticipated recording projects from acclaimed bands (with sneak audio peeks), plus releases from The Northern Soul, Junior Valentine & Jason Wheeler, The Carboys, Bruce Matthews and Jake Vroon.
Breaking music news · Concert announcements
The first-year, two-day festival at the Ionia County Fairgrounds will spotlight regional bands in hopes of raising money to replace Whites Bridge in Ionia.
The iconic, symphonic prog-rock band made sure its Meijer Gardens debut was everything its devoted, longtime fans wanted it to be: a cavalcade of familiar favorites.
The widely admired Grand Rapids ensemble this week unleashed its much-buzzed-about new album and took time for an exclusive in-studio performance on Local Spins Live. (Video, podcast)
The seventh annual festival boasts a diverse lineup of music and beer, and Grand Rapids-area fans can take advantage of special daily bus trip to the event.
Starting Aug. 29, John Sinkevics, of Local Spins, will host a one-hour radio program on WYCE-FM that spotlights the best in local and regional music.
Outdoors and indoors, West Michigan’s concert docket was as lively as any weekend of the summer, from Berlin Raceway to Hoxeyville to the streets of Grand Haven, all captured in Local Spins images.
After an impressive first day, the Woodstock-like Hoxeyville in the Manistee National Forest continued with aplomb Saturday and Sunday as it trotted out a top-notch regional lineup. (Story, video, photos)
Even brain surgery couldn’t slow down the popular Grand Rapids jazz singer who performs Saturday with the Grand Rapids Jazz Orchestra at GRandJazzFest.
Up-and-coming indie-rock bandleader Ben Daniels says his actor-singer dad “burned the blues into my mind.” The Michigan band will back Jeff Daniels on stage.
Features · Summer Concerts · Upcoming shows
The summer’s weirdest live music event? Or a brilliant way to spotlight lakeshore bands and businesses? Saturday’s unusual, free event unfolds Saturday in Grand Haven, Spring Lake and Ferrysburg.
The acoustic guitar duo’s debut at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park was nothing short of masterful, electrifying new and old fans with rhythmic, Latin-hued and rock fervor.
The fast-rising Michigan trio releases its new CD on Thursday, the same day it plays Grand Rapids and a day before heading to Milwaukee to perform at the granddaddy of Irish festivals.
Some of the state’s most highly touted roots acts will share the spotlight in this festival set in the Manistee National Forest. Save the full schedule on your smartphone.
Breaking music news · Concert announcements
Fountain Street’s “Jazz in the Sanctuary” series kicks off with Robin Connell and Bill Huyge playing “magnificent” grand pianos; Intersection ramps up employment for hectic concert season.
Much to the delight of West Michigan fans, the pop singer’s long-awaited concert spectacle finally landed at a sold-out Van Andel Arena on Sunday night. Check out the Local Spins photo gallery.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
The musical weekend started early with shows at Meijer Gardens and The Intersection, and featured a mix of national acts and stellar local bands hosting CD-release shows. (Aug. 7-10)
After a one-year hiatus, a cozier Cowpie uncorked 15 regional bands on a single stage on the cattle farm in southern Kent County, and fans loved every minute. And it’ll be back in 2015. (Photo gallery)
For the ninth summer in a row, the engaging Texas singer-songwriter sold out his appearance at the outdoor Grand Rapids amphitheater.
Never heard of bones? The ancient instrument often made of bones or wood has an ultra-devoted national following, with Vits hosting a convention and a special public performance in Grand Rapids.
At long last, those in-demand Local Spins T-shirts are now available online. Make a fashion statement while spreading the word about the site that spotlights West Michigan’s music scene.
Breaking music news · Concert announcements
The day-long Sept. 13 party in also boasts sets by Michigan’s Joe Hertler, Jesse Ray & the Carolina Catfish, Thickest Thieves and Soul Club of Grand Rapids.
Concert announcements · Upcoming shows
Acoustic Café series brings the Nashville-based Americana singer to Royce Auditorium for the first time, with Bowles bringing Earthwork Music artists to the same stage.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
John Butler Trio’s sizzling set at Meijer Gardens launched a weekend of rock and hip hop, from Grand Rapids to the lakeshore where the Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival ramped up to a climactic finish.
Friday’s sold-out show at Meijer Gardens unfolded as a triumphant, eye-popping return for the rock trio which first played the amphitheater in 2013. (Review, photo gallery)
Two years in the making, the new retro-flavored R&B/funk album from the well-traveled musician boasts a who’s who lineup of Michigan talent. Frisinger’s band plays shows Thursday and Friday in Grand Haven.
While jazz fusion’s Pat Metheny Unity Group entertained a sold-out Meijer Gardens crowd (with many leaving early), rockabilly legend Bill Kirchen had folks dancing and grinning at an Ada restaurant. (Review, photo gallery)
Breaking music news · Concert announcements
Malian singer-guitarist Vieux Farka Toure kicks off WYCE-FM’s four-concert fall series on Sept. 8. See the full schedule; tickets on sale now.
In the wake of the “Meijer Gardens Meltdown” courtesy of Ray LaMontagne, there were compelling, less-controversial concerts and tour stops to behold this weekend, captured in images at Local Spins.
A couple of days after Ray LaMontagne’s tantrum and stage walk-off at Meijer Gardens, singer Michael Buble proved that nice guys finish first, playing to an adoring crowd at Van Andel Arena. (Photo gallery)
Concert reviews · Features · Upcoming shows
Hometown boys Jack White and bandmate Dominic John Davis return to Detroit for two sold-out shows next week after setting Chicago ablaze with buzzed-about concerts. (Review, photos)
With a new album and a uniquely dreamy sound, the band with Grand Rapids and Lansing connections is poised to grow its audience one venue at a time. (Story, podcast, video)
