Memorial Day weekend heated up nicely in the Grand Rapids area with some uncommon concerts — outdoors at a Buses by the Beach benefit in West Olive, indoors at Quinn[…]
Singer-songwriter Ben Scott-Brandt’s unusual new Ribbons of Song project, “Waterbugs,” gets previewed in some inspiring ways: in-studio on Local Spins Live and in an outdoor pre-release performance Sunday. (Podcast, video)[…]
West Michigan musician’s compelling new album released as he awaits a double lung transplant at Cleveland Clinic. Starting with the lonely drone of a violin, Pat Carroll’s journey through[…]
With an endearingly ragged, bluesy rock sound, The Dead Frets will celebrate release of a self-titled debut during a Founders Brewing show. But before that, they revved up Local Spins[…]
For a decade, the Friday night sessions have been a tradition at the Grand Rapids pub, so this week’s milestone show will feature bands such as The Willeys and Significant[…]
For the second year in a row, cash prizes will be offered to song contest winners in five categories during ArtPrize; new “busking stations” will spotlight live music. Hailing[…]
Grand Rapids music makers — playing the Bona-Who? fest, Active Commute Week Celebration, tribute show and World Fiddle Day — ruled the roost, with a British metalcore assault from Asking[…]
Sunday’s inaugural outdoor event hosted by Seven Steps Up benefits The Little Red House adult day care and concludes with an indoor acoustic show. By Mary Mattingly LocalSpins.com Spring[…]
Three emerging bands and several young solo performers will rub elbows with veterans such as Wallace Collective and Conklin Ceili Band at day-long festival and pig roast near Cedar Springs.[…]
Veteran well-known bassist and guitarist Jim Shaneberger unveils a bluesy new band on Friday and celebrates his solo album debut in June. (Podcast, video) Jim Shaneberger will never forget[…]
Michigan music fans welcomed The Motor City Madman back to his home state Tuesday at Van Andel Arena, with REO Speedwagon and Styx in tow. The most unusual twist: Grand[…]
Breaking music news · Features
Michigan music news this week ranges from a feature on Traverse City’s Peter, Paul & Mary Remembered to an interview with The Breeders to a limp Limp Bizkit, performing in[…]
Thursday’s groovy benefit for Well House features six one-time bands led by Eric Kehoe, Molly Bouwsma-Schultz, Jason Roy and others covering The Beatles, The Supremes, David Bowie, Sly Stone and[…]
Ted Nugent’s Midwest Rock ‘n’ Roll Express kicked off the week, but the weekend offers up way more rock with a Pop Evil CD-release, Active Commute Week celebration, a Dylan[…]
Features · Photos · Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
As volatile and diverse as this week’s weather, photo images of the Grand Rapids area’s live music ranged from the alt-country power of Nathan Kalish to the ribald antics of[…]
Concert announcements · Features · Upcoming shows
Grand Rapids music stalwarts Conklin Ceili Band, Fauxgrass, Blue Water Ramblers, Nobody’s Darlin’, Dave Molinari, Ralston Bowles, more to play day-long showcase aiding couple from Hawk & Owls. The[…]
Breaking music news · Concert announcements · Upcoming shows
Grand Rapids singer-songwriter Ralston Bowles, with help from Michael Crittenden, will play a short opening set Tuesday when The Midwest Rock ‘n’ Roll Express Tour hits Van Andel Arena. […]
Breaking music news · Upcoming shows
Things ramp up this weekend with riveting national tours and local shows: Bimini Brothers’ 30th anniversary, Bruce & Becca Ling benefit, Go Rounds, plus tickets to Meijer Gardens concerts go[…]
Features · Photos · Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
May’s first weekend generated photos of a generous mix of live music: Cinco de Mayo, Drew Nelson, Tommy Womack, Wayland, Attack! Attack!, Wallace Collective, Chain of Lakes, Michigan Mark Depree.[…]
Celebrate Cinco de Mayo a day early in downtown Grand Rapids at Michigan’s biggest celebration of its kind, plus a dual CD-release show by The Wallace Collective and Chain of[…]
West Michigan’s lively week of live music boasts Michigan’s biggest Cinco de Mayo Bash, a dual CD-release show by The Wallace Collective and Chain of Lakes, a chiptune celebration and[…]
Breaking music news · Concert announcements · Upcoming shows
Saturday’s opening day of ticket sales to Meijer Gardens members sees glitches and four sellouts of the 29 concerts in the summer amphitheater series. Once again, the rush was on.[…]
Breaking music news · Concert announcements · Upcoming shows
The expanded jazz festival on Rosa Parks Circle in downtown Grand Rapids boasts 10 acts over two days in mid-August. Chicago jazz/funk/R&B guitarist-singer Nick Colionne will headline this year’s[…]
Hip-hop, rock, Americana, rockabilly, bluegrass, folk and a Prince/MJ dance party: With spring weather springing, West Michigan heated up with an eclectic blend of live music, shared in images at[…]
Breaking music news · Concert announcements
The country star won’t be making his first-ever appearance at the Grand Rapids amphitheater because he’ll be filming a mini-series. Make that 29 concerts. Country artist Dwight Yoakam has[…]
Commentary · Guest Column · Upcoming shows
Recalling his own youthful experience, guitarist-singer Steve Hilger started a jazz jam night for young players, giving them a chance to sit in with pros. It rolls on again Thursday[…]
Grand Rapids’ music offerings melt spring away with a diverse bunch of big national tours, plus a Grand Ole Opry show and a Van Morrison tribute. Save the image of[…]
From blues celebrations in Grand Rapids and Grand Haven to rock-fueled Record Store Day performances, it was an unseasonably wintry weekend when live music prevailed … and caught in photos[…]
Breaking music news · Features · Upcoming shows
Grand Rapids music lovers will pack independent area shops – Vertigo Music, Corner Record Shop, Dodd’s – for concerts, specials and refreshments on Saturday. It’s not exactly Christmas. But[…]
Artist, musician and visionary Rick Beerhorst has witnessed a multitude of changes in Grand Rapids’ music community over 30 years. And in this Spins on Music guest column, he makes[…]
Hectic week with tour stops by national acts and special events starring local bands: Record Store Day, Local Blues Matter at Billy’s, GrooveWalk in Holland, Inside the Mitten in Muskegon[…]
Diversity reigned yet again — from local to national, from metal to blues to alt-rock — as evidenced by photos shared at Spins on Music. (Photos, videos) Winter refused[…]
Breaking music news · Concert announcements · Upcoming shows
The summer concert and festival announcements just keep coming. Interlochen’s eclectic lineup ranges from Trace Adkins to Brian Wilson; Wheatland’s folk schedule boasts some icons of the genre; Founders Fest’s[…]
Breaking music news · Concert announcements · Upcoming shows
With a record-breaking 30 shows on the docket, the Meijer Gardens summer concert series boasts some high-priced big names and emerging acts in a bevy of genres. See the full[…]
Concert announcements · Upcoming shows
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park’s “other” concert series stars some of West Michigan’s top talent starting in July. Check out the full lineup. Every spring, the big guns[…]
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture park has hosted 10 seasons of summer concerts at its outdoor amphitheater; the 2013 series gets announced later this week. Here’s Spins on Music Top[…]
April rolls on with an eclectic lineup of national acts, plus Jake’s Music Festival, Art.Downtown, the Beyond Music benefit, We Are the Ink Monkey, Paucity, Kent County String Band, Flashing[…]
Diversity reigned around Grand Rapids during April’s opening salvo: singer-songwriter intensity (Josh Rose), heavy alt-rock (Uncommon Road), indie-rock (Desert Noises), Celtic charm (An Dro) and more, captured in images. For[…]
One of Michigan’s favorite native sons pumped up a sellout crowd during his concert at Grand Rapids’ Van Andel Arena on Wednesday night, part of his Rebel Soul Tour 2013.[…]
Breaking music news · Features · Upcoming shows
The Spins on Music April music news update spans the globe (or at least West Michigan) with hot news about local bluegrass and nationally hailed folk and jazz. BREWING[…]
It began with inspiring folk in a classical music setting and rocked on at Billy’s Lounge, Tip Top, Stone House Recording, Intersection, Pyramid Scheme and Wealthy Theatre Annex, evidenced by[…]
Breaking music news · Concert announcements
After staging the festival in downtown Grand Rapids the past two years, organizers say moving the three-day 2013 event back to the ballpark gives them time to explore options. […]
March goes out with a bang in West Michigan as national tours sweep into the region, not to mention shows by Michigan stars Deadwood Stone, Mustard Plug, The Fuzzrites, The[…]
Concert reviews · Features · Photos · Videos
Starting with funk from the grave at The Intersection, spring got sprung in fine fashion with riveting blues, gypsy music, rootsy acoustic strains, energetic hip-hop, pub-styled classical music and more[…]
Features · Guest Column · Upcoming shows
In a guest column, the well-known Grand Rapids singer-songwriter marvels at the generosity of West Michigan’s music community. And she’s sharing her own talents for a remarkable global project. EDITOR’S[…]
The post-St. Patrick’s Day musical lineup gets bluesy, funky and folky this week, with national acts and a bunch of West Michigan stars: The Go Rounds, Steve Hilger, Vincent Hayes[…]
Concert reviews · Features · Photos · Videos
West Michigan’s live music assault had a distinct St. Patrick’s Day flair in weekend photos shared at Spins on Music. (Photos/video) With the temperature in a decidedly un-March-like mid-20s, Casey[…]
Commentary · Features · Top 10 Lists
At long last, the ‘ice is slowly melting,’ which makes this the perfect time to dream of summer and those days of lazing around a cottage and dangling your feet[…]
Every watering hole in Michigan turns green this week, so you’re pretty much assured of Celtic-infused musical mayhem wherever one chooses to celebrate. But here are a few highlights courtesy[…]
