As part of the “Local Spins Top 10 Rewind” series of articles that most captivated readers in 2017, this August story broke the sad news that the the award-winning Grand Rapids indie-soul/rock foursome had broken up but still planned to release an album they recently completed.
Ralston and Sink’s Virtual Podcast caught up with the Michigan-bred bassist in a Grand Rapids studio, and he opened up about doing ‘a lot of juggling’ to survive during a ‘weird time’ in the music biz. Listen to Episode 7 in the RSVP Music Chat series.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
There’s plenty to be thankful for this week as the live music scene explodes around the holidays with special shows, both national and local, starting with a Monday jazz show. And check The Big List for your chance to win tickets to Friday’s Billy Strings show.
Concert reviews · Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
It was a live music week of rock, EDM, folk, bluegrass, jazz and Celtic charm to remember. Relive the week in concert images and videos at Local Spins, from Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo.
Breaking music news · Summer Festivals
The 2018 edition of the Local Spins Calendar is bigger than ever, with 24 Michigan acts featured in dazzling Local Spins concert photos, plus music festival dates. It’s a one-of-a-kind, Mitten State Christmas gift and the first 25 orders will also receive a “Local Spins Live at River City Studios” CD.
This November batch of recent regional releases will make many folks thankful for Michigan’s music scene. Check out the reviews and listen to the music. Then stay tuned for Part II later this monrth.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
Odesza starts the week with a sold-out show, but there’s more: Kerosene Stars, The Ragbirds, Brubeck Brothers, The Contenders, The Krank Daddies, Conklin Ceili Band and a Simon & Garfunkel tribute. And see how you can win free tickets to the mammoth International Wine, Beer and Food Festival.
Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
This edition of the week-in-review also boasts a tour stop by The Yawpers, a Tom Petty tribute and local showcases featuring the likes of Great Black Night, Lapdogs and more. Browse the photos, watch the videos.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
Jai Wolf, The Yawpers, Chris Robinson Brotherhood, Fareed Haque and tributes to Tom Petty, Joni Mitchell and Neil Young help pump up the live music slate. And see this week’s ticket giveaway at The Intersection.
Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
Regina Spektor’s sold-out show at 20 Monroe Live was just part of an inspiring week that spotlighted regional and national acts from Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo. Check out all of the photo galleries and videos.
For this year’s Halloween roster of haunting songs, Local Spins turned to Tip Top Deluxe co-owner — and vintage horror devotee — Ted Smith to create a scary-soundtrack for the creepy holiday. Ogle the vidoes, listen to the playlist on Spotify.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
Irma Thomas, Blind Boys of Alabama and Preservation Hall Legacy Quintet jumpstart the week of live music in West Michigan, but this week’s live music picks at Local Spins also feature Cold Hard Cash, Kalamashoegazer Fest, Elephant Revival, Jake Kershaw and some must-see local showcases.
Suffice to say, beloved power pop piano-pounder Ben Folds soared during his concert for a capacity crowd at 20 Monroe Live on Sunday night with a career-spanning set list and lively stage banter. Read the show recap and ogle the photo gallery, only at Local Spins.
This weekend’s galleries are awash in early Halloween celebrations which mixed costumed craziness with DJs and bands providing the musical backdrop to haunt venues from Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo. But there were also some special shows beyond that, including Dinosaur Jr. and a Domestic Problems reunion. See all the images at Local Spins.
With the media deterred from covering the legendary Bob Dylan’s concert at Van Andel Arena on Saturday night, Local Spins asked some fans to offer up their takes on the 76-year-old icon’s tour stop.
Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
With guest host Nicholas James Thomasma on the mic, this week’s edition of Local Spins on WYCE featured an in-studio performance by roots rock’s Bigfoot Buffalo and tracks by a host of regional bands, including Josiah Zittel, Venson Dix, The Concussions, Ralston Bowles, The Bootstrap Boys, The Crane Wives, Fauxgrass and more.
Experience the crazy life of a band on the road courtesy of Traverse City’s emerging national act The Accidentals, who play Michigan album-release dates this week after a grueling West Coast tour. All of it is documented for Local Spins in this event- and calamity-filled tour diary.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
The week leading up to Halloween is a scary-good one when it comes to live music, and of course, the holiday gets started early with plenty of ghoulish weekend parties. Scour The Big List and Under-the-Radar Picks, and win VIP tickets to see The Accidentals at their CD-release show at the Frauenthal Center.
Album reviews · Audio · Upcoming shows · Videos
This October round-up of new regional releases covers the musical gamut, from prog-rock to jam bands to indie-rock and more. Check out the reviews, listen to samples of the new music at Local Spins.
Playlists · Top 10 Lists · Videos
With Jake Kershaw hosting a Grand Rapids album-release show Thursday, Local Spins asked the 17-year-old musician to share his favorite, most influential tunes — from John Mayer to Cream to Tommy Castro. Watch the videos, listen to the Spotify playlist.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
Another week of eclectic music unfolds, from Surfer Blood to Kari Lynch, Mary Chapin Carpenter to CARE, Adam Rudolph to Chris Ayer, Bex Marshall to Lindsay Lou. Get the lowdown with The Big List and this week’s Under-the-Radar Picks, and see how you can win tickets to see 311 or blues-guitar phenom Jake Kershaw.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Rock ‘n’ roll, folk, gospel-fired and soulful Americana, EDM, you name it: West Michigan’s live music lineup was an impressive one this week. And the Local Spins photo galleries prove it. Browse the galleries, read a review of Noah Gundersen’s Grand Rapids concert at The Pyramid Scheme.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
West Michigan’s live music week was surprisingly hectic for early October, from outdoor shows to indoor fireworks of the rock ‘n’ roll variety — much of it flaunted in Local Spins photos.
Playlists · Top 10 Lists · Videos
In the wake of Monday’s death of rock icon Tom Petty, Local Spins asked West Michigan musician Jack Leaver — who fronts a Petty tribute band — to list his top Petty tunes, with Local Spins publisher offering up his under-the-radar picks of Petty classics you might not know but should Watch the videos, listen to the Spotify playlists.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Local Spins’ week-in-review photo galleries covered a lot of fan-frenzied ground inspired by national and local stars at venues indoors and outdoors, from Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
Bonamassa, Maria Muldaur and William Elliott Whitmore get a week started that also boasts big shows by Wayland, Lipstick Jodi, Organissimo, Deerfield Run, Mustard Plug, Nick Fradiani and more. Get the full lowdown and Under-the-Radar Picks in the Local Spins Concert Guide.
Concert reviews · Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
Audiotree Music Festival lit up the day and night in Kalamazoo, with national tour stops by hard-rocking stars in Grand Rapids and a harvest festival in Rockford. Browse all of the colorful, action-packed images at Local Spins.
The Landslide tribute show as part of the GR Pops series kicked off Friday and continues Saturday and Sunday at DeVos Performance Hall. Get the recap and photo gallery at Local Spins.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
Iconic singer Gordon Lightfoot gets the week started, with LZ Michigan/Freedom Cruise, Rockford Harvest Festival, Luke Winslow King, Jessica Hernandez, Weyes Blood, a Fleetwood Mac tribute and more on tap. Plus, see how you can win tickets to see Pegi Young at the Tip Top or Scott Stapp at 20 Monroe Live (part of the Make America Rock Again tour).
Concert reviews · Kalamazoo · Weekend Photo Gallery
The last blast of summer (officially) arrived in many musical forms and in a slew of different venues across West Michigan. And Local Spins has the photos to prove it.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
The last big festival week of the summer also boasts tour stops by State Champs, San Fermin, P.O.S, Apocalypta, Elliott Brood, Marisela, Ben Sollee, some riveting local shows, the Cottage Bar Chili Cook-Off and the Knickerbocker’s first anniversary. See all the featured live music listings, plus the Under-the-Radar Picks. Plus, see how you can win tickets to see Nick Moss.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
September gets rolling with Voodoo Glow Skulls, Seth Glier, Lauren Duski, Greg Nagy, Tom Hymn, the Freedom Flag Benefit and anniversary celebrations in Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo and Holland. Check out all of this week’s live music picks on The Big List.
The week leading up to Labor Day gave West Michigan fans funk, country, soul, hip hop, folk-rock and more. Relive the moments in robust Local Spins images.
The award-winning Grand Rapids indie-soul/rock foursome made it official on Wednesday: They’ve broken up but still plan to release an album they recently completed.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
The week that ends with Labor Day boasts tour stops by international superstars and summer series wrap-ups. Get the lowdown on The Big List, where you can also win tickets to see Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
The late August round-up of live music features concerts and festivals from Grand Rapids to the lakeshore to Brooklyn — from Emma Loo & Sam’s cutting-edge spectacle at The Pyramid Scheme to Michigan music on the farm. Check out all the images in Local Spins’ week-in-review recap.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
Railroad Earth & Twiddle get things started, with the Shoreline Jazz Fest, Conrad Shock, Emma Loo & Sam, Holler Fest and a new Quinn & Tuite’s concert series in the mix. Check out all the live music selections and Under-the-Radar Picks for the week.
Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
One of the busiest weeks of the summer music season gave West Michigan a wildly diverse blend of music, plus local showcases at The Pyramid Scheme, Mulligan’s Pub and Billy’s Lounge. Check out all of the images and videos at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
This year’s three-day edition of Cowpie on a Kent County farm wrapped up Saturday with more jam-heavy, genre-bending magic courtesy of moo-ving regional stars. Experience a photo-laden recap of the weekend at Local Spins.
Album reviews · Audio · Hot Top 5 · Videos
The War & Treaty’s debut EP topped July’s Hot Top 5 for WYCE airplay, with Crane Wives drummer Dan Rickabus’ solo CD right behind. Check out a review of that album and other new Michigan releases.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
Things ramp up the second week of August with Michigander & Benjaman James, JRob & Convotronics, Jake Kershaw, Sawyer Fredericks, Circa Survive and a Westside Weekend of rock. Get the lowdown on all of this week’s live music picks at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
National acts as well as local stars packed venues from Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo over the past week, captured in vibrant images at Local Spins.
For more than two decades, Bell’s Brewery has been a go-to spot in Kalamazoo for beer and live music. Get the lowdown on this popular hot spot, take a video tour and ogle the photo gallery.
Album reviews · Audio · Videos
opping the early August batch of new releases is the Sony Music Masterworks debut for a popular Traverse City trio, plus fresh recordings from an eclectic bunch of West Michigan artists. Check out the reviews, listen to samples of the new music.
Detroit hosted the fifth annual MoPop Music Festival at West Riverfront Park over the weekend, drawing thousands for national and regional stars over a sun-splashed weekend. Browse the images at Local Spins.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
The Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival, Andrew McMahon, The Accidentals, Kalamazoo Ribfest, Fat Guy Fest and more also grace this week’s live music picks. And check out the Under-the-Radar Picks, along with this week’s ticket giveaway for a show at 20 Monroe Live.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
Two of Michigan’s most intimate and distinctive music festivals starring regional acts took place last weekend, described as “truly amazing,” picturesque and magical. Check out the photo galleries and weekend reviews at Local Spins.
Features · Top 10 Lists · Videos
With the iconic British rock band The Who returning to Grand Rapids’ Van Andel Arena on Tuesday, Local Spins asked some local rockers to pipe in with some choice Who cuts. Scour — and listen to — their picks.
For more than two decades, Bell’s Brewery has been a go-to spot in Kalamazoo for beer and live music. Get the lowdown on this popular hot spot, take a video[…]
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
The Beach Boys, a “Women Rock” Picnic Pops tribute, Mike Mains, Farm Block Fest and The Menzingers also fire up the week. And check out the splendid Under-the-Radar Picks.
