Commentary · Top Stories of the Year Countdown
Our readers responded in droves in July when recalling their biggest live music disappointments (sloppy sets, horrible sound, nasty fans). It ended up at No. 19 in our top-stories-of-the-year countdown. On the flip side, we want to know the best concert you saw and best album you heard in 2024.
Photos · Summer Festivals · Top Stories of the Year Countdown
The 51st edition of the folk and roots music festival rolled out north of Grand Rapids in September. Our coverage of Wheatland ranked No. 20 in our top-stories-of-the-year countdown.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
The Thanksgiving holiday weekend kicked off with two Grand Rapids shows — Desmond Jones and Nathan Kalish & Jessica Pounds — at different ends of the musical spectrum. The recaps and photos at Local Spins.
Album reviews · Audio · Upcoming shows
Check out Local Spins’ takes on several new releases by Michigan artists, from psych-rock to country to indie-pop and more. Plus, listen to tracks from all of the recordings.
Concert reviews · Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
Local Spins recaps the final chapter in State Theatre’s legacy, the inaugural ‘Sounds Like Michigan’ concert, Neil Francis, Sunsquabi, Wreckno and more from across the region. Check out the reviews, images and a video.
Saturday’s upcoming benefit at Wealthy Theatre for the nonprofit Michigan Music Alliance boasts intra-state stars Frontier Ruckus, American Hotel System, Ari B and Cabildo. The lowdown, performance schedule and videos at Local Spins.
Today is the Veterans Day holiday, so we’re unfurling some classic tracks that commemorate those in the military and the sacrifices they’ve made, as well as anthems for peace in the face of endless global conflicts. Listen to the songs, watch the videos.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
The celebrated country band delivered a set filled with hits and covers Saturday at Van Andel Arena, while Michigan musicians, artists and photographers strutted their stuff at GIG’s inaugural event. Check out the recaps and images at Local Spins.
West Michigan already kicked off a rollicking roster of Halloween celebrations last weekend, but there are plenty more costume-crazy parties and concerts to check out as October screeches to an end. The list at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
From stops by national touring artists in Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo, to regional rock romps to Halloween hoopla, it was a action-packed week of live music across West Michigan. The photos at Local Spins, including Kitchen Dwellers, Lower Leisure Class, Ghost Bunnies, Asamu Johnson, Empress Eyes, Hannah Rose Graves and more.
Local Spins showcases several imaginative, boundary-pushing releases by Michigan artists in this week’s album-review roundup, which includes a collaborative project featuring Joey Gados Jr., Ben Steer and Noah Mercil.
Concert announcements · Upcoming shows
The organization dedicated to fostering professional growth opportunities for the state’s music community, relaunches its mission at the Wealthy Theatre show and seeks other Michigan bands to join the concert lineup.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Once again, West Michigan’s live music week covered a lot of bases: country, folk, bluegrass, psych-rock, metal, drone and more — from Boris to Neko Case. The photo recaps at Local Spins.
Album Releases · Album reviews · Audio
As fall settles in, Local Spins turns its attention to new releases by Michigan artists. Check out reviews of six recordings, including The Brothers Crunch and Quilter, and listen to tracks from each release.
The new dad and award-winning bluegrass guitar phenom from Ionia County celebrated a brand new double-album with his band in the first of a two-night run at the Clarkston amphitheater. The recap and photos at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Festivals · Photos
The last week in September uncorked hard rock, pop-punk, pop-soul, jazz, hip hop, Americana and more from Grand Rapid to Kalamazoo. Revisit the early-week shows in words and photos at Local Spins.
Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
After more than two decades, the Michigan music festival hosted by Seth Bernard outside Lake City staged its last hurrah, with dozens of performances on multiple stages — creating more lifelong memories. The recap, photos and video at Local Spins
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
As summer transitioned to fall, West Michigan’s music fans were still in a celebratory mood to cheer some national touring acts — including Sierra Hull and The Movement — as well as Grand Rapids’ fourth Confluence Fest. The images and recaps at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
Meijer Gardens wrapped up its final summer concert on Sunday with an esteemed Cuban ensemble, closing out a weekend that also featured Lettuce, the Kalamashoegazer Festival, a One Well block party and the Fallasburg Arts Festival. Check out the recaps and photos at Local Spins..
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Concerts · Summer Festivals
Celtic music fans flooded Muskegon’s Heritage Landing for the 25th anniversary of the Michigan Irish Music Fest on Thursday and Friday, while The Verve Pipe rocked Otsego’s Liquid Note. Browse the photos at Local Spins.
Commentary · Photos · Summer Concerts
From Billy Strings’ surprise Grand Rapids appearances with Phish and Greensky Bluegrass to memorable festival sets, the summer of 2024 was one for the record books. Check out the staff and reader picks, and revisit the live show highlights.
Labor Day weekend launched with some deliciously scary heavy music across the state, but also featured a celebrated jam band and a tribute to a late Kalamazoo musician.
Summer Concerts · Summer Festivals · Weekend Photo Gallery
From a record store in Grand Haven to the wilds of Free Soil to a beer garden in Kalamazoo, West Michigan’s live music weekend closed out with a bang. Local Spins has the photo recap.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
August’s final weekend blast of live music across the state covered the gamut, from country to metal to indie-rock to bluegrass and more, from Return to the River in Grand Rapids to Havoc Fest in Jackson. Browse all the photo galleries and a video at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
It was an August night to embrace rock of different stripes, with alt-rock’s Dogstar at GLC Live at 20 Monroe and Americana/rock’s Roosevelt Diggs in Rockford. The photo recaps and videos at Local Spins.
Summer Festivals · Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
The electronic music fest at Grand Rapids Belknap Park drew an even bigger crowd for Day 2 on Saturday, with other shows across West Michigan also attracting lively fans. The photo recaps at Local Spins.
Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
The final edition of northern Michigan’s Hoxeyville Music Festival unfolded over the weekend without several expected headliners but with plenty of nostalgic memories, regional acts and esprit de corps. The images, recap and some video highlights at Local Spins.
From Kalamazoo to Grand Rapids and beyond it was another simmering summer week of concerts, including Celeste Allison, Chris Canas, Luke Winslow-King, a songwriters’ fest and more.
The legendary jam band’s two straight jubilant nights at Van Andel Arena featured a guest appearance by the Michigan-bred bluegrass phenom, stellar lights and memorable jams. Billy Strings himself called it “magic.” Revisit Tuesday’s show in words, photos and video and view set lists from both nights at Local Spins along with comments from Billy about his guest spots.
With the iconic jam band Phish playing two straight nights at Grand Rapids’ Van Andel Arena, Local Spins asked super fan and Desmond Jones guitarist Isaac Berkowitz to create a Top 10 Phish playlist.
Amid August’s torrid weather, Desmond Jones, Chirp, Pajamas, Hannah Rose Graves, Covert Operations and more captivated a moderate-sized crowd for a weekend of wide-ranging music. Recap and photos at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
It was a weekend of musical contrasts in West Michigan: theatrical rock, jam-heavy funk, EDM, metal, hip hop, punk and more, all showcased in dynamic Local Spins photos at venues from Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo to Paw Paw.
Michigan’s thriving music scene has spawned another intriguing volley of new releases reviewed at Local Spins, including fresh recordings from Josiah DeNooyer and Rabbit Fur. Learn more about these releases and listen to tracks from the albums.
Breaking music news · Features
Kent County voters go to the polls next week to decide the fate of a proposed hotel tax increase that would affect a new concert amphitheater and soccer stadium. Local Spins today answers key questions about this proposal and its impact.
Michigan’s festival season is in high gear, with musical celebrations spanning the state, Jackson to Hastings to Kalamazoo to Morley. Local Spins has images from a weekend of sizzling outdoor music.
The annual music festival staged in the heart of an island in northern Lake Michigan oozed lots of charm and lots of intriguing music. The recap with photos at Local Spins.
The Gov’t Mule frontman brought his “Dreams & Songs Symphonic Experience” tour to Meijer Gardens on Monday, reinterpreting classics from the likes of the Allman Brothers and Grateful Dead. The fan review and photos at Local Spins.
Michigan country singer Sadie Bass revved up her first Faster Horses performance during the weekend festival that boasted sets by stars Lainey Wilson, Jelly Roll and many more. Browse the photo gallery at Local Spins.
Throngs of country music fans will flock to Jackson County for a weekend country music extravaganza starring Jelly Roll, Lainey Wilson and more. The Local Spins guide to Faster Horses.
Local Spins readers responded in droves in relating their biggest live music disappointments, ranging from sloppy performances to horrible sound to even more horrible fans. What concerts frustrated you?
On a holiday weekend, Local Spins took to the road to catch the first Free Fridays show in Grand Haven and a legendary band at The Acorn in Three Oaks. Browse the photo galleries.
Album reviews · Audio · Upcoming shows
Local Spins crisscrosses the state and traverse genres with this latest batch of releases by Michigan, including albums by Bruce Matthews Band and The Whiskey Charmers. Listen to tracks from all of the album and see where many of these artists will be performing this summer.
Concert reviews · Summer Festivals · Weekend Photo Gallery
Summer concerts continued to heat up West Michigan over the past week, with national touring acts stopping in Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo. Local Spins has the photos, recaps, set lists, including a gallery from the final day of Smiling Acres 2024.
Photos · Summer Concerts · Upcoming shows
The latest update to Local Spins’ “Free Outdoor Community Concerts Guide” boasts a wide array of regional acts playing cities across the region. Browse the show schedules and view photo galleries from recent weekday shows in Wyoming, Grand Rapids Township and Rockford.
Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
Cut short by a Sunday storm — after the venue also was cleared on Saturday — Electric Forest nevertheless enticed fans with riveting music, immersive experiences and much more. Recap, highlights, photos, video at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Isbell and his band delivered a fan-rousing set at State Theatre on Saturday, part of an active week of live shows from Kalamazoo to Grand Rapids to Electric Forest. The photos and more at Local Spins.
The first full week of June was full of musical merriment, from Grand Rapids to Otsego to Paw Paw to Kalamazoo, recapped in photos at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
The inaugural northern Michigan festival held amid the Manistee National Forest last weekend brought out national and regional stars. Get the recap, browse the photo galleries at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
The venues stretched from Kalamazoo to Grand Rapids to the Manistee National Forest for fan-engaging performances that closed out May and welcomed June. The Local Spins photo galleries, including Sebastian Bach at The Intersection and a Jordan Hamilton listening party at The Clover Room.
The soulful Irish rock musician and songwriter made a stop Wednesday night at Van Andel Arena, with Canadian Americana artist Allison Russell also on the bill. Check out the set list and a Local Spins photo gallery.
