Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
Thousands of festivalgoers romped amid Wellston’s oasis in the Manistee National Forest, cheering Marcus King, Molly Tuttle, Full Cord, Lindsay Lou, The Crane Wives and a revamped Airborne or Aquatic. Highlights, photos and video at Local Spins.
Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
With humidity rising, so did anticipation of festivalgoers for mega-stars Saturday at Grand Rapids’ Breakaway, with Deadmau5’s alter-ego unleashing a ‘chest-crushing’ techno set at The Intersection’s after-party. Check out highlights from the second day of Breakaway, along with two photo galleries and a video.
As summer begins to wane, live music continues to heat up stages from Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo. Revisit eight shows from the past week in images at Local Spins.
Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
The weekend commemorating hip hop’s 50th birthday also boasted the Sparta Celtic Festival, Rogue River After-the-Blues Series, plus shows by Railroad Earth, Moon Orchids, The Concussions and more, recapped in photos at Local Spins.
On Saturday, Monk Matthaeus co-hosts the family-friendly One Peace Hip Hop Festival at a Grand Rapids park to mark the genre’s 50th anniversary. Today, he tells his hip-hop story, in his own words and lists the Top 6 things that inspire him about the genre. Plus, get more information about the festival and the event schedule, along with details about Sunday’s breakdance battle.
The inaugural three-day festival in southern Kent County boasted everything from a fire-dancing rock spectacle to Americana charm to a laid-back, on-the-farm milieu. The recap in words and images.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
West Michigan’s week of live music featured a fan-revving tour stop by Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, an EDM flurry, a special show from the Kalamazoo Academy of Rock and outdoor shows by regional artists. Browse the photo galleries at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Summer Festivals · Weekend Photo Gallery
The jam-packed weekend of live music across West Michigan also featured performances by The Cornfed Girls, Charlie Millard Band, a farewell show from Pink Sky and more. Revisit the celebrations in colorful images at Local Spins.
Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
One of the Michigan music festival scene’s most unusual settings hosted a boatload of performances by regional bands ranging from Sponge to Adrian + Meredith. The Beaver Island Music Fest recap in photos and video.
Concert reviews · Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
The July music train kept rolling across West Michigan this week, with a new GR music festival, national tour stops and local star fervor aplenty, from Domestic Problems to Stephen Marley to Steep Canyon Rangers — all captured in photos at Local Spins.
Grand Rapids audiences got a taste of three distinctly different concert experiences on Thursday, from symphonic pop to soulful funk to dance-inspiring Spanish language charm. The photo galleries at Local Spins.
With the likes of Luke Bryan, Shania Twain, Zac Brown Band, Dustin Lynch and Dwight Yoakam, last weekend’s Faster Horses festival in Brooklyn, Mich., was a country music party unlike any other. Browse the photo gallery at Local Spins.
The second day of Grand Rapids’ mammoth heavy metal fest was just part of a robust week of live music across West Michigan — revisited in action-packed photos at Local Spins. Browse images of Ripe, The Hacky Turtles, Roosevelt Diggs, Kanin Wren’s Taylor Swift Experience, Jake Kershaw, Tommy Prine and a fun collective known as COA.
Local Spins Rewind · Summer Concerts · Summer Festivals
Our review of the legendary rock guitarist’s June 19 tour-opening show in Grand Rapids drew readers from across the globe. At the year’s halfway point, Local Spins revisits its Top 3 most-read stories.
The popular Midwest jam band returned to Meijer Gardens on Sunday night for an improvisation-heavy, sold-out show. The recap, photo gallery and set list at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Amid heat, humidity, rain and forest fire smoke, West Michigan’s musical train kept chugging as Independence Day weekend roared ahead. The photo galleries at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
Whether you were there or just wanted to be there, experience Rothbury’s resplendent four-day festival in words and in multiple Local Spins photo galleries displaying the people, the performers and the unmatched West Michigan setting.
The Michigan-bred anthemic pop band closed out a rousing anniversary blast for the West Side club which also hosted weekend shows by The Supersuckers and The Hi-Jivers. The photo galleries at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Summer heated up over the past week, with energetic tour stops, a superstar tribute to female artists, the christening of a new stage, jazz in the park, a blues fest and blues on the river and more captured in images at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
Local Spins recaps highlights from the weekend music festival at Delton’s Circle Pines Center in words and photos – from Max Lockwood to Jordan Hamilton to Selwyn Birchwood and more.
The second stop on the band’s U.S tour delivered lush harmonies, horn enhancements and plenty of fan favorites on Wednesday at GLC Live at 20 Monroe. The recap and photo gallery at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Starting with another Tuesday Evening Music Club show at Meijer Gardens to weekend-ending tour stops and the debut of a new West Michigan concert venue, it was a week to remember. Browse all of the photo galleries at Local Spins.
Friday’s opening salvo of a two-night stand at a sold-out Ford Field featured “The Eras Tour” debut of two songs. The recap, photo gallery and set list at Local Spins.
Summer Festivals · Weekend Photo Gallery
From Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo, West Michigan was in a festive mood this weekend, thanks to Festival of the Arts, the Kalamazoo Pride Festival and more. The images and recaps at Local Spins.
Commentary · Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
With 130-plus performances on six stages over three days, Local Spins makes the return of Festival of the Arts to downtown Grand Rapids an easier row to hoe for attendees with our writers’ picks for sets to catch.
Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
The Memorial Day weekend festival along Lake Michigan in West Olive boasted performances by more than a dozen Michigan acts amid glorious summer-starting weather. A photo gallery and video highlights at Local Spins.
A week after celebrating the 11th anniversary of Local Spins with a six-band festival in downtown Grand Rapids, we unveil a highlights video from an event to remember. It’s bonus coverage for Memorial Day weekend.
Album reviews · Audio · Upcoming shows
This May roundup of new releases by Michigan artists also features a look at recordings by Signal Quartet, The JR Band and Wowza in Kalamazoo. Listen to tracks from all of the releases and find out where these artists are performing.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
A unique new Muskegon venue opened its doors over the weekend, captured in photos at Local Spins along with concerts at three different Kalamazoo hot spots. Learn more about The Starlight Room and revisit its premiere in images.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
Celebrating Local Spins’ 11th birthday and the power of Michigan’s female artistry, the second annual festival drew enthused crowds Saturday for sets by six regional bands: In the Valley Below, Earth Radio, Sarena Rae, Kari Lynch Band, Lokella and Grace Theisen Band. The recap, photos and a video at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Regional acts such as Max Lockwood, Megan Dooley, Lisa Can’t Sing and Darcy Wilkin are also part of this weekend’s concert photo roundup, which includes images from Drake White, Real Friends, The Plot in You, Wreckno and more. Plus, see who won the B93 Battle to the Bash. Browse all the galleries at Local Spins.
Concert announcements · Summer Concerts
Today, Local Spins reveals another batch of summer community concerts starring regional acts taking place on weeknights and weekdays across Michigan. Check out lineups from Ada to Hart and beyond.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
The week had plenty to offer live music fans, from national touring acts to milestone shows featuring regional bands. Browse the photo galleries at Local Spins, including images from appearances by Kolby Cooper, Organissimo, Kait Rose, Ringo Deathstarr, Tambourina and the Bass Country electronic music bash.
Artist Spotlights · Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
On May 20, celebrated Grand Rapids singer Sarena Rae joins six other acts playing the second Local Spins Fest in downtown Grand Rapids. Today, she answers seven questions about her life, her music and more, providing unique insights into this talented emerging star.
The Maryland indie-rock/folk-rock singer-songwriter played to a capacity crowd at GLC Live at 20 Monroe on Tuesday, part of his tour with Butch Bastard. The photos and set list at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
From a homecoming show for alt-country’s Michelle Billingsley to a “Candlelight Concert” tribute to Taylor Swift to a school shootings vigil, West Michigan’s live music covered a lot of bases. Browse all of the photo galleries of the concert action and view a video at Local Spins.
Album reviews · Audio · Upcoming shows
New releases from Michigan artists Cody Robert DeWindt, Story Cafe and Adam Main are also part of this Local Spins roundup of reviews. Check out Local Spins takes and listen to tracks from all of the recordings.
Concert reviews · Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
West Michigan’s mid-April blast ranged from jam-packed shows by national artists to showcases of regional favorites to the enduring pull of vinyl — all recapped in images and videos at Local Spins. Check out 10 galleries and three videos, including August Burns Red, Brie Stoner & Kate Pillsbury, B93’s Battle to the Bash, Record Store Day, The Claudettes, Flexadecibel and more.
Artist Spotlights · Summer Festivals · Videos
Six dynamic, female-oriented bands will rev up Local Spins Fest in May. Today, we begin our series spotlighting each act, asking them to answer seven key questions. Their answers were enlightening, especially when it comes to Lokella, which may be playing its final show with its current lineup.
Summer Concerts · Upcoming shows
A hot summer indeed. Big stars and regional favorites will fire up outdoor stages throughout the state this summer. Today, Local Spins launches the first round of its annual “Outdoor Summer Concerts at Michigan Venues” listing, with more to come as show announcements filter in. Check out rosters at Pine Knob, The Deck in Muskegon and many more.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Various musical milestones marked concerts at several West Michigan venues over the weekend, recapped in photos at Local Spins. Check out images of Granger Smith, Tunde Olaniran, The Bootstrap Boys, The Arcadian Wild, Rittz, Prof and more.
Summer Concerts · Upcoming shows
Today, Local Spins starts rolling out regular announcements of lineups for free summer concerts taking place in more than 100 communities across the state in the summer of 2023. The family- and kid-friendly events have become a tradition in many cities.
The Grammy-winning outfit gave fans at State Theatre a visually enhanced dose of boundary-pushing charm, plus check out our photo recaps of weekend shows ranging from heavy metal to EDM to post-punk and more. The Snarky Puppy review and concert photo galleries at Local Spins.
Album Releases · Album reviews · Audio · Upcoming shows
New recordings by Y-Not, Rob Jordan, Pink Sky and John Lamb also pump up this late March round-up of reviews of fresh music by Michigan bands and solo artists. Listen to tracks from all of the releases.
Concert reviews · Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
Weird weather during the first full weekend of spring didn’t hamper turnout at sold-out tour stops in Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo. Plus, recaps of Hawthorne Heights, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, Dirt Monkey, Starkbierfest, Ingrid Andress and more. View all of the images at Local Spins.
Breaking music news · Photos · Videos
The band formed by Grand Rapids Community College music students outpolled West Michigan’s Cordero and Pocket Watch during Saturday’s finals to take home the crown. The recap, photo gallery and some video highlights at Local Spins.
Concert announcements · Summer Festivals · Videos
In the Valley Below, Lokella, Sarena Rae, Kari Lynch, Grace Theisen, Kate Hinote, Loren Johnson and more will fire up “Local Spins Week” in mid-May. Get the lineup, details, a ticket link and more at Local Spins.
Features · Local Spins at SXSW
For many Michigan bands, 2023’s South By Southwest festival was their first-ever Austin experience. They reveled in that experience — except for Nathan Walton & The Remedy’s broken-down van. Check out their takes and highlights in this special SXSW report.
After a questionable denial of county funding, the revered wordsmith and leader of The Diatribe challenges Grand Rapids to step up to support the city’s artistic community, specifically The Emory Arts and Culture Hub.
Concert reviews · Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
Local Spins crisscrossed the state for this recap of national touring artists, regional stars, two fundraisers and a competition featuring emerging acts. The images from ten different shows at Local Spins.
