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.
Album reviews · Audio · Upcoming shows
This late May round-up of Local Spins’ takes on new releases by a half-dozen Michigan artists also includes The Heiden Underground and The Soods. Listen to tracks from each release and find out where some of these bands are performing in coming weeks and months.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
Local Spins has a recap of the massive Memorial Day weekend celebration of electronic music in the birthplace of techno, as well as a photo gallery from the wrap-up of the Bus Benefit festival in Trufant.
Photos · Summer Festivals · Weekend Photo Gallery
The holiday weekend kicked off Michigan’s music festival season, with throngs at Detroit’s electronic music spectacle Movement and a bevy of West Michigan events, including a Sounds of the Zoo benefit, the summer concert kickoff at Otsego’s Liquid Note and more. Browse the photos at Local Spins.
Two highly touted touring phenoms from different parts of the musical spectrum lit up venues in Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo this past week. Browse the photo galleries at Local Spins.
Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
Local Spins’ 12th anniversary celebration in downtown Grand Rapids on Saturday boasted sets by five Michigan bands who pumped up a gleeful crowd at Studio Park. Get the recap, browse photo galleries and check out video highlights at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
From a post-hardcore throwdown to acclaimed jazz to jam-band fun to country twang and more, Local Spins offers a visual sampling of the week’s concerts from Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo.
The latest round-up of free community concerts staged across Michigan this summer boasts a bevy of regional stars and swells our Local Spins guide to more than 120 series — from Allegan to Traverse City.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Sold-out shows starring the country-driven Cody Jinks, Home Free, Jessie Murph and Larry Fleet spearheaded West Michigan’s busy concert lineup over the past week, from Kalamazoo to Grand Rapids — including performances by The Mountain Goats, Marc Cohn, Amy Speace and Jesse Ray & The Carolina Catfish.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
From Kalamazoo to Grand Rapids, the concert train was rolling over the past week. Check out photos from Samantha Fish, Less Than Jake, Pajamas, Oberon Day and more.
Breaking music news · Weekend Photo Gallery
The arrival of spring brought more than unseasonable snow to the region: It also featured tour stops by international favorites, local bands battling for finals in two different contests, an intimate concert by a beloved Michigan songbird and more — all recapped in photos by Local Spins.
It was a tale of two intense shows within blocks of each other on Monday night. Local Spins has recaps of Gary Numan’s mesmerizing show at Elevation and Avenged Sevenfold’s Van Andel Arena tour stop. Browse the photo galleries and set lists.
Concert reviews · Festivals · Photos
The Kalamazoo festival celebrating the heritage of stringed instruments on Saturday boasted nine fan-enticing performances, impromptu jams and lots of folks browsing exhibits and vendors. Get the recap, video highlights and a photo gallery at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
WYCE’s annual celebration of local and regional music not only toasted some of the best releases of the year but showcased diverse talent on three stages amid a packed house of robust fans at Intersection. Highlights, photos, video.
Breaking music news · Concert reviews · Photos
The Friday night celebration of Michigan music boasted a packed house at The Intersection, diverse sets and awards given out in 18 categories. Get a recap, browse photos and see the full list of winners.
Opera Grand Rapids’ first-ever ‘Hip Opera’ unfolded at Meijer Gardens the same night that heavy metal icons Pantera revved up Van Andel Arena, along with Lamb of God and Child Bite. Get the recaps and browse the photo galleries at Local Spins.
The acclaimed trio brought its ‘Celebrants’ tour to Kalamazoo State Theatre on Tuesday and didn’t disappoint. The review and photo galleries at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
The week leading up to Fat Tuesday had a whale of a lot to offer musically in West Michigan: Great Lakes Brass bringing NOLA to Kalamazoo; The Verve Pipe’s homecoming bash; Frank Sinatra and Steely Dan tributes; Walker & Royce, Dylan Marlowe, Willi Carlisle, Josh Meloy and more. Browse the photos at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Festivals · Weekend Photo Gallery
Things really heated up musically across Michigan amid the last full week of January, from Ann Arbor to Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo to Grand Haven. Check out the Folk Festival recap and 11 photo galleries at Local Spins.
From dubstep, electro house and drum & bass to pop to Americana and more, regional and national acts lit up stages from Grand Rapids to the lakeshore to Kalamazoo. Check out the photos at Local Spins.
This mid-January round-up of Michigan albums also features Local Spins takes on a special re-release from Overdrive Orchestra as well as an ‘esoteric’ collection from Kalamazoo’s Handturner. Listen to tracks from all of the releases.
The ‘powerful, spiritually rooted’ Grammy Award-nominated singer-songwriter brought her tour behind ‘The Returner’ to Grand Rapids’ St. Cecilia Music Center on Tuesday. Browse the Local Spins photos.
Announcements · Local Spins Rewind · Photos · Playlists · Videos
The snow-pocalypse has canceled scads of Michigan shows, including Saturday’s 12-band benefit for Wheatland Music Organization. But listen to the music that had been scheduled for the event and relive last summer’s Wheatland festival amid today’s storm thanks to a special Local Spins playlist and photo gallery.
Album reviews · Audio · Upcoming shows
2024’s first roundup of Michigan releases at Local Spins ranges from singer-songwriter charm to hip hop glory to funk to rock fervor, from Southeast Michigan’s Annie & Rod Capps to Holland’s Lost Magic. Check out the reviews; listen to the music.
Celebrations from Kalamazoo to Grand Rapids closed out 2023 and welcomed the New Year over the holiday weekend, from a two-night run by Greensky Bluegrass to a cozy party at Turnstiles and more. View all the photo galleries at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Top Stories of the Year Countdown
Our No. 1 artist and story of the year spotlights homegrown bluegrass hero Billy Strings, whose wrestling-themed Halloween spectacle rolled out as an unprecedented, star-studded, five-hour, epic event. Revisit the review, photos, set list and more as Local Spins wraps up its countdown of the Top 20 stories of 2023.
Concert reviews · Top Stories of the Year Countdown
The rather upbeat 82-year-old legend brought his “Rough and Rowdy Ways” tour to DeVos Performance Hall in October, an unpredictable show characteristic of an evening with Dylan which sparked our No. 3 most-read story of the year. Revisit it today.
Photos · Summer Festivals · Top Stories of the Year Countdown
Our countdown of the year’s top stories continues with No. 7 in our Top 20: Revisit Rothbury’s resplendent four-day festival in words and in multiple photo galleries displaying the people, the performers and the unmatched West Michigan setting.
Audio · Best Music of the Year · Videos
In place of our usual ‘Amplified’ newsletter this Thursday, we present Phase 2 of our look back at the best music and concerts of 2023. Check out another round of critics’ picks and listen to music from the releases in this year-end roundup.
Audio · Best Music of the Year · Videos
Music of every ilk burst out of the gates in early 2023 and never stopped turning heads. Today, the first round of Local Spins writers reveal picks for the best albums and concerts of the year, from international stars such as Paramore to local faves like Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers.
