Returning to his native Michigan recently after four years in Arizona, Matt Marn has written for online music and arts magazines, including YabYum Music and Arts and AZCulture.com. Marn also wrote for Benevilla, a local nonprofit organization, helping spotlight volunteers and programs for the organization. A guitarist who holds a journalism degree from Grand Valley State University, Marn focuses on the stories of artists and venues along Lake Michigan.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
Despite rain and unseasonable temps, The Crane Wives played their first show in more than two years in Grand Rapids, while on the east side of Grand Haven, solo performer Ryan Lynch won a wet edition of Walk the Beat. Get the recaps, browse the photos and watch the videos at Local Spins.
The weekend festivals boast live music with a bit of a twist: Grand Haven’s affair has fans voting for their favorite bands, while Farm Fest rolls out under new direction with a more laid-back vibe. Get the lowdown on both events at Local Spins.
Packed with fans, the downtown Grand Rapids church offered up a unique setting for NEEDTOBREATHE’s Tuesday tour stop. The concert review and photos at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
The Grammy-nominated, sister-fronted band embraced the unique surroundings for a rousing Halloween eve concert in Grand Rapids. Plus, check out photo recaps of weekend shows starring Chuck Prophet, The Way Down Wanderers, Stovepipe Stover, Emilee Petersmark, Mushmen, Wavves, Lisa Can’t Sing and more.
Breaking music news · Concert reviews · Photos
Hundreds of fans strolled the streets on Grand Haven’s East Side on Saturday in the return of the popular one-day festival which raises funds to assist young musicians. Recap and photo gallery at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows
The rising, 21-year-old, blues-rock guitar star plays The Pyramid Scheme tonight after earning universal accolades for his music. Read the Local Spins interview with Ingram and check out videos of his recent performances.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
This week’s concert recap focuses on three shows in particular that celebrated the talents — new as well as experienced — of West Michigan artists. But there are images of Raul Midon, Fatoumata Diawara, We Were Promised Jetpacks, Dave Bruzza and more, too.
The ‘Mexo-Americana’ group and singer-songwriter Heather Maloney earned a warm welcome from fans who braved early season snow to attend Wednesday night’s concert at the downtown venue. The review and photo gallery at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Features · Kalamazoo · Photos
The third annual Great Lakes Music Camp along the Lake Michigan shoreline drew dozens of ‘pupils’ for workshops and even more acoustic music fans for a packed Saturday night concert starring instructors. In Kalamazoo, meanwhile, the Great Lakes Acoustic Music Association also celebrated acoustic glory at its GLAMA-versary event. Story and photos at Local Spins.
Album reviews · Features · Videos
Michigan’s leading folk-singer activist this week mounts a Michigan tour behind a powerful and political new album. The Local Spins interview, with review of the new album and a new video for the single, “Whole Again.”
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows · Videos
The “adventurous” event at Mill Point Park also stars The Way Down Wanderers and Arkansauce. Get the lowdown about this first-time event at Local Spins and watch videos of the featured performers.
Breaking music news · Concert announcements · Upcoming shows
Kicking off in December, the series will also feature Way Down Wanderers, Roosevelt Diggs, Earth Radio and a songwriters-in-the-round show. Details at Local Spins. SCROLL DOWN FOR SPOTIFY PLAYLIST[…]
With 46 bands playing 23 venues on Saturday, the unusual Walk the Beat event returned to this lakeshore community after a one-year hiaturs and boasted another first: a tie for second place. Get the complete lowdown with a photo gallery at Local Spins.
The weekend-ending soiree featured the amphitheater debut of the legendary French ensemble which had hundreds fans gyrating in front of the stage. The review and photo gallery, exclusively at Local Spins.
The second big national concert at Lynne Sherwood Waterfront Stadium packed the riverfront venue with baby boomers who reveled in classic tracks ranging from “Amie” to “You Are the Woman” and more. Check out the Local Spins review and photo gallery.
Breaking music news · Summer Festivals
After taking a hiatus in 2018, the popular and unusual festival featuring local and regional acts playing nearly two dozen venues is back in this lakeshore community. See the lineup, get details at Local Spins.
The Monday concert paired one of music’s most influential bluesman, Buddy Guy, with a blues-rock virtuoso, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, for a night of guitar-driven joy. The review and photos at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Concerts
A weekend of impeccable weather came to an end with rain Sunday, but it didn’t deter the phenoms or their fans from reveling in dazzling, acoustic guitar-driven rock. And they even gave an unusual local musician some stage time. Check out the review and photo gallery at Local Spins.
Breaking music news · Concert announcements · Summer Festivals
After taking a year off, the popular and unusual competition featuring dozens of West Michigan acts playing a host of different venues on a single day is back. And Walk the Beat is hosting a benefit concert on Friday. Get the lowdown on the return of Walk the Beat at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Podcasts · Upcoming shows
With much-respected jazz pianist Robin Connell playing several upcoming shows in Grand Rapids this week, Local Spins today revisits the profile it published in 2017 after she was named West Michigan Jazz Musician of the Year, along with a podcast and in-studio performance
Held along Lake Michigan south of Grand Haven, last weekend’s classes, workshops, performances and jams by all-star musicians at the Great Lakes Music Camp brought a rootsy flavor to Camp Blodgett and raised money for a good cause. Check out the recap and a photo gallery at Local Spins.
Concert announcements · Upcoming shows
The five-concert series at Grand Haven’s Tri-Cities Historical Museum kicks off in December with regional stars. See the full schedule and ticket sales information at Local Spins.
With a full slate of campers and well-known instructors, the second edition of the weekend at Camp Blodgett Oct. 11-14 boasts workshops, special performances, a benefit concert and plenty of jamming. Get details and ticket links at Local Spins.
Kicking off Friday with a concert by The Accidentals, the festival follows this on Saturday with 46 Michigan performers playing various stages and vying for a $3,000 prize. Get details at Local Spins about this spinoff of the original Grand Haven Walk the Beat.
After extensive construction, the world-class Grand Haven recording studio is impressing those who bring projects through its doors. Get the back story on Third Coast Recording, browse a Local Spins photo gallery and take a video tour of the facility operated by Chrysler and Joe Sturgill.
Summer Concerts · Upcoming shows · Videos
Although Grand Haven’s multi-venue Walk the Beat fest won’t fire up this August, Saturday’s ‘Keep the Beat Alive’ concert will rock the city with popular acts from past events, including Jake Kershaw, Melophobix, Cosmic Knot and Dave Palmer. See the full schedule at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
The eighth annual music festival at Circle Pines Center thrived in spite of some rainy disruptions, celebrating three days of vibrant, diverse music. Relive this special West Michigan festival via words, photo gallery and video.
Features · Upcoming shows · Videos
The grass-roots nonprofit group will host a Teen Poetry Slam at the Kentwood library on Thursday, followed by a fundraising masquerade party to help make a difference in youths’ lives. Learn the story behind The Diatribe and its inspiring work to showcase student creativity in the Grand Rapids area.
West Michigan songwriter Jessica Fogle recently wrapped up a 365-day challenge of writing a song a day, and now she’s ready to launch into another year-long musical project. Read the story of her musical journey, then check out her songs and videos.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
Take a gander at Local Spins’ exclusive, expanded coverage of the WYCE Jammies with a robust photo gallery, video and reactions from winning bands recapping the 19th edition of ‘West Michigan’s biggest night for music.’
The award-winning country singer brought his “All-American Road Show” to Van Andel Arena on Saturday, with icon Marty Stuart and Brent Cobb in tow. Check out the recap, photo gallery and set list from the sold-out show at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
After a Western tour, the band’s album-release shows in Kalamazoo and Muskegon on Thursday and Friday nights were exuberant displays featuring guests such as The Crane Wives and Rick Chyme. Read the recaps, browse the photo galleries and check out the video of a special on-stage pairing of The Crane Wives and Accidentals.
Concert announcements · Upcoming shows
The Red House Concert Series has announced the third season of concerts boasting a diverse lineup of national and regional acts playing the Grand Haven museum. See the full lineup at Local Spins. Season passes go on sale later this month.
Breaking music news · Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
Two Grand Rapids-based bands took home the top prizes in what organizers called the biggest and most successful Walk the Beat ever, with thousands of fans strolling the city’s east side to vote for their favorite performances. Get the details, watch video highlights and browse the photo gallery from Saturday’s event.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
The fourth annual festival and competition awards prizes to the best band and song, with attendees voting for favorites and winning merchandise, too. Get the lowdown, map and list of performances, plus a video from this week’s Local Spins Live performance by Walk the Beat participant Christopher C. Cordle.
The rock bands’ co-headlining summer tour made a stop Monday at a sold-out Meijer Gardens amphitheater. Check out the show recap and photo gallery at Local Spins.
The sold-out crowd of fans at Meijer Gardens on Wednesday embraced the heat and their humor-laden Canadian heroes, who even spent time at The Pyramid Scheme after the show. Check out the concert recap and photo gallery at Local Spins.
Breaking music news · Upcoming shows
The three-day camp in West Olive will offer ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ guitar, mandolin and fiddle instruction for adults and youths from award-winning musicians, plus a concert starring Matt Flinner, Don Julin and Fauxgrass. Read more about this new camp and find links to register.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
Two major music festivals unfurled south of Grand Rapids on the same weekend with distinctly different vibes: Country music’s B93 Birthday Bash in Martin and the eclectic Buttermilk Jamboree in Delton. Browse photo galleries from both events that took place just 14 miles apart.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
New York’s Slambovian Circus of Dreams leads a lineup of more than four dozen acts playing several stages this weekend in a scenic setting south of Grand Rapids. Get the schedule and details at Local Spins.
Icons Joan Baez, Mary Chapin Carpenter and The Indigo Girls combined forces — and voices — for a sold-out show on a sultry Monday night at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. The review and photo gallery only at Local Spins.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows · Videos
Grand Haven’s first-ever Pride Fest on Sunday will boast sets by Lipstick Jodi, Olivia Mainville, Abigail Stauffer and Jack & The Bear aimed at promoting the idea that “love wins in the end.” Get the lowdown and the schedule at Local Spins.
In this spotlight on the lakeshore, read how top performers from several open-mic sessions will play a special showcase this weekend — and share in ticket proceeds from the event. Get insights into this popular open mic and watch some video highlights.
Artist Spotlights · Audio · Local Spins on WYCE
Much-respected jazz advocate and Grand Rapids pianist Robin Connell is a self-described ‘workhorse’ who will be honored at a May 15 banquet. Learn more about this devoted musician and listen to the Local Spins on WYCE podcast featuring performances with Connell and singer Kathy Lamar.
Announcements · Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
The fourth edition of this unusual August contest in this lakeshore community boasts thousands of dollars in prizes for winning acts, with this year’s festival limited to 25 bands and 25 solo artists. The deadline for registration is April 28. Get details here.
With 32 bands playing two stages over two nights, this weekend’s festival at West Ottawa High School meshes experienced groups with up-and-coming high school acts. See the full schedule at Local Spins, from Lipstick Jodi to Fried Egg Nebula to Midwest Skies.
Breaking music news · Features
The popular Michigan country artist will leave his band, The Usual Suspects, this fall after releasing a new album and completing one final tour. Read the back story at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Features · Upcoming shows · Videos
Touring behind its fifth album, “City Lights,” Driftwood plays four Michigan shows this week, including a Friday concert at Spring Lake’s Seven Steps Up. Read the band’s back story and watch a video from its new album.
Concert reviews · Features · Photos · Videos
The 2017 edition of WYCE’s Jammie Awards drew more than 1,500 people to The Intersection in Grand Rapids for dynamic performances by Michigan bands, with plenty of musicians “lovin’ the hell out of each other.” Brows the resplendent photo gallery, watch the video and read the reaction of musicians to the West Michigan music scene’s biggest night of the year.
Artist Spotlights · Audio · Videos
With deep roots in West Michigan, Midnight Pilot band members are finding key connections in ‘the center of the music universe’ as they create some engaging indie-rock/Americana music. Read the story, listen to the new EP, watch a video.
