Albums that Changed the World · Audio · Playlists
The ultra-collaborative, award-winning Kalamazoo musician has long been fascinated by the cello and orchestral music — and, yes, hip hop. Today, he reveals the albums that shaped his career.
Albums that Changed the World · Playlists
Versatile Lansing keyboardist Jim Alfredson, a founding member of the jazz organ trio Organissimo, today reveals the albums that helped shape his career, along with some current favorites. Check out his picks and listen to tracks from all of the artists.
Albums that Changed the World · Audio · Playlists · Videos
Longtime Grand Rapids-area sound engineer/musician Kurt Ehinger is a mainstay when it comes to providing fans with stellar concert experiences. Today, he reveals the recordings that influenced him most, and you can listen to tracks from all of the featured albums.
Albums that Changed the World · Audio · Playlists · Videos
As recognizable as any current West Michigan rapper, Jeff “JRob” Robinson today reveals the three albums that shaped his own music. Check out and listen to his his picks, along with an artist at the top of his current playlist and JRob’s latest single.
Summer Concerts · Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
Despite some COVID obstacles, the summer of 2021 looks a lot different than 2020 when it comes to music events in northern Michigan. Local Spins previews some recently announced concert series in the region. Get details and view the lineups of this summer’s performers.
Albums that Changed the World · Audio · Playlists
He’s been the go-to guy on keyboards for Joshua Davis, Larry McCray, May Erlewine and many others for years. Today, Michigan’s Mike Lynch reveals the three albums that influenced and inspired him most. View the roster and listen to tracks from all of those career-shaping collections.
Albums that Changed the World · Audio · Playlists · Videos
Mark “Huggy Bear” Lavengood is a smiling, omnipresent force in West Michigan’s music scene. Today, he reveals the three albums that most shaped his career — plus a couple of current faves from Argentina. View his list, listen to tracks from all of the artists.
Albums that Changed the World · Playlists
As jazz director at Blue Lake Public Radio, Lazaro Vega has become West Michigan’s voice of jazz — heard daily on the radio. Today, he reveals the albums that have inspired him the most.
Albums that Changed the World · Features · Playlists
As a West Michigan music scene mainstay, Bimini Brother and solo artist Dennie Middleton gets around. Today, he reveals the albums that influenced his career the most, along with a current favorite. Listen to tracks from all of his selected albums.
Albums that Changed the World · Audio · Features · Playlists
The esteemed Michigan singer and guitarist reveals the artists and albums which most shaped his musical passion and his career, along with a current favorite. Find out why they were so influential and listen to tracks from each recording at Local Spins.
Albums that Changed the World · Audio · Playlists
The Local Spins series highlighting music that shaped the careers of West Michigan musicians continues with Grand Rapids’ Robin Connell who cites Mel Lewis, Chick Corea, Bill Evans and a current (and related) fave. Check out the picks and listen to tracks from each artist.
Albums that Changed the World · Audio · Features · Playlists
The Local Spins series highlighting recordings that influenced Michigan-bred musicians continues with Americana/outlaw country artist Nathan Kalish, whose inspirations vary widely. Listen to his picks, along with a track from his most recent album.
Albums that Changed the World · Audio · Videos
Traverse City mandolin whiz Don Julin’s former touring partner, Billy Strings, has gotten lots of attention lately, especially after winning a Grammy last weekend. But Julin has had a big impact on Michigan’s music scene, too, and today he reveals the albums that most shaped his career.
Albums that Changed the World · Audio · Features · Playlists
With his own new solo album on the way this spring, Michigan music ambassador Seth Bernard today reveals the three albums that most influenced his career, along with a current favorite. Listen to tracks from all of his selections (along with a standout Bernard song) as part of this week’s playlist.
Albums that Changed the World · Playlists
Grand Rapids Symphony Associate Conductor John Varineau retires in May after three dozen years with the distinguished orchestra. Today, he reveals the albums that helped shape his career, from Stravinsky to CSNY. Check out the playlist, along with a track from Grand Rapids Symphony.
Albums that Changed the World · Audio · Playlists
The lead singer of the popular post-hardcore band from Grand Rapids reveals the recordings that most influenced his career, along with a current favorite on his playlist. Check out tracks from these artists in a special Spotify playlist, plus a song from La Dispute’s most recent album.
Albums that Changed the World · Audio · Features
Hailing from Kalamazoo, the nationally renowned Greensky Bluegrass has helped alter the face of the genre. Today, mandolinist Paul Hoffman divulges the three albums that altered and shaped his own career. Listen to tracks from these albums, plus a song from a current fave.
Albums that Changed the World · Audio · Features
Grand Rapids drummer Randy Marsh has been a mainstay in bands across West Michigan and host of a long-running SpeakEZ Lounge jazz jam. Today, he reveals the albums that influenced his career the most. Listen to tracks from all of the recordings, plus a song from a current favorite.
Albums that Changed the World · Audio
On the eve of their Ann Arbor Folk Festival performance, the Traverse City indie-folksters reveal their affection for Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Fiona Apple and Patrick Carroll, plus a current, classic fave. Listen to tracks from all of the albums at Local Spins.
Albums that Changed the World · Audio
Local Spins continues its series showcasing recordings that most influenced Michigan musicians. Today, we asked in-demand Rockford horn player Paul Keen — a veteran orchestra and big band musician — for his picks of albums that shaped his career.
Albums that Changed the World · Audio
Local Spins continues its series showcasing recordings that most influenced the careers of Michigan musicians. Today, we get a peek into the records that shaped Crane Wives drummer Dan Rickabus.
Albums that Changed the World · Audio · Features · Videos
Local Spins continues its series showcasing recordings that most influenced the careers and artistry of Michigan musicians. Today, the spotlight falls on the trio of artists who influenced David Kirchgessner of the Grand Rapids ska band Mustard Plug. Listen to tracks from each album and find out who’s at the top of Kirchgessner’s current playlist.
Albums that Changed the World · Audio · Features
Today, Local Spins kicks off a new series from writer Ross Boissoneau exploring the recordings that have most influenced the careers and artistry of well-known Michigan musicians. We start with Brian Vander Ark. View his Top 3, with links to listen to the featured albums.
Features · Live-Stream Concerts · Upcoming shows · Videos
The renowned, international touring ensemble will play to a socially distanced audience in Manistee this weekend, with the show — sponsored by West Shore Community College — also live-streamed across the country. Learn more at Local Spins.
Concert announcements · Summer Concerts · Summer Festivals
Scrapped due to COVID-19, the popular northern Michigan series at Interlochen is among numerous live music events slated for summer 2020 across the state that are being dropped, postponed or revised. Get details and see an updated list of festival cancellations at Local Spins.
Thursday night’s concert offerings in Grand Rapids boasted fan-pleasing shows by an acclaimed singer, a revered guitarist, and Colorado and U.K. indie-rock faves. Get the recap of this special Thursday at three different venues in recaps and photo galleries at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows
The renowned prog-rock guitarist brings his ‘Genesis Revisited’ show to Grand Rapids this week, playing the entirety of ‘Selling England by the Pound’ plus his solo material. He spoke with Local Spins about the show and his career.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
This weekend’s festival presented by Alexander Zonjic at Muskegon’s Heritage Landing will boast two days of soulful, funky jazz and more, plus a special Thursday night pre-show. The Local Spins interview with Zonjic and Koz.
The iconic former frontman of Yes brought his national tour to 20 Monroe Live in Grand Rapids on Thursday to regale diehard prog-rock fans. and he didn’t disappoint. Check out the review by writer Ross Boissoneau, with photo gallery by Anthony Norkus.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows
The non-stop Styx — with a new album to add to its platinum-selling classics as it prepares to return to Meijer Gardens on Friday — chatted with Local Spins about the ‘artistic flair’ the band continues to flaunt. Read the Local Spins interview and watch videos of its live performances.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows
With the iconic long-time lead singer for prog-rock’s Yes slated to play Grand Rapids’ 20 Monroe Live on Thursday, Local Spins writer Ross Boissoneau interviewed Jon Anderson about his tour and hopes for one last Yes record.
Friday’s sold-out Meijer Gardens concert proved the instrumental and vocal mettle of the beloved prog-pop band. The show review and photos, exclusively at Local Spins.
Features · Upcoming shows · Videos
The iconic prog-rock band returns to Grand Rapids on Friday for a sold-out Meijer Gardens concert. Check out the revealing Local Spins interview with keyboardist Steve Porcaro, who promises “a show for Toto fans.”
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
Beaver Island follows up its music festival with the nine-day Baroque on Beaver series, a quaint, mostly classical music-oriented affair starring guitarist Matthew Cochran, pianist Kevin Cole and much more. Learn more about this fascinating music series at Local Spins.
The version of prog-rock’s Yes featuring Steve Howe, Alan White and Geoff Downes stopped at Interlochen Center for the Arts on Thursday night. Check out the Local Spins review, which serves as a preview to Friday’s show at 20 Monroe Live in Grand Rapids.
On what turned out to be a nearly flawless summer evening, the legendary keyboard player unfurled a genre-bending lesson in jazz that flaunted looping, synthesizer magic, vocoder, a keytar and more. Read the Local Spins review by Ross Boissoneau and a special musician’s take on the show by Dutcher Snedeker.
Features · Upcoming shows · Videos
Blondie drummer Clem Burke chatted with Local Spins about the group’s past and great ‘live show,’ with upcoming stops this week in Grand Rapids and Interlochen. Only at Local Spins.
Read the Local Spins interview with Alan White of the legendary prog-rock band that hits Grand Rapids’ 20 Monroe Live on Friday, with other tour stops this week in Detroit and Interlochen.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows · Videos
The 78-year-old keyboard legend brings a brief U.S. tour to Meijer Gardens on Wednesday as he eyes another new album. Read the Local Spins interview with Herbie Hancock.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows · Videos
The much-admired band from the ’70s and ’80s plays Grand Rapids’ 20 Monroe Live on Tuesday (May 15). Read the Local Spins interview with drummer John “Willie” Wilcox and get the lowdown on this classic band fronted by Todd Rundgren.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows
Irma Thomas, Preservation Hall Jazz Quintet and Blind Boys of Alabama kick off a series Monday that also features Tower of Power, Dublin Irish Dance and Bruce Hornsby. Check out the interviews with Preservation Hall’s Calvin Johnson Jr. and Tower of Power’s Emilio Castillo. Only at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows
The ELP and Asia drumming icon has carried on after the death of his rock bandmates, touring with a pair of virtuosic musicians and presenting the prog-rock music “in another way.” The Local Spins interview, with videos of Palmer performing live.
Artist Spotlights · Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows · Videos
Wheatland Music Festival’s 2017 lineup this weekend boasts national roots music stars and a strong Michigan contingent, too. Read profiles of two of them and peruse the festival schedule.
Artist Spotlights · Features · Upcoming shows
The ‘Mozart of the guitar’ kicks off a U.S. tour in West Michigan this week, unfurling uncategorizable music and subtle virtuosity along the way. Read the Local Spins interview with Pierre Bensusan and get details about this week’s concerts.
Summer Concerts · Upcoming shows
With nearly five decades of music under its belt, that ‘little ol’ band from Texas’ will get the Interlochen series started with a blues-rock bang. Read the Local Spins interview with ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons.
Spawned and based in the northern Michigan hamlet of 5,600, Famous Last Words is a hard-rocking, national touring headliner with a fast-growing audience of hundreds of thousands of fans. Get the back story at Local Spins, watch their videos.
Features · Upcoming shows · Videos
The revered musician brings his ‘Genesis Revisited with Classic Hackett’ tour to 20 Monroe Live next week. Check out the Local Spins interview with Steve Hackett and watch his videos.
