Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows · Videos
The Petoskey-bred alt-country act is still basking in the glow of its brush with Seger hoopla as it prepares for a half-dozen home state appearances and unveils new music on the road. Get the back story and photos at Local Spins, and see where you can catch the band on its Michigan tour later this month.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals · Top 10 Lists
Local Spins writer Ryan Boldrey made the most of his first Electric Forest experience and came up with his Top 10 impressions from a wondrous weekend in the woods of Rothbury. Check out his picks and browse the photo gallery by Anna Sink.
Commentary · Photos · Summer Festivals
Three days at the wondrous and sprawling festival in Rothbury can feel like a year anywhere else. Local Spins writer Ryan Boldrey immersed himself in Electric Forest for the first time and found surprises throughout, as well as a supportive, caring ‘Forest Family’ that extends to a drug-free faction of the community. Check out his column, browse the photo gallery.
Returning to Meijer Gardens, the Steve Miller Band held off the rain Monday night with help from country star Marty Stuart — who joined Miller on stage — and blues guitarist Matt Andersen. Peruse the review and photo gallery, exclusively at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
With a jump in attendance from last year, Founders Fest 2019 drew thousands for a beer-propelled Grand Rapids street party with no shortage of dynamic sets by national and regional acts. Check out the review and recap at Local Spins, along with two photo galleries and three videos.
In a Local Spins interview, Macy Gray, one of Founders Fest’s featured acts this weekend and a Grammy-winning artist, said she plans to release a video for her single, “Buddha,” in July and tour Europe, with ‘a proper U.S. tour next year.’ The story with videos at Local Spins.
The bands also rolled out some new material for fans at Meijer Gardens. Check out the review and photo gallery at Local Spins.
Album Releases · Artist Spotlights · Kalamazoo · Upcoming shows
This quartet brings a Pacific Coast and Spaghetti Western vibe to its music, channeling Dick Dale, Link Wray and Agent 007 along the way. Get the back story, listen to their music at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows · Videos
The all-star trio of Michigan-bred singers — May Erlewine, Lindsay Lou and Rachael Davis — launch a four-show run through the Mitten at Bell’s in Kalamazoo on Wednesday, and are eyeing a really big year for Sweet Water Warblers in 2020. Learn more about the group, watch videos of their performances at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Kalamazoo · Photos
The rains lifted just in time for the second of two Duluth, Minn., bands to rock the sold-out beer garden. Offering up a perfectly balanced, nearly all-original setlist, TBT performed its share of classic cuts, new numbers and a rousing Pixies’ cover to close it out. Photos, videos and review at Local Spins.
The Wednesday night tour stop dodged rain and served up a tantalizing combo of acts for a sold-out Meijer Gardens amphitheater. Get the review and photo gallery at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
Last weekend’s second-year festival hosted by Greensky Bluegrass in the Manistee National Forest gave 2,100-plus attendees from all over the country memories to treasure. Relive some of the highlights in this recap by writer Ryan Boldrey with a colorful photo gallery by Anna Sink.
Audio · Features · Summer Festivals
Working with Joshua Davis, Greensky Bluegrass and others, the Grayling songwriter has become a go-to collaborator whose songs likely will be heard at this weekend’s Camp Greensky Music Festival in Wellston. Get the back story about this artist from Local Spins writer Ryan Boldrey, listen to his music and find details about this weekend’s festival.
Concert reviews · Kalamazoo · Photos
Steppin’ In It with friends and May Erlewine & The Motivations moved a Bell’s Brewery crowd while Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers funked up Old Dog Tavern in outdoor shows. Check out the recap of both summer-opening spectacles by Ryan Boldrey, with photo galleries by Derek Ketchum.
Kalamazoo · Summer Concerts · Upcoming shows
With Memorial Day weekend serving as the kickoff to the summer concert season, Local Spins spotlights free community concerts in the Kalamazoo area. Check out the robust lineups and complete schedules in several locations.
Concert reviews · Festivals · Kalamazoo · Photos · Summer Festivals
When all the votes were tallied after Saturday’s semifinal play-in competition, judges and fans at Arcadia Brewing Co. settled on sending Kalamazoo’s Utopian Party on their collective way down the ‘Pathway to the Pasture.’ The foursome netted a close win over Grand Rapids’ Drew Phoria and Bay City’s Barbarossa Brothers and is one step away from earning a slot at this August’s festival in Caledonia.
Concert reviews · Festivals · Photos · Summer Festivals
Thousands flocked to St. Joe for the 7th Annual BBQ, Blues & Bluegrass Fest as Nora Jane Struthers, Che Apalache, JD McPherson and more delivered an afternoon of music at Whirlpool Centennial Park. Photos and review at Local Spins.
The Michigan native and Steppin’ In It member has a growing role as producer, working with Greensky Bluegrass, Jen Sygit, Eddie Vedder, Buddy Miller and even the Chicago Cubs and The Dead. Check out the Local Spins profile of Dominic John Davis by writer Ryan Boldrey.
Celebrating a new live album and fresh songs, members of the Traverse City trio on Thursday proved to fans at Kalamazoo’s Bell’s Brewery just why they’re a dynamic live act with a national following. Check out the exclusive Local Spins review by Ryan Boldrey, with photos by Derek Ketchum.
Album reviews · Upcoming shows · Videos
The Traverse City band releases its new live project Thursday in Kalamazoo, with a tour of the United Kingdom to follow. Learn more about the trio’s hectic year, and check out Local Spins’ review of the new album.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
Summer festival announcements keep coming, from Southwest Michigan to the far reaches of the Upper Peninsula. Graham Parson’s July Farm Block Fest will feature regional stars Seth Bernard, Heavy Color, Molly, Cabildo, Joshua Davis and more; St. Joe’s mid-May festival will be headlined by JD McPherson, with Nora Jane Struthers and more. Check out the lineups, ticket links and details at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows · Videos
The Colorado jamgrass faves boast strong West Michigan roots and say they’re in it for the long haul. Trout Steak Revival play Bell’s Brewery Eccentric Cafe on Saturday. Check out the Local Spins Artist Spotlight feature and videos.
Concert announcements · Kalamazoo · Upcoming shows
This summer’s stacked lineup features Trampled by Turtles, Built to Spill, Here Come the Mummies, Conor Oberst, Kurt Vile and more. Check out the initial schedule at Local Spins.
Photos · Upcoming shows · Venue Spotlight
The intimate venue and craft brewery has become a key part of the Southwest Michigan city’s growing arts community, while shining a spotlight on regional stars and homegrown talent. And it hosts its first Firkin Fest later this spring. Learn more about the hot spot in this Local Spins Venue Spotlight as well as the new Earthwork Music concert series.
It’s Women’s History Month and Kalamazoo will get a dose of potent female-driven hip hop via a pair of West Michigan stars. And Lady Ace Boogie follows up by hosting another hip-hop showcase Saturday in Grand Rapids. Get the back story, watch videos at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Kalamazoo · Photos
Saturday’s stripped-down concert by the Southern rock/country band at Kalamazoo State Theatre gave fans an intimate, memorable display of Blackberry Smoke’s endearing songs. The review and photo gallery, exclusively at Local Spins.
Festivals · Kalamazoo · Upcoming shows · Videos
The festival kicks off Friday night with a concert by Shari Kane and Dave Steele at Kalamazoo Valley Museum, followed by Saturday’s day-long affair with 15 acts on three stages, vendors, workshops and “pop-up” shows. Get the lowdown and the full Saturday schedule at Local Spins.
Album Releases · Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows
Turning heads with their unique, bluesy sound that gives new meaning to ‘power trio,’ West Michigan’s The Strapping Owls launch an eight-state tour behind their new recording in Saugatuck on Friday. Learn more about this unique band and listen to their music at Local Spins.
Concert announcements · Summer Festivals
Hosted once again by co-headliner Greensky Bluegrass, the June 6-8 festival in the Manistee National Forest also will boast sets by Circles Around the Sun, The Lil Smokies, Rebirth Brass Band, Ghost Light, Bombino and regional stars such as Joshua Davis, Lindsay Lou, Dominic & Rachael Davis and Seth Bernard.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows
On this weekend’s anniversary of “the day the music died,” West Michigan’s rockabilly queen will fire up Bell’s Brewery in Kalamazoo with influential, vintage rock gems from Buddy Holly and The Big Bopper. Read about the upcoming show, check out some classic videos.
In what proved to be the perfect venue for the ‘dark and peaceful sadness’ of his music, Isakov and his fans reveled in the beauty of the Grand Rapids church on Saturday night. Read the Local Spins review, browse the photos.
Concert announcements · Summer Festivals
The lineup for August’s Hoxeyville Music Festival in the northern Michigan woods also boasts returning faves Lindsay Lou, May Erlewine plus earlier-announced acts The Crane Wives, Airborne or Aquatic and The Ragbirds. More details at Local Spins along with links to ticket sales.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows · Videos
Now based in Traverse City, the indie-folk duo will headline a “homecoming” show Thursday at Bell’s Brewery in Kalamazoo and play the Fretboard Festival in March, before mounting a three-week tour of Australia. Catch up with Red Tail Ring in this Local Spins Artist Spotlight feature.
Breaking music news · Festivals · Photos · Videos
Friday night’s band and solo artist battle at Kalamazoo Valley Museum determined the final two performance slots for the March festival. Check out photos and video from the play-in contest, and browse the rest of the 2019 lineup for the Fretboard Festival.
Concert announcements · Festivals
Perrin’s late-January festival will feature The Go Rounds, The Legal Immigrants, The Turnips and Syd Burnham. And the Great Lakes Acoustic Music Association cites rising costs and concerns about attendance for the Cooper’s Glen hiatus in 2019. Get the lowdown about both festivals at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Features · Videos
Local Spins profiles the in-demand keyboard player who’s bolstered the likes of Joshua Davis, May Erlewine, Jack White and Larry McCray, not to mention Steppin’ In It, The Lash and more. Read the back story about this much-respected musician and watch videos of him performing with a variety of Michigan artists.
The Local Spins countdown of 2018’s most-read stories continues with Camp Greensky’s highly anticipated announcement last February of its inaugural festival lineup. And revisit the recap and photo gallery from the first-year festival that took place last May.
The country star and Michigan native celebrated his 10th and last holiday ‘homecoming’ in Kalamazoo but promises his fans ‘something bigger and better’ in the summer. Check out the review and photo gallery, only at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
The Midnight Hour collective’s Pyramid Scheme tour stop was just part of this week’s eclectic image recap that includes Cody Jinks, Marcus King Band, Dacia Bridges Project, The Hill People, Weezil Malone & Horseshoes and Hand Grenades. Browse the images, watch the videos at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows · Videos
Limited tickets remain to see the singer-songwriter put together her sixth full-length recording in front of a live audience at Overneath Collective. Read the back story about this special Kalamazoo project.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows · Videos
The Marcus King Band plays Elevation inside The Intersection on Friday as the group continues to grow its fan base and impress critics with its frontman’s eye-popping musicianship. Read the Local Spins interview, check out videos and songs from his new album.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
Bluegrass phenom Billy Strings fired up The Intersection in Grand Rapids on Friday, the same night that Greensky Bluegrass wowed fans at Kalamazoo’s State Theatre. Both do it all again Saturday night. Check out a recap of both shows, along with photos at Local Spins.
Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band kicked off their “final tour” at Grand Rapids’ Van Andel Arena on Wednesday, once again regaling fans with his classic tunes on Thanksgiving Eve. And they’ll be back in January for what’s billed as a final, final Grand Rapids show. Michigan’s own The War and Treaty opened Wednesday’s concert. The review and photo gallery, exclusively at Local Spins.
The Grammy-winning British rocker returned to Grand Rapids Saturday for a show at 20 Monroe Live that was heavy on songs from the first and latter part of his career. Check out the review, photo gallery and set list, exclusively at Local Spins. And browse photo galleries from other West Michigan tour stops by The Tallest Man on Earth and Danity Kane, plus Pillar to Post and a Folklife Organization benefit in Kalamazoo.
Festivals · Upcoming shows · Videos
The 12th edition of the festival will light up Bell’s Brewery in Kalamazoo on Saturday with an eight-band lineup that includes Ringo Deathstarr and Springhouse with Jack Rabid. Get the lowdown on this unusual one-day festival and see the full schedule at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows · Videos
As part of the 50th anniversary tour behind Arlo Guthrie’s “Alice’s Restaurant” which hits Kalamazoo State Theatre tonight, Sarah Lee Guthrie is performing and enjoying her family time on the road. The Local Spins interview.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows · Videos
The guitarist who’s set to release a ‘more rocking’ new album brings his tour to State Theatre in Kalamazoo on Saturday, with Michigan’s own guitar sensation, Jake Kershaw, opening. Check out the Local Spins interview with Kenny Wayne Shepherd, along with recent videos of Shepherd and Kershaw.
Artist Spotlights · Kalamazoo · Upcoming shows · Videos
The iconic folk singer will bring his 50th anniversary “Alice’s Restaurant Tour” to Kalamazoo’s State Theatre on Friday. Arlo Guthrie chatted with Local Spins about the song, his tour and the state of folk music in the New Millennium — and in an age of divisiveness.
Artist Spotlights · Kalamazoo · Videos
The acclaimed West Michigan jazz-folk artist took a ‘no-holds-barred’ approach on ‘People are Fragile.’ Ashley Daneman will preview the powerful album with her band Thursday at Bell’s Brewery Eccentric Cafe. Get the back story and watch her videos at Local Spins.
The inaugural Benton Harbor festival offers up three two-set shows from national touring acts, showcases local artisans and more on Saturday at Lake Michigan College. Get the lowdown and schedule at Local Spins, plus view videos of the featured acts.
