Announcements · Photos · Summer Festivals
The up-and-coming, jazz-fueled Grand Rapids band outpolled more than 50 other Michigan acts performing on Saturday while music lovers strolled outdoor venues in the lakeshore town. The story and photos.
For the third time, the special Kent District Library streaming platform will accept music submissions from local and regional artists. The lowdown at Local Spins.
Breaking music news · Contests · Videos
The inaugural April songwriting competition drew entries from across Michigan, with Traverse City’s Trillium Groove snagging runner-up honors. Get details and listen to the winning songs.
The New Moon Songwriting Challenge requires video entries of new songs to involve co-writes with other artists. The contest kicks off April 1. Get the details at Local Spins.
Announcements · Emerging Artists to Watch · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
Raised in Allegan County, the country singer-turned-Americana-rock artist boasts a bright future, propelled by a new album on a Nashville record label. He’s the latest winner of the Local Spins award. Read more about Elkins, listen to a Local Spins on WYCE radio podcast and watch some of Elkins’ videos.
Announcements · Local Spins on WYCE · Top 10 Lists
Based on radio airplay at WYCE (88.1 FM), Local Spins reveals the Top 10 list of songs by Michigan artists that made the biggest impact on listeners and programmers in 2022. Listen to this week’s Local Spins on WYCE radio podcast and see how you can win tickets to see Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers at The Pyramid Scheme this weekend.
For the second year, the Michigan Music Alliance will present Ovation Awards at the WYCE Jammies in February, honoring those dedicated to collaboration, community and equality amid the music scene. Learn more and see how you can submit a nomination.
Announcements · Summer Festivals
Internationally acclaimed electronic music stars once again will dominate the Rothbury, Mich., landscape come June 22-25, along with The String Cheese Incident. Passes go on sale Friday.
Announcements · Upcoming shows · Videos
The second-year awards show will take place at Marshall’s Franke Center in April, with a Jan. 1 deadline for Michigan video entries. Last year’s winner Grace Theisen called the event ‘amazing.’ Get details and background at Local Spins.
Announcements · Special Offers
Get a headstart on your holiday shopping hoopla: Pre-order your resplendent 2023 Local Spins Calendars featuring not only photos of 27 Michigan artists, but music festival dates, too. The ideal gift for the music lovers on your list.
Announcements · Breaking music news · Upcoming shows · Venue Spotlight
To avoid confusion with other ‘Listening Rooms’ across the country, the rebranded venue instead reflects the name of the first Loeks theater in downtown Grand Rapids and ‘more spaciousness’ in entertainment offerings. Get details at Local Spins.
Announcements · Special Offers
Local Spins today introduces more than a half-dozen dazzling new items to our online gift shop. It comes just in time for you to show off your support for Local Spins and Michigan’s music scene as festival season ramps up.
Announcements · Upcoming shows
After a 2021 hiatus due to COVID-19, the community radio station will stage the popular event once again at The Intersection, with fans invited to vote for their “Artist of the Year.” The lowdown at Local Spins.
Announcements · Breaking music news
The nominations announced today stem from his latest, chart-topping studio album, “Renewal.” Billy Strings’ national tour hits Grand Rapids in late December, with fellow Grammy nominee Bela Fleck playing Grand Rapids this Saturday. Learn more about both nominees, with the Grammys set to be doled out on Jan. 31.
Announcements · Breaking music news
The three separate rosters of musicians, venues and recording studios list contact information to boost opportunities for bookings and collaboration. Get details at Local Spins, with links to sign up for these data bases.
Announcements · Special Offers
The colorful and exclusive Local Spins bracelets make the perfect attire for vaccinated music lovers attending summer concerts and festivals. Get yours today or choose a “Festival Pack” that includes bandanas, too. Details at Local Spins.
Announcements · Breaking music news
With donations raised through its recent, live-streamed Spread the Music Festival, the Michigan Music Alliance will once again distribute grants to musicians in need. Learn more about the grant program with links to apply at Local Spins.
Announcements · Breaking music news · Summer Festivals
Two intimate, much-beloved Michigan festivals with a devoted fan base — one in late May and the other in late August — will take a hiatus for the second year in row. Get details at Local Spins along with information about a third festival that announced a postponement this week.
Announcements · Contests · Features · Videos
West Michigan’s Agri-Med & Local Spins announce a contest asking readers for their favorite pot-flavored tunes to be revealed in a playlist on April 20. Plus, we feature several local artists who’ve paid tribute to marijuana in song and video.
Announcements · Breaking music news · Venue Spotlight
The statewide MIVPA organization will lobby for $10 million in state funding to assist concert venues and promoters devastated by the 2020 pandemic. Details at Local Spins.
It’s true 2020 didn’t unfold as expected. But West Michigan bands remained active, reflected in spectacular calendar images by Local Spins photographers. And, yes, the calendars optimistically feature 2021 music festival dates. Order them now; it’s the perfect, Michigan-centric holiday gift.
Announcements · Breaking music news · Videos
Billy Strings was “completely blown away” by the honor, made as part of today’s Grammy nominations announcement. Award winners will be announced on Jan. 31. Get the details at Local Spins.
Announcements · Breaking music news · Features
The longtime Michigan music collective re-emerges today after a two-year overhaul with a revamped organizational structure, a slate of new artists and some live-stream performances. Get the full story at Local Spins along with some videos of Earthwork artists.
Announcements · Breaking music news
Amid the current COVID-19 crisis, Local Spins ‘goes to 11’ today by launching a new email newsletter with exclusive content and a chance to win swag. Get the details and sign up for the free newsletter if you’re not already a subscriber.
With Michiganders stuck at home, songwriters have the time and the perfect opportunity to comment on the coronavirus crisis musically. We want to hear those songs (and we’ve got a few more spoof videos here for inspiration). Local Spins plans to compile the best of these Michigan music videos, with one artist winning a special gift package.
Announcements · Breaking music news · Upcoming shows
The state’s music scene continues to be affected by the coronavirus crisis and some of the news is good: Self-employed songwriters and others will be eligible for loans and aid, and on-line performance opportunities abound. Check out the news roundup at Local Spins. And now, the state has expanded unemployment benefits to self-employed and low-wage workers.
Announcements · Breaking music news
With hundreds of concert cancellations and today’s statewide bar closure order dealing a blow to bands, the new relief fund is seeking donations which will help Michigan musicians who qualify via applications to recover some financial losses. The lowdown at Local Spins, with links to donate or apply for assistance.
Announcements · Summer Festivals
West Michigan is still in the throes of winter but regional bands and solo acts need to start thinking summer – especially if they want to play Festival in June. Details at Local Spins.
Announcements · Breaking music news · Local Spins on WYCE · Upcoming shows
Michigander, Lipstick Jodi, JRob, Patty PerShayla, Last Gasp Collective and 20 other acts are on tap for WYCE’s mammoth Feb. 14 event. Check out the full roster of performers and the reaction of nominees chosen to play the 21st annual awards show.
Announcements · Summer Festivals
The Local Spins Readers’ Poll is back for 2020. Pick your favorite Michigan music festivals and tell us why they rock your world, and we’ll enter your name in a drawing for a fabulous Local Spins gift package that includes two tickets to a Michigan festival.
Announcements · Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows
The rock band plays a ‘bon voyage’ show at The Pyramid Scheme tonight, on the same day it releases a new single while preparing to head Down Under. Learn more about The Legal Immigrants’ tour at Local Spins.
Announcements · Kalamazoo · Upcoming shows
Performers have until Nov. 1 to apply, with the top three ensembles and solo artists taking part in a Jan. 10 play-in contest for two paid slots at the March festival. Get details and a link to the online application at Local Spins.
Announcements · Upcoming shows
The Jericho Town event will feature performances by members of the Dacia Bridges Project, guitarist Kenny Olson, Mike Fuerst and many more. Get the details at Local Spins along with information about a new Dacia Bridges Project single being released this week.
Announcements · Features · Upcoming shows · Videos
Title Track is hosting launch events this month in Traverse City and Detroit, with empowerment programs and a new music festival in the works. Learn more about this music-driven, community-empowering venture at Local Spins.
Announcements · Upcoming shows
Lady Ace Boogie, Tunde Olaniran and Seth Bernard will be joined by 23 first-timers at the February event being held in all four venues inside Grand Rapids’ The Intersection. Check out the list of all the performers at Local Spins, along with details about the upcoming awards show.
Announcements · Upcoming shows
The radio station announced its roster of local and regional nominees for awards in a dozen categories, with 119 recordings up for album of the year honors in February. Get the lowdown at Local Spins.
Players are urged to “bring their axes and jam” during the Jan. 12 celebration at Grand Rapids’ Eastern Avenue Hall, paying tribute to the frontman for The Beveridge Brothers who died unexpectedly on Dec. 6. Get more details at Local Spins.
Announcements · Breaking music news · Videos
The quick-rising young rockers from Frankenmuth who cut their teeth at places like The Intersection in Grand Rapids will join big stars in bids for best new artist, rock song, rock performance and rock album. Get details at Local Spins and see what The Intersection thinks of the band’s meteoric rise.
Hundreds of performance slots on as many as 11 stages are available at Festival of the Arts in downtown Grand Rapids next June. Get details and the link to apply online; the deadline is Feb. 15.
Announcements · Features · Festivals
We’re taking pre-orders now for the 2019 edition of the Local Spins calendar with spectacular concert images, Michigan festival dates and more: A perfect, unique holiday gift. Get details and a link to order yours today.
Announcements · Breaking music news · Local Spins at SXSW
For the pop-up venue’s fifth year, Michigan House is partnering with Detroit’s Opnr to take applications online from Great Lakes State artists, with 10 selected to perform in Austin. Get details and a link to apply at Local Spins.
Announcements · Breaking music news
To celebrate their 25th anniversary, the Whitecaps are seeking a keyboard whiz with ‘a good personality’ to fire up their new organ. Auditions take place in March; get the details at Local Spins.
Announcements · Kalamazoo · Upcoming shows · Videos
Electro-pop’s Less is More aims to continue broadening its musical universe as it departs West Michigan. The band plays a farewell show at Bell’s Brewery on Saturday night. Get the back story, check out a video.
Announcements · Breaking music news
West Michigan musicians can now apply online to perform at Festival 2018 next June. The applications, with a $15 fee, are due by the end of February. Find the links to the online form at Local Spins.
As part of the “Local Spins Top 10 Rewind” series of articles that most captivated readers in 2017, this August story broke the sad news that the the award-winning Grand Rapids indie-soul/rock foursome had broken up but still planned to release an album they recently completed.
Announcements · Upcoming shows
Two Grand Rapids concert halls kick off new seasons with touring stars this fall, while the downtown arena continues to make headlines nationally. Check out the lineups and details at Local Spins.
Announcements · Local Spins Live
Support Local Spins and receive the first-ever “HopCat presents Local Spins Live at River City Studios” Greatest Hits CD from Local Spins and a brewery gift card. And, of course, our eternal thanks.
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.
Announcements · Audio · Breaking music news · Local Spins at SXSW
To mark their return to South by Southwest, Traverse City’s The Accidentals released the first single from their upcoming new album today. And five other Michigan acts headed for a Michigan House-Austin showcase have recorded fresh songs for SXSW and ArtPrize. All six premiere here at Local Spins. Listen to the songs, read the back story.
Announcements · Breaking music news · Features · Videos
Local Spins’ choice for best local album of 2016 salutes a Kalamazoo old-timey folk duo’s masterpiece. And rock’s Conrad Shock & The Noise earns honors as Emerging Artist of the Year. Check out videos of both bands and get the lowdown on Red Tail Ring’s award-winning recording at Local Spins.
