Breaking music news · Concert reviews · Photos
West Michigan’s ‘biggest night of music’ packed The Intersection with performances by 19 acts on three stages, with the year’s best releases, artists and industry leaders honored by WYCE, Local Spins and Michigan Music Alliance. View a list of all the winners, get a recap of the evening’s festivities and browse a photo gallery at Local Spins.
Breaking music news · Concert announcements · Summer Concerts
Today’s teaser announcement of three concerts in the 2023 amphitheater series covers folk, blues, rock and roots music, with the complete concert lineup being announced in April. Get the lowdown on the shows revealed thus far, along with music videos of the featured artists.
Breaking music news · Concert announcements · Upcoming shows
More than 20 regional acts will perform during the Feb. 24 celebration at The Intersection, described as the ‘premier music event of the season.’ View the lineup and get reactions from some performers, plus a link to the list of award nominees and the public vote for album and artist of the year.
Breaking music news · In Memoriam · Summer Festivals
The death of the Crosby, Stills & Nash co-founder — who addressed his mortality in a recent interview — has sparked memorial tributes across the globe. Plus, a northern Michigan festival has announced its roster of regional performers
Breaking music news · Upcoming shows
Our Saturday round-up of West Michigan music news ranges from info about a rocking new exhibit at Grand Rapids’ presidential museum to a second-year talent competition in Rockford and a new leader at WYCE.
Breaking music news · Emerging Artists to Watch · Videos
After fan voting during this week’s finale, the Grass Lake teen came in behind winner Bryce Leatherwood and three other finalists. The recap at Local Spins, plus watch a video of his finale performance.
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.
Breaking music news · Upcoming shows
The venue north of Grand Rapids hasn’t hosted regular concerts since early 2020, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. The back story at Local Spins.
The West Michigan rock band won out over 10 other acts competing earlier this month in Louisiana, part of the week-long Prize Fest event. Details at Local Spins, along with a couple of the band’s recent music videos.
Breaking music news · Concert reviews · Photos
The seasoned Grand Rapids blues outfit outpolled four other West Michigan bands to take home the top prize in Sunday’s competition hosted by the West Michigan Blues Society at Billy’s Lounge. Learn more and check out photos at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Breaking music news · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
The anthemic pop band frontman reveals details about his latest calamity while debuting a new track for Local Spins on WYCE, which also showcased fresh music by several other Michigan artists. Get the back story, watch Michigander’s new music videos and listen to this week’s radio show podcast.
Breaking music news · Photos · Videos
Hailing from Bath, Mich., the fast-rising country singer made a splash on the NBC show Tuesday and will advance to the next round. The story, video and photo gallery at Local Spins.
Breaking music news · Features
The Michigan artists landed major awards on Wednesday night in Nashville. See what prestigious honors they walked away with and their reaction at Local Spins.
Breaking music news · Venue Spotlight
The highly regarded Spring Lake concert venue which opened 11 years ago has hosted hundreds of concerts by iconic artists and will stage its final show in December. The back story at Local Spins.
Breaking music news · Concert reviews · Photos
The world music trio topped Nathan Walton, Elijah Russ and Melophobix in the “friendly competition” that raised $3.700-plus for ShelterBox on a gorgeous, sun-splashed Saturday in Rockford. Get the recap and photos at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Breaking music news
The Grand Haven-based group outplayed 9 other bands from across the country to snag a cash prize and an appearance on the bluegrass festival’s main stage in 2023. Learn more at Local Spins.
Breaking music news · Features · Upcoming shows · Videos
Eleven years after a Grand Rapids lip dub video of the Don McLean classic set a world record and created a sensation, he’ll revisit the city to kick off a Black Pigeon Studios venture to put the area back on Hollywood’s radar. Get the lowdown and watch the 2010 lip-dub video at Local Spins.
Breaking music news · Summer Concerts
After the first weekend of sales to the general public, 60 percent of the summer shows have sold out. Get the update at Local Spins. See what shows have sold out and which remaining concerts are close to that point.
Breaking music news · Summer Concerts
Robust ticket pre-sales on Saturday for Meijer Gardens members led to sellouts of one-third of shows scheduled for summer 2022 and by Sunday, three more concerts had sold out. See which concerts have sold out thus far.
Breaking music news · Features
The nonprofit Michigan Music Alliance is surveying the state’s musicians in hopes of targeting their most pressing concerns as it prioritizes future programs. Take the survey here at Local Spins.
Breaking music news · Features
The celebrated bluegrass guitarist and Ionia County native was featured on the nationally televised evening spectacle, but lost out in two categories to fellow nominees Bela Fleck and Jon Batiste. Learn more at Local Spins.
Breaking music news · Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
With the venue packed to capacity, The Stray Café’s month-long competition involving 15 Michigan acts wrapped up Friday with fan-pleasing performances by finalists Whorled, Epitones and Daisybox. Read the recap, browse the photos and watch video highlights at Local Spins.
Breaking music news · In-Depth Report · Local Spins on WYCE
Founders Brewing will resume shows later this month after two years of silence, another example of live music’s robust return this year. Local Spins revisits how West Michigan venues are coping, the challenges that remain and what fans can expect.
Breaking music news · Upcoming shows · Videos
Rising cases sparked by the Omicron variant led the Grand Rapids community radio station to delay the popular multi-band celebration at The Intersection for four months. Get the details at Local Spins.
Breaking music news · Summer Festivals
After two years of cancellations due to COVID, the intimate August festival north of Grand Rapids has lost its momentum, citing the unvaccinated and a ‘never-ending’ pandemic. Details at Local Spins.
Breaking music news · Upcoming shows
January’s roundup covers a lot of territory, from a weekend competition to the return of a Hudsonville fundraiser to news about a Michigan tour stop for The Eagles. The lowdown at Local Spins.
Breaking music news · Festivals · Summer Festivals
While COVID concerns remain, more than 50 Michigan festivals plan to resume later this year, including the uber-popular, the traditional and some new events, too. View the comprehensive list at Local Spins.
Breaking music news · Upcoming shows · Venue Spotlight
Despite its pending sale, current owner Greg Gilmore tells Local Spins that Live Nation will keep operating the concert hall as it has since early 2017. Learn more in today’s update.
Breaking music news · Features · Music and Technology
Created by a South Bend tech startup, the innovative app is being embraced by some West Michigan acts as a way of connecting with fans and monetizing their performances. Get the details 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.
Breaking music news · Commentary
The Ionia County native is changing the face of bluegrass and bringing mainstream attention to an important American genre. A Local Spins commentary.
Breaking music news · Venue Spotlight
There’s an app for that: Bell’s Brewery Eccentric Café in Kalamazoo is one of the first West Michigan venues to adopt and mandate a smartphone “health pass.” But more venues say they’re likely to follow suit with similar mobile apps as COVID surges.
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.
Breaking music news · In-Depth Report
Shows at Seven Steps Up, and several at The Pyramid Scheme, will require vaxxed proof as show and festival cancellations once again resurface this summer. An update and in-depth report at Local Spins
Breaking music news · Concert announcements · Upcoming shows
Things aren’t quite back to normal with live music, but WLAV’s free Thursday night blues shows and live music in Founders’ beer garden means Grand Rapids fans will move closer to a pre-pandemic vibe. Get the details and the schedule at Local Spins.
Breaking music news · Concert announcements · Summer Concerts
Tickets to Meijer Gardens summer concerts went on sale today to members who were antsy after a year off to embrace amphitheater shows: Seven sold out in two hours; nine by 5 p.m. The lowdown and links at Local Spins, along with this year’s concert schedule.
Breaking music news · Upcoming shows
The popular downtown Grand Rapids concert venue closed since the pandemic will kick off shows again in August under its new name. View details and the upcoming show schedule.
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 · 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.
Breaking music news · Summer Festivals
Hopes for an August edition of the celebration in Rothbury were dashed due to the continued impact of COVID-19, organizers stated. It’s one of several Michigan festivals which canceled this week. But the city of Grand Rapids will move ahead with numerous ethnic festivals this summer and fall.
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.
Breaking music news · Concert announcements · Summer Festivals
The brand new, two-day festival hosted by Dobro whiz Mark Lavengood will limit capacity and feature sets by ‘a stronghold of West Michigan greats’ playing on a site with plenty of space for social distancing. Get details, ticket information and the full lineup at Local Spins.
Breaking music news · Features · Videos
The 16-year-old from Romeo joined Sinclair on Monday night for a dynamic version of an Elton John classic that judges called the best performance of the show’s Battle Round. Read more at Local Spins.
Breaking music news · Concert announcements · Summer Festivals
Initial hopes for a ‘small Buttermilk’ in June were torpedoed by rising Michigan cases of the coronavirus, leaving organizers to look ahead to the fall for a possible mini-event or to June 2022 for the full jamboree. Learn more at Local Spins.
Breaking music news · Summer Festivals
With pandemic restrictions still causing uncertainty, the iconic music festival near Harbor Springs has made ‘the difficult decision’ to skip the July event again, looking ahead now to 2022. Learn more about the ‘heart-wrenching’ move at Local Spins, along with the cancellation of an Upper Peninsula music festival.
Breaking music news · Local Spins at SXSW · Upcoming shows
‘SXSW Week’ boasts a series of online events, pop-up performances, a Michigander live-stream and an outdoor wrap-up concert on Friday at Studio Park with Brother Elsey, which releases a new single that day. Get details on this week’s Michigan House activities as well as an update on Brother Elsey.
The acclaimed bluegrass guitarist from Ionia County topped some musical legends to win his first Grammy Award during pre-ceremonies staged in Los Angeles on Sunday afternoon. The lowdown — and his reaction — at Local Spins.
Breaking music news · Commentary
In March 2020, COVID shut down live music across Michigan. A year later, there’s hope for a slow return with more than 100 venues finally set to receive state aid within the next 30 days and industry experts saying some summer amphitheater concerts are possible.
Breaking music news · In-Depth Report · Summer Festivals
Several Michigan music festivals have canceled summer events for the second year in a row. But others are moving ahead in 2021, barring a coronavirus resurge. The lowdown on the state’s upcoming festival season at Local Spins.
The former member of the Grand Rapids band Leland Blue made the cut and selected judge Nick Jonas’ team during blind auditions Tuesday on the NBC singing competition. Read more about Sinclair at Local Spins.
