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.
Audio · Breaking music news · Features · Videos
The passionate and dynamic Women’s History Month tribute to icon Aretha Franklin features more than two dozen singers and musicians from across the state. Watch the video premiere and learn more about this collaborative project at Local Spins.
Breaking music news · In-Depth Report · Venue Spotlight
”Sick of the stress.” Concert venues still have no financial help a year after shutdown. And while state aid is imminent, federal funding remains in question — and that could jeopardize some clubs. The update at Local Spins.
Breaking music news · Summer Festivals
With COVID concerns continuing, Festival will take applications from musicians for the new outdoor celebration that will have them performing safely in downtown’s social zones. Read more about this new event at Local Spins, along with plans for hosting a performance stage on Calder Plaza during ArtPrize in September.
Breaking music news · Upcoming shows
Due to COVID, dozens of performers and thousands of fans won’t gather for the annual WYCE event that would have taken place Friday at The Intersection. But a revised Jammies is still possible. Get the lowdown at Local Spins.
Breaking music news · Summer Festivals
Just in case the COVID pandemic forces a postponement of the Rothbury festival in June, promoters have suggested alternative weekends in August. Get the details at Local Spins.
Breaking music news · Upcoming shows · Venue Spotlight
The legendary Division Avenue hot spot for teens which staged its last show in 2009 is under renovation by former operator Mark Leech. Learn more about this plan to fill a regional void in all-ages venues and watch some historical show footage at Local Spins.
Today, Local Spins rounds up some Michigan-related music news that’s getting national attention, including a new collaboration starring Sufjan Stevens, a pair of big TV appearances for The War and Treaty, and a sneak peek into the upcoming studio album from Greta Van Fleet. Get the updates and watch the videos at Local Spins.
Breaking music news · Festivals · Summer Festivals
After a year in which nearly every Michigan music festival was canceled, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to cast doubt on 2021 events — even though more than 40 festivals currently are scheduled to take place. Get an update on what some festivals are planning, along with a link to Local Spins’ Michigan Music Festivals Guide for 2021.
Breaking music news · Venue Spotlight
With both Congress and Michigan’s Legislature this week passing relief packages containing funds for shuttered venues, the future for these businesses looks a tad brighter. Get details at Local Spins.
The package includes $3.5 million in grants for concert venues, much less than what the Michigan Independent Venue & Promoter Association was seeking. But “it’s a start,” according to one group member. The state House will take up the bill on Monday.
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.
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.
Breaking music news · Features
In its 16th year, the West Michigan group that nurtures songwriters has seen dramatic changes in 2020, from COVID-19 to the departure of its much-admired co-founder. Meet his replacement, Julia Yob, and read more about the GRSA in today’s Sunday feature.
Breaking music news · Venue Spotlight
Amid the 2020 pandemic, two of downtown’s most popular live music hot spots are now seeking buyers. See what the asking price is and get more details at Local Spins.
Breaking music news · Commentary · Venue Spotlight
Michigan’s new ban on indoor bar/restaurant service is only part of a gloomy, complicated outlook for live music that extends into 2021. And that leaves Local Spins “in search of a Big List.” See what experts are saying about when — and if — concerts will return to area stages.
The young West Michigan singer and member of the Grand Haven-based band Five Strand Fusion impressed judges — and an audience of millions — on Monday during blind auditions for NBC’s “The Voice.” Learn more about Mayton and watch the video of her performance on ‘The Voice.’
Breaking music news · Venue Spotlight
The national Live Music Society awarded grants to 20 clubs across the country, the same day that the Michigan Music Alliance announced a ‘relaunch’ of a fundraising campaign to aid musicians hurt by the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more about both developments at Local Spins.
Breaking music news · Venue Spotlight
The governor’s decision today to allow indoor venues and theaters to partially reopen on Oct. 9 doesn’t mean live music will be back anytime soon. Local Spins explains why.
Album reviews · Audio · Breaking music news · Local Spins Exclusives
The inaugural collaboration between a Grand Rapids-bred rapper and award-winning Kalamazoo producer is a COVID- and quarantine-inspired, hip hop masterpiece. It debuts today at Local Spins along with a review of the recording.
Breaking music news · Upcoming shows · Venue Spotlight
Amid a pandemic that’s crippled the Hudsonville event center, owner Bill Worst officially debuts the new venture on Sunday with drinks, food and music. Get details, the upcoming concert lineup and photos at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Breaking music news · Upcoming shows
The popular Grand Rapids hip hop artist is calling it quits for now, performing her last show outside Studio Park on Thursday while releasing a star-studded new album. Learn more about her decision and listen to a Local Spins exclusive — a track from her final studio album.
Breaking music news · Summer Festivals
Due to continued COVID-19 concerns, northern Michigan’s Farmfest has finally bowed to the pandemic and plans to return to the Johannesburg farm in 2021.
Breaking music news · Concert announcements · Summer Concerts · Upcoming shows
Performances by Luke Winslow-King and Asamu Johnson & The Associates of the Blues — along with the screening of several movies — will take place later this month on the piazza lawn of Studio Park in downtown Grand Rapids. Get the schedule and the details about this unique series of events at Local Spins.
Breaking music news · Concert announcements · Summer Festivals
Two more August music festivals in Michigan have decided to skip 2020 due to the pandemic, with September’s jazz festival in Detroit turning to an elaborate live-stream and televised event. Get the details at Local Spins.
Breaking music news · Concert announcements · Summer Festivals
Due to COVID-19, Hoxeyville in Wellston and the 20th annual Earthwork Harvest Gathering outside Lake City won’t take place. Harvest will instead move to “Zoom room” programs, videos and more. Find out more about the decision and get details about Harvest’s virtual event at Local Spins.
Breaking music news · Summer Festivals
Due to COVID-19 concerns, Beaver Island has reversed course and pulled the plug on its July event, joining Dunesville and the Grand Rapids Fourth of July celebration in canceling for 2020. But the Marshall Bluegrass Festival is still a go. Get the latest news at Local Spins.
Breaking music news · Concert announcements · Summer Festivals
The Aug. 6-8 music celebration on a Kent County cattle farm has been scrapped due to COVID-19, but a festival the same weekend on a farm east of Gaylord will boast a robust lineup of regional stars with new safety precautions. Get details about both festival announcements at Local Spins.
Breaking music news · Features
The Grand Rapids community radio station’s operations and programming manager on Monday officially takes over as station manager from Hayes Griffin, who stepped down earlier this year. Read more about Martin in this Local Spins story.
Breaking music news · Features · Videos
Kent County Administrative Health Officer Adam London cautions venues, performers and fans that the reopening of bars and restaurants comes with rigid rules and risks of spreading COVID-19, especially when it comes to live music at this critical juncture. The Local Spins interview with some advice for fans, performers and businesses.
Breaking music news · Concert announcements · Summer Festivals
Michigan’s hallowed Wheatland in September is bowing to COVID-19 out of safety concerns. But organizers of a mid-July festival on an island in northern lake Michigan still plan a mini-event with limited crowds. Get details about both festivals at Local Spins.
