Breaking music news · Festivals
After operating for years as a unique Eastown house-concert fest, Lamp Light – which moved to Wealthy Theatre last year – is on hiatus and the future is uncertain. Learn why the festival won’t be taking place.
Breaking music news · Venue Spotlight · Videos
Grand Rapids’ new downtown entertainment and housing complex south of Van Andel Arena opened its doors to the public on Wednesday, including the much-talked-about, 200-seat Listening Room. Check out the story, photos and a video tour.
Breaking music news · Features · Videos
The Michigan-bred guitarist and emerging national bluegrass star who’s made a splash across the country snagged IBMA awards on Thursday, including guitar player of the year honors. His new album, “Home,” comes out today and he’s already sold out many of the shows on his fall U.S. tour. The lowdown at Local Spins, with videos of songs from his new album.
Breaking music news · Features · Videos
The ‘top secret’ project had 15 female vocalists gathering to record the Fleetwood Mac song at Third Coast Recording in Grand Haven earlier this week. Watch the video at Local Spins and see which artists were involved in this unusual project.
Breaking music news · Upcoming shows
Students, alumni and staff rallied to save the program. Now, ‘the future of SAO is bright,’ with the campus concert series kicking off later this month. Get the back story on how the program was rescued and what it means for Calvin University and concertgoers.
Breaking music news · Local Spins on WYCE · Playlists
Wednesday’s thunderstorm knocked out critical equipment along with Friday’s upcoming edition of Local Spins on WYCE. So, you can listen to some of the songs from the show right here.
Two Michigan artists earned acclaim this week, with Albion’s The War and Treaty winning the Americana Music Association’s “Emerging Act of the Year” in Nashville and Nathan Walton getting a thumbs up in a Detroit audition for ‘American Idol.’
Breaking music news · Concert reviews · Photos
Wednesday’s strong, late-summer storm forced the venue to cancel season’s penultimate show before the headliners could take the stage for their 40th anniversary tour appearance. Berlin and Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark did manage to play short sets before the rain hit. Recap and photos at Local Spins. And get details about Meijer Gardens’ refund policy for this show.
Breaking music news · Concert announcements · Upcoming shows
Kicking off in December, the series will also feature Way Down Wanderers, Roosevelt Diggs, Earth Radio and a songwriters-in-the-round show. Details at Local Spins. SCROLL DOWN FOR SPOTIFY PLAYLIST[…]
Breaking music news · Upcoming shows
The high-profile addition to St. Cecilia’s Acoustic Cafe Folk Series will bring the Grammy Award-winning country artist and daughter of the legendary Johnny Cash to Grand Rapids, along with her musician husband, John Leventhal. Details and a video at Local Spins.
Breaking music news · Upcoming shows
The Verve Pipe, David Wax Museum, Loudon Wainwright III and Mary Gauthier are also among the first acts announced for the ‘world-class’ venue that hosts a soft opening in late October and a grand opening in early November. See a comprehensive list of initial bookings at Local Spins.
Breaking music news · Summer Festivals
After taking a hiatus in 2018, the popular and unusual festival featuring local and regional acts playing nearly two dozen venues is back in this lakeshore community. See the lineup, get details at Local Spins.
Breaking music news · Concert announcements · Summer Concerts
Seven Steps Up, Third Coast Recording and the city will launch a new summer concert series in the ‘spectacular’ riverfront stadium in July. Get the details at Local Spins, watch videos of the featured performers.
Breaking music news · Features · Videos
Local Spins updates construction of “Listening Room by Studio C,” which will be part of the impressive Studio Park project south of Van Andel Arena. Get the back story and check out the photos, video and an artist’s rendering of the new venue.
Breaking music news · Features · Venue Spotlight
After years of searching for a permanent space, the arts collective and all-ages venue has acquired and will renovate a building on Plainfield Avenue in the Creston Neighhborhood, launching a new era for The DAAC. Read more about the plans and future for this much-beloved collective.
Breaking music news · Features · Videos
The popular band led by Albion’s Michael and Tanya Trotter joins some renowned artists who are nominated for awards being presented in September. Read more about it and their reaction to the honor at Local Spins.
Breaking music news · Summer Concerts
Saturday’s summer concert pre-sales to Meijer Gardens members sold out seven concerts in the first 45 minutes, though the line of buyers wasn’t as long and the flurry of sellouts not as intense as past years. See which concerts have sold out thus far and check out a photo gallery from Saturday morning’s sales.
Breaking music news · Concert announcements · Summer Concerts
The revamped amphitheater will also host summer shows by Foreigner, The B-52s, Mandolin Orange, Tash Sultana, Steve Miller & Marty Stuart, O.A.R., CAKE, Andrew Bird, Trombone Shorty, Lake Street Dive, JJ Grey with Jonny Lang and more. Member tickets on sale April 27. See the full concert lineup and ticket prices at Local Spins.
Breaking music news · Music on Campus
The budget-cutting move by the Grand Rapids college has upset some students and will likely reduce future concerts on campus by national touring acts. Read student reaction to the move and the administration’s response at Local Spins.
Breaking music news · Photos · Venue Spotlight · Videos
Today, get the Local Spins construction update on Meijer Gardens’ amphitheater project. Lots of changes will greet concertgoers in 2019, including faster entry and concessions sales, new restrooms and merchandise area and improved sound. Take a photo and video tour.
Breaking music news · Concert announcements · Summer Festivals
After taking a year off, the popular and unusual competition featuring dozens of West Michigan acts playing a host of different venues on a single day is back. And Walk the Beat is hosting a benefit concert on Friday. Get the lowdown on the return of Walk the Beat at Local Spins.
Breaking music news · Concert reviews · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
The 20th Jammie Awards show on Friday evening at The Intersection drew lively crowds for award presentations and 30-plus performances. See the full winners’ list and a photo gallery at Local Spins, along with a special Jammies edition podcast of Local Spins on WYCE.
Breaking music news · Local Spins at SXSW · Upcoming shows
Ten artists were selected from 300-plus entries to play an official showcase in Austin, with Flint Eastwood, Seth Bernard and Jordan Hamilton playing other Michigan House shows. And Local Spins will host an SXSW preview show in Grand Rapids featuring Brother Elsey and Droppers on March 6. See who else was chosen and listen to music from all of the Michigan House acts.
Artist Spotlights · Breaking music news · Videos
The sky’s the limit: The Grand Rapids neo-soul/rock super-group is set to release its second album in May and will be honored by Local Spins at Friday night’s Jammie Awards. Read more about the band and watch a video at Local Spins.
Breaking music news · Concert announcements · Summer Festivals
After six years in Kalamazoo, organizers announced that the Audiotree Music Festival won’t take place this year, with Audiotree instead holding a series of special shows in Chicago. Get details at Local Spins, along with links to coverage of the 2018 festival.
Breaking music news · Summer Concerts
The first music news round-up of 2019 at Local Spins focuses on a boost for a potential concert amphitheater along the Grand River southwest of downtown Grand Rapids. See what’s being proposed and when it might see fruition.
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.
Seven acts — from Roxy Music to Stevie Nicks to The Zombies — will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame next year. Here’s a recap of the inductees and some videos of the Class of 2019.
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.
The frontman for The Beveridge Brothers, one of West Michigan most popular bands in the 1970s and 1980s died Thursday morning. He’s remembered by friends and fellow musicians as an affable, influential musician.
Breaking music news · Concert announcements · Festivals
After being staged over two weekends in recent years, the popular festival in Rothbury, Michigan, will be held the last weekend in June only, with wristbands on sale in early December. One fan called it a “bummer.” Learn more about the festival’s plan at Local Spins.
Breaking music news · Features · Upcoming shows · Videos
The same week that 20 Monroe Live announced The Verve Pipe would play its big 2nd birthday party, Vander Ark presented a $1,000 prize to teen singer Gianna Stansell after a year-long competition. Learn more about this talented young West Michigan singer and watch the video of her winning performance.
Artist Spotlights · Breaking music news · Live at River City · Videos
The Traverse City alt-folk trio unleashed ‘Heavy Flag’ and five other new songs during a live-stream session at Grand Rapids’ River City Studios Thursday, as they prepare to join a ‘get out the vote’ tour. Get the back story, watch the in-studio set at Local Spins.
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.
Breaking music news · Features
The 30-year-old Ohio native and current Fauxgrass guitarist will take the community radio station’s reins later this month, succeeding Quinn Mathews. The Local Spins profile of the new manager.
Outpolling three other West Michigan bands. Grand Rapids’ The Zannies won the last performance slot for August’s Cowpie Music Festival during Friday’s finals at The Intersection. Check out a recap of the event along with video highlights.
The unique new music venue is part of the $180 million theatre, retail and housing project opening south of Van Andel Arena in 2019. Quinn Mathews will lead the venture and curate the listening room, stepping down as WYCE manager late this summer.
Audio · Breaking music news · Hot Top 5 · Videos
Four of the five local and regional artists on the May chart were also on the list for April, with only Michigander breaking into the Top 5 for the first time. Browse the Top 5 and sample music from all of the featured artists.
Artist Spotlights · Audio · Breaking music news
The Albion-based duo’s meteoric rise on the national music scene also brings festival appearances at Camp Greensky, Bonnaroo, Telluride and Newport Folk Festival. Read the inside story of their Nashville recording sessions and how they met Emmylou Harris for the first time.
Tied up or out of town for Memorial Day weekend? Here’s a recap of some musical magic you may have missed, courtesy of Local Spins and media outlets elsewhere across Michigan. Check out links to coverage of Movement, Bled Fest and more.
Breaking music news · Summer Concerts · Venue Spotlight · Videos
When fans flock to Wednesday’s season-opening show starring Tedeschi Trucks Band they’ll find a dramatically different look to the venue, which also has improved band and crew access to the stage. Take a video tour of the renovated facility and browse a photo gallery at Local Spins.
Breaking music news · Summer Festivals
A London-based website has ranked the colorful Michigan festival — which spans two weekends in late June — right alongside SXSW and Burning Man as ‘incredible.’ Check out the news at Local Spins, along with links to coverage of last year’s Electric Forest.
The May edition of the Local Spins music news round-up focuses on a new name and direction for a popular folk-rock band and striking new videos from groups on opposite ends of the music spectrum. Listen to the latest EP from Winnow/Watching for Foxes and watch videos by The Go Rounds, Hollow Front and those talented Shay Elementary School fourth-graders.
Breaking music news · Festivals · Upcoming shows · Videos
The Grammy-winning bluegrass group’s pre-concert tour stop at the Paul I. Phillips Club included surprise gifts for kids in the Grand Rapids Youth Commonwealth music and performing arts program. Get the back story about this donation and watch a video of the Steep Canyon Rangers’ afternoon performance for some club members.
Breaking music news · Upcoming shows · Videos
West Michigan-bred Nathan Kalish was cited this week by Rolling Stone as one of ‘10 new country artists you need to know.’ Read more about Kalish and his reaction to the acknowledgment at Local Spins; watch a video of a song from his new album.
The early May round-up of music news takes a look at Marshall blues-guitar sensation Jake Kershaw making a splash in Texas and the end of a popular bluegrass venue in Howard City. Get the lowdown at Local Spins.
Breaking music news · Summer Concerts
Tickets for the 31-concert Meijer Gardens summer series went on sale today and eight concerts — from Styx to The Temptations — sold out in the first half-hour and six more within 45 minutes. See which shows sold the fastest.
Artist Spotlights · Breaking music news · Upcoming shows
The iconic Michigan band of musical “brothers” featuring Joshua Davis and Jack White bassist Dominic John Davis will relive its glory days in Lansing and more during a seven-night run of shows. Get the back story at Local Spins and see where Steppin’ In It will be performing, plus get some insights into White’s tour and new album.
Breaking music news · Upcoming shows
Day 4 of Local Spins’ ‘Countdown’ to Jack White’s Grand Rapids show sheds light on how fans will have to lock away their phones, even for a special pop-up concert tonight at Third Man Records in Detroit. See how this ‘Yondr pouch’ system will work at White’s concerts and see what other intriguing things he has planned.
Breaking music news · Concert announcements · Summer Concerts
Plenty of familiar names grace the 30-concert bill, including Trombone Shorty, The Decemberists, Temptations, Beach Boys, B-52s, Seal and Styx. Huey Lewis’ July 8 show has been canceled and he will be replaced by Michael Franti & Spearhead. Get details and the full Meijer Gardens series schedule at Local Spins.
