The legendary Philly vocal group delivered some hot hits on a hot night with some help from the Grand Rapids Symphony. Check out the Local Spins review and photo gallery from Thursday’s show.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Concerts
The singer and multi-instrumentalist’s return to Meijer Gardens not only showcased the pop flavors from her most recent album, but plenty of rollicking, fan-pleasing rock. Local Spins was there to document the tour stop in words and photos.
Tuesday night’s co-headlining tour stop at Van Andel Arena by the classic rock icons uncorked dozens of audience-pleasing hits. Browse the photo gallery by Derek Ketchum and check out the set lists from the show.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
A rock band’s farewell tour rolled into West Michigan, plus some bracing indoor and outdoor rock, blues and folk shows dominated the landscape in the Grand Rapids area this week. Check out the concert recaps and photo galleries.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Concerts
On what frontman John Rzeznik called “a perfect summer night,” the happy “bunch of bums” from Buffalo rollicked through a lively 90-minute set on Wednesday that was heavy on the hits. Read the review by Ricky Olmos and browse the photo gallery by Anna Sink.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
The Detroit riverfront festival seemed to hit its stride last weekend despite intense heat and some technical glitches. Check out Local Spins picks for the best and most surprising sets from the weekend, plus a fresh photo gallery by Anna Sink and images by Tony Norkus.
Concert reviews · Summer Concerts
A sold-out amphitheater greeted the legendary soul and pop star with exuberance on Monday, and Ross returned the favor by performing a cavalcade of hits. Read the review of Monday night’s concert at Meijer Gardens.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
The Detroit riverfront festival’s second day saw diverse, intense sets by M83, Matt and Kim, Father John Misty, Shakey Graves and The Head and the Heart to close things out in triumphant fashion. Read the review and browse the photo galleries from the most successful Mo Pop yet.
Concert reviews · Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
A hot week got hotter with JR JR playing Kalamazoo for the first time, Coffin Problem’s album debut, South Haven’s inaugural Rhythm on the River, northern MIchigan’s Dunesville and sizzling shows by Warren G, SuperDre, Lyle Lovett, The Outer Vibe, Bootstrap Boys, Josh Rose and The Piano Cottage Rocks. Ogle the resplendent photo galleries from a week of sultry musical magic.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
Crowds grew during the day for Saturday sets by Haim, G-Eazy and West Michigan’s own Borns, who helped deliver ‘electric music solid walls of sound’ along the river. Browse the photo galleries from Mo Pop’s Day 1 at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Upcoming shows
Unleashed by a Canadian rock band backed by the symphony and choir, the ‘We Will Rock You’ show entertained more than 3,000 fans at Cannonsburg Ski Area on Thursday, the first of two steamy nights planned for Queen’s music. Check out the photo gallery and review.
The crowd may have been smaller than usual for a Meijer Gardens show, but the cultural experience was unparalleled as Nigerian ensembles led by Femi Kuti and Bombino dazzled fans in the heat. Read the review and browse the photo gallery from this resplendent show.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
Last weekend’s 14th annual festival held on an island at the northern tip of Lake Michigan was unforgettable and filled with fellowship. Local Spins was there to document the event populated by Michigan bands. Read the observations from musicians who attended the festival and browse the photo gallery.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Concerts
Led by Alex Ebert, the slightly realigned folk-rock ensemble stopped Sunday at Meijer Gardens on tour behind a new album that seems to put “Edward Sharpe” in the rear-view mirror. It was a show that writer Troy Reimink found fanciful, joyous and a bit ramshackle. Review, photo gallery.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Concerts
The bluegrass-powered Virginia band wasted little time on Thursday pumping up the sold-out crowd in its return to Grand Rapids. Check out the review and ogle the photo gallery.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Concerts
The engaging singer-guitarist brought his band The Innocent Criminals with him in his return to the Meijer Gardens amphitheater. The sold-out audience embraced them and opener Molly and Scott from Grand Rapids’ Vox Vidorra. Get the scoop in this Local Spins review and photo gallery.
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park for the first time ever hosted an all-star West Michigan lineup of hip hop artists for the Tuesday night music series, part of La Famiglia frontman Mike G’s mission to show off the diversity of hip hop. Read the story, browse the photo gallery, only at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Guest Column · Photos · Summer Festivals
Local Spins looks back at another invigorating Blissfest in this column by musician and veteran festival attendee Mark Lavengood, with images by photographer Anna Sink. Relive the charm of this longstanding, northern Michigan music festival held every summer near Cross Village.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Concerts
The Portland band’s first appearance at the Grand Rapids amphitheater came amid 90-degree weather that didn’t slow the Colin Meloy-led bunch down as they churned out sometimes nostalgic, audience-pleasing songs spanning the group’s career. Peruse the review and photo gallery from Monday’s night red-hot concert.
The inventive pianist and singer un-Fold-ed an evening of career-spanning songs — including some Ben Folds Five tunes — with help from New York’s yMusic ensemble in the sold-out amphitheater. Read the review and browse the photo gallery from Sunday night’s show.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
The weather wasn’t the only thing steaming up West Michigan: Tons of big events and big shows — including some CD-release parties and tour stops by Andrew McMahon, REO Speedwagon, Gin Blossoms and Here Come the Mummies — dotted the landscape from Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo. Ogle all the images from a hot week of live music in West Michigan.
The weekly Meijer Gardens series showcasing regional music kicked off on a beautiful summer night with a resplendent “Tracing the Roots” theme. The series continues on Tuesdays through August. (Photos)
Seth Bernard brought “Eggtones for Peace” to Wealthy Theatre Sunday, wrapping up a vacation week for many. Others reveled in live music in the great outdoors. Browse the images from a week of concerts in the Local Spins photo galleries.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Concerts
Shifting between a Hammond B3 organ and guitar, the Southern rock legend brought his familiar voice and songs to Meijer Gardens to entertain a sold-out crowd on a picture-perfect Wednesday evening. Peruse the review and flip through the images in the Local Spins photo gallery.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Concerts
On a sumptuous, sunny evening, the rock legend performed songs spanning his five-decade career backed for the first time at the outdoor amphitheater by a six-piece band. Read the review and browse a photo gallery from Monday’s sold-out show.
Concert reviews · Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
The Grand River Water Festival on Sunday wrapped up an impressive week of live music that also featured album-release shows, the debut of a new local music festival, a West Michigan tour stop by Yonder Mountain String Band, the kickoff to the Celadon concert series and a birthday bash at The Pyramid Scheme. Ogle the updated Local Spins Weekend Photo Galleries as part of our weekly concert recap.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Concerts
The Los Angeles band delivered familiar hits and fresh tracks from its brand new album during a Grand Rapids tour stop on Sunday night, demanding to see fans’ “dance skills.” Read the Local Spins review by Adrianna Walker and browse the photo gallery by Anthony Norkus.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Album-release shows and the debut of a new local music festival were just part of a week that also featured a West Michigan tour stop by Yonder Mountain String Band and the kickoff to the Celadon Summer Concert Series. Browse all of the resplendent images from a top-drawer week of music across West Michigan.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
As this year’s Electric Forest enters its third day in the woods and fields of Rothbury, Local Spins takes a look at the cycle of festival hoopla — from morning yoga and lounging in the sunshine to grooving in Sherwood Forest at midnight. Check out the day-and-night video and photo gallery by Ricky Olmos.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
More than 40,000 festival-goers packed Double JJ Resort in Rothbury for the opening salvo of the hippie-driven, four-day affair. Read the first-day recap, browse the resplendent photo gallery and watch the video.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Concerts
The engaging singer and guitarist’s return to Grand Rapids with his band had him climbing into the crowd and bringing fans on stage for a memorable evening at the outdoor amphitheater. Check out the Local Spins review and photo gallery.
Concert reviews · Summer Concerts · Weekend Photo Gallery
It was a hot week in West Michigan, indoors and out. Browse images from some sizzling concerts featuring national and regional acts, from Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo to Holland — and from Summertime Blues to the Grand Rapids Pride Festival — in these weekend photo galleries.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
Chris Young, Chris Janson, Granger Smith and more regaled an exuberant bunch Saturday at the sun-drenched, 24th celebration held at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park. And Day 2 was even hotter on stage and in the audience. Check out the colorful images by photographer Eric Stoike.
Concert reviews · Features · Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
Attendance was down a bit, but the music was as hot as the weather with The Go Rounds and FBC All-Stars representing Michigan during the ninth annual day-long street party that also featured People’s Blues of Richmond, The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band, The Main Squeeze and Dos Santos: Anti-Beat Orquesta. Check out the story, photo gallery and video.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Concerts
Even an unhinged trombone and steamy weather couldn’t stop Derek Trucks, Susan Tedeschi and crew at Meijer Gardens on Friday night, with the 12-member band unleashing an audience-pleasing spectacle. Check out the Local Spins review and photo gallery from a hot night at the amphitheater.
A sold-out Meijer Gardens crowd cheered the upbeat, summery display by the singer who melded joyful originals with some Bob Marley classics. Read the review of Wednesday’s amphitheater concert and browse the photo gallery.
The surprisingly loud and lush nine-piece indie-folk/pop ensemble from Iceland lit up Meijer Gardens on a gray, overcast evening, with much of the capacity crowd on its feet the entire night. Read the review and browse the striking photo gallery from a special night at the outdoor amphitheater.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Concerts
The second concert of the season at the outdoor amphitheater regaled a sold-out crowd with favorites from the ’70s, including “Ventura Highway,” “Sister Golden Hair” and “Don’t Cross the River.” And opener Brennin of “Nashville” fame impressed fans, too. Check out the review.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Summer wastes no time cranking up the amps for outdoor music across West Michigan. And things were hectic indoors over the past week, too. Ogle all the images in these Local Spins galleries with shows at The Intersection, The Pyramid Scheme, SpeakEZ Lounge, Bell’s Brewery, Spoke Folks’ Crank 2016, Rumsey Street Bazaar, Rockford’s Start of Summer Celebration and more.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
The unique festival at Circle Pines Center in Delton hosted headliners The Blasters on Saturday, along with a bevy of top-drawer regional acts. And the best edition of Buttermilk Jamboree yet wrapped up with a real bang on Sunday with The Accidentals, The Crane Wives and more. Read the recap of Saturday’s performances and browse the photo galleries.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
The sixth annual festival in a remote area of Barry County reveled Friday in rousing regional music and a family-friendly atmosphere with much more to come. Read the roundup, scan the photo gallery and watch some video highlights from opening day.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Concerts
The first concert of the summer series was full of slapstick humor and familiar pop hits — plus some new gems — that satiated a sold-out, baby-boomer crowd on a sumptuous June evening. Read the review and ogle the photo gallery.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Saturday’s wet weather kept throngs away, but those that endured the raindrops were treated to some rousing sets by some intrepid regional bands. It capped a week of rollicking concerts including Greensky Bluegrass’ three-night run at Bell’s in Kalamazoo. Check out all of the show recaps and photo galleries.
Some rabid fans camped out overnight in line for the sold-out Van Andel Arena show and Ohio’s Twenty One Pilots rewarded them Saturday with a show for the ages. Read the review and check out the photo gallery from a wild night.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
‘Loving the vibe and loving the music’: That was the theme of Festival of the Arts on Friday as thousands of attendees jammed streets in downtown Grand Rapids for dozens of performances. Check out the recap and photo gallery from a hectic first day of the 47th annual event.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Wild, raucous and resplendent all describe West Michigan’s live music assault for the last week of May with national and regional acts firing up stages for big crowds. Check out the Local Spins photo galleries from some of those high-energy shows.
Concert reviews · Features · Summer Festivals
The 14th annual festival along Lake Michigan between Grand Haven and Holland kicked off the holiday weekend with live music, a family vibe and VW buses. Read the story and check out the opening-day photo gallery.
Concert reviews · Photos · Weekend Photo Gallery
Metalcore, folk, indie-rock, bluegrass, psychedelic rock, pop and deliciously indescribable music captivated West Michigan audiences over the past week. Check out all of the images at Local Spins, including some special musical celebrations and tributes.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
The Florida metalcore/pop-punk band provoked fan fervor the same week that saw lively West Michigan shows by Mustard Plug Hannah Rose Graves, Graffiti, Vetiver, Small Brown Bike and much more. Check out the show recaps and photo galleries.
Along with Trisha Yearwood, the country superstar delivered hit after hit in the first of six straight Grand Rapids shows. West Michigan country singer Kari Lynch offers up her take on the much-anticipated concert by one of her biggest influences. Read the review, check out the photo gallery from this historic show.
