Artist Spotlights · Features · Videos
With the 2024 NFL season kicking off for Detroit tonight, Ryn Scott, aka West Catholic High School alum Ryan Scott, has released a rollicking tribute to the boys in silver and Honolulu blue. Listen to the track and watch the video at Local Spins.
Breaking music news · Features
Kent County voters go to the polls next week to decide the fate of a proposed hotel tax increase that would affect a new concert amphitheater and soccer stadium. Local Spins today answers key questions about this proposal and its impact.
Local Spins readers responded in droves in relating their biggest live music disappointments, ranging from sloppy performances to horrible sound to even more horrible fans. What concerts frustrated you?
Features · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
A Local Spins on WYCE interview with Rich MacKeigan, a key player in a new GR amphitheater, raised names of potential venue performers, from Grand Rapids Symphony to The War & Treaty. Listen to the chat, read more about the amphitheater and check out new music from Michigan artists — Phabies, Kait Rose, Overdrive Orchestra and more. Plus, make your picks for artists you’d like to see play the 12,000-seat outdoor venue.
Breaking music news · Features · Upcoming shows
Two district libraries are seeking tracks by artists from the Grand Rapids and Traverse City areas for special streaming services that showcase Michigan music. Details at Local Spins.
Features · Upcoming shows · Videos
Hosted by Ruben Martinez and Lady Ace Boogie, Saturday’s Grand Rapids performances at Midtown by a dozen regional artists will be filmed for videos at aimed at elevating Michigan talent.
Features · Local Spins Fest · Summer Festivals
Leading up to Local Spins Fest later today (Saturday), we offer another profile of area academies and schools of rock that tutor the next generation of musicians. Learn more about Kalamazoo Academy of Rock, with advice about how to best encourage youthful talent.
Features · Local Spins Fest · Summer Festivals
To help preview Grand Rapids’ Local Spins Fest 2024 on Saturday, Local Spins continues to examine the importance of mentoring young musicians. Today, we focus on Girls Rock! Grand Rapids.
Commentary · Features · Local Spins Fest
As part of our lead-in to Local Spins Fest 2024 in Grand Rapids on Saturday, Local Spins explores the importance of mentoring young musicians. Today, we focus on New City Kids Grand Rapids.
When Al-Saadi and Kingfisher rock Milliken Auditorium on April 13, they’ll do so with a big assist from Northwestern Michigan College students handling every aspect of the concert experience. The back story at Local Spins.
Features · Local Spins at SXSW · Upcoming shows
March always signals a pilgrimage of musicians and singer-songwriters from across the globe seeking exposure for their art at Texas’ South by Southwest, with dozens of them from Michigan. The lowdown and the lineup at Local Spins.
Concert announcements · Features · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
Part of a global trend, Sofar doesn’t announce concert lineups or details until the day of the show. Learn more in this story and today’s Local Spins on WYCE podcast — a podcast hat also previews the Jammie Awards and debuts tracks by Steven Malcolm, Von May, The J Hawkins Band and more.
Created by Opera Grand Rapids, Tuesday night’s first-ever production will star DJ Chuck, a string ensemble, dancers and an ‘authentic’ vibe. The back story and more at Local Spins.
Concert announcements · Features · Upcoming shows
Nearly four years after the jazz jams were silenced by COVID, drummer Randy Marsh brings the ‘special’ tradition back to Grand Rapids’ SpeakEZ Lounge on Sunday night. The back story at Local Spins.
Announcements · Commentary · Features
Today, your favorite online music magazine posts a little year-in-review after wrapping up our 12th year as Michigan’s go-to music website. Help keep our coverage spinning.
Presenting our guide to 2024 Michigan music festivals and kickoff to festival fun, a New Year’s Day tradition at Local Spins. We’ve got tips for festivalgoers and the state’s most comprehensive festival listing.
Features · Top Stories of the Year Countdown
Many fans say the beloved Michigan-bred guitarist has changed their lives. Our October feature digging into unprecedented ardor for the superstar soared to No. 2 in our top stories of the year. Plus, view a new photo gallery of fans and more from Billy Strings’ October concert.
Features · Upcoming shows · Videos
The symphonic rock spectacle that lights up the holidays every year returns to Grand Rapids’ Van Andel Arena the day after Christmas. The interview and preview at Local Spins.
The country and Americana artist has organized Saturday’s benefit show in Caledonia, with more than a dozen West Michigan acts performing and raffles to support Mel Trotter Ministries. View the lineup and learn more about this special concert at Local Spins.
The small, Grand Rapids vinyl production operation offers local and regional acts a rare opportunity to provide fans with a physical ‘piece of nostalgia’ that showcases their music. Learn more about the fascinating work of Great Lakes Records at Local Spins.
Formed last summer by Andrew Teed and Ryne Clarke, the new West Michigan record label already has signed several bands to its roster. Learn more about this new label at Local Spins.
Dec. 8 marks 43 years since the world lost John Lennon of The Beatles to a brutal assassination. The world still reveres his music, still mourns his loss — with The Beatles even recently releasing one of his songs for the Fab Four’s final track. Listen to Local Spins’ Ultimate John Lennon Playlist.
A couple of years removed from the worst of the devastating COVID crisis, Local Spins asked Michigan musicians what they’re most thankful for as 2023 draws to a close. See what they have to say.
In 2023, Local Spins asked readers a ‘Question of the Week’ about favorites in a lot of categories. Here are the top questions and responses. Plus, we’ve got fresh year-end queries that could score you a gift.
Features · Local Spins on WYCE
Josh Kaufman has steered Local Legend’s work with a growing number of high-profile regional acts, from Hannah Rose Graves to Nathan Walton and many more. Learn more about the studio in this Local Spins profile and Local Spins on WYCE podcast, which also debuts tracks by Megan Dooley, PARALLELZ, Free Hat, Chris DuPont and more.
Artist Spotlights · Features · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
The bluegrass guitarist’s fans traveled from across the country to catch his wild Grand Rapids concert this week. Local Spins on WYCE spotlights their ardor, Billy’s music + tracks from other Michigan acts. Get the back story and listen to this week’s radio show podcast.
Features · Traverse City · Upcoming shows
When the city’s new listening room The Alluvion hosts its jazz night on Thursday, fans will be treated to a world-class performance, something that’s become a regular event in the region. Learn more in this special Local Spins feature.
Features · Upcoming shows · Videos
Seven years after the bluegrass guitarist parted ways with Julin, the Traverse City musician still marvels at Billy’s talent and says he deserves all of his fame. Plus, see what other musicians say about Billy.
Artist Spotlights · Features · Upcoming shows
In an interview with his mom, Deb Apostol, Local Spins digs into the Ionia County-bred bluegrass guitarist’s childhood, teen rock years and his rise to super stardom.
From pins and posters to vintage clothing and a snazzy board game, home-grown entrepreneurs have built a marketplace community that will fire up for Tuesday’s big arena concert. Learn more at Local Spins.
Many say the beloved Michigan-bred guitarist has changed their lives. Local Spins digs into unprecedented fan ardor for the superstar as his humongous Halloween homecoming approaches. Check out fan comments from across the country, hailing the bluegrass powerhouse.
The new all-digital platform created by a veteran broadcaster strives to showcase ‘authentic’ Michigan-based Americana, roots rock, folk, blues and soul music.
Features · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
Our spotlight on the historic Grand Rapids studio also includes the Local Spins on WYCE debut of tracks by Preta Nova, Pretty Sure, Theometric, Sam Kenny & Emma A. Ward, LVNDR, Flxnn and more. Get River City’s back story and listen to this week’s radio show podcast.
The West Michigan singer and pianist returns to her hometown of Ionia this week for a special “Purple Concert” and music video shoot to help commemorate deceased loved ones. The back story at Local Spins.
It’s time for readers to speak out when it comes to their favorite concert and festival experiences of the past summer — and some of their comments show just how memorable those experiences were.
The busiest summer ever for live music and festivals captivated the attention of Local Spins devotees. Today, we reveal the Top 10 concerts and festivals that enthralled our readers. Revisit all of the biggest shows of the summer.
Concert reviews · Features · Photos · Videos
‘Nobody cares what you do here.’ That was the theme as Electric Forest returned to Rothbury with wildly garbed attendees and bass-heavy romps. The Day 1 recap, photos and video.
Concert Listings · Features · Summer Concerts
Traveling every week from Elberta to Baldwin to Ludington and beyond, impressive lineups of acclaimed musicians deliver jazz, blues, R&B and more to eager fans in quaint locales. Get the background on this long-running series and see who’s playing this summer.
With summer concert season about to kick off in robust fashion, Local Spins recently asked readers to disclose what bothers them most about live shows and recent music trends.
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.
Book Reviews · Features · Upcoming shows
Veteran Michigan music writer Gary Graff (Billboard, Oakland Press) toasts Alice Cooper’s 75th with a devastatingly entertaining recap of an illustrious career. Cooper’s U.S. tour kicks off Friday in Michigan. Check out the Local Spins review of this tantalizing biography.
It amounts to a national holiday for independent record shops. With special new releases and a bevy of used classics, vinyl devotees will be flooding area stores on Saturday. Learn more at Local Spins.
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.
Features · Local Spins at SXSW
For many Michigan bands, 2023’s South By Southwest festival was their first-ever Austin experience. They reveled in that experience — except for Nathan Walton & The Remedy’s broken-down van. Check out their takes and highlights in this special SXSW report.
Concert reviews · Features · Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
Talk about a robust week of live music in West Michigan: With an early start to the weekend, it was all about the fans at shows packing venues big and small across West Michigan, including album-release concerts by Michigan artists. The recaps and photos from 10 shows at Local Spins.
Features · Photos · Upcoming shows · Videos
Recorded at Grand Haven’s Third Coast Recording, the cover of the iconic song features 14 female singers and musicians from across the state. Get the back story, watch the video and browse the photo gallery at Local Spins.
Features · Upcoming shows · Videos
Starting their Michigan run with two shows at Grand Rapids’ Midtown, the indie-folksters join Georgia Middleman, Gary Burr and Mary Bragg for the latest iteration of their ‘in-the-round’ concerts. Learn more about the tour and listen to a new Accidentals single at Local Spins.
As WYCE (88.1 FM) celebrates Friday’s return to The Intersection of the Jammie Awards honoring Michigan artists, an event co-founder and former station manager reminisces about the inaugural event. Plus, check out Friday’s stage schedule and a playlist of performers.
Up-and-coming West Michigan-bred rock star Patty PerShayla took time out to take Local Spins behind the scenes of her hectic touring schedule, from favorite foods to the downsides of being on the road. It’s Local Spins’ first ‘Tour Texts’ of 2023.
Features · Upcoming shows · Videos
The contemporary Christian tour that stops at Van Andel Arena on Thursday also features Jeremy Camp, Andy Mineo, Disciple, NewSong and Austin French. Learn more about Anne Wilson, watch her music videos and get the Winter Jam preview at Local Spins.
