The always entertaining National Public Radio competition once again is drawing entries from lots of Michigan bands and solo artists. Check out more than two dozen of the 2018 video entries here, including submissions by The Crane Wives, Fauxgrass, Chris DuPont and The Hacky Turtles.
Features · Local Spins at SXSW · Upcoming shows · Videos
Michigan House once again aims to offer ‘breath of fresh air’ and ‘authentic’ Mitten State vibe amid the craziness of world’s largest music festival and conference in Austin next month. Get the lowdown on the 2018 events and lineup at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Features · Podcasts
Local Spins’ February segment on Michigan Radio’s “Stateside” showcased fresh releases by Grand Rapids artists covering a broad range of styles. Check out the podcast, along with profiles of the featured artists.
Features · Festivals · Upcoming shows
For those willing to hit the road, there are intriguing options this weekend boasting a unique Michigan flair. Check out two of them at Local Spins: a preview of the Microbrew & Music Festival in northern Michigan and an interview with the Michigan native fronting Speak Low If You Speak Love, which plays Detroit on Friday.
Artist Spotlights · Features · Upcoming shows · Videos
In a revealing interview with Local Spins, the legendary singer talks about her 59-year career, her love of performing and her dim view of the White House. Judy Collins plays a sold-out concert at St. Cecilia Music Center on Thursday.
Features · Festivals · Upcoming shows · Videos
It’s been a whirlwind year for the engaging and soulful Americana duo with more thrills to come: They’ll make their debut at the Ann Arbor Folk Festival, Bonnaroo and more in 2018. Learn more about that and their work in Nashville in this exclusive Local Spins interview.
Artist Spotlights · Features · Videos
The Grand Rapids rock band Signal Point boasts three paramedics and has featured various emergency responders over the years. Read the back story about this unusual band that’s often on-call after gigs.
Artist Spotlights · Features · Upcoming shows
The L.A.-based star and West Michigan native who plays a sold-out Grand Rapids concert next week talks to Local Spins about the ’70s influences on “Blue Madonna” and the excitement of being back home again. Revisit this hometown hero and watch videos of his latest singles.
WLAV radio icons Tony Gates, Ed Buchanan and Steve Aldrich regaled an audience with anecdotes at the Gerald R. Ford Museum in a program linked to the Rock Hall’s “Louder Than Words: Rock, Power and Politics” exhibit. Check out a recap of the evening at Local Spins.
Local Spins’ first segment of 2018 on the statewide radio show spotlighted Borns, Greta Van Fleet, The Accidentals, Billy Strings, The War & Treaty and Jake Kershaw, plus new releases from Grand Rapids’ Hannah Rose & The GravesTones, hi-ker and Cassidy Bisher. Listen to this week’s podcast and learn more about these rising acts.
In this “Local Spins Rewind” feature, re-experience the adventure-filled life of a band on the road courtesy of Traverse City’s emerging national act The Accidentals, who play Grand Rapids’ Founders Brewing Co. this weekend after a grueling year of touring. Earlier this year, they documented their West Coast tour for Local Spins in words and photos.
Breaking music news · Features · Videos
Check out the brand new video from Holland hip hop/R&B artist Dayz, who also released his first major EP earlier this month. It’s the fifth and final Local Spins “music video of the week” for 2017.
Features · Top 10 Lists · Videos
The critics have had their say. Now, Local Spins asks some West Michigan musicians to list their favorite 2017 releases: The War on Drugs, Rapsody, The Main Squeeze, Jonny Lang, Queens of the Stone Age, Twin Peaks, Father John Misty, Daniel Caesar and more made the grade. Check out all the picks, videos and audio samples.
Audio · Commentary · Features · Kalamazoo
In his Local Spins debut, writer Ryan Nehring pays tribute to Kalamazoo performer, singer, MC and host of the “PUT UP or SHUT UP” open-mic night who passed away unexpectedly last month. Read about this influential West Michigan artist in Ryan’s poignant column.
Artist Spotlights · Features · Guest Column · Kalamazoo
The genre-bending Kalamazoo band recently depicted sleep and dreams artistically — from the serene to the frenetic — in a unique concert that will be available on video. Read the back story about this unusual event at Local Spins.
The Grand Haven folk-pop pianist created mesmerizing, dreamy images in the West Michigan woods for her first official music video. Check out the video and learn more about the project at Local Spins.
Breaking music news · Features · Summer Concerts
Photos released this week show dynamic alterations to the top of the amphitheater where new permanent seats will be installed. Read more about the plans at Local Spins and see what the revamped amphitheater will look like.
The Grand Rapids rock band enlists a gang to help them out of a jam and shootouts ensue. See what happens in Slumlord Radio’s new video as part of Local Spins’ West Michigan Video of the Week series.
The Rockford multi-instrumentalist from Celtic/world music’s An Dro moved an old piano into his garden and created an amazing video montage filmed over a year, enhanced by an original composition. Watch this incredible video, along with another Spalink project where he burned instruments that were no longer playable.
Features · Top 10 Lists · Videos
The ‘Top 10 Rewind’ series wraps up with Local Spins’ top story of 2017: the fun June night when drummer Chad Smith made the rounds on stage at the three Grand Rapids venues, some 24 hours before the Chili Peppers’ sold-out show at Van Andel Arena. Relive the evening in this story and videos from Local Spins.
Features · Top 10 Lists · Videos
The No. 2 Local Spins story of the year broke the news in January that the much-buzzed-about Traverse City band had inked a contract with the eclectic label to release a new album. Check out the band’s video message and find links to follow-up stories.
This week’s featured music video at Local Spins focuses on something new from the founder of the Walk the Beat festival. Check out Dave Palmer’s “Burn,” then see how he’s raising money for a special cause in Haiti through his upcoming performances.
Features · Kalamazoo · Top 10 Lists
Check out the latest entry in the “Local Spins Top 10 Rewind Series,” recapping the biggest stories of 2017. This feature about Kalamazoo’s Heritage Guitar aiming to restore the luster of the Gibson factory to make it a destination for devotees of handcrafted guitars drew lots of attention from musicians and history buffs. And find links to follow-up stories, too.
Features · Top 10 Lists · Videos
The ‘Local Spins Rewind Top 10’ continues with a heartwarming story: This March feature that came in at No. 8 on the countdown announced a concert raising money for the couple’s medical bills — an event boasting a who’s who roster of acts, including Troll for Trout, Larry McCray, The Soul Syndicate, Drew Nelson, Hannah Rose Graves and more. Check out the story, with a photo gallery and video highlights from the successful event itself.
Features · Top 10 Lists · Videos
Local Spins Rewind Top 10: In this January feature that tied for the No. 10 spot on our list of top 2017 stories, Local Spins gave readers a tour of the new downtown venue that unleashed its first concert in February with Trombone Shorty and Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers. Plus, check out a bonus photo gallery recapping the first 10 months of concerts at 20 Monroe Live.
On the day before Thanksgiving, Local Spins kicks off a series recapping the music website’s Top 10 most-read stories of 2017. The countdown starts at No. 10 with a story about a northern Michigan school video project inspired by The Accidentals’ ‘Michigan and Again.’ The young students garnered 20,000-plus views for their video in a matter of days. Check it out at Local Spins.
Breaking music news · Features · Videos
The special exhibit curated by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Newseum opens Tuesday night in Grand Rapids with compelling videos and rock artifacts. Take a video tour and find out more about this display at Local Spins.
Dedicated last week, the ‘completely transformed’ hall is part of an $8.5 million renovation of the Grand Rapids college’s music center, giving students and musicians an acoustically fetching performance space. Get the back story about this project in this Local Spins Q&A.
Experience the crazy life of a band on the road courtesy of Traverse City’s emerging national act The Accidentals, who play Michigan album-release dates this week after a grueling West Coast tour. All of it is documented for Local Spins in this event- and calamity-filled tour diary.
Owner Roy Wallace has continued the legacy of Michigan’s longest-running studio at a new location, with 2017’s diverse projects featuring UV Hippo, Lipstick Jodi, Moxie Strings, Watching for Foxes, Rockit King and more. Learn more about the studio and take a video tour.
Breaking music news · Features
The national music publication praised the Albion husband-and-wife duo for a ‘tense and hypnotic’ performance during the showcase festival and conference. Read more about it and the band’s reaction at Local Spins.
Features · Kalamazoo · Photos · Videos
The well-known Kalamazoo musician heads a fund-raising effort to expand the homey space for area and visiting musicians alike, a way to keep music and the arts alive. Explore the back story, watch a video and browse a Walnut House photo gallery.
Artist Spotlights · Features · Upcoming shows
The ‘Mozart of the guitar’ kicks off a U.S. tour in West Michigan this week, unfurling uncategorizable music and subtle virtuosity along the way. Read the Local Spins interview with Pierre Bensusan and get details about this week’s concerts.
Features · Summer Festivals · Videos
The jazz saxophonist plays Saturday at Heritage Landing during the weekend festival, which will also host sets by Alexander Zonjic, Peabo Bryson, Gerald Albright, Jeff Lorber, Organissimo, John Gist and others. Read the Local Spins interview with James; see the full festival schedule.
Features · Kalamazoo · Summer Festivals · Videos
The nonprofit group will host the Riverfront Music Festival in Allegan this Sunday featuring B&F Union Railroad, Four Got to Shave and more. Explore the back story about this group that nurtures musicians.
Artist Spotlights · Features · Upcoming shows · Videos
With beat-up piano Shondra in tow, Adam Weiner and his Philly band return to Tip Top Deluxe this week, riding a reputation as one the best live bands in the country. Read the Local Spins interview; view videos of this emerging rock outfit.
Features · Top 10 Lists · Videos
With the iconic British rock band The Who returning to Grand Rapids’ Van Andel Arena on Tuesday, Local Spins asked some local rockers to pipe in with some choice Who cuts. Scour — and listen to — their picks.
This special Local Spins “Sunday Feature” spotlights Kalamazoo recording engineer and producer Ian Gorman’s ‘super comfy’ recording studio that’s attracted a bevy of Michigan’s musical stars. And check out the videos and photos.
Features · Upcoming shows · Videos
In what ranks as one of Park Theatre’s biggest shows yet, keyboard icon Booker T. Jones will make a tour stop there on Friday night with Kalamazoo soul/funk band The Mainstays opening. Read about the upcoming concert at watch Booker T videos at Local Spins.
Breaking music news · Features · Videos
Released last Friday as part of school project, the music video already has garnered 20,000-plus views and support from The Accidentals, who will sing the National Anthem at a Detroit Tigers game Tuesday. Watch the young students’ much-acclaimed new video and read the back story about this project at Local Spins.
At 6:30 tonight, the annual benefit for Amnesty International will rock Wealthy Theatre Annex with Lazy Genius, Lipstick Jodi, Blanca Luz, The Extra Texture, KFG Poetry and more. Get the lowdown on the Friday night event at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Features · Videos
With a life that ‘revolves completely around poetry,’ Marcel ‘Fable’ Price has earned widespread praise for brutally honest social commentaries and his mentoring of young wordsmiths. Read the Local Spins interview with this rare, prodigious talent.
Fifty years ago today, ‘Sgt. Pepper’ and The Beatles taught the world to play. In this Local Spins Rewind guest column, Grand Rapids writer and musician Charley Honey revisits the life-changing experience of ‘Sgt. Pepper.’ Check out his take on the album five decades on, re-listen to the album and find links to other stories about the iconic recording.
Features · Kalamazoo · Photos · Videos
‘It’s starting to look like Gibson again.’ Under new ownership, Heritage Guitars aims to restore the luster of Kalamazoo’s Gibson factory to make it a destination for tourists, history buffs and devotees of handcrafted, American-made guitars. Check out the story, photos and video.
Record Store Day 2017 in West Michigan will be chock full of special performances, special releases, special discounts and a special love for indie record shops. Get the lowdown on Saturday’s performances and what’s happening at some of these stores.
Features · Upcoming shows · Videos
This year’s Fashion & Music for Film Showcase will boast fashion lines inspired by music videos and created by Kendall College of Art and Design students. Watch the videos by Grand Rapids’ AB, Los Angeles’ Matt Rose and others.
With 32 bands playing two stages over two nights, this weekend’s festival at West Ottawa High School meshes experienced groups with up-and-coming high school acts. See the full schedule at Local Spins, from Lipstick Jodi to Fried Egg Nebula to Midwest Skies.
Breaking music news · Features · Videos
A New Orleans band won the grand prize in NPR’s annual Tiny Desk Concert Contest. But Grand Rapids folk-rock band The Crane Wives turned judges’ heads with their video, too. Read the band’s reaction to making NPR’s spotlighted list of entries and watch their attention-getting submission.
Features · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Upcoming shows · Videos
Get ready to “Moondance.” Grand Rapids singer Mark VandenBerge will unleash his most ambitious tribute to the legendary Van Morrison on Friday at 20 Monroe Live. Check out a video and get a preview in the Local Spins on WYCE podcast.
Hoping to capitalize on the talent and ‘untapped market’ of West Michigan music, the historic record label’s return could put Sparta back on the map as a creative hub, operators of Fenton Records insist. Read the Local Spins story and browse the photo gallery.
