The Minneapolis superstar’s influence was wide-ranging and his music inspiring. West Michigan artists react to the sad news and list their favorite Prince tracks.
Features · Photos · Top 10 Lists · Upcoming shows · Venue Spotlight
The Pyramid Scheme stages its fifth anniversary shows this weekend. Read how this mid-sized venue has become ‘a special place’ in Grand Rapids and check out owner Jeff VandenBerg and manager Nicole LaRae’s lists of favorite concerts. Plus ogle a photo gallery of images from the first five years.
Audio · Features · Local Spins Exclusives
Grand Rapids soul-rock band Vox Vidorra will release a limited-edition 7-inch EP on Record Store Day. Get a sneak-peek listen to one of the tracks only at Local Spins.
Features · Upcoming shows · Videos
On Saturday, Vertigo Music, Dodds Record Shop, Corner Record Shop, Green Light Music and more across West Michigan will celebrate their independence like never before. Find out why this is such a big day for music lovers and check out the live music schedules.
With Ian Anderson bringing his “Jethro Tull” show to Grand Rapids tonight, check out this 2001 interview with the cerebral frontman and farmer who has a lot to say about his career, touring and the mistakes rock stars make. For longtime fans, it’s a fascinating look into the mind of a prog-rock icon.
Breaking music news · Features · Upcoming shows
Created in Grand Rapids, the radical new music platform that will start beta testing next month will allow users to zoom in to neighborhoods, even areas around venues, to pinpoint their musical vibe. Those spearheading the music discovery system say it will help showcase local artists and grow the music scene.
Announcements · Features · Upcoming shows
In its third year, Walk the Beat is seeking 70 bands to play 35 venues and will host another song contest, with $12,500 in prizes for musicians at stake. Check out the back story about this unusual annual event and find links to sign up.
An “amazing cast” of top-drawer local musicians is poised to display its versatility with a one-night-only performance of the 1970 rock opera, with proceeds going to Grand Rapids’ Well House. Read the story and check out the cast list.
Announcements · Artist Spotlights · Features
Battle Creek-area musician Terry Lower is a much-in-demand sideman and “dazzling soloist” who’s toured the state and the globe. He’ll be honored by the West Michigan Jazz Society on May 10. Read more about Lower in this Local Spins Artist Spotlight feature.
Commentary · Features · Local Spins at SXSW · Photos · Videos
It wasn’t all fun and games at Michigan House-Austin during the South by Southwest music festival this week. A panel of Texas and Michigan musicians also got serious in exploring way to improve their respective scenes. Check out the photos, videos and more.
Concert reviews · Features · Local Spins at SXSW
The Michigan House pop-up venue hosted an opening reception amid brilliant, summer-like weather in Texas, and followed that with an evening rock show at an Austin hot spot. Check out the story, photo gallery and videos.
Features · Local Spins at SXSW · Upcoming shows
The Accidentals, Heaters, Flint Eastwood, Rick Chyme, LOUIS, The Outer Vibe and many more Michigan bands travel to Texas this week in hopes of making waves at the music industry’s biggest conference and festival. Check out who’s headed South and return to Local Spins throughout the week for SXSW updates.
The two-day event at West Ottawa High School boasts 28 bands, including familiar names American WiFi, Brother Adams, Olivia Mainville, Midwest Skies, Red Legs, Lipstick Jodi and a variety of emerging high school acts, all playing for a good cause. Check out the full, downloadable schedule.
Breaking music news · Features · Videos
A haunting music video earns a Duluth fiddler the top prize in the NPR Music contest that drew 6,100 entries, including dozens submitted by West Michigan artists. Read the story and check out the winning video.
Features · Upcoming shows · Venue Spotlight
Gary and Michelle Hanks’ Pin Drop Concerts series has showcased more than 200 artists in the Seven Steps Up listening room since 2011, with plenty more to come. They say it’s been an addictive adventure. Read the story behind this unique Spring Lake venue and learn more about the fifth anniversary show on Friday.
The free weekend Fretboard Festival at Kalamazoo Valley Museum kicks off Friday night with The Crane Wives, followed by a full Saturday of workshops and more than a dozen performances, including sets by Red Sea Pedestrians, Neil Jacobs, Dragon Wagon, Fauxgrass, Joel Mabus and a host of other Michigan acts. Check out the full schedule.
Artist Spotlights · Features · Upcoming shows · Videos
After ‘a great run’ of 15 years, the popular West Michigan acoustic cover band will play its farewell show Saturday night at One Trick Pony in downtown Grand Rapids. Read the back story and watch a video at Local Spins.
Features · Local Spins on WYCE · Upcoming shows · Videos
Industry honchos descended on the Grammy Awards in L.A. this week, but the really big show for West Michigan music takes place Friday at The Intersection in Grand Rapids. And it’s no contest which is better. Check out the full schedule and a list of ‘acts to watch’ at the 2016 Jammies hosted by WYCE.
Breaking music news · Features
With nearly 70 Michigan and national acts — Taking Back Sunday to Fine Fine Titans — on board, the Flint musician who launched the digital project aims to raise money to help affected children with ‘diversity and dynamics.’ Read about the “shock and anger” that rallied bands to the cause and how you can purchase the recording.
Getting folks “watching and talking about new music.” That’s the goal of Michigan artists — from Valentiger to The Bootstrap Boys to the Appleseed Collective — who’ve submitted video entries into this year’s Tiny Desk Concert contest sponsored by NPR. Read the back story and check out the video entries here.
West Michigan faves Borns, The Accidentals and Pop Evil have boosted their exposure with songs used in current television commercials. In the New Millennium, placements in commercials, movies and TV shows are a growing and ever more important part of a musician’s arsenal. Read the story behind this trend and check out the commercials.
The second half of Broadway Grand Rapids’ 2015-16 season kicks off with the ever-rousing Blue Man Group, with more big shows to come. Check out the season preview by Local Spins writer Tricia Woolfenden.
Features · Upcoming shows · Videos
After 35 years, heavy metal mainstays Anthrax are still on the road and play Grand Rapids’ Orbit Room on Sunday night with headliner Lamb of God. The band also has a new album on the way. Check out the interview by Local Spins writer Brian J. Bowe.
Breaking music news · Features · Photos
Michigan native Andrew Tkaczyk, 28, of metalcore band The Ghost Inside, leaves Grand Rapids’ Mary Free Bed today after rehab for leg, spinal, nerve and shoulder injuries sustained in a November crash in Texas. Read the remarkable story of this musician’s perseverance after a traumatic accident and check out the photo gallery.
Concert reviews · Features · Photos · Videos
East met west when Grand Rapids soul-rock band Vox Vidorra made its Detroit debut at the pop-up venue that closes Friday night with a dance party. Local Spins writer Ricky Olmos traveled with the band to the Motor City to document the whole experience. Check out the story, photo gallery and video.
Features · Playlists · Top 10 Lists
When influential and legendary rock star David Bowie died Sunday, musicians across the globe responded with shock and sadness. Three West Michigan musicians offered Local Spins their playlists of Top 10 favorite Bowie tunes. And listen to Local Spins’ Top 10 David Bowie Playlist on Spotify.
Breaking music news · Features · Upcoming shows
Grand Rapids’ Vox Vidorra, Detroit’s Pierre Anthony and more will take the spotlight and boost “creative energy” this week at temporary quarters in downtown Detroit. Read more about this instrastate project in this Local Spins story.
Breaking music news · Concert reviews · Features · Photos
In a close vote, the acts vying to play the Kalamazoo Fretboard Festival topped nine other diverse West Michigan bands and solo artists during a jam-packed Friday event at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum. Read a recap of the evening and view a full photo gallery from the competition.
Saturday’s day-long Winter Wheat fest at The Intersection boasts dancing, 12 bands on two stages — including The Accidentals, Billy Strings & Don Julin and Roosevelt Diggs — and a “family reunion” vibe for musicians. Read the story behind this singular event and check out the full schedule.
Concert reviews · Features · Weekend Photo Gallery
From Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo to the lakeshore, jam-packed venues ushered in 2016 with some of West Michigan’s most popular bands and DJs — The Crane Wives, Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers, Billy Strings and more — captured in colorful images at Local Spins. And The Go Rounds with Seth Bernard revved up Founders the day after New Year’s.
Artist Spotlights · Breaking music news · Features · Videos
Vox Vidorra’s “Promise Land” and Hardin’s “Magnolia” showcase different genres, but both boast brilliant songwriting, performances and production to top a banner year for West Michigan music. Read the story behind these recordings, then check out videos and audio samples from the award-winning albums.
Commentary · Features · Upcoming shows
Local Spins writer Brian J. Bowe recalls his late friend and uber-fan of metal who died suddenly earlier this month. Bowe joins a host of West Michigan bands and musicians in playing a benefit Wednesday at Holland’s Park Theatre.
Celebrating the arrival of another year requires musical revelry, so Local Spins has rounded up some of the best and biggest New Year’s Eve bashes unfolding across West Michigan on Friday.
Another busy year for music gave fans much to celebrate, with Local Spins spotlighting a fast-growing scene that’s producing stellar talent – some of it basking in the national spotlight.
Features · Upcoming shows · Venue Spotlight
Part of a Local Spins series spotlighting unique music venues that feature local and regional acts. Check out this microbrewery and take a video tour of the venue.
With only 10 shopping days left till Christmas, Local Spins has the ideal gift for the music lover or musician on your list: Two different calendars featuring Michigan artists in colorful photos taken at concerts by Local Spins photographers.
Breaking music news · Features · Upcoming shows
Check out the early December music news roundup at Local Spins, with a couple of popular West Michigan bands ready to uncork high-profile holiday shows and an annual reminder to musicians that Festival 2016 is right around the corner.
Features · Top 10 Lists · Videos
Led Zeppelin, The Band, Jimi Hendrix and The Velvet Underground get heartfelt thanks from Michigan bands, but there are plenty of surprises – and a bunch of local artists – on this bountiful banquet table, too, from G’itis Baggs to Lady Ace Boogie. Check out the full list, with videos of the featured bands.
Features · Local Spins on WYCE · Upcoming shows
Refreshed by its time off, Ultraviolet Hippopotamus will unleash a special horn-driven display at The Intersection on Saturday while continuing work on a hush-hush new “theme” album. Read the story about the re-charged jam band.
With a diverse musical roster that includes Seth Bernard & May Erlewine, Steve Hilger and series-starter Ralston Bowles, Bethlehem Lutheran Church south of downtown Grand Rapids offers music and art to support social justice causes and aid the Heartside area. Read the story about this unique series and check out the full lineup.
Audio · Features · Upcoming shows · Videos
The extraordinary, unique event returns to Eastown with 33 diverse performances, plus classes and workshops, all unfolding in three homes. Get the lowdown here and check out Local Spins’ “five acts to catch” at Lamp Light 2015.
For Local Spins readers, 13 is a lucky number. With the harrowing holiday falling on a weekend, we’ve picked a baker’s dozen of Halloween bashes to haunt your Saturday night. Check out the full list, then pull out your craziest costume.
Breaking music news · Features
The Traverse City singer-songwriter says Bush’s campaign has agreed to stop using the song he wrote years ago. But he loses some conservative fans who’ve expressed their displeasure with Davis on Facebook.
Local Spins opens up its screening room to showcase a diverse collection of videos by Michigan artists with plenty to offer for the eyes as well as the ears. The Go Rounds, The Verve Pipe and Kari Lynch lead the way with compelling new videos, boasting some familiar settings and faces. Check out this October video roundup.
With a new album, an appearance on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” and a string of sold-out concerts in New York City and beyond, West Michigan native Garrett Borns may be on the verge of becoming a bona fide pop phenomenon. Read Local Spins’ exclusive back-stage interview and check out the photo gallery from a recent concert in The Big Apple.
In a ceremony Thursday at St. Cecilia Music Center, 10 Michigan songwriters and bands were honored in five categories of the competition, which included dozens of “busking” performances by contestants. And check out the photo gallery of some of ArtPrize 2015’s musical moments.
With Michigan House running a pop-up ArtPrize venue to tout local music, art and products, Local Spins asked organizer Ted Velie for his Top 10 list of songs. Not surprisingly, they’re all Michigan acts, from Flint Eastwood to The White Stripes.
Breaking music news · Features · Videos
A Michigan country jamboree and The Avett Brothers kick things off this weekend, with Porterhouse Presents also offering up Charles Bradley, Ozomatli, Billy Strings, silent discos, food and beer on the site. Get the scoop on this new outdoor venue, and view (and save) the opening weekend schedule.
The legendary ‘Queen of Rockabilly’ still gives it ‘110 percent,’ tours 10 months out of the year. Read the Local Spins interview with a singer who’s idolized by Jack White and who’s found a new generation of fans. She plays Wealthy Theatre on Saturday.
Audio · Breaking music news · Features
With the band’s new single hitting download and streaming services today, the Grand Rapids alt-rockers don’t intend to release a new CD after all, but will ‘put out songs as we write them.’ Read the story and listen to The Verve Pipe’s new song, “If I Could Make You Feel.”
