On Saturday, Monk Matthaeus co-hosts the family-friendly One Peace Hip Hop Festival at a Grand Rapids park to mark the genre’s 50th anniversary. Today, he tells his hip-hop story, in his own words and lists the Top 6 things that inspire him about the genre. Plus, get more information about the festival and the event schedule, along with details about Sunday’s breakdance battle.
Artist Spotlights · Guest Column · Upcoming shows
Battling terminal cancer, beloved W. Michigan musician Bill Vits played his final concerts with Grand Rapids Symphony in September. Before he passed away on Oct. 19, he shared his remarkable story in his own words with Local Spins
Today’s guest column by Grand Rapids musician Julio Gomez tackles the thorny issue of live music in a pandemic — a dilemma that’s definitely split Michigan’s community of performers, fans and venues. Gomez strongly urges bands to consider alternatives to in-person shows until it’s truly safe.
Concert reviews · Guest Column
The second installment in the Local Spins series recounting our critics’ most bizarre concert experiences continues with tales of outlandish musical misery, courtesy of the one and only John Serba — from a Motley Crue debacle to jam-band hell.
After a year-long pandemic that nearly eliminated all live music, Local Spins asked its most experienced reviewers to recount their strangest concert escapades. We start with Tricia Boot Woolfenden — and she has plenty of wild and wacky tales to share.
In this week’s guest column giving a voice to Michigan musicians, singer-songwriter Nicholas James Thomasma hails the advantages folk musicians have during a COVID lockdown — and the importance of staying active and educated. He performs online tonight.
Commentary · Guest Column · Videos
The latest in a series of guest columns by West Michigan musicians has award-winning Grand Rapids musician Patty PerShayla ruminating on the benefits of working in isolation during a pandemic — and how it taught her how to write again.
Giving a voice to industry professionals, today’s guest column by veteran Kalamazoo producer Ian Gorman offers tips for expanding a musician’s toolkit during an economic downturn — and for future success as well.
After a brutal, COVID-impaired 2020, music fans need to step up if regional artists are to survive. In this guest column, Grand Rapids musician Justin ‘Stovepipe’ Stover explains why buying music, not just streaming for free, is imperative.
Guest Column · Playlists · Videos
Local Spins columnist and DJ Todd Ernst first met — and was transfixed by — Thievery Corporation more than two decades ago. With the band playing Grand Rapids this weekend, he retraces his journey as a Thievery Corporation fan.
Guest Column · Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
In this ‘Looking for the Perfect Beat’ column, DJ/electronic music devotee Todd Ernst lists his Top 5 reasons for attending this weekend’s music fest in Grand Rapids’ Belknap Park — from the performers to the quality of the production. See the full schedule and a playlist, too.
The 19th annual showcase of regional music unfurls Friday night at The Intersection. WYCE manager Quinn Mathews reflects on the daunting but inspiring ‘biggest night for West Michigan music.’ See and save the full schedule.
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.
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.
Guest Column · Summer Festivals
Breakaway’s EDM and hip hop spectacle is playing Grand Rapids on a site that’s never been used for an event like this. Read a veteran DJ’s take on this festival that drew thousands of young fans on opening day along with some advice for Day 2.
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.
Breaking music news · Guest Column · Top 10 Lists
Michigan’s popular Celtic/world music outfit was the most-played local act on WYCE last month. See what other bands made the list and browse a roundup of some of WYCE’s unique, weekly specialty music programs.
Audio · Guest Column · Videos
In this Local Spins 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, listen to the album and find links to other stories about the iconic recording.
Breaking music news · Guest Column · Top 10 Lists
What were the Top 5 most-played local acts for March on WYCE? Find out here, along with station manager Quinn Mathews’ monthly guest column providing the scoop on the community radio station’s 30th anniversary events and special fund-raising efforts.
Breaking music news · Guest Column · Top 10 Lists
What were the Top 5 most-played local and regional acts for February at WYCE-FM? What new local and regional albums have been added to the on-air rotation? What exactly is a listener-supported community radio station? How can listeners become programmers? Get answers to all these questions and more in this Local Spins guest column by station manager Quinn Mathews.
Guest Column · Kalamazoo · Upcoming shows
Kalamazoo’s 2017 Fretboard Festival unfolds once again this weekend at Kalamazoo Valley Museum. Musician Megan Dooley has been a regular attendee. Read her Local Spins column about this special event and check out the complete schedule of performances by top-drawer regional acts and workshops.
Commentary · Concert reviews · Guest Column · Photos
When The Verve Pipe took the stage at 20 Monroe Live on Friday, singer Channing Lee had already played another gig the same night — at The Intersection for the Jammie Awards. She shared the story of her unusual night with Local Spins. Read her column and browse the photo gallery.
Commentary · Guest Column · Top 10 Lists · Upcoming shows
Community radio station WYCE-FM (88.1) is partnering with Local Spins for a monthly column highlighting West Michigan’s music scene, including a listing of the Top 5 Local Spins of the Month. This week, it’s all about the Jammie Awards. See the full schedule of performances for Friday’s big awards show at The Intersection.
For more than a year, Valentiger’s Scott Rider has hosted open conversations on various topics affecting Grand Rapids’ music community. Local Spins asked him to reflect on what he’s learned in this guest column and describe what’s in store for 2017.
Concert reviews · Guest Column · Photos
Singer-songwriter Nicholas James Thomasma packed up his flawed-but-fabulous ’73 VW bus and made the 2,200-mile trek to California to see a half-dozen rock legends. This is his story in words, photos and videos — only at Local Spins.
The struggles of local musicians haven’t changed much in four decades, with average gig pay even dipping. But the president of Grand Rapids’ Corporate Live says in this Local Spins guest column that there are ways to succeed with digital communication tools.
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.
In this Musicians’ Soundboard column, musician and Local Spins writer Ricky Olmos relates the true tale of two stolen guitars – and bemoans the all-too-common problem of instrument thievery for touring, hard-gigging bands.
Commentary · Guest Column · Upcoming shows
The DAAC is reopening its doors in Grand Rapids, three years after it was forced to move from S. Division Avenue. Musician John Hanson has felt the power of the all-ages arts collective, inspiring this guest column for Local Spins.
In a guest column, the Grand Rapids musician suggests the no-frills, no-texting, no-talking vibe of a listening room can be a moving experience for fans and performers alike. Another Local Spins essay giving a voice to West Michigan musicians on topics dear to their hearts.
For professional musicians, the obstacles to surviving and thriving can include public misperceptions, lack of connections and the proliferation of weekend warriors willing to play for fun and beer. Singer Diego Morales of The Soul Syndicate offers up his take in this candid Local Spins guest column.
Guest Column · Playlists · Upcoming shows · Videos
Guest columnist Mark Lavengood, better known as the resonator guitar whiz in Lindsay Lou & The Flatbellys, waxes eloquent about this weekend’s musician-rich Earthwork Harvest Gathering and why it’s a world-class affair. And listen to a Local Spins playlist of songs by Michigan artists playing this year’s festival.
Concert reviews · Guest Column · Photos
Local Spins takes an inside look at an under-the-radar, mid-week concert that had “bodies flying every which way” thanks to a frenzied Buffalo band hitting its stride. Read the review and check out the wild photo gallery.
The West Michigan singer-songwriter pulls no punches in panning the “exclusive fraternity” of today’s hit-makers while embracing Friday’s local Jammie Awards show. Read his Local Spins guest column, then leave your own comments about the Jammies and you could win a local CD and tickets to an upcoming concert.
Musician and Local Spins columnist Brian J. Bowe immerses himself in the recent Lamp Light Music Festival in Eastown homes and becomes part of a new community of music. Here’s his commentary.
Commentary · Concert reviews · Guest Column
Local Spins contributor Brian J. Bowe was startled to read how some critics and bloggers misinterpreted a triumphant Detroit homecoming show by Jack White earlier this week. Here’s his Musicians’ Soundboard take.
The much-ballyhooed Ray LaMontagne tantrum at Meijer Gardens has sparked a mega-debate over the do’s and don’ts of concertgoers and performers. Local Spins columnist Tricia Woolfenden offers her take. What’s yours?
The rigors, and smells, of life on the road as a rock band can make touring, uh, less than glamorous. But Grand Rapids guitarist/writer Troy Reimink’s tale of the travails[…]
One of Grand Rapids’ most beloved singer-songwriters shares the frustrations, snares and joys of making music and touring in a guest column for Local Spins. EDITOR’S NOTE: This Spins on[…]
Grand Rapids hip-hop artist Rick Chyme knows the importance of patience: He spent three years crafting his new studio album and he cautions fellow musicians that laziness isn’t an option.[…]
After hundreds of successful rock ‘n’ roll gigs, the Grand Rapids trumpet and keyboard player offers some words of advice to local bands: Work hard, and respect your fans and[…]
The support of fellow musicians helps drive Grand Rapids’ music scene. But in this Local Spins guest column, The Wallace Collective’s Muske wonders why audiences for compelling, original live music[…]
Commentary · Guest Column · Upcoming shows
Recalling his own youthful experience, guitarist-singer Steve Hilger started a jazz jam night for young players, giving them a chance to sit in with pros. It rolls on again Thursday[…]
Artist, musician and visionary Rick Beerhorst has witnessed a multitude of changes in Grand Rapids’ music community over 30 years. And in this Spins on Music guest column, he makes[…]
Features · Guest Column · Upcoming shows
In a guest column, the well-known Grand Rapids singer-songwriter marvels at the generosity of West Michigan’s music community. And she’s sharing her own talents for a remarkable global project. EDITOR’S[…]
Commentary · Features · Guest Column
Spins on Music guest columnist Josh Rose has made peace with the Internet as a means of spreading his musical message and getting closer to fans. As he puts it,[…]
Commentary · Features · Guest Column
Singer-songwriter Ken Bierschbach has embraced the value of connecting — in small and big ways — with musicians, producers, fans, venues and more in navigating a career in music. It’s[…]
Breaking music news · Guest Column · Videos
More than two dozen musicians from across the globe submitted impressive entries to The Verve Pipe frontman’s unusual contest. View some of them here. The Winning Video: Kari Newhouse plays[…]
Commentary · Features · Guest Column
“Smoke on the Water” be damned. Playing cover songs is a tricky business, asserts this veteran guitarist, so bands should choose wisely and give their rendering of these tunes a[…]
