On a night when the rain held off at Meijer Gardens, the iconic rock/pop artist uncorked familiar faves and new classics for an approving audience. Get the Joe Jackson review and photo gallery, exclusively at Local Spins. And browse a set list from Friday night’s concert, too.
Country-pop superstar Shania Twain made a grand entrance at Van Andel Arena, then unleashed a spectacle that was flamboyant as well as fan-interactive. The concert review, photo gallery and set list from Wednesday night’s show at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
The 38th annual Blissfest captivated capacity crowds in northern Michigan over the weekend. Local Spins was there to capture the action in words and photos. Relive highlights from the festival, courtesy of writer Devin Anderson and photographer Anna Sink.
There’s no letting up when it comes to summer music in West Michigan, with celebrations and concerts from Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo to Hudsonville, displayed in images at Local Spins. Check out all of the photo galleries and links to coverage.
At 74 years young, Patti LaBelle fully engaged fans during her first Grand Rapids appearance in three decades, unfurling everything from “Lady Marmalade” to “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” The review and photo gallery, exclusively at Local Spins.
The featured West Michigan concerts leading up to another steamy weekend were hot in many ways, from Chrissie Hynde and The Pretenders at 20 Monroe Live to the opening night of the Kalamazoo Blues Fest to Tunde Olaniran revving up the dance party at GRAM on the Green. See all of the photos at Local Spins.
Reggae/rock/fusion singer Michael Franti and his band Spearhead delivered a scorching 110-minute set for a sold-out Meijer Gardens crowd Sunday amid high temps and even higher spirits. Relive the upbeat show, browse the photo gallery at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Weekend Photo Gallery
Local Spins’ weekend concert photo roundup kicks off with Janelle Monae’s crowd-pleasing tour stop at 20 Monroe Live, with throngs also flocking to Saturday’s Fourth of July bash in Grand Rapids, plus Kalamazoo fun with PHoffman and Joshua Davis at Bell’s Brewery and pianist Nat Zegree’s homecoming show at Bronson Park.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
The L.A.-based pop star originally from Grand Haven unleashed an impressive homecoming set at the Lansing festival, which also boasted appearances by country stars Kip Moore and Hunter Hayes and pop/rock’s The Aces and Judah & The Lion. Check out the review and opening night photo gallery at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
Two weekends of musical marvels in the woods of Rothbury, Michigan, came to a close last weekend. Relive some of the highlights in Local Spins photos and a video, with links to Electric Forest coverage here and elsewhere.
Tuesday night’s sweltering heat couldn’t temper audience enthusiasm for impressive outdoor shows: Tuesday Evening Music Club’s 2018 kickoff at Meijer Gardens and the Rogue River Blues Series in Rockford. Check out the show recaps and photo galleries exclusively at Local Spins.
Kaleo’s indie-rock flourish Sunday at 20 Monroe Live ended a week that boasted Grand Rapids stops by Helmet, Yes, Blondie and Herbie Hancock, plus local showcases in Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo, including Hannah Rose & The GravesTones, The Dacia Bridges Project and The Legal Immigrants. Browse all of the resplendent images at Local Spins.
Pop culture icon Debbie Harry and band shared new songs and relied on the classics in a lively performance that focused on the fun, but also subtly delved into the subversive. Relive the evening — minus the heat — via the Local Spins review and photo gallery.
The version of prog-rock’s Yes featuring Steve Howe, Alan White and Geoff Downes stopped at Interlochen Center for the Arts on Thursday night. Check out the Local Spins review, which serves as a preview to Friday’s show at 20 Monroe Live in Grand Rapids.
On what turned out to be a nearly flawless summer evening, the legendary keyboard player unfurled a genre-bending lesson in jazz that flaunted looping, synthesizer magic, vocoder, a keytar and more. Read the Local Spins review by Ross Boissoneau and a special musician’s take on the show by Dutcher Snedeker.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
Local Spins writer Ricky Olmos plunged into the magical world of the music festival in Rothbury, caught up with the Michigan Rattlers at their Forest debut and got high, literally, in a hot-air balloon. Relive the weekend in words and photos at Local Spins.
Beyond festivals like Electric Forest and the Grand River Water Festival, West Michigan enjoyed a wide variety of musical marvels. Check out the Local Spins photos and videos.
Saturday’s Grand River Water Festival at Grand Rapids’ Riverside Park served up sets from a diverse range of Michigan acts while celebrating and promoting efforts to improve water quality. Get the recap and photo gallery at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
From the wild, fan-involving antics of Andy Frasco to the throbbing beats of Green Velvet and Keys N Krates to the lengthy jams of host String Cheese, it was a memorable opening day and night in Rothbury. Browse the photo gallery, take a video tour of Electric Forest as it morphs from day to night and check out the list of top Local Spins highlights from Day 1.
Giving new life to “Luck Be a Lady,” “I Put a Spell on You” and a few of his own well-known hits, the British-born performer graced the crowd at Meijer Gardens with as much class as those from the Rat Pack era. Read the show recap, browse the photo gallery from Wednesday’s show.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
The eighth annual music festival at Circle Pines Center thrived in spite of some rainy disruptions, celebrating three days of vibrant, diverse music. Relive this special West Michigan festival via words, photo gallery and video.
The sold-out amphitheater crowd basked in high heat and the gorgeous vocals and fiddle-playing of the Grammy-winning artist touring behind her latest album. Read the Local Spins review, browse the photo gallery from Sunday night’s concert as well as images from another weekend bluegrass show at Perrin Brewing starring Steep Canyon Rangers, Mark Lavengood and Seth Bernard.
From drag queens and kings to lively performances by Betty Who, David Hernandez, En Vogue and more, Saturday’s Grand Rapids Pride Festival proved to be a colorful expression of freedom and individuality. Browse the photo gallery at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
A somewhat lower turnout at Founders Fest amid steamy weather didn’t Dead-en the enthusiasm for Saturday’s headliner not to mention five other acts who jammed and powered up sets on a relocated stage for the annual street party. Browse the photo galleryand watch video highlights from Saturday’s big party at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
The opening day of Buttermilk Jamboree 2018 at Circle Pines Center spotlighted the dance-inspiring zip of Radio Free Honduras and the regional charm of Madcat Midnight Blues Journey, Zion Lion, The Change and more. The fun continues Saturday and Sunday; get the Friday recap, photos and the weekend schedule at Local Spins.
Perfect temperatures and a receptive, sold-out crowd at Meijer Gardens set the stage for an evening of emotional but uplifting folk rock. Check out the Local Spins review by Tricia Woolfenden and photo gallery from Kendra Kamp.
Browse images from Wednesday’s sold-out concert starring the iconic Jackson Browne with his band and check out a set list from the Meijer Gardens tour stop.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
Hosted by Greensky Bluegrass, which played all three days with all-star sit-ins from Billy Strings, Mike Gordon and others, the inaugural northern Michigan festival hit all the right notes with festival-goers. Relive the weekend in a Local Spins recap by writer Ryan Boldrey, and photo gallery and video by Anna Sink.
The Portland folk-rock heroes enthusiastically powered through an engaging set of old hits and new at Meijer Gardens on Monday, in spite of frontman’s recent vocal strain. Read the review and ogle the photo gallery at Local Spins.
The second Meijer Gardens show of the 2018 season delivered heartfelt classics from a legendary singer, with help from opener Rachel Curtis. Read the review, browse the photo gallery, check out the set list from Sunday night’s show at Local Spins.
The one-day country music celebration in a new location fired up thousands on a sunny Saturday with sets by Rascal Flatts, Gary Allan, Morgan Evans and more. Browse the photo gallery at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
‘A great place to share peace and love and spread music’: An apropos theme for the opening day of a revamped Festival of the Arts 2018 in downtown Grand Rapids. Check out the Local Spins story, photo gallery and some video highlights from the first day’s performances.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
The summer’s first concert in the renovated Meijer Gardens amphitheater had to tangle with Mother Nature, but Susan Tedeschi, Derek Trucks and crew jammed on with a robust, fan-pleasing performance. Read the Local Spins review of the show (and the amphitheater improvements), browse a photo gallery, scan the set list.
Tied up or out of town for Memorial Day weekend? Here’s a recap of some musical magic you may have missed, courtesy of Local Spins and media outlets elsewhere across Michigan. Check out links to coverage of Movement, Bled Fest and more.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
The Memorial Day weekend music fest in West Olive hosted by Buses by the Beach kicked off Friday with gorgeous weather, eclectic music and VW bus camaraderie. Get the recap and browse the photo gallery at Local Spins, where you can also find the music schedule for Saturday and Sunday.
Saturday’s event in Whirlpool Centennial Park dodged the rain to entertain a big crowd with sets by Yonder Mountain String Band, Albert Cummings, Pokey LaFarge, Appleseed Collective and The Grascals. Read the recap, check out the photos at Local Spins.
Live at River City · Photos · Videos
The Southern rock-fueled Grand Rapids band fired up the latest edition of the studio series. Watch this week’s performance, listen to the interview, browse the photo gallery at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
The beloved band featuring Joshua Davis and Dominic John Davis revved up enthused sold-out crowds in the first two nights at the legendary Green Door with several more shows across the state still to come this week. Read the Local Spins review by Ryan Boldrey, browse the photo gallery by Jon Rosenberger, check out some video highlights.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
The first-year festival outside Stanton has delivered sets by dozens of Michigan bands. Browse the Local Spins photo gallery and check out the video of the festival site.
The debut of Local Spins music critic John Serba has him tackling the ‘really, really high on life’ bravado of ‘the craziest person in the room’: Andrew W.K. whose ‘You’re Not Alone’ tour stopped in Grand Rapids on Thursday. Relive the evening in this rollicking review, browse the photo gallery from the sold-out show.
Concert reviews · Kalamazoo · Photos
Rain forced Wednesday’s concert at Bell’s Brewery inside, where the Seattle-bred rapper unleashed a storm of classics, from “Baby Got Back” to a rendition of Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” The review and photo gallery at Local Spins.
Saturday’s celebration of independent record shops even drew a pair of newlyweds into the happy fray during a West Side parade, with stores from Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo boasting mobs of vinyl-loving shoppers and in-store performances. Browse the photos at Local Spins and watch video highlights from Saturday’s short but exuberant procession outside Dodds Record Shop.
The Michigan-bred icon made sure his Grand Rapids debut at 20 Monroe Live on Saturday was a memorable one, brimming with spontaneity and exuberance. Check out the review and photo gallery at Local Spins.
Michigan native Ben Schneider and his band created trippy soundscapes during Friday’s sold-out show at Grand Rapids’ 20 Monroe Live — a concert marred briefly by an altercation between some fans that was quickly taken care of by security. Get the recap in the Local Spins review and browse the photo gallery.
The Phish frontman and his band delivered an audience-pleasing musical barrage for a near-capacity crowd at 20 Monroe Live on Wednesday night. Read the review, browse the photo gallery, check out the set list — only at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
The 14th festival raising money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation revved up downtown’s newest venue Friday with lively sets by PototoeBabies, The Autumnatic, Valley Girl and Conrad Shock + The Noise. Browse the colorful photo gallery, watch the video and read about all of the late-night antics.
The North Carolina electro-pop duo’s return to Grand Rapids was full of catchy material that inspired the young capacity crowd to heat up the dance floor. Relive the evening of music in the Local Spins review and photo gallery.
Commentary · Local Spins at SXSW · Photos
Local Spins writer Ricky Olmos ventured into the giant South by Southwest fest for the first time this year. Here are his highlights, plus images by photographer Anna Sink of some of her favorite SXSW sets.
Chock full of eye candy and pop hooks, Pink brought her “Beautiful Trauma” to Grand Rapids for a capacity, over-the-top spectacle that was also about empowerment. Local Spins reviewer Tricia Woolfenden went in with few expectations and was blown away. Check out her review, with photos by Anthony Norkus.
The iconic rock band’s return to Grand Rapids on Thursday was mostly about replicating classic songs with incredible precision. Relive the concert in the Local Spins review, photo gallery and set list.
