With an engaging jam-band vibe, the 62-year-old piano whiz and his Noisemakers band made the sweltering Grand Rapids stop on their national tour a memorable one. Check out the review and photos at Local Spins.
The sold-out crowd of fans at Meijer Gardens on Wednesday embraced the heat and their humor-laden Canadian heroes, who even spent time at The Pyramid Scheme after the show. Check out the concert recap and photo gallery at Local Spins.
Costello’s first appearance at Meijer Gardens since 2011 focused heavily on tracks from his 1982 classic “Imperial Bedroom,” but also trotted out some earlier hits and unearthed some rare gems. Browse the photos, read the review.
The band’s return to Meijer Gardens also marked a return to the 1980s for a capacity crowd that believes in the “Power of Love” and the “Heart of Rock & Roll.” Read the review, check out the photo gallery from Sunday night’s show.
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.
The singer and multi-instrumentalist rolled out familiar hits and brand new material for a sold-out amphitheater on a sticky summer night. Read the review and browse the photos from Sheryl Crow’s third appearance at Meijer Gardens.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
Relive the weekend: Northern Michigan performer and musician Brotha James, aka Jeremy Reisig, provides his take on one of the state’s most beloved music festivals, with photos by Local Spins photographer Anna Sink.
The band’s tour kickoff at 20 Monroe Live in Grand Rapids on Friday trotted everything from “Blister in the Sun” to new gems like “Memory.” (Review, photos)
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
The 2017 season of weekly regional music at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park had more than 1,500 people smiling and dancing to sets by Green on Blue and The Red Sea Pedestrians. View the video highlights.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
After a sold-out Weekend 1 with 40,000 attendees, crowds at Weekend 2 of Electric Forest in Rothbury proved to be considerably thinner but every bit as enthusiastic with a host of memorable musical highlights. Read the Local Spins recap, check out the photo gallery.
Trombone Shorty and his crew brought their summery version of Mardi Gras to Grand Rapids on Thursday and raindrops couldn’t slow them — or concertgoers — down. Read the review, browse the photo gallery from the sold-out show.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows · Videos
The second weekend of Electric Forest kicks off today, which makes this the perfect time to look back at a wondrous Weekend 1 from Rothbury in photos, stories and reports from Local Spins and publications across the country. Check out the photo galleries and see how other media outlets view this Michigan festival.
Led by singer Anthony Kiedis, who grew up in the Grand Rapids area, the Chili Peppers uncorked a night to remember Sunday at Van Andel Arena. Read the review and browse the photo gallery from the band’s West Michigan tour stop.
Commentary · Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
Local Spins writer Troy Reimink returned to Rothbury for the first time in eight years. And what he saw at Electric Forest both impressed and amused him, a testament to the festival’s “magical legacy” — and “circus of overstimulation.” Check out this columnist’s jocular and insightful take on this Michigan festival and browse more colorful photos from ‘The Forest.’
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
With 40,000 wildly adorned attendees flooding Double JJ Resort on Thursday, the West Michigan music festival dodged rain for a celebratory explosion of national and regional stars. Read the recap, browse the photo galleries and watch a highlights video from Day 1 at Electric Forest 2017.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
Two major music festivals unfurled south of Grand Rapids on the same weekend with distinctly different vibes: Country music’s B93 Birthday Bash in Martin and the eclectic Buttermilk Jamboree in Delton. Browse photo galleries from both events that took place just 14 miles apart.
Sunday’s sold-out show brought serious fun, top-notch musicianship and rock revelry to the amphitheather, led by Grammy-winning guitarist Brian Setzer and his band, with Grand Rapids’ own wild duo opening. Read the review and check out the photos from this weekend-closing affair.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
The sold-out street party drew thousands to downtown Grand Rapids Saturday with regional and national stars playing a super-sized stage. Get the recap, browse the photo gallery and watch video highlights of Founders Fest at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
Hannah Rose & The GravesTones, The Accidentals, Jill Jack, The Change, Peter “Madcat” Ruth, Less Is More, Robin Connell & Kathy Lamar, The Mickeys and more ignited buoyant crowds on Day 1 of the Michigan music festival south of Grand Rapids. Get the recap, photo gallery and video highlights at Local Spins.
Icons Joan Baez, Mary Chapin Carpenter and The Indigo Girls combined forces — and voices — for a sold-out show on a sultry Monday night at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. The review and photo gallery only at Local Spins.
The Alabama indie-soul ensemble uncorked a “Sea of Noise” — and energetic, horn-fueled funk — for an approving audience on a stellar Friday evening. Read the review and browse the photo gallery.
The jazz pianist’s return to Grand Rapids’ outdoor amphitheater proved to be a display of elegance, grooving rhythms and fan favorites. Read the Local Spins review, browse the photo gallery from Wednesday night’s show.
The popular summer series kicked off Sunday with plenty of elbow room for fans as “Replay America” unfurled retro hits on its Grand Rapids tour stop. Read the review of the 2017 season’s opening night and browse the photo gallery.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
Picture-perfect weather greeted The Crane Wives, ConvoTronics, Cabildo, JRob and more as thousands filled the streets Saturday outside Bistro Bella Vita in Grand Rapids. Browse the photo gallery, watch the video highlights.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
The weather couldn’t have been better on opening day of Grand Rapids’ Festival of the Arts and musicians responded with diverse, audience-pleasing sets. Check out the Local Spins photo gallery and video.
In the first of three straight sold-out shows at Bell’s Brewery, the Michigan-bred progressive bluegrass heroes on Thursday proved their roots are still strong in Kalamazoo. Check out the review and photo gallery from this traditional summer kickoff which has starred Greensky Bluegrass for more than a decade.
Audio · Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
The festival’s opening night at Camp Blodgett along the lakeshore between Grand Haven and Holland boasted sets by The Waverlys and Nicholas James & The Bandwagon, plus the usual VW bus-inspired camaraderie. Check out the photo gallery and audio clips from this kickoff to Memorial Day weekend.
Selling out 20 Monroe Live on its current U.S. tour, Primus trotted out its trippy lyrics, psychedelic guitars and even some jam-band vibes for an approving crowd. Read Troy Reimink’s review and browse the photo gallery by Anthony Norkus.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
The teenage Michigan guitarist turned heads and dropped jaws again at an intimate, jam-packed Friday affair that launched a week of celebrating the online magazine’s fifth birthday. Check out the video and photo gallery.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
From a showcase of exuberant regional punk music at Tip Top Deluxe to an epic display of legendary punk groups at Founders Brewing, Saturday night in Grand Rapids proved the diverse power of punk. Experience a special evening of rock in these Local Spins videos and photo galleries.
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.
Breaking music news · Photos · Videos
No arrests were made, but one Record Store Day celebration was cut off by the authorities in mid-stream. Most of the day across West Michigan, however, shaped up as a vinyl lover’s dream. Check out the video and a Local Spins photo gallery.
Flaming Lips frontman Wayne Coyne led the usual assault of balloons, confetti, streamers, a unicorn, psychedelic lights and, of course, a super-sized bubble to engage and energize an audience that was more than ready to revel. Read the Local Spins review and check out the frenetic, colorful action in photos.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
Playing a sold-out Wealthy Theatre on Friday night, the Minneapolis band showcased its impeccable songcraft and infectious, harmony-laden approach. Read the review and browse the photo gallery at Local Spins.
At 75, the Detroit legend proved Thursday she’s still “The Queen of Soul” in a DeVos Performance Hall show that featured some of her biggest hits, including “Respect,” “Chain of Fools” and “Baby I Love You.” Read the Local Spins review, browse the photo gallery.
Concert reviews · Music on Campus · Photos
Concerts, workshops and speeches at the weekend event in Grand Rapids focused on “valuing unconventional expression and promoting community dialogue.” Check out the concert recap and photo gallery at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
The colorful mid-Michigan ensemble celebrated its new album and kicked off a U.S. tour Saturday with a big boost from Grand Rapids’ The Legal Immigrants and Kalamazoo’s Less is More. Read the Local Spins review, ogle the photos, watch the videos.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
Sunday’s seven-hour showcase of West Michigan talent drew hundreds of people to The Intersection to show support for Ralston and Cindy Bowles and help pay their medical bills. Check out the Local Spins story, video highlights and a photo gallery.
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.
Leaning on its latest album, “Schmilco,” as well as the milestone “Yankee Hotel Foxtrot,” Jeff Tweedy and band’s return to State Theatre proved to be a special night. Check out the Local Spins review and photo gallery.
Concert reviews · Local Spins at SXSW · Photos · Videos
The Go Rounds, Flint Eastwood and other Michigan acts put an exclamation point on Michigan’s House South by Southwest 2017, with Local Spins hosting a musicians’ roundtable, too. Check out the photo gallery and videos.
Features · Local Spins at SXSW · Photos · Upcoming shows · Videos
Tuesday’s Michigan House lineup at Austin boasts loads of potential. Read about the performances and a special Local Spins roundtable that will stream live. Meanwhile, Traverse City’s The Accidentals continue to live up to the hype at SXSW. Read about their first show for 2017 in Austin and check out the premiere of a new Rick Chyme & Nixon video featuring The Accidentals.
Photos · Weekend Photo Gallery
Musical diversity: West Michigan flaunted it with a prog-pop legend, a Memphis rapper, an L.A. folk-soul duo, a Michigan jazz organ trio, a Kalamazoo hard-rock fave and more, all captured in Local Spins images. Check out the recap.
Features · Local Spins at SXSW · Photos · Videos
With SXSW panels probing Michigan initiatives on creativity, innovation, equity and more, Michigan House turned the gym at an Austin church into a Mitten State mecca with Michigan beer, a visit from Grand Rapids Mayor Rosalynn Bliss and music from Seth Bernard. Check out the videos, story and photos, only at Local Spins.
Touring behind its latest album, “The Tourist,” the Alec Ounsworth-led Clap Your Hands Say Yeah made folks wonder why they’ve “slept on this band for the past four albums.” At least, that’s the take of Local Spins reviewer Troy Reimink. Check out the review and photo gallery from Thursday night’s concert at The Pyramid Scheme.
Concert reviews · Festivals · Kalamazoo · Photos · Videos
They came, they saw, they strummed guitars and they watched regional acts on four stages at Kalamazoo Valley Museum this weekend. Check out the Local Spins roundup, photo gallery and videos from the 2017 Kalamazoo festival, which attracted thousands of visitors and boasted sets by more than a dozen acts.
Legendary British guitarist Steve Hackett played 20 Monroe Live on Tuesday night, impressing longtime fans. Here are the reactions and reviews from two of them, only at Local Spins, along with a photo gallery of the Grand Rapids concert.
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.
Concert reviews · Features · Photos · Videos
The 2017 edition of WYCE’s Jammie Awards drew more than 1,500 people to The Intersection in Grand Rapids for dynamic performances by Michigan bands, with plenty of musicians “lovin’ the hell out of each other.” Brows the resplendent photo gallery, watch the video and read the reaction of musicians to the West Michigan music scene’s biggest night of the year.
Breaking music news · Concert reviews · Photos
Friday night’s crowded awards show at The Intersection honored Michigan’s best albums and songs of the year, with 25 performances on two stages. See the complete winners’ list, photos and more from West Michigan music’s “biggest night of the year” at Local Spins.
