The Kalamazoo-bred, progressive bluegrass dynamo unleashed the first of two straight northern Michigan shows at Interlochen on Friday, after revving up fans in Detroit on Thursday. Photos, recap at Local Spins.
The Michigan-based singer-songwriter, actor and humorist regaled a sold-out crowd at St. Cecilia Music Center on Wednesday with all manner of laugh-inducing musical ditties, many of them involving the Mitten State. The review, photos at Local Spins.
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The special five-act romp for Tuesday Evening Music Club came the same night that Rotary Rocks benefit in Rockford boasted sets by Roosevelt Diggs and Nicholas James & The Bandwagon. Recaps, photos at Local Spins.
Music won out over weather Monday when the multi-platinum-selling pop singer-songwriter from California returned to Grand Rapids. The review and photos at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
The California rockers returned Sunday to Meijer Gardens, closing out a weekend of electronic mayhem at Breakaway, a goodbye for a GR favorite and Lettuce in Paw Paw. Check out the CAKE review and browse photos from all of the shows at Local Spins.
The opening day of the 2025 music festival in Grand Rapids on Friday sizzled with sets from up-and-coming stars as well as established acts such as Zedd, Gryffin, Disco Lines and more. The recap and photos at Local Spins, along with Saturday’s festival schedule.
The veteran Colorado band that’s long been the “house band” at Michigan’s Electric Forest returned to the region to fire up a capacity crowd at Meijer Gardens on Thursday. A recap and photos at Local Spins.
The classic rock band’s appearance Monday at Meijer Gardens also featured an impressive opening set from Serita’s Black Rose. The review and photo gallery — and the Cheap Trick set list — at Local Spins.
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Saturday’s festival on the city’s East Side featured performances by more than four dozen Michigan bands and solo artists in sunny, super-hot weather.
The Grammy-winning folk/country singer-songwriters captivated the Meijer Gardens crowd on Thursday with sincere ballads, rollicking rockers and affable stage personas. Review, photos.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Concerts
More than 150 communities across the state host summer concerts in parks every night of the week — free shows with a family-friendly milieu. Local Spins takes a closer look at this phenomenon.
Sunday’s appearance by Train and Edwin McCain took place on a stellar evening for an enthused sold-out crowd. The review and photos.
Perfect weather, a rich wall of sound plus a hillside of adoring fans equaled an ideal environment for the beloved Michigan-bred act’s homecoming Friday at Meijer Gardens. Review, photos
The cozy music festival staged last weekend in Morley boasted sets by two dozen bands and solo acts, including New York reggae outfit Aqua Cherry, who closed it out with a gleeful bang. Recap, photo gallery.
The influential alternative trio, Dinosaur Jr., pushed the boundaries of volume possibilities to the delight of an all-ages crowd to lead a three-band charge at Meijer Gardens on Sunday. The review, photos.
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Friday’s opening night of the three-day, indoor festival at The Pyramid Scheme boasted energetic sets by Michigan’s Greet Death, Pennsylvania’s Carly Cosgrove and more. The recap, photos and weekend schedule at Local Spins.
The alt-rock/pop band returned to the outdoor amphitheater to captivate a sold-out crowd with a big assist from the Grand Rapids Symphony on Wednesday. The review and photos at Local Spins.
The Americana tunesmith’s tour stop Monday at Bell’s Beer Garden enchanted fans with his band of “friends and family.” The review and images at Local Spins.
The annual musical celebration on a picturesque island in northern Lake Michigan rolled out last weekend with its unique and remote flair. A recap and photos at Local Spins.
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The mid-July torrent of live music across West Michigan this weekend ranged from blues to bluegrass to metal to Americana to jazz and more, including shows by The Bacon Brothers, The Flying Leaps, The Local Commuters and a first-ever Jazz Bash. Relive the action in words and photos at Local Spins.
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The hard-driving Upheaval Festival returned to Belknap Park on Friday amid sunny skies that drew throngs of hyper-energetic metal fans who cheered bands on three stages. The recap, photos and video.
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Wednesday night saw two crowd-pleasing concerts 12 miles apart: Grand Rapids Symphony’s Picnic Pops at Millennium Park and O.A.R.’s sold-out affair at Meijer Gardens. The Local Spins reviews, photos and a Picnic Pops video.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
Unfolding for the 43rd time on a picturesque site north of Harbor Springs, last weekend’s Blissfest brought it all: international touring acts, Michigan favorites, family entertainment and more. Browse the photos, check out some Blissfest highlights.
The multi-instrumentalist and his Orleans Avenue band brought a jazzy Mardi Gras atmosphere to a packed Meijer Gardens venue for a high-energy Sunday of favorites. The Local Spins review and photos.
Today, Local Spins recaps widely varying summer concerts that took place at disparate venues across West Michigan in early July. Browse the photos in this exclusive round-up.
The multi-platinum-selling West Michigan alt-rock band returned to Meijer Gardens on Monday this time with a symphonic twist. The review and photos at Local Spins.
Unthwarted by a relentless heat wave, the British post-punk headliners captivated a sold-out Meijer Gardens audience for their Sunday tour stop, with a boost from openers The Chameleons. The review and photos.
After a long hiatus, the pop-driven Colorado rock band made a triumphant splash during its tour stop Friday at GLC Live at 20 Monroe. The review and photos at Local Spins.
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The three-day festival outside Trufant kicked off on Friday with a bevy of popular Michigan acts, and continues through the weekend. The recap, photos and video at Local Spins.
The Country Music Hall of Famer captivated a Meijer Gardens audience for a buoyant evening of solo hits plus familiar favorites from her days as one half of the legendary duo, The Judds. The Local Spins review and photo gallery from Wednesday’s show.
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Tuesday’s regional showcase at Meijer Gardens unfurled a slice of funky, groovy, electronic music for attendees, while Jesse Ray & The Carolina Catfish rocked a refurbished park in Rockford.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
Another rousing Electric Forest is in the books, with Michigan’s biggest music festival wrapping up in the wee hours Monday morning. Check out the highlights and our resplendent photo galleries.
The much-acclaimed, multi-Grammy Award-winning Americana singer/songwriter/guitarist delivered a nearly two-hour set at Meijer Gardens exploring his 30-year, genre-bending career on Monday. The Jason Isbell review, photos and set list at Local Spins.
The Grammy Award-winning blues/rock/soul/R&B guitarist headlined an evening of scorching temps and searing solos at Meijer Gardens after an Interlochen tour stop. The Local Spins review and photos.
Concert reviews · Photos · Weekend Photo Gallery
The West Michigan weekend’s live music romps included tour stops by national stars and concerts spotlighting local heroes, including The Spits and The Verve Pipe. The photos at Local Spins.
Playing solo, the guitar phenom headlined the opening night of the Charlotte Bluegrass Festival, the first festival he ever attended as a young lad. The recap, fan quips and photos at Local Spins.
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The state’s largest and most celebrated music festival rolled out Thursday in Rothbury with a host of internationally renowned electronic music stars and a couple of Michigan acts. The recap, photos and video at Local Spins.
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Undeterred by multiple weather-related delays, the New Orleans-based band rewarded a dedicated audience with an effusive, exuberant performance of familiar favorites. The review and photos at Local Spins.
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Sunny, sultry weather greeted fans of vibrant music on Tuesday: The Music That Raised Us at Meijer Gardens, Jake Kershaw in Rockford and Watchhouse in Kalamazoo. Revisit the musical action in images at Local Spins.
The jazz singer and pianist unfurled a beautifully ‘brooding’ set in her Monday tour stop, with Michigan’s Abigail Stauffer opening. The review and photos at Local Spins.
The Sunday night “I Want My ’80s” tour stop at Meijer Gardens also featured fan-friendly faves from Wang Chung, John Waite and Paul Young. The review and photos at Local Spins.
The first night of the three-day music festival at Circle Pines Center south of Grand Rapids embraced regional artists and more. The recap, photos and the rest of the weekend lineup, exclusively at Local Spins.
Thursday was filled with stars: Chris Stapleton fired up a capacity crowd on the first of two nights at Van Andel Arena while Keb’ Mo’ and Taj Mahal returned to Meijer Gardens. The recaps and photos at Local Spins.
It rained throughout Sunday’s concert at Meijer Gardens, but those who stuck around were treated to the trio’s fetching covers and original gems. The review and photos.
Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
The first night of South Haven’s GridLife Festival at Gingerman Raceway kicked off a month boasting more than a dozen music festivals across Michigan. Our recap — with photos — of Friday’s opening salvo and a listing of all those June festivals.
The legendary R&B singer brought a cavalcade of hits to the outdoor amphitheater on Wednesday, with Grand Rapids native Sarena Rae getting the evening started. The Local Spins review and photos.
The sold-out kickoff to the Meijer Gardens summer concert series even impressed the ban, which called it “a surreal place to play music.” The review, photos and set list from Friday’s show.
Michigan’s bluegrass hero returned Friday to Grand Rapids for the first of two-jampacked nights at Van Andel Arena. Check out the review, photos and set list at Local Spins.
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A weekend celebrating the West Michigan bluegrass star kicked off Thursday with a vendors’ market and jamming in Ionia, with much more to come. Check out the recap, photos and video. Plus, listen to this week’s Michigan Music Showcase radio show podcast that kicks off with a Billy classic and features new tracks by Larry McCray, Phabies, Carbon Decoy and more.
The unusual tour that puts Michigander Maynard James Keenan’s A Perfect Circle and Puscifer on the same stage with Primus rocked Van Andel Arena on Wednesday, with a brief guest appearance by Billy Strings. The Local Spins review and photos.
