Michael Franti & Spearhead once again inspired a sold-out Meijer Gardens crowd to dance and sing for the duration of a steamy two-hour set of reggae/rock/rap infusion on Wednesday. Check out the review and photos at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
Jamming more than three hours of jamming into Monday night’s sold-out show at Meijer Gardens, Gov’t Mule and Galactic created the kind of upbeat, festival-styled milieu for which they’re known. Check out the review and photos from the week-opening concert.
The much-praised pairing of two progressive bluegrass and “country classical” acts turned the Meijer Gardens amphitheater on Sunday into a collaborative modern version of the Grand Ole Opry. Read the Local Spins review of The Punch Brothers and I’m With Her and ogle the photo gallery from one of the outdoor series’ most captivating shows of the summer.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
This year’s three-day edition of Cowpie on a Kent County farm wrapped up Saturday with more jam-heavy, genre-bending magic courtesy of moo-ving regional stars. Experience a photo-laden recap of the weekend at Local Spins.
The four-piece band’s return to Meijer Gardens with a guest keyboardist boasted a mix of captivating indie-pop, jazz and soul for another sold-out show. Read the Local Spins review of Friday night’s concert by Tricia Woolfenden and browse the photo gallery by Tony Norkus.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
Expanding this year to three days, Thursday’s opening night of Cowpie Music Festival on Shagbark Farm in southern Kent County oozed musical charm with sets by UV Hippo, Grasshoppah, Covert and White Rabbit. Check out the first-day recap, photo gallery and video.
Detroit hosted the fifth annual MoPop Music Festival at West Riverfront Park over the weekend, drawing thousands for national and regional stars over a sun-splashed weekend. Browse the images at Local Spins.
The rock bands’ co-headlining summer tour made a stop Monday at a sold-out Meijer Gardens amphitheater. Check out the show recap and photo gallery at Local Spins.
The longtime indie-rock idols heated up Meijer Gardens on Thursday with a bouncy mix of old and new material in a show that included an opening set by Grand Rapids’ own MERTLE. The review — via a “texting” conversation between the reviewers — and photo gallery at Local Spins.
Under overcast skies, The Beach Boys brought sunny “Good Vibrations” — and the usual recognizable hits — on Wednesday to the Grand Rapids outdoor amphitheater. The recap and photo gallery at Local Spins.
The British band led by septuagenarians Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey returned to Van Andel Arena on Tuesday and proved their mettle with a night of timeless rock classics. Read the review, browse the photo gallery.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
Two of Michigan’s most intimate and distinctive music festivals starring regional acts took place last weekend, described as “truly amazing,” picturesque and magical. Check out the photo galleries and weekend reviews at Local Spins.
The innovative singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist’s return to Meijer Gardens on a picturesque night was enhanced by an opening set from phenom Esperanza Spalding. Bird also had to overcome “a little commotion” in the crowd, with fans yelling at others to sit down. Get a recap via the Local Spins review and photo gallery.
Separated by 47 miles, two highly revered rootsy acts — one leaning toward folk and soul, the other toward alt-country and Southern rock — ignited capacity crowds at outdoor West Michigan venues on Friday, amid some wet weather. Read the reviews and browse the photo galleries.
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.
