Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Concerts
On what frontman John Rzeznik called “a perfect summer night,” the happy “bunch of bums” from Buffalo rollicked through a lively 90-minute set on Wednesday that was heavy on the hits. Read the review by Ricky Olmos and browse the photo gallery by Anna Sink.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
The Detroit riverfront festival seemed to hit its stride last weekend despite intense heat and some technical glitches. Check out Local Spins picks for the best and most surprising sets from the weekend, plus a fresh photo gallery by Anna Sink and images by Tony Norkus.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
The Detroit riverfront festival’s second day saw diverse, intense sets by M83, Matt and Kim, Father John Misty, Shakey Graves and The Head and the Heart to close things out in triumphant fashion. Read the review and browse the photo galleries from the most successful Mo Pop yet.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
Crowds grew during the day for Saturday sets by Haim, G-Eazy and West Michigan’s own Borns, who helped deliver ‘electric music solid walls of sound’ along the river. Browse the photo galleries from Mo Pop’s Day 1 at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Upcoming shows
Unleashed by a Canadian rock band backed by the symphony and choir, the ‘We Will Rock You’ show entertained more than 3,000 fans at Cannonsburg Ski Area on Thursday, the first of two steamy nights planned for Queen’s music. Check out the photo gallery and review.
The crowd may have been smaller than usual for a Meijer Gardens show, but the cultural experience was unparalleled as Nigerian ensembles led by Femi Kuti and Bombino dazzled fans in the heat. Read the review and browse the photo gallery from this resplendent show.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
Last weekend’s 14th annual festival held on an island at the northern tip of Lake Michigan was unforgettable and filled with fellowship. Local Spins was there to document the event populated by Michigan bands. Read the observations from musicians who attended the festival and browse the photo gallery.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Concerts
Led by Alex Ebert, the slightly realigned folk-rock ensemble stopped Sunday at Meijer Gardens on tour behind a new album that seems to put “Edward Sharpe” in the rear-view mirror. It was a show that writer Troy Reimink found fanciful, joyous and a bit ramshackle. Review, photo gallery.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Concerts
The bluegrass-powered Virginia band wasted little time on Thursday pumping up the sold-out crowd in its return to Grand Rapids. Check out the review and ogle the photo gallery.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Concerts
The engaging singer-guitarist brought his band The Innocent Criminals with him in his return to the Meijer Gardens amphitheater. The sold-out audience embraced them and opener Molly and Scott from Grand Rapids’ Vox Vidorra. Get the scoop in this Local Spins review and photo gallery.
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park for the first time ever hosted an all-star West Michigan lineup of hip hop artists for the Tuesday night music series, part of La Famiglia frontman Mike G’s mission to show off the diversity of hip hop. Read the story, browse the photo gallery, only at Local Spins.
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.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Concerts
The Portland band’s first appearance at the Grand Rapids amphitheater came amid 90-degree weather that didn’t slow the Colin Meloy-led bunch down as they churned out sometimes nostalgic, audience-pleasing songs spanning the group’s career. Peruse the review and photo gallery from Monday’s night red-hot concert.
Lansing’s Common Ground Music Festival enjoyed a hectic week of shows, starting with AWOLNATION and continuing for the next six days and concluding Sunday with headliner Jason DeRulo. Check out the Local Spins images by photographer Tori Thomas.
The inventive pianist and singer un-Fold-ed an evening of career-spanning songs — including some Ben Folds Five tunes — with help from New York’s yMusic ensemble in the sold-out amphitheater. Read the review and browse the photo gallery from Sunday night’s show.
The weekly Meijer Gardens series showcasing regional music kicked off on a beautiful summer night with a resplendent “Tracing the Roots” theme. The series continues on Tuesdays through August. (Photos)
Seth Bernard brought “Eggtones for Peace” to Wealthy Theatre Sunday, wrapping up a vacation week for many. Others reveled in live music in the great outdoors. Browse the images from a week of concerts in the Local Spins photo galleries.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Concerts
Shifting between a Hammond B3 organ and guitar, the Southern rock legend brought his familiar voice and songs to Meijer Gardens to entertain a sold-out crowd on a picture-perfect Wednesday evening. Peruse the review and flip through the images in the Local Spins photo gallery.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Concerts
On a sumptuous, sunny evening, the rock legend performed songs spanning his five-decade career backed for the first time at the outdoor amphitheater by a six-piece band. Read the review and browse a photo gallery from Monday’s sold-out show.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Concerts
The Los Angeles band delivered familiar hits and fresh tracks from its brand new album during a Grand Rapids tour stop on Sunday night, demanding to see fans’ “dance skills.” Read the Local Spins review by Adrianna Walker and browse the photo gallery by Anthony Norkus.
Amid high temps and humidity, Kalamazoo’s favorite sons delivered blazing bluegrass jams in the blazing sun — part of a fitting Electric Forest finale that included The String Cheese Incident, GRiZ and more. Read the recap of Day 4 and browse the photo gallery.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
As this year’s Electric Forest enters its third day in the woods and fields of Rothbury, Local Spins takes a look at the cycle of festival hoopla — from morning yoga and lounging in the sunshine to grooving in Sherwood Forest at midnight. Check out the day-and-night video and photo gallery by Ricky Olmos.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
More than 40,000 festival-goers packed Double JJ Resort in Rothbury for the opening salvo of the hippie-driven, four-day affair. Read the first-day recap, browse the resplendent photo gallery and watch the video.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Concerts
The engaging singer and guitarist’s return to Grand Rapids with his band had him climbing into the crowd and bringing fans on stage for a memorable evening at the outdoor amphitheater. Check out the Local Spins review and photo gallery.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
Chris Young, Chris Janson, Granger Smith and more regaled an exuberant bunch Saturday at the sun-drenched, 24th celebration held at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park. And Day 2 was even hotter on stage and in the audience. Check out the colorful images by photographer Eric Stoike.
Concert reviews · Features · Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
Attendance was down a bit, but the music was as hot as the weather with The Go Rounds and FBC All-Stars representing Michigan during the ninth annual day-long street party that also featured People’s Blues of Richmond, The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band, The Main Squeeze and Dos Santos: Anti-Beat Orquesta. Check out the story, photo gallery and video.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Concerts
Even an unhinged trombone and steamy weather couldn’t stop Derek Trucks, Susan Tedeschi and crew at Meijer Gardens on Friday night, with the 12-member band unleashing an audience-pleasing spectacle. Check out the Local Spins review and photo gallery from a hot night at the amphitheater.
A sold-out Meijer Gardens crowd cheered the upbeat, summery display by the singer who melded joyful originals with some Bob Marley classics. Read the review of Wednesday’s amphitheater concert and browse the photo gallery.
The surprisingly loud and lush nine-piece indie-folk/pop ensemble from Iceland lit up Meijer Gardens on a gray, overcast evening, with much of the capacity crowd on its feet the entire night. Read the review and browse the striking photo gallery from a special night at the outdoor amphitheater.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Concerts
The second concert of the season at the outdoor amphitheater regaled a sold-out crowd with favorites from the ’70s, including “Ventura Highway,” “Sister Golden Hair” and “Don’t Cross the River.” And opener Brennin of “Nashville” fame impressed fans, too. Check out the review.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
The unique festival at Circle Pines Center in Delton hosted headliners The Blasters on Saturday, along with a bevy of top-drawer regional acts. And the best edition of Buttermilk Jamboree yet wrapped up with a real bang on Sunday with The Accidentals, The Crane Wives and more. Read the recap of Saturday’s performances and browse the photo galleries.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
The sixth annual festival in a remote area of Barry County reveled Friday in rousing regional music and a family-friendly atmosphere with much more to come. Read the roundup, scan the photo gallery and watch some video highlights from opening day.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Concerts
The first concert of the summer series was full of slapstick humor and familiar pop hits — plus some new gems — that satiated a sold-out, baby-boomer crowd on a sumptuous June evening. Read the review and ogle the photo gallery.
Some rabid fans camped out overnight in line for the sold-out Van Andel Arena show and Ohio’s Twenty One Pilots rewarded them Saturday with a show for the ages. Read the review and check out the photo gallery from a wild night.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
‘Loving the vibe and loving the music’: That was the theme of Festival of the Arts on Friday as thousands of attendees jammed streets in downtown Grand Rapids for dozens of performances. Check out the recap and photo gallery from a hectic first day of the 47th annual event.
Concert reviews · Photos · Weekend Photo Gallery
Metalcore, folk, indie-rock, bluegrass, psychedelic rock, pop and deliciously indescribable music captivated West Michigan audiences over the past week. Check out all of the images at Local Spins, including some special musical celebrations and tributes.
Along with Trisha Yearwood, the country superstar delivered hit after hit in the first of six straight Grand Rapids shows. West Michigan country singer Kari Lynch offers up her take on the much-anticipated concert by one of her biggest influences. Read the review, check out the photo gallery from this historic show.
The highly acclaimed rock and Americana artist brought his trio and a powerful set of music to historic Royce Auditorium for the final Acoustic Café show of the season. Read the review of Thursday’s show and check out the photo gallery.
Not only did the metalcore pioneers fire up a near-capacity crowd at The Intersection, but a Local Spins photo of a blind fan crowd-surfing in their moshpit has earned widespread attention. Check out an interview with the fan, concert review and photo gallery.
Features · Photos · Top 10 Lists · Upcoming shows · Venue Spotlight
The Pyramid Scheme stages its fifth anniversary shows this weekend. Read how this mid-sized venue has become ‘a special place’ in Grand Rapids and check out owner Jeff VandenBerg and manager Nicole LaRae’s lists of favorite concerts. Plus ogle a photo gallery of images from the first five years.
Falling on a busy and beautiful Saturday in Grand Rapids, the 12th annual festival at Wealthy Theatre showcased West Michigan bands of every ilk and raised thousands for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. (Review, photo gallery)
Folk music of different stripes in different places ruled Grand Rapids Thursday, with The Mountain Goats unfurling musical tales at Calvin College and Kottke regaling a sold-out St. Cecilia Music Center. Read the Local Spins reviews by Tricia Woolfenden and Charley Honey.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
Sunday’s 22nd anniversary Feedback benefit heated up Founders Brewing Co. with performances by The Accidentals, The Soul Syndicate and The Honeytones, and raised thousands for Access of West Michigan. Check out the recap and photo gallery.
The flute-playing prog-rock frontman brought “Jethro Tull: The Rock Opera” to DeVos Performance Hall on Saturday night, with his vocals getting an assist from video accompanists. (Review, photo gallery)
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Photos · Podcasts
The fresh Grand Rapids rock trio revved up Local Spins on WYCE, which also featured an interview with Radi8er creators and new tracks by CrossBow, Lloyd Braun, The Zannies, Jake Down and more. Listen to the podcast, read the story.
Two days before his 69th birthday, the iconic rock star pumped out hits, new songs and deep tracks during a 2-1/2-hour show at a sold-out Van Andel Arena. Check out the review and photo gallery.
Audio · Local Spins at SXSW · Local Spins on WYCE · Photos
Check out photos o Michigan bands in Austin, listen to a new track by Flint Eastwood and check out the Local Spins on WYCE podcast, all recorded at Michigan House during SXSW.
Commentary · Features · Local Spins at SXSW · Photos · Videos
It wasn’t all fun and games at Michigan House-Austin during the South by Southwest music festival this week. A panel of Texas and Michigan musicians also got serious in exploring way to improve their respective scenes. Check out the photos, videos and more.
Audio · Local Spins at SXSW · Photos
From Detroit to Grand Rapids and beyond, Michigan bands unleashed new music in special recording sessions at Michigan House-Austin during SXSW. Local Spins was there to capture the vibe. Listen to the tracks, experience Mitten music.
Audio · Local Spins at SXSW · Photos
With a new EP set for release later this year, Traverse City’s The Accidentals stopped by Michigan House-Austin during South by Southwest this week to record a new song, the day before playing an official SXSW showcase for a rapt crowd. Listen to it here.
