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.
Concert reviews · Local Spins at SXSW · Photos · Videos
Making the 1,300-mile trip from Michigan doesn’t always pay off for a band seeking exposure at the Texas music mega-conference. Michigan House is a place they can make connections … and relax. (Story, photo gallery, videos)
The Midwest pop-punk band brought its signature hits, an uplifting message and indoor snow to Van Andel Arena to pump up fans as it prepares to take a hiatus from the road. Read the review and check out the Local Spins photo gallery.
Photos · Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
West Michigan’s week of live music featured a rousing CD-release party, a rambunctious homecoming, an epic pop-meets-rock show and the fifth anniversary of a unique listening room. Check out all the photos and some video highlights.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
The Red Sea Pedestrians, Megan Dooley, Neil Jacobs, Dragon Wagon, Nicholas James & The Bandwagon, Bob Rowe, Fauxgrass and much more lit up downtown Kalamazoo for the day-long celebration. Read the festival recap and check out the photo gallery and video, which includes a mini-tour of the festival.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
WYCE’s Jammie Awards show was a love-in: a one-night music fest at The Intersection in Grand Rapids with more than two dozen memorable sets, coveted awards, a capacity crowd and camaraderie galore. Local Spins’ extended coverage continues: Watch exclusive video highlights, ogle another colorful photo gallery and check out Local Spins’ picks for the night’s best performances.
Breaking music news · Concert reviews · Photos
Showcasing the diversity of West Michigan’s talent, WYCE’s annual awards show boasted a capacity crowd, more than two dozen dynamic performances and a host of happy prize winners. Check out the complete winners’ list and a photo gallery from Friday night’s revelry.
The iconic British guitarist with a star-filled resume played the first of two sold-out concerts at Spring Lake’s Seven Steps Up and proved he hasn’t lost a step. Check out the recap by Matt Marn.
The avant garde rock spectacle on Tuesday played the first of two nights at DeVos Performance Hall in Grand Rapids with ardent fans ‘moving, laughing and reacting’ to the Blue Man Group’s colorful hijinks. Read the review, check out the photos.
The final stop on Canadian indie-folk artist Dallas Green’s North American tour proved the singer-songwriter’s star power with songs that left much of The Intersection crowd spellbound. Read the review of City and Colour’s Grand Rapids concert and check out the photo gallery.
Breaking music news · Features · Photos
Michigan native Andrew Tkaczyk, 28, of metalcore band The Ghost Inside, leaves Grand Rapids’ Mary Free Bed today after rehab for leg, spinal, nerve and shoulder injuries sustained in a November crash in Texas. Read the remarkable story of this musician’s perseverance after a traumatic accident and check out the photo gallery.
Concert reviews · Features · Photos · Videos
East met west when Grand Rapids soul-rock band Vox Vidorra made its Detroit debut at the pop-up venue that closes Friday night with a dance party. Local Spins writer Ricky Olmos traveled with the band to the Motor City to document the whole experience. Check out the story, photo gallery and video.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
Winter Wheat set a record for attendance on Saturday while lining up all-star bands in fiery performances on two stages for nearly 12 hours on Saturday at The Intersection. Soak up the vibe from this special event in this Local Spins recap, photo gallery and video highlights.
Breaking music news · Concert reviews · Features · Photos
In a close vote, the acts vying to play the Kalamazoo Fretboard Festival topped nine other diverse West Michigan bands and solo artists during a jam-packed Friday event at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum. Read a recap of the evening and view a full photo gallery from the competition.
Artist Spotlights · Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
Billy Strings & Don Julin played one of their few remaining Michigan shows Friday at Spring Lake’s Seven Steps Up, the day after Billy Strings lit up One Trick Pony in a surprise gig with his dad. Check out the photo gallery from both shows.
Country star Darius Rucker wrapped up his U.S. tour this week, but not before regaling Grand Rapids fans, paying tribute to his old band and congratulating fans who got engaged at the show. Check out the Local Spins photo gallery by photographer Eric Stoike.
Commentary · Concert reviews · Photos
The first two days of 2015’s Eastown house concert event have boasted jam-packed crowds and buoyant optimism about Grand Rapids’ musical future. See the photo gallery from the first two days, and check out the Sunday schedule.
With a new album, an appearance on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” and a string of sold-out concerts in New York City and beyond, West Michigan native Garrett Borns may be on the verge of becoming a bona fide pop phenomenon. Read Local Spins’ exclusive back-stage interview and check out the photo gallery from a recent concert in The Big Apple.
In a ceremony Thursday at St. Cecilia Music Center, 10 Michigan songwriters and bands were honored in five categories of the competition, which included dozens of “busking” performances by contestants. And check out the photo gallery of some of ArtPrize 2015’s musical moments.
With temps in the 40s, about 3,500 fans warmed up Saturday with fiery performances at the striking outdoor venue in downtown Grand Rapids. Check out the photo gallery and recap of Day 1 and Day 2 of this inaugural music festival.
Commentary · Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Concerts
Illustrated with photos by Local Spins photographer Anna Sink, the Dobro player who fronts the Mark Lavengood Bluegrass Bonanza offers his impressions of last weekend’s joyful musicians’ fest outside Lake City. Check out the resplendent images and recap of an unforgettable event.
Two much-admired, inventive rock bands brought their respective, polished spectacles to West Michigan on Wednesday night. And Local Spins was there to document the impressive performances for packed houses. Read the reviews and scan the photo galleries from these mid-week concert gems.
For the 42nd year, Wheatland’s special vibe was on display last weekend, propelled by performances from Dervish, Bill Kirchen, Joshua Davis, Blind Boy Paxton and many more. Check out the colorful photo gallery from a special weekend.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Concerts · Videos
Parking lots and seating areas were jam-packed Friday as Michigan’s Wheatland Music Festival launched three days of folk, roots music and more outside Remus. Read the roundup of the festival’s first day, and check out the photo gallery and video.
The legendary, Grammy-winning singer delivered a bevy of classics for a capacity crowd in Meijer Gardens’ 20th anniversary concert at what he called the world’s ‘finest concert hall.’ Fireworks capped the show. Read the review and check out the photo gallery.
