The CMA Entertainer of the Year ignited a sold-out Van Andel Arena from his fiery opening salvo to the final note of his encore, with help from fellow country singers Randy Houser and Dustin Lynch. (Review, photo gallery)
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Saturday’s annual concert at Fremont’s Dogwood Center offers a rare opportunity to celebrate the artistry of local musicians who build stunning acoustic instruments.
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Edition No. 22 of Local Spins on WYCE featured an in-studio performance by folk-rock’s Watching for Foxes, with song debuts by SoundIsRed, Willamena, Downie, The Soul Syndicate and more. And an update on the condition of musician Olivia Mainville, who was injured in a car crash later the same day.
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Local Spins’ final look back at the year that was, reliving the excitement, controversy, emotions and pageantry that West Michigan’s music scene sparked in 2014
Spring Lake listening room’s first ‘Standing Room Only’ show revs up crowd with fiery bluegrass while The Pyramid Scheme hosts JOE’s CD-release party to draw attention to the DAAC. (Photos, review)
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Despite chilly temps, thousands crowded Calder Plaza for HOT FM’s annual party, with hundreds more celebrating at SpeakEZ Lounge, Founders, Tip Top Deluxe and Wealthy Theatre. (Photos, review)
With fellow ’90s stars Domestic Problems sharing the bill, Saturday night’s annual holiday show delivered nostalgia and just plain fun for a near-capacity audience. (Review, photo gallery)
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For the year-ending edition of Local Spins on WYCE, Brian Vander Ark of The Verve Pipe chats about the band’s holiday show with Domestic Problems and performs a couple of songs in-studio. Host John Sinkevics also uncorks tracks from bands who delivered some of the year’s most compelling live shows.
The second concert in the Acoustic Café Folk Series had the singer-songwriter regaling an audience of 400 with tales and laid-back, old-timey-hued musical travails.
The Michigan icon’s return Tuesday to Van Andel Arena with the Silver Bullet Band boasted the usual greatest hits plus a few new tunes from “Ride Out,” delivered with a feisty sort of energy.
West Michigan musicians, Fenian’s Irish Pub (as it winds down toward the end of an era) and yes, the Detroit Lions, rank high on this Thanksgiving Day roster for 2014.[…]
Sunday’s feel-good anniversary show raised thousands for food and anti-poverty programs with lively, goofy rock sets by The FuzzRites, Domestic Problems and The Honeytones. (Photo gallery, video)
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From Wealthy Theatre to the Tip Top to SpeakEZ Lounge, Grand Rapids’ Wednesday night was firing on all cylinders: The Local Spins roundup and photo gallery.
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Taped for national broadcast, the evening of music lined up by Ralston Bowles boasted up-and-coming Michigan artists as well as national touring acts. (Review, photo gallery, video)
Performing as a duo at Wealthy Theatre, the Grammy-nominated singer reinterpreted soul and blues classics — and her own songs — in impressive fashion.
With a new album dropping Tuesday, the L.A.-by-way-of-Chicago rock band made a tour stop at Calvin College on Saturday and turned the Fine Arts Center into a confetti-drenched party pit. Sort of.
Not just an ordinary side project, Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy and his drummer son, Spencer, gave Grand Rapids fans a powerful and intimate dose of their new album, “Sukierae,” plus some Wilco faves. (Review, photo gallery)
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Local Spins columnist Brian J. Bowe immersed himself in the Faygo-flinging frenzy of rock-rap’s ICP and its fanatic Juggalos, and found an authentic expression of working-class catharsis. (Commentary, photo gallery)
Dozens of bands and musicians entering songs in Grand Rapids’ ArtPrize competition took their music to the streets this week in hopes of snagging votes for their tunes. Others were, well, just busking for dollars. (Photos)
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Laughing off occasional showers, festival-goers reveled in weekend sets by 100-plus bands on four stages on the site northeast of Lake City. (Story, photo gallery, video)
The Brooklyn indie-rockers delivered their raucous, bar-band magic in a career-spanning Pyramid Scheme show on Wednesday; Malian guitarist and singer Toure fired up a small crowd at Wealthy Theatre on Monday.
Playing to a packed house at The Pyramid Scheme in Grand Rapids Monday night, X (the band) plowed through a 24-song set drawn almost entirely from the group’s first three nearly flawless LPs — 1980’s “Los Angeles,” 1981’s “Wild Gift” and 1982’s “Under the Big Black Sun.”
Touring behind their latest album, “Turn Blue,” Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney deliver a brilliantly constructed chronicle of their career during their Grand Rapids tour stop.
Crow’s return to the outdoor amphitheater for the second year in a row impresses a sold-out crowd and proves she’s now a darling of the popular, record-setting series.
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From The Accidentals to The Steel Wheels, the folk and roots music festival has turned the rural Remus site this weekend into a ‘village’ of 10,000 very happy Wheatland devotees.
After a spirited opening set by Lowdown Brass Band, Lake Street Dive delivered one of the true musical highlights of the summer. (Review, photo gallery)
Unlike the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday night, these bands plus the Plain White T’s know how to clear the bases and leave fans happy. (Review, photo gallery)
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Separated by nine miles, Tuesday’s two outdoor concerts in the Grand Rapids area boasted different vibes but the same enthusiastic crowd support. And T-Pain’s hip hop lit up The Intersection. (Photo gallery)
The iconic, symphonic prog-rock band made sure its Meijer Gardens debut was everything its devoted, longtime fans wanted it to be: a cavalcade of familiar favorites.
From the swing of Grand Rapids Jazz Orchestra with Edye Evans Hyde to the “incredible” pop-hued trumpet playing of Rick Braun, the third GRandJazzFest lit up Rosa Parks Circle with an eclectic mix of jazz on Saturday.
After an impressive first day, the Woodstock-like Hoxeyville in the Manistee National Forest continued with aplomb Saturday and Sunday as it trotted out a top-notch regional lineup. (Story, video, photos)
The acoustic guitar duo’s debut at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park was nothing short of masterful, electrifying new and old fans with rhythmic, Latin-hued and rock fervor.
Much to the delight of West Michigan fans, the pop singer’s long-awaited concert spectacle finally landed at a sold-out Van Andel Arena on Sunday night. Check out the Local Spins photo gallery.
After a one-year hiatus, a cozier Cowpie uncorked 15 regional bands on a single stage on the cattle farm in southern Kent County, and fans loved every minute. And it’ll be back in 2015. (Photo gallery)
For the ninth summer in a row, the engaging Texas singer-songwriter sold out his appearance at the outdoor Grand Rapids amphitheater.
Friday’s sold-out show at Meijer Gardens unfolded as a triumphant, eye-popping return for the rock trio which first played the amphitheater in 2013. (Review, photo gallery)
Whilst short of a sellout, Thursday night’s Meijer Gardens concert boasted an enthusiastic young crowd, passionate performances and double-duty for Dawes as opening act and backing band.
While jazz fusion’s Pat Metheny Unity Group entertained a sold-out Meijer Gardens crowd (with many leaving early), rockabilly legend Bill Kirchen had folks dancing and grinning at an Ada restaurant. (Review, photo gallery)
The fun-loving Canadian goofballs inspired sing-alongs, bra-tossing and an upbeat attitude in Sunday’s sold-out show, their first appearance at the outdoor amphitheater. (Review, photos)
A couple of days after Ray LaMontagne’s tantrum and stage walk-off at Meijer Gardens, singer Michael Buble proved that nice guys finish first, playing to an adoring crowd at Van Andel Arena. (Photo gallery)
HOT-FM’s Party in the Park on Wednesday drew thousands of teens and 20-somethings (and a passel of parents) to Fifth Third Ballpark for Hot Chelle Rae, Kongos, My Crazy Girlfriend, Outasight and GR’s own The Outer Vibe.
Weirdest night ever at Meijer Gardens? Acclaimed singer-songwriter playing sold-out amphitheater takes exception to loud fan chatter and departs amid f-bomb laden tirade, then returns to finish concert. Oh, and Jenny Lewis performed, too.
With fellow alt-rock/pop outfit Toad the Wet Sprocket opening the show, the California band played a host of its hits, some of them with an endearing twist.
Beck, with Sean Lennon’s Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger in tow, made a West Michigan tour stop on Saturday, giving Grand Rapids a long-awaited dose of his boundary-pushing alt- and indie-rock.
Monday night’s tour stop by the spirited, entertaining pair was at times an immersive experience for the audience. (Review, photo gallery)
Some may have preferred a full-band show, but Browne charmed a sold-out crowd of concertgoers with his strong voice and down-to-earth demeanor. (Review, photo gallery)
Affable and engaging, the reunited progressive bluegrass trio rekindled its familiar musical fire with old favorites and new gems for a sold-out amphitheater on a picturesque night.
Psychedelic at times and instrumentally bracing, Sunday’s double bill unleashed “extraordinary things” for 1,500-plus fans. (Review, photo gallery)
Grand Rapids hosted a pair of wildly divergent, photogenic shows from opposite ends of the spectrum: Ziggy Marley’s love-hued reggae at Meijer Gardens vs. Alice Cooper’s Michigan-bred shock rock and Motley Crue’s flawed farewell tour kickoff at Van Andel Arena.
The Tuesday night series spotlighting local and regional acts kicked off with a packed Meijer Gardens amphitheater for “Family Appreciation Night.”
