Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
With a jump in attendance from last year, Founders Fest 2019 drew thousands for a beer-propelled Grand Rapids street party with no shortage of dynamic sets by national and regional acts. Check out the review and recap at Local Spins, along with two photo galleries and three videos.
With a chill, laid-back atmosphere, the 10th edition of the Grand River Water Festival spilled out along the Grand River in Grand Rapids on Saturday. Get the recap and browse the photo gallery at Local Spins.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
Saturday’s day-long affair in Riverside Park will once again blend music with water education. See the full schedule for Grand River Water Festival 2019 and a festival playlist at Local Spins, and find out why this is such a beloved event for many Michiganders.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Concerts · Summer Festivals
Live music in Michigan’s great outdoors got rolling this past week with the first Rogue River Blues Series and LAV Summertime Blues shows, Rockford Start of Summer and Buttermilk Jamboree. Revisit them via photos and a video at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
Dodging some rain, Saturday’s festival on Calder Plaza boasted live music from MAX, Sizzy Rocket, Mya and local musicians, drag displays and food, with an inspirational vibe for the LGBTQ community. Recap and photos at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
Amid Friday’s pleasant weather, Buttermilk Jamboree boasted one of the best opening days for a Michigan music festival in recent memory. Get the recap, photos and video highlights at Local Spins.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
Circle Pines Center south of Grand Rapids will again host this family-friendly festival boasting regional stars with a few national acts. Local Spins asked some performers to pick must-see acts for the weekend. Plus, browse the full festival schedule and listen to a Local Spins playlist of Buttermilk Jamboree performers.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
Last weekend’s second-year festival hosted by Greensky Bluegrass in the Manistee National Forest gave 2,100-plus attendees from all over the country memories to treasure. Relive some of the highlights in this recap by writer Ryan Boldrey with a colorful photo gallery by Anna Sink.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
The three-day celebration of the arts in downtown Grand Rapids couldn’t have ordered better weather or offered more diverse music on Friday. And it continues today and Sunday. Check out the Day 1 recap and photo gallery at Local Spins.
Podcasts · RSVP Music Chat · Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
Listen to the RSVP Music Chat podcast with three key figures in the 2019 edition of Grand Rapids’ Festival of the Arts — David Abbott, Fred Bivins and James Sofranko — which takes over downtown Grand Rapids starting Friday.
Features · Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
For a half-century, Grand Rapids’ Festival of the Arts has packed downtown Grand Rapids in early June. For this weekend’s milestone event, Local Spins asked writers and some performers to spotlight must-see acts. Check out their picks and where those acts are playing.
Audio · Features · Summer Festivals
Working with Joshua Davis, Greensky Bluegrass and others, the Grayling songwriter has become a go-to collaborator whose songs likely will be heard at this weekend’s Camp Greensky Music Festival in Wellston. Get the back story about this artist from Local Spins writer Ryan Boldrey, listen to his music and find details about this weekend’s festival.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
Some of Michigan’s favorite roots music and rock bands on stage, beach and campsite jams, and scads of VW buses made the Memorial Day weekend’s Buses by the Beach-hosted festival one to remember. The images exclusively at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
Setting up again on Memorial Day weekend at Camp Blodgett south of Grand Haven, the festival and VW bus gathering opened with sets by Political Lizard and Nicholas Thomasma & The Bandwagon — and campsite jams. Get the first-day recap and photo gallery, only at Local Spins.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
The Go Rounds, Legal Immigrants, Gasoline Gypsies, Political Lizard, Nicholas James & The Bandwagon, Roosevelt Diggs and more are set to roll at Camp Blodgett south of Grand Haven. See the full schedule at Local Spins and save it on your smartphone to take along for the holiday weekend.
Concert reviews · Festivals · Kalamazoo · Photos · Summer Festivals
When all the votes were tallied after Saturday’s semifinal play-in competition, judges and fans at Arcadia Brewing Co. settled on sending Kalamazoo’s Utopian Party on their collective way down the ‘Pathway to the Pasture.’ The foursome netted a close win over Grand Rapids’ Drew Phoria and Bay City’s Barbarossa Brothers and is one step away from earning a slot at this August’s festival in Caledonia.
Concert reviews · Festivals · Photos · Summer Festivals
Thousands flocked to St. Joe for the 7th Annual BBQ, Blues & Bluegrass Fest as Nora Jane Struthers, Che Apalache, JD McPherson and more delivered an afternoon of music at Whirlpool Centennial Park. Photos and review at Local Spins.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
The lineup for the August music festival on a Jackson County farm features a who’s who roster of regional favorites. Check out the full list of performers and other details about the 2019 event.
Concert announcements · Summer Festivals
The August festival in southern Kent County has added 10 acts to the three-day lineup, with many performing Woodstock-inspired sets. And several Michigan bands are still competing for a slot at Cowpie, with Round 3 taking place Saturday at Arcadia Brewing in Kalamazoo.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
This weekend’s festival in Stanton north of Grand Rapids fires up this weekend with Joshua Davis, Rachael Davis, Act Casual, The Gasoline Gypsies, Bootstrap Boys, Max Lockwood and more. See — and save — the full schedule at Local Spins.
Concert announcements · Summer Concerts · Summer Festivals
Michigan’s outdoor summer fun includes a charming series starring regional acts on the Wildwood Family Farms. But the second year of a Lansing street fair has been canceled. Get the lowdown on both at Local Spins.
Concert announcements · Summer Festivals
Staged in the U.P.’s Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, the 15th annual festival aims to leave visitors with “a little bit of the Porkies in their soul.” See the lineup at Local Spins and learn more about this music festival that was the first to be held in a Michigan State Park.
Concert announcements · Summer Festivals
Festivals across Michigan continue to ramp up the summer with lineup announcements, from Lansing (with Carlile, Zedd, Cole Swindell, YG) to Ann Arbor (with JR JR, Joe Hertler, Tunde Olaniran). Get the lowdown on the Common Ground and Treeverb festivals.
Concert announcements · Summer Festivals
Troyboi, Herobust, Blackbear, Bryce Vine and much more are on the bill for the two-day electronic music and hip hop festival at Grand Rapids’ Belknap Park in August. Browse the lineups for both days at Local Spins.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
Summer festival announcements keep coming, from Southwest Michigan to the far reaches of the Upper Peninsula. Graham Parson’s July Farm Block Fest will feature regional stars Seth Bernard, Heavy Color, Molly, Cabildo, Joshua Davis and more; St. Joe’s mid-May festival will be headlined by JD McPherson, with Nora Jane Struthers and more. Check out the lineups, ticket links and details at Local Spins.
The West Michigan festival will fire up for the third year outside Sidney, with familiar, popular names such as Nathan Kalish, Valentiger, The Bootstrap Boys and Jordan Hamilton on board. See the full 2019 lineup at Local Spins.
Summer Festivals · Top 10 Lists
The votes are in, with Blissfest and Earthwork Harvest Gathering topping the list of Michigan’s most beloved music festivals in this year’s readers’ poll. See what other festivals made the Top 10, along with some honorable mentions and links to all of the events.
Concert announcements · Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
The three-day festival in mid-July will take place at Heritage Landing and also feature sets by Warrant and Jessie G. Tickets go on sale later this month.
Concert announcements · Summer Festivals
The charming island festival also pumps up July with regional faves Jesse Ray & The Carolina Catfish, The Hacky Turtles, Escaping Pavement, The Bootstrap Boys, Loren Cole and many more. And another island festival will take place in September. Get details and ticket links at Local Spins.
Concert announcements · Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
More than a dozen Michigan acts will face off in four cities this spring, vying for a performance slot in August’s Cowpie Music Festival. Get the full lineup and contest schedule at Local Spins.
Audio · Concert announcements · Summer Festivals
The seventh edition of the annual festival on July 27-28 will also boast sets by Kali Uchis, Lizzo, King Princess, The Story So Far, Noname and more. Tickets go on sale Friday. Check out details and listen to a playlist of Mo Pop artists at Local Spins.
Concert announcements · Summer Festivals · Videos
Organizers say the June festival in downtown Grand Rapids will pay homage to the event’s legacy while offering ‘delightful curveballs’ that include The War and Treaty, Lady Ace Boogie and, as always, the FBC All-Stars. Check out details, ticket links and videos at Local Spins.
Breaking music news · Concert announcements · Summer Festivals
After taking a year off, the popular and unusual competition featuring dozens of West Michigan acts playing a host of different venues on a single day is back. And Walk the Beat is hosting a benefit concert on Friday. Get the lowdown on the return of Walk the Beat at Local Spins.
Concert announcements · Summer Festivals
May Erlewine, Samantha Crain, Billy Davis, Earth Radio, Seth Bernard, Jordan Hamilton and other regional stars will play the mid-June festival south of Grand Rapids. Check out the roster of more than three dozen Buttermilk acts and get links to early-bird tickets at Local Spins.
Concert announcements · Summer Festivals
Hosted once again by co-headliner Greensky Bluegrass, the June 6-8 festival in the Manistee National Forest also will boast sets by Circles Around the Sun, The Lil Smokies, Rebirth Brass Band, Ghost Light, Bombino and regional stars such as Joshua Davis, Lindsay Lou, Dominic & Rachael Davis and Seth Bernard.
Concert announcements · Summer Festivals
The August music festival in southern Kent County has assembled perhaps its most impressive lineup to date, with a host of regional stars joining Cracker for the three-day affair. Performers will include Joe Hertler, Desmond Jones, Lady Ace Boogie, Jimmie Stagger, Mungion, Don Julin, Motor City Josh and more. See the roster and get more details at Local Spins.
Concert announcements · Summer Festivals
The lineup for August’s Hoxeyville Music Festival in the northern Michigan woods also boasts returning faves Lindsay Lou, May Erlewine plus earlier-announced acts The Crane Wives, Airborne or Aquatic and The Ragbirds. More details at Local Spins along with links to ticket sales.
Concert announcements · Summer Festivals
The annual Memorial Day weekend festival hosted by Buses by the Beach along Lake Michigan will also boast sets by Nicholas James, Deerfield Run, Political Lizard, Full Cord and more. Check out the lineup, ticket information and more about this early-season festival.
To ward off the mid-January chill, Local Spins wants readers to think about Michigan’s sizzling hot music festival scene. Tell us about your favorite Michigan music festival and you could win a sensational Local Spins gift package.
Breaking music news · Concert announcements · Summer Festivals
After six years in Kalamazoo, organizers announced that the Audiotree Music Festival won’t take place this year, with Audiotree instead holding a series of special shows in Chicago. Get details at Local Spins, along with links to coverage of the 2018 festival.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
Big Dudee Roo, May Erlewine, Chris Dorman, Jordan Hamilton and more were among highlights cited by musicians and attendees for one of the final, treasured festival blasts of the season. Relive the weekend in words and photos at Local Spins.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
The second-year festival an hour northeast of Grand Rapids will heat up the final weekend of September with regional stars and much more. See the full schedule.
Playlists · Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
This weekend’s season-ending celebration on Earthwork Farm outside Lake City will attract thousands, many of them musicians. Singer-songwriter Brian Koenigsknecht offers up his Top 5 reasons to attend. And listen to a Local Spins playlist of songs by festival performers.
Playlists · Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
With the Celtic festival unfurling this weekend in Muskegon, Diana Ladio of Michigan’s The Moxie Strings offers up the Top 5 reasons to attend plus a Top 10 playlist of songs by festival performers.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
National stars may get top billing, but plenty of local favorites — from Nicholas James Thomasma to Steppin’ In It — aim to make Wheatland 2018 a festival to remember this weekend. See the schedule at Local Spins.
With a bevy of Michigan performers, last weekend’s Holler Fest in Jackson County powered up another musical showcase to remember and treasure. The Top 5 recap and photo gallery at Local Spins.
The second-year festival at Grand Rapids’ Belknap Park wrapped up late Saturday night with a rousing set by Khalid, following a day of electronic music and hip hop. Relive it in Local Spins photos.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
The first day of the second-year music festival brought bigger crowds and bigger names to Grand Rapids’ Belknap Park, with another robust lineup unfurling Saturday. Check out the review, photos and video highlights at Local Spins.
Guest Column · Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
In this ‘Looking for the Perfect Beat’ column, DJ/electronic music devotee Todd Ernst lists his Top 5 reasons for attending this weekend’s music fest in Grand Rapids’ Belknap Park — from the performers to the quality of the production. See the full schedule and a playlist, too.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
The Sept. 8 party outside the Comstock Park brewery also boasts local faves Paradise Outlaw, Devin & The Dead Frets and Sailor Kicks. See the full schedule.
