Summer Concerts · Summer Festivals
July is heating up with live music across the state at indoor and outdoor venues, and at a bevy of festivals, big and small. Here are our picks for can’t-miss events.
Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
The three-day festival outside Trufant kicked off on Friday with a bevy of popular Michigan acts, and continues through the weekend. The recap, photos and video at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
Another rousing Electric Forest is in the books, with Michigan’s biggest music festival wrapping up in the wee hours Monday morning. Check out the highlights and our resplendent photo galleries.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
The last weekend in June marks the return of Smiling Acres Music Festival in Trufant with sets by May Erlewine, Jason Singer of Michigander, The Go Rounds and many more. The preview, schedule and ticket links at Local Spins.
Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
The state’s largest and most celebrated music festival rolled out Thursday in Rothbury with a host of internationally renowned electronic music stars and a couple of Michigan acts. The recap, photos and video at Local Spins.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
The intimate, long-running festival at Eaton County Fairgrounds boasts a ‘surprise’ Thursday headlining set by Billy Strings, but also features a host of national bluegrass acts.
Looking for the Perfect Beat · Summer Festivals · Videos
‘Looking for the Perfect Beat’ columnist Todd Ernst not only gives readers a heads-up on can’t-miss sets at this weekend’s extravaganza — including those with a Michigan slant — but some visitor tips as well. Our guide also features the four-day performer lineup, a festival map and ticket links.
Concert reviews · Summer Festivals · Weekend Photo Gallery
It was another action-packed weekend of live music, the mid-June array of shows and festival romps recapped in words and photos at Local Spins.
The first night of the three-day music festival at Circle Pines Center south of Grand Rapids embraced regional artists and more. The recap, photos and the rest of the weekend lineup, exclusively at Local Spins.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
The weekend festival at Circle Pines Center south of Grand Rapids will boast sets by Mucca Pazza, Laura Rain, Full Cord and many more. The deets, schedule and more at Local Spins.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
Oscoda County Fairgrounds will light up with dozens of performances on three stages this coming weekend, spotlighting a bevy of regional acts. The preview and schedule at Local Spins.
Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
The first night of South Haven’s GridLife Festival at Gingerman Raceway kicked off a month boasting more than a dozen music festivals across Michigan. Our recap — with photos — of Friday’s opening salvo and a listing of all those June festivals.
The Friday-Sunday festival at Gingerman Raceway featuring sets by Levity, Sullivan King, Rossy, Nightmre and more also boasts racing and car drifting. The lowdown, schedule, video and more at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Summer Festivals · Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
Local Spins rounds up a busy weekend of live music music across the state — from Detroit to Kalamazoo to Grand Rapids to Paw Paw and beyond — in words, photos and a video. Check out images from Movement, Bus Benefit, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Neal Francis, Hot Like Mars, Megan Rae Band, Kanin Wren, Jon Spencer and a summer-starting event at Turnstiles.
Movement Electronic Music Festival kicked off the holiday weekend on Detroit’s Hart Plaza on Saturday with a whirlwind of international and regional stars. Browse the photo gallery at Local Spins.
Buses by the Beach’s annual Memorial weekend festival heated up amid chilly weather with an opening Friday salvo featuring Nicholas James & The Bandwagon and Cold Leather Seats. The recap and photos exclusively at Local Spins.
Looking for the Perfect Beat · Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
Local Spins’ Looking for the Perfect Beat columnist Todd Ernst previews Memorial weekend’s Movement 2025 toasting 25 years since the highly ranked, iconic electronic music festival first launched in the Motor City. Check out his must-see picks, view the schedule and get ticket info at Local Spins.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
Featuring Michigan bands and solo artists, the intimate gathering on the Smiling Acres festival site outside Trufant will attract VW bus owners and music lovers. Get details, ticket links and view the full schedule at Local Spins.
Podcasts · Summer Concerts · Summer Festivals
This week, the Mitten Music podcast — which has long explored Michigan’s music scene via interviews with regional artists — digs into summer festivals with Local Spins. It’s a good excuse for us to round up a flurry of summer music, hundreds upon hundreds of shows.
Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Summer Festivals
Spring means lineups for many Michigan music festivals have sprung. Artists appearing at several also are featured in this week’s Local Spins Michigan music showcase radio podcast. Check out lineups for many festivals and listen to this week’s radio show featuring an interview with Dominic John Davis and new music from several Michigan artists.
One of the first music festivals of the summer season returns to Smiling Acres over Memorial Day weekend. Get the lineup and details at Local Spins.
Concert announcements · Summer Festivals
Two West Michigan festivals showcasing different parts of the musical spectrum have announced their lineups for 2025. Get the lowdown at Local Spins.
Breaking music news · Summer Festivals
The July festival’s performers will also include Steve Poltz, Toubab Krewe, JigJam, Bobby Alu and a robust slate of Michigan acts. View the full lineup, get ticket links and details at Local Spins.
With the popular downtown Festival pulling the plug after 55 years, Local Spins asked its readers to recall their favorite highlights from the iconic Grand Rapids event.
Breaking music news · Summer Festivals
The stunning news came today, ending an era that began in 1970 as the city’s first celebration of the arts. Get the official statement and reaction from festivalgoers.
Breaking music news · Summer Festivals · Venue Spotlight
Two popular destinations for fans of different genres in different Michigan cities — Grand Rapids and Brooklyn — made the sad announcements over the past 24 hours. The back story at Local Spins.
Local Spins’ New Year’s Day tradition continues today with our rollout of the schedule for 2025 Michigan music festivals, from A to Z (or W) – Ann Arbor Folk Festival to Wheatland, and everything in between.
Local Spins Rewind · Summer Festivals · Top Stories of the Year Countdown
Hoxeyville devotees flocked in August to the Manistee National Forest for the festival’s final soiree even though several headliners backed out in the days before. It was one of Local Spins’ biggest stories of the year.
Concert announcements · Summer Festivals
Michigan’s solidly into winter mode, but summer festivals such as Detroit’s electronic extravaganza are whetting appetites for 2025 with initial ‘teaser’ announcements. Details at Local Spins.
Commentary · Summer Festivals · Top Stories of the Year Countdown
Several Michigan music festivals called it quits after a ‘dismal’ 2024 with others reassessing their future. Local Spins’ November report on the emerging crisis was one of the year’s top[…]
Breaking music news · Concert announcements · Summer Festivals · Videos
Michigan’s biggest music festival announced its “initial” lineup for the June festival in Rothbury, with Sara Landry, Disclosure, Fisher, Liquid Stranger and more set to light up the Forest. Local Spins’ Looking for the Perfect Beat columnist Todd Ernst provides his take on the 2025 roster of electronic music performers.
Photos · Summer Festivals · Top Stories of the Year Countdown
The 51st edition of the folk and roots music festival rolled out north of Grand Rapids in September. Our coverage of Wheatland ranked No. 20 in our top-stories-of-the-year countdown.
Commentary · Festivals · In-Depth Report · Summer Festivals
Several Michigan music festivals called it quits after a “dismal” 2024 and others are reassessing their future. Local Spins takes a deeper dive into the emerging crisis with comments and analysis from festival organizers.
Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
After more than two decades, the Michigan music festival hosted by Seth Bernard outside Lake City staged its last hurrah, with dozens of performances on multiple stages — creating more lifelong memories. The recap, photos and video at Local Spins
Playlists · Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
With 55 bands playing eight venues over seven days, the festival showcasing Michigan bands covers a lot of ground and a lot of musical styles. The schedule, festival essentials and a Top 20 playlist at Local Spins.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
The fourth year festival rolls out on Rosa Parks Circle in downtown Grand Rapids on Friday and Saturday. See what’s new for 2024 in this Local Spins preview, along with the festival schedule.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
One of Michigan’s most treasured festivals rolls out for the final time next weekend. Organizer Seth Bernard reflects on its special beauty, with Local Spins offering up a users’ guide to the Lake City spectacle.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Concerts · Summer Festivals
Celtic music fans flooded Muskegon’s Heritage Landing for the 25th anniversary of the Michigan Irish Music Fest on Thursday and Friday, while The Verve Pipe rocked Otsego’s Liquid Note. Browse the photos at Local Spins.
Audio · Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
The festival at Muskegon’s Heritage Landing celebrates its 25th anniversary starting Thursday with a host of international stars and regional favorites. The preview, schedule ad playlist at Local Spins.
Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
The 51st edition of the folk and roots music festival rolled out north of Grand Rapids last weekend with a plethora of national and local stars. The recap, photos, video at Local Spins.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
With more than 13,000 people expected to attend the granddaddy of Michigan music festivals this coming weekend, Local Spins offers up a guide to must-see acts along with event essentials and more.
Audio · Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
Local Spins’ ‘Looking for the Perfect Beat’ columnist Todd Ernst unveils must-see festival sets and his pro users’ guide as ARC celebrates 40 years of house music in its birthplace.
Summer Concerts · Summer Festivals · Weekend Photo Gallery
From a record store in Grand Haven to the wilds of Free Soil to a beer garden in Kalamazoo, West Michigan’s live music weekend closed out with a bang. Local Spins has the photo recap.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
With kids starting to head back to school, this weekend represents a final flurry of August music festivals stretching from Grand Rapids’ Return to the River to the Upper Peninsula’s Porcupine Mountains Music Festival. We have guides to seven of them.
Summer Festivals · Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
The electronic music fest at Grand Rapids Belknap Park drew an even bigger crowd for Day 2 on Saturday, with other shows across West Michigan also attracting lively fans. The photo recaps at Local Spins.
Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
With non-stop electronic music revelry on two stages plus a silent disco, Breakaway 2024 amped things up with the likes of Bob Moses, Louis the Child, Slander and much more. The recap, photos, video at Local Spins.
Looking for the Perfect Beat · Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
Local Spins’ ‘Looking for the Perfect Beat’ columnist Todd Ernst reveals his top picks for this weekend’s electronic music smorgasbord at Grand Rapids’ Belknap Park. The preview, schedule and more.
Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
The final edition of northern Michigan’s Hoxeyville Music Festival unfolded over the weekend without several expected headliners but with plenty of nostalgic memories, regional acts and esprit de corps. The images, recap and some video highlights at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
Hundreds upon hundreds of fans “walked the beat” to view performances by 56 Michigan bands on Saturday, with the city closing down a major street to give it a “true festival” atmosphere. The recap, photos and video at Local Spins.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
The unique festival and band competition returns to Grand Haven’s East Side on Saturday, pumping up more than two dozen locations. The schedule and details at Local Spins.
