Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
Saturday’s Backyard Bash outside the Comstock Park brewery drew thousands for sets by Jake Kershaw, The Hacky Turtles, Paradise Outlaw, Hollywood Makeout and Kozmic Mama. Browse the photos at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
The 46th edition of this much-admired Michigan music festival rolled out last weekend with a hefty slate of national and regional roots music stars. The recap by Local Spins’ Ricky Olmos, with photos by Anna Sink.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
The Way Down Wanderers and Arkansauce also performed Saturday at the Earth’s Edge/Courtyard Concerts event in Mill Point Park. Get the recap and browse a photo gallery at Local Spins.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows · Videos
The “adventurous” event at Mill Point Park also stars The Way Down Wanderers and Arkansauce. Get the lowdown about this first-time event at Local Spins and watch videos of the featured performers.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
Among the national and international folk/roots music stars at next weekend’s 46th Wheatland will be several Michigan acts who will treasure their time in the spotlight. See why it’s special for them and check out the full Main and Centennial stage schedules.
Venturing more than eight hours from Grand Rapids, Local Spins editor John Sinkevics recently immersed himself in the unique, magical charm of a remote U.P. musical celebration. Here’s his report on this relatively unknown Michigan gem, with a photo gallery and video.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
The third year of the regional music fest unfurled last weekend in Sidney north of Grand Rapids. Local Spins asked some of the performers to pick their favorite experiences, with a photo gallery by Anna Sink.
The popular multi-city music festival returned Friday for the third time to show some love to the city of Grand Rapids, and the city — or at least, those packing Belknap Park — gave it right back. The Local Spins review of opening day.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
This weekend’s festival presented by Alexander Zonjic at Muskegon’s Heritage Landing will boast two days of soulful, funky jazz and more, plus a special Thursday night pre-show. The Local Spins interview with Zonjic and Koz.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
The two-day festival kicking off Friday at Grand Rapids’ Belknap Park has a bevy of must-see acts says Local Spins columnist Todd Ernst. Read his preview, check out the schedule at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
The Hoxeyville Music Festival in the Manistee National Forest near Wellston wrapped up Sunday with two memorable sets by bluegrass star Billy Strings. But Local Spins’ Ricky Olmos found plenty more to like about Hoxey 2019, with photos by Anna Sink.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
The festival in Sidney, north of Grand Rapids, fires up this weekend — moving this year from late September to August — with performances by 16 regional acts. Get and save the schedule, along with more details at Local Spins.
Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
The first day of GRandJazzFest 2019 at Rosa Parks Circle brought brilliant summer weather and brilliant musicianship with crowds growing into the evening to celebrate the final sets of the day. The recap, photo gallery and a video at Local Spins. The festival continues Sunday.
Hoxeyville Music Festival unfurls this weekend in northern Michigan with a who’s who lineup and lots of groovy activities. Local Spins and some festival performers preview the three-day affair. Check out the Hoxeyville schedule which you can save on your smartphone to take along and listen to a playlist of festival performers.
Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
The Bootstrap Boys, Fauxgrass, Mark Lavengood, Desmond Jones, Trifocal, Melophobix and more were just some of the highlights from a Cowpie fest that may have been the best yet. Browse the photos, watch the videos, read the recap of the weekend on Shagbark Farm.
With 46 bands playing 23 venues on Saturday, the unusual Walk the Beat event returned to this lakeshore community after a one-year hiaturs and boasted another first: a tie for second place. Get the complete lowdown with a photo gallery at Local Spins.
Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
The music festival on Shagbark Farm near Caledonia reveled in perfect summer weather on Thursday while firing up stages with music by Sophistafunk, Jesse Ray & The Carolina Catfish, Cabildo, Megan Dooley, SlimGypsyBaggage, Mungion, The Legal Immigrants, The Gasoline Gypsies and more. Check out the recap, photo gallery and video only at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Audio · Summer Festivals · Videos
This weekend’s festival near Johannesburg, east of Gaylord, unfurls with a huge roster of Michigan acts, including Traverse City’s Chris Michels, who’s fast building a fan base for his funky, jazzy music. Read more about the festival and MIchels, and listen to his music
Summer Festivals · Weekend Photo Gallery
West Michigan’s week of live music boasted an assortment of touring stars — from pop to country to ska-punk/reggae to bluegrass — captured in images at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Features · Summer Festivals · Videos
The band fronted by David Lowery has weathered the ups and downs of the music business, with help from devoted fans, including many in the Great Lakes State. With Cracker preparing to return to Michigan, check out the Local Spins interview as part of a special Sunday spotlight feature.
Concert reviews · Kalamazoo · Photos · Summer Festivals
The three-day event in downtown Kalamazoo boasted standout performances from national stars, a Michigan blues-rock phenom and local faves. Get the recap and photo gallery at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
The annual Upper Peninsula festival hosted by Graham Parsons of The Go Rounds once again attracted a loving bunch of regional bands and solo artists. Local Spins asked them for their festival highlights. Check out their picks and browse the photo gallery.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
The Detroit music festival wrapped up Sunday night after two days of fun in the sun for thousands of concertgoers. Revisit the action in this Local Spins recap and photo gallery.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
The opening day of the 2019 festival in West Riverfront Park blessed thousands of attendees with sunny weather and a cavalcade of pop, hip hop and indie-rock. Get the highlights, browse the photo gallery at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
Local Spins asked several performers from last weekend’s Beaver Island Music Festival to choose three highlights that stood out. Read their picks and browse a photo gallery, only at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
Michigan’s biggest country music celebration revved up Jackson County for the seventh year with stars Keith Urban, Toby Keith, Zac Brown Band and more while enduring a heat wave and rainstorms. Get the weekend recap and three days of photo galleries at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
Local Spins asked several performers from last weekend’s 39th edition of Blissfest in northern Michigan to choose three highlights that stood out. Check out their picks and browse a photo gallery by Anna Sink.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
The 2019 edition of the festival staged on an island in northern Lake Michigan unfurls Thursday for three days of live music by national and regional acts. See and save the main stage schedule and get festival details at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Summer Festivals · Weekend Photo Gallery
Gorgeous summer weather greeted attendees at the Kalamazoo Blues Festival this weekend, but there were indoor shows of merit in West Michigan, too. Check out the photo galleries from another busy summer week of live music at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Kalamazoo · Photos · Summer Festivals
The first day of the 2019 festival in downtown Kalamazoo drew blues devotees for everything from local faves Out of Favor Boys to Nikki Hill, Duwayne Burnside and Gatorboys. Browse the Local Spins photo gallery.
Artist Spotlights · Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
Michigan acts ranging from Joe Hertler to Galactic Sherpas will join national stars Amy Helm, Canned Heat and Sam Bush at the 39th annual edition of “Bliss” this weekend. Get details and the full schedule at Local Spins — and find out why musicians love this festival so much.
Features · Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
In its heyday, Idlewild served as a robust summer destination for African-American stars and their fans. The July 12-14 Idlewild festival will pay homage to the past with musical performances and historical education sessions. See the full weekend schedule at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals · Top 10 Lists
Local Spins writer Ryan Boldrey made the most of his first Electric Forest experience and came up with his Top 10 impressions from a wondrous weekend in the woods of Rothbury. Check out his picks and browse the photo gallery by Anna Sink.
Commentary · Photos · Summer Festivals
Three days at the wondrous and sprawling festival in Rothbury can feel like a year anywhere else. Local Spins writer Ryan Boldrey immersed himself in Electric Forest for the first time and found surprises throughout, as well as a supportive, caring ‘Forest Family’ that extends to a drug-free faction of the community. Check out his column, browse the photo gallery.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
The four-day festival in Lansing reveled in summer weather and a rock vibe, with hip hop, country and electronic music still to come. Check out the opening-day recap and Local Spins photo gallery featuring Brandi Carlile, Robert Randolph and City and Colour.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
More than 45,000 strong flooded the sprawling site in Rothbury on Thursday, with a Michigan favorite getting the music train rolling. Get the first-day recap and browse the robust photo gallery at Local Spins.
With Electric Forest opening to early campers today, Local Spins asked two Michigan performers at the festival and an electronic music guru to pick this weekend’s must-see acts. Check out their selections and listen to a Spotify playlist of their picks.
Breaking music news · Summer Festivals
After taking a hiatus in 2018, the popular and unusual festival featuring local and regional acts playing nearly two dozen venues is back in this lakeshore community. See the lineup, get details at Local Spins.
Features · Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
For the ninth year, the much-ballyhooed Electric Forest music festival ramps up this weekend with electronic music, jams, psychedelic art installations and a hippie vibe. Get the lowdown, Forest rules and a preview at Local Spins.
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.
