Concert reviews · Photos · Top Stories of the Year Countdown · Videos
Michigan’s bluegrass hero returned to Grand Rapids in late May for two jam-packed, epic nights at Van Andel Arena, sparking pre-parties, a marketplace and more. Revisit the hubbub in words and images.
Features · Summer Concerts · Top Stories of the Year Countdown
As the year end approaches, Local Spins’ countdown of its top 2025 stories hits No. 2 and No. 3 — our in-depth look back at Prince’s impact and the continued popularity of Meijer Gardens concerts.
Playlists · Top Stories of the Year Countdown · Videos
Local Spins’ countdown of its top stories of the year continues with our Jack White playlist that coincided with the Detroit rocker’s rousing Thanksgiving halftime show at Ford Field. Plus, check out the video of that show.
Concert reviews · Photos · Top Stories of the Year Countdown
It proved to be The Mavericks’ final Michigan show. Country icon Dwight Yoakam headlined the late March concert at Wings Event Center. Revisit the review and photo gallery as part of our year-end countdown.
Concert reviews · Photos · Top Stories of the Year Countdown
The Detroit-bred guitarist blazed a loud, shapeshifting trail through his career catalog in mid-April for 2,600 rabid fans at GLC Live at 20 Monroe. We revisit the Local Spins review, with photos, as part of our countdown of the Top 10 stories of the year.
Top 10 Lists · Top Stories of the Year Countdown
The stunning news came in February, ending an era that began in 1970 as the city’s first celebration of the arts. Performers, attendees and volunteers reacted overwhelmingly with sadness and disappointment. Revisit the announcement as part of our ‘Top Stories of 2025’ countdown.
Photos · Summer Festivals · Top Stories of the Year Countdown
The guitar phenom in June headlined Day 1 of the Charlotte Bluegrass Festival, the first festival he ever attended as a boy. Later that night, sadly, his mother died. The recap in our top stories countdown.
Concert reviews · Top 10 Lists · Top Stories of the Year Countdown
Our countdown of Local Spins’ most-buzzed-about stories of the year continues with a review of legendary trumpeter Herb Alpert’s May tour stop at DeVos Performance Hall that drew robust standing ovations.
Top Stories of the Year Countdown · Venue Spotlight
Our countdown of our most-read music stories of 2025 kicks off today with a video spotlight on The Stage at The Corner in Muskegon. The countdown continues next week.
Concert reviews · Photos · Top Stories of the Year Countdown · Videos
The Grammy Award-winning bluegrass guitarist turned into a hair-tossing, metalcore shredder with the band Flesh and Blood Robot during the much-buzzed-about March show. Our review was the top story of the year.
Concert reviews · Summer Concerts · Top Stories of the Year Countdown
The popular amphitheater’s expanded summer series this past year boasted new faces – My Morning Jacket, Black Pumas, Il Divo, Tower of Power –- along with a bevy of returning favorites who sold out most of their shows.
Concert reviews · Photos · Top Stories of the Year Countdown · Videos
Michigan’s top bluegrass powerhouses joined forces for a surprising and electrifying night at Meijer Gardens in June, captivating fans and readers, who made our review the No. 3 story of the year. Revisit the evening in words, photos, video and set list.
Top Stories of the Year Countdown · Venue Spotlight
With construction of the Grand Rapids’ riverfront amphitheater well under way, Local Spins last summer asked a key player in the project about bands he’d like to see on stage when it opens in 2026. He also revealed other aspects of the new venue as part of an interview broadcast as part of Local Spins on WYCE. It was No. 4 in our top-stories-of-the-year countdown.
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.
Top Stories of the Year Countdown · Venue Spotlight
Citing building lease issues, Starlight Room owner Daniel Beckett suspended operations of the concert venue on June 1. Our coverage of the shutdown was one of Local Spins’ most-read stories of the year.
Concert reviews · Photos · Top Stories of the Year Countdown · Videos
It was one of Michigan’s concert events of the year: The legendary jam band playing two straight night in Grand Rapids with a boost from Billy Strings. Revisit the “dream” pairing on Christmas Day as part of our year-end countdown.
Podcasts · Top Stories of the Year Countdown · Videos
In a revealing interview, the renowned rock frontman reflected on his new music and Grand Funk Railroad’s past triumphs. The story and radio show podcast was one of the year’s top Local Spins posts.
Concert reviews · Photos · Top Stories of the Year Countdown
The legendary Stevie Wonder’s debut concert at Van Andel Arena in October boasted a massive backing ensemble and earned widespread praise from fans. Revisit the review and photos.
Album reviews · Audio · Top Stories of the Year Countdown
Writer Ryan McCahill’s take on the virtuoso bluegrass guitarist’s new double-album ranked No. 10 on Local Spins’ countdown of the year’s top stories. Revisit it here today.
Concert reviews · Photos · Top Stories of the Year Countdown
The Michigan band’s May homecoming and first headlining show at Van Andel Arena brought the heat and ranked as one of the year’s top Local Spins stories. Revisit the concert in words, photos and set list.
Album reviews · Top Stories of the Year Countdown · Videos
Our July review of the bluegrass guitarist’s first live album got plenty of attention from Billy Strings fans, making it the No. 12 story of the year. The album has since been nominated for a Grammy Award. Revisit the review; check out tracks from the release.
Local Spins Rewind · Summer Concerts · Top Stories of the Year Countdown
Despite some ticketing system snafus in April, Meijer Gardens sold out 18 of its summer concerts in little more than an hour. Revisit Local Spins’ coverage as part of our year-end countdown.
Concert reviews · Photos · Top Stories of the Year Countdown · Videos
The new dad and award-winning bluegrass guitar phenom from Ionia County celebrated a new double-album with his band in October at the Clarkston amphitheater. Revisit the crowd-pleasing show.
Concert reviews · Photos · Top Stories of the Year Countdown
November’s packed concert at Van Andel Arena surprised many with what rolled out as one of rock fans’ favorite shows of the year. Revisit the Local Spins review, photo gallery and set lists as our December countdown of the year’s top music stories continues.
Concert reviews · Photos · Top Stories of the Year Countdown · Videos
The multi-Grammy-winning Christian music artist played Van Andel Arena in March with help from Grand Rapids’ own George Moss. Revisit our interview and show review as we continue our countdown of the top Local Spins stories of the year.
Concert reviews · Photos · Top Stories of the Year Countdown
The two jam-happy rock bands with more than a half-century of music to unleash had folks dancing in the sunshine at Meijer Gardens in June. Revisit one of Local Spins’ top reviews of the year.
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[…]
Commentary · Top Stories of the Year Countdown
Our readers responded in droves in July when recalling their biggest live music disappointments (sloppy sets, horrible sound, nasty fans). It ended up at No. 19 in our top-stories-of-the-year countdown. On the flip side, we want to know the best concert you saw and best album you heard in 2024.
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.
Concert reviews · Photos · Top Stories of the Year Countdown
Our No. 1 artist and story of the year spotlights homegrown bluegrass hero Billy Strings, whose wrestling-themed Halloween spectacle rolled out as an unprecedented, star-studded, five-hour, epic event. Revisit the review, photos, set list and more as Local Spins wraps up its countdown of the Top 20 stories of 2023.
Features · Top Stories of the Year Countdown
Many fans say the beloved Michigan-bred guitarist has changed their lives. Our October feature digging into unprecedented ardor for the superstar soared to No. 2 in our top stories of the year. Plus, view a new photo gallery of fans and more from Billy Strings’ October concert.
Concert reviews · Top Stories of the Year Countdown
The rather upbeat 82-year-old legend brought his “Rough and Rowdy Ways” tour to DeVos Performance Hall in October, an unpredictable show characteristic of an evening with Dylan which sparked our No. 3 most-read story of the year. Revisit it today.
Artist Spotlights · Top Stories of the Year Countdown
In a revealing chat, Ionia County’s favorite bluegrass son talks about touring, his adoring fans, taking classical music lessons and his Halloween homecoming. It was Local Spins’ No. 4 story of the year.
Concert reviews · Photos · Top Stories of the Year Countdown
Ringo and His All Starr Band unleashed a cavalcade of hits for a capacity crowd at DeVos Performance Hall in early October. The review snagged the No. 5 spot in our year-end countdown. Revisit the concert recap, photos and set list.
Concert reviews · Local Spins Rewind · Photos · Top Stories of the Year Countdown
At No. 6 in our Top 20 of ’23 countdown: The review of classic rock guitarist Peter Frampton’s tour-starting June show at Meijer Gardens that came five decades after his first West Michigan appearance. Revisit the review and photo gallery on Christmas Day.
Photos · Summer Festivals · Top Stories of the Year Countdown
Our countdown of the year’s top stories continues with No. 7 in our Top 20: Revisit Rothbury’s resplendent four-day festival in words and in multiple photo galleries displaying the people, the performers and the unmatched West Michigan setting.
Artist Spotlights · Top Stories of the Year Countdown
Local Spins’ interview with Billy’s mother, Deb Apostol, soared to No. 8 in our countdown of Top 20 stories of the year. Revisit his younger years and rise to stardom through the eyes of his mom.
In Memoriam · Top Stories of the Year Countdown
After battling cancer, the groundbreaking radio DJ who pushed WLAV into national prominence in the 1970s died in February at age 73. Tributes poured in, making it one of the top stories of the year.
Top Stories of the Year Countdown
As in past years, our coverage of Meijer Gardens’ opening-day salvo of ticket sales for its summer concert series got plenty of attention. Revisit the story and the fallout here.
Top Stories of the Year Countdown · Videos
Our No. 11 story of the year digs into the early days of Billy Strings’ success with Traverse City mandolinist Don Julin, who says Billy deserves ‘every bit’ of his global fame. Revisit the story here.
Concert reviews · Photos · Top Stories of the Year Countdown
A capacity amphitheater crowd reveled in the iconic blues guitarist’s farewell performance in Grand Rapids last June. Revisit the 12th most popular Local Spins post of the year.
Concert reviews · Photos · Top Stories of the Year Countdown
In early June, a capacity crowd greeted country star Chris Stapleton, with Michigan’s own The War & Treaty and Marcus King also on board. The review was the 13th most popular story of the year. Revisit the coverage, including a photo gallery at Local Spins.
Top Stories of the Year Countdown · Venue Spotlight
In June, Chicago blues legend Duke Tumatoe kicked off a summer of music at the brand-new Allegan County venue, which followed up with a day-long Blues Fest. Revisit one of the Top 20 stories of the year.
Top Stories of the Year Countdown
In January, the much-respected communications professor, songwriter, disability advocate and frontman for West Michigan’s The New Midwest passed away after a long illness.
Concert reviews · Local Spins Rewind · Top Stories of the Year Countdown
‘Young, Wild & Free’ fans were primed to ‘Drop It Like It’s Hot’ for Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa during a July tour stop in Grand Rapids — Local Spins’ 17th most popular story of the year.
Top Stories of the Year Countdown
As always, Meijer Gardens’ announcement of its annual summer concert series generated a buzz in April with names such as Nickel Creek, Ben Folds, Peter Frampton and more. What was your favorite ’23 Meijer Gardens show?
Concert reviews · Photos · Top Stories of the Year Countdown
The pop superstar’s two-night stand at a sold-out Ford Field featured “The Eras Tour” debut of two songs. The recap, photos and set list made the Top 20 list for 2023 at Local Spins.
Local Spins Rewind · Photos · Top Stories of the Year Countdown · Videos
Local Spins today kicks off its countdown of the Top 20 stories of the year, starting with our coverage of Electric Forest’s opening day. The theme? ‘Nobody cares what you do here.’ Indeed, an anything-goes attitude returned to Rothbury with wildly garbed attendees and bass-heavy romps. The recap, photos and video from an iconic Michigan celebration.
