Breaking music news · Upcoming shows
Cheers! Local Spins is turning 3. Check out our big birthday events in May (including the debut of a new Local Spins microbrew), then give us a list of your favorite Michigan bands to win festival tickets, CDs, T-shirts and more.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows
The Grand Rapids band led by satirist Cliff Frantz not only headlines Jake’s Music Festival at Wealthy Theatre Saturday but boasts, yes, 11 mockumentary episodes of its hijinx. Read the back story, get the full festival schedule and watch Sext Farm’s hilarious videos here.
Concert announcements · Summer Concerts · Upcoming shows
The June 20 street party also features Elephant Revival, Gringo Star, Billy Strings & Don Julin, Devin & The Dead Frets, Organissimo and FBC All-Stars. Advance tickets go on sale April 17. Check out the details for one of Grand Rapids’ biggest summer street fests.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Upcoming shows
Raised in an ultra-musical family, the singer-songwriter with collaborative ties to Blake Elliott and The Accidentals plays the Grand Rapids area this week. Read the story and check out a video/podcast of her appearance on Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuted tracks from several West Michigan bands.
Breaking music news · Upcoming shows · Videos
To show support for the Earthwork Music artist, the Grand Rapids Community Media Center has organized a live simulcast of the TV reality show this week, and supporters urge fans to vote for Davis. Get details here.
Artist Spotlights · Features · Upcoming shows
Update: The internationally acclaimed experimental post-hardcore band from Grand Rapids plays a sold-out show at The Pyramid Scheme on Tuesday night. Read the remarkable story about rock ‘n’ rollers with a mission.
Concert announcements · Summer Concerts · Upcoming shows
Spring arrives this weekend, so Local Spins looks ahead to a few much-beloved warm-weather festivals and concert series. Find lineups for Jake’s Music Fest in April, Buses by the Beach in May and learn why Jazz at the Zoo is now Jazz in Park — at downtown’s Ah-Nab-Awen Park — starting in June.
Midwest Skies, Valentiger, The Legal Immigrants, SoundIsRed, Maybe Next Time, American Wifi and dozens more play the West Ottawa High School weekend festival which showcases the region’s emerging, diverse talent. See — and save — the full schedule.
Features · Playlists · Upcoming shows
Mark Lavengood, Seth Bernard, Dan Rickabus, Michael Beauchamp and Max Lockwood will bring their tribute to four cities in four days: Kalamazoo, Traverse City, Bellaire and Fennville. Read the back story of this first-time tour and check out a playlist of John Prine gems.
The interactive, second annual festival started by An Dro percussionist Carolyn Koebel shifts from Lansing to Kalamazoo to Grand Rapids over three days, ending Sunday at One Trick Pony in Grand Rapids. Get details about the shows and lineups.
Unleashing music that’s ‘not exactly typical pop pablum,’ the cutting-edge New York post-punk band with a Detroit connection plays Grand Rapids for the first time on Monday. Read the Local Spins interview by Brian J. Bowe.
The seventh annual indoor festival aims to “beat the doldrums” of winter with performances on seven stages by New Third Coast, Drive South, Ralston Bowles, Olivia Mainville, Missy Zenker, Miriam Pico, Sour Mash and more. Read about the popular indoor event, with links to directions and a full schedule.
Legacy Award winners Mustard Plug and The Verve Pipe will lead an impressive lineup of performers and nominees at WYCE’s 16th annual awards show on Friday at The Intersection. Hear what they have to say about West Michigan’s version of the Grammy Awards and see the full performance schedule.
Features · Photos · Podcasts · Upcoming shows
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.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows
The Red House Records artist plays Muskegon, Lansing and Traverse City this week. After a three-decade-long career, he says he enjoys performing ‘as much if not more’ than ever. See ticket, show details.
Artist Spotlights · Podcasts · Upcoming shows
Working for a Grand Rapids-based charity, the singer-songwriter has seen the dire needs first-hand. Rhys and Valentiger play The B.O.B.’s ‘Will Play for Food’ show to aid the cause tonight (Thursday). Check out the videos and podcast from Wednesday’s Local Spins Live radio show.
Features · Playlists · Upcoming shows
Mark VandenBerge’s lush ‘Ken Burns meets Trans-Siberian Orchestra’ production on Saturday will boast an all-star band, orchestra, choir and striking visuals. And check out his playlist of Top 5 Van Morrison songs.
Commentary · Features · Upcoming shows
On the heels of dizzybird records’ launch late last year, Hot Capicola Records also seeks to pump up the profile of local artists. The label hosts Lady Ace Boogie’s LP-release party at The Pyramid Scheme on Saturday.
Features · Podcasts · Upcoming shows · Videos
More than a dozen Michigan roots acts from the collective will share songs and back each other on stage, including Lindsay Lou & The Flatbellys, who move to Nashville later this month.
Features · Upcoming shows · Videos
The annual Wheatland fundraiser will boast two indoor stages and more than a dozen performances, including Fred Willson’s An Dro finale and sets by Billy Strings & Don Julin, Fauxgrass and more.
Artist Spotlights · Features · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Upcoming shows
Tonight’s four-band show at The Pyramid Scheme will also be a CD-release party for indie-rock’s JOE led by frontman and event organizer Joe Rodriguez. Brother Adams, Dead Eye Zack and Emma Loo & Sam are also on the bill.
Saturday’s spectacle at The Intersection reunites two of West Michigan’s most popular rock bands from the ’90s for a fresh, post-Christmas affair that has both groups pumped up.
Breaking music news · Upcoming shows
Grand Rapids radio station WYCE-FM (88.1) reveals the roster of local and regional acts nominated for top honors during February awards show at The Intersection; 88-plus acts will vie for album of the year.
Breaking music news · Upcoming shows
WYCE has revealed its final performance lineup with Legacy Award winner The Verve Pipe, Micah Ling, Nicholas James Thomasma, Tom Hymn and more now part of the evening-long entertainment on two stages. Dozens will be honored with awards in several categories. See the full list of performers.
Breaking music news · Upcoming shows
The Grand Rapids jam band’s final Michigan show before a long hiatus takes place Friday at The Intersection with three full sets and special guests. And might the break spawn an Electric Light Orchestra tribute band?
Breaking music news · Upcoming shows
After years on Monroe Avenue near Rosa Parks Circle, the New Year’s Eve party settles on the roomier Calder Plaza with Grand Rapids’ The Outer Vibe adding to the celebration.
Breaking music news · Features · Upcoming shows
The November music news round-up at Local Spins focuses on area concert venues: an old one on the auction block, a new one firing up and a fresh local music series.
Michigan’s Shara Worden mixes primal musical energy, punk, classical training, and even marching bands, into cerebral, visceral whole note. She’s touring behind her new album, “This Is My Hand.”
On Wednesday, the Nashville artist won CMA’s musician of the year for the seventh straight time. The ‘exclamation point’ comes Saturday when he plays a Pinnacle Center benefit for music education.
This year’s weekend festival takes place in six Eastown neighborhood homes with a dizzying blend of acts playing living rooms and basements, from Lindsay Lou & The Flatbellys to Ghost Heart to AOK.
The Michigan State University grad who’s become a rising force in the Windy City will headline Saturday’s second annual Grand Rapids street party for thousands of costumed revelers.
Long-time host thrilled to front a new Grand Rapids venture on Thursday as he celebrates 20th year of the ‘Acoustic Café’ showcase. Local Spins delves beyond the familiar voice. And see how you can win tickets to the concert.
The acclaimed singer plays Grand Rapids Thursday for the first time in years, performing as a duo while touring behind her new album, “Love and Hate.” And check out what[…]
The 86 song entries may face an uphill battle for this year’s big ArtPrize purse, but St. Cecilia once again sweetens the pot with $2,000 awards in five music categories.
The award-winning blues singer fires up Grand Rapids’ Tip Top Deluxe on Sunday with her band, including Organissimo’s Alfredson, who’s played with Magness the past four years. See how you can win tickets to the show.
Some 10,000 folk fans will flock to the rural site in Remus for sets by Rodney Crowell, Claudia Schmidt, The Steel Wheels, The Accidentals, Billy Strings & Don Julin, Rachael Davis and more. See the full schedule.
Rock the Rapids is on hiatus for 2014, but this three-concert series aims to fill the Comstock Park venue with national acts as well as the local flavor of Fled Five.
The seventh annual festival boasts a diverse lineup of music and beer, and Grand Rapids-area fans can take advantage of special daily bus trip to the event.
Up-and-coming indie-rock bandleader Ben Daniels says his actor-singer dad “burned the blues into my mind.” The Michigan band will back Jeff Daniels on stage.
Features · Summer Concerts · Upcoming shows
The summer’s weirdest live music event? Or a brilliant way to spotlight lakeshore bands and businesses? Saturday’s unusual, free event unfolds Saturday in Grand Haven, Spring Lake and Ferrysburg.
The fast-rising Michigan trio releases its new CD on Thursday, the same day it plays Grand Rapids and a day before heading to Milwaukee to perform at the granddaddy of Irish festivals.
With headliners Rick Braun and Alexander Zonjic, plus local jazz favorites, the free third year festival aims to makes its biggest splash yet this weekend.
Some of the state’s most highly touted roots acts will share the spotlight in this festival set in the Manistee National Forest. Save the full schedule on your smartphone.
Never heard of bones? The ancient instrument often made of bones or wood has an ultra-devoted national following, with Vits hosting a convention and a special public performance in Grand Rapids.
Concert announcements · Upcoming shows
Acoustic Café series brings the Nashville-based Americana singer to Royce Auditorium for the first time, with Bowles bringing Earthwork Music artists to the same stage.
The singer may feel ‘anonymous’ in The Music City but he’s still a star in West Michigan, performing Saturday in Kalamazoo’s District Square concert series.
Concert reviews · Features · Upcoming shows
Hometown boys Jack White and bandmate Dominic John Davis return to Detroit for two sold-out shows next week after setting Chicago ablaze with buzzed-about concerts. (Review, photos)
The band of brothers will play Grand Rapids for the first time on Wednesday, with pop-rock’s Hot Chelle Rae headlining the Fifth Third Ballpark affair.
The 34th annual Blissfest north of Harbor Springs fires up this weekend with more than 50 acts, from New York’s Donna the Buffalo to Michigan’s Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers.
Concert announcements · Summer Concerts · Upcoming shows
Local Spins’ July news update features the Cowpie 2014 band lineup, the scoop on this year’s GRAM on the Green and GR Brewing’s decision to discontinue weekend shows.
