2020 didn’t unfold as expected. But Michigan bands remained active, reflected in spectacular calendar images by Local Spins photographers. And, yes, the 2021 calendars feature music festival dates. Order here.

Musical Celebration: The 2021 calendar cover features the WYCE Jammie Awards performance of “The Chain” by Third Coast Recording’s all-star female chorus. (Photo/Kendra Petersen-Kamp)
ORDER YOUR 2021 LOCAL SPINS CALENDAR HERE
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It says a lot about Michigan’s music scene that even amid a frightening pandemic and a near-complete shutdown of concert venues, artists found a way to create and display their art.
And that means Local Spins still found plenty of opportunities to showcase veteran and emerging Michigan artists in spectacular concert images courtesy of its talented team of photographers.
So, as in past years, the 2021 Local Spins Calendar is chock full of dynamic photos — from fresh faces such as Myron Elkins, Political Lizard, Mel V and Patty PerShayla & The Mayhaps to veteran musicians Robin Connell, Asamu Johnson, Josh Rose, Kyle Rasche and others. More than 20 Michigan artists are featured.

Featured for January: Patty PerShayla & The Mayhaps (Photo/Anthony Norkus)
“This is great news. I am glad you folks were able to catch one of my few performances from this year,” said PerShayla. “It’s been so long since I’ve been on stage and my biggest concerts schedule for 2020 were canceled.
“We have been able to keep things afloat with careful budgeting and community support, and are on track to release our debut full-length record next year. It’s always been a dream of mine to press an album to vinyl, and we are starting that process before the year is over. I am glad that your site is still running and has adapted to the new digital musical climate in the area. It definitely helps us local artists get the word out amid the saturated online news feeds.”
For Joe Chamberlin, frontman for West Michigan rock band FlyLiteGemini (the featured band for August 2021), appearing in the calendar is a bright spot following “a very hard year for music.”
“It’s always exciting and appreciated when Local Spins catches a picture or a clip of a performance because in those musical moments I am fulfilling part of my life’s purpose: giving 100 percent of my heart and soul. Because of those reflections, I get to see a little of what it looks like to the audience in that moment,” he said.

August Band: FlyLiteGemini (Photo/Anna Sink)
“Local music media like Local Spins is so important for independent artists like us, and the featured moments always help us be better prepared to take the music to new places literally and figuratively.”
As always, the calendar — sponsored by the Michigan Music Alliance and Modelo Especial — also features a comprehensive listing of scheduled Michigan music festivals in the coming year with high hopes that the festival season will proceed after being washed out by COVID in 2020. Not surprisingly, there aren’t as many festival dates confirmed for Michigan at this point, and frankly, all are listed tentatively due to ongoing COVID concerns.
But optimism reigns, making the 2021 Local Spins Calendar the perfect, Michigan-centric holiday gift for the music lover on your shopping list, available for $15 each online here, where you can also see the full list of featured performers. And through Tuesday, you can purchase 2 calendars for $25 or 3 for $35.
Remember, too, that part of the proceeds from all calendar sales will be donated to Access of West Michigan, a nonprofit organization that operates anti-poverty programs and helps coordinate food pantries for needy families in Kent County. Learn more about Access of West Michigan and donate to the cause here.
After a tough 2020, it’s time to look ahead to a brighter 2021.

Super-Group: Sweet Water Warblers are featured in the 2021 Calendar. (Photo/Anna Sink)
Michigan Artists Featured in the 2021 Calendar
Patty PerShayla & The Mayhaps
Michigan Rattlers
Asamu Johnson & The Associate of the Blues
Trixy Tang
Robin Connell
Callab
Lazy Genius
FlyLiteGemini
Distant Stars
Mel V Collective
Myron Elkins & The Dying Breed
Via Mardot
Samuel Nalangira
Carrie McFerrin
Josh Rose, Kyle Rasche
Political Lizard
Overdrive Orchestra
Sweet Water Warblers
Third Coast Recording Co. Band and Singers
Mark Lavengood & Hayes Griffin
Photos By: Anthony Norkus, Derek Ketchum, Anna Sink, Kendra Petersen-Kamp, Jamie Geysbeek, Eric Stoike and Pennie Spence
Copyright 2020, Spins on Music LLC