In addition to a May 21 bash at SpeakEZ Lounge starring The Legal Immigrants, Local Spins will partner with Rockford Brewing and Turnstiles on May events celebrating our birthday.
Birthday Bash: The Legal Immigrants, Local Spinsation Ale and new Local Spins trucker hats.
Call it a “Lucky 13 Celebration.”
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West Michigan's music scene
Local Spins will mark its 13th year of covering, showcasing and embracing the region’s music scene with a red IPA bearing its name from Rockford Brewing, a rock ’n’ roll birthday party starring the Legal Immigrants and a rollout of limited-edition trucker hats.
“It’s been an honor and a privilege to introduce Michigan audiences in many cases to artists for the first time over the years, including eventual superstars such as Billy Strings, The War and Treaty and The Accidentals,” said Local Spins founder and publisher John Sinkevics.
“Over the past 13 years, we’ve written stories about hundreds of Michigan artists, covered literally thousands of concerts and festivals, and debuted thousands of songs by regional acts on our radio shows. The talent pool in this state is enormous.”
The Local Spins Official Brew: Local Spinsation Ale
May’s commemoration of the online publication’s anniversary is highlighted by the final Local Spins Wednesdays show of the spring at SpeakEZ Lounge – a special May 21 party featuring The Legal Immigrants, with Local Spinsation Ale on tap and Local Spins trucker hats available for the first time.
“It’s hard to believe Local Spins is only three years away from being old enough drive. Playing the (May 21) show is an honor mostly because West Michigan is loaded with talented acts,” said Joe Bockheim, frontman for The Legal immigrants, which released a new studio album last year.
“I count on Local Spins to discover the next generation of talent in our community, as having young children makes it harder to get out and see the up-and-coming bands in town.”
For the special Local Spins anniversary event, The Legal Immigrants will play “songs from all three of our records and a few covers you don’t hear often. Ultimately, it’s the crowd that determines where the show leads. I like calling audibles on the stage based on the body language and facial expressions of those in attendance.” Show details here.
Joe Bockheim of The Legal Immigrants (Photo/Chelsea Whitaker)
Local Spins also will be on hand for the May 14 appearance by Roosevelt Diggs at Rockford Brewing (where Local Spinsation Ale already is on tap) and a May 24th Memorial Day weekend bash at Turnstiles in Grand Rapids.
“We wanted to share our success as a music-centric website with several intimate venues that have kept music spinning in West Michigan in spite of various challenges over the years, including the COVID pandemic,” said Sinkevics.
“Of course, having Rockford Brewing once again create its ultra-tasty red IPA (with simcoe and amarillo hops) in tribute to Local Spins is a real honor, not to mention debuting our new trucker hats which fans and readers have long requested. We’re rolling them out in time for the summer festival and outdoor concert season.”
(Later this month, Local Spins will also offer these trucker caps for sale in its online gift shop.)
Founded in early 2012, Local Spins has evolved into Michigan’s go-to website for music news and the No. 1-rated music publication in the state (FeedSpot). The website covers a wide range of music-related topics, including band features, concert and album reviews, show and festival listings, news about venues and much more.
The website also partners with Grand Rapids radio station WYCE (88.1 FM) for a weekly Michigan music showcase (11 a.m. Fridays and 5 pm Sundays) with artist interviews and the debut of hundreds of new tracks by Michigan artists.
The New Merch: Local Spins trucker hats.
A version of the hour-long show also now airs at 7 p.m. Saturdays on three northern Michigan radio stations via Interlochen Public Radio.
For 10 years, Local Spins also has hosted a concert series at Grand Rapids’ SpeakEZ Lounge spotlighting Michigan acts from across the state, with regular shows on Wednesdays and Fridays (with summers off).
Local Spins also gives away hundreds of tickets to concerts through its weekly ‘Amplified’ newsletter — sign up online here — and purchases hundreds of tracks by Michigan artists every year to support and help spotlight these bands and solo acts.
But Local Spins can’t continue its mission and fund the work of its writers and photographers without reader support. Please consider donating online here via PressPatron and become part of the growing Local Spins family.
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