Today, Local Spins looks back at a week of live music — from veteran faves on a Michigan tour to teens just getting started to a G. Love tour stop — and previews some must-see concerts.

Bell’s Brewery Brouhaha: Joshua Davis, Dominic John Davis and Steppin’ In It revved things up on Friday. (Photo/Derek Ketchum)
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More than a quarter-century ago, the rootsy Steppin’ In It began a long, mega-popular, weekly run of shows at Lansing’s Green Door Bar & Grill, followed by extensive touring and recording.
Band members such as Joshua Davis and Dominic John Davis (Suchyta) went on to further fame and glory (Joshua Davis as a successful singer-songwriter and finalist on “The Voice”; Dominic John Davis as the internationally touring bassist and music director for superstar Jack White), while fellow bandmates Joe Wilson, Andy Wilson, Mike Lynch and Geoff Lewis have established themselves as go-to virtuosos for many a Michigan artist.
So their occasional reunion tours, not surprisingly, always attract lots of attention and lots of devoted fans.

Round Creek String Band: SpeakEZ Lounge first, then The Intersection. (Photo/Chelsea Whitaker)
The band on Sunday wrapped up one of those winter tours, with stops in Traverse City, Kalamazoo, Cadillac and Ann Arbor, with exuberant fans packing the venues and dancing along to the joyous, camaraderie-filled exhibitions of Steppin’ In It dazzle.
On the flip side, the young musicians of the Kalamazoo Academy of Rock are just now venturing into the world of live music — showing off their burgeoning talent as part of an annual showcase at Bell’s Brewery Eccentric Cafe, just the day before Steppin’ In It graced the same stage.
The weekend wrapped up on Sunday at Holland’s Park Theatre, with Philadelphia’s G. Love & Special Sauce bringing their so-called “hip-hop blues” to West Michigan, melding everything from rock to soul to funk, with a boost from opener Ron Artis II of Hawaii.
Earlier in the week, Grand Rapids’ Round Creek String Band kicked off the 2025 Local Spins Wednesdays series at SpeakEZ Lounge, a warm-up to their opening set at Saturday’s Winter Wheat festival hosted by the Wheatland Music Organization at The Intersection.
Browse photo galleries below.
MUST-SEE JANUARY SHOWS
As for the rest of January, there’s a lot to look forward to in terms of heating up the winter — part of our “Looking Back, Looking Forward” feature.
• Kelsea Ballerini at Van Andel Arena on Jan. 21 – This fast-emerging country star once was an opening act playing The Intersection in Grand Rapids. Now, she’s headlining national TV shows and headlining a U.S. Tour. Not only that, but Rockford native MaRynn Taylor opens this concert which also features Sasha Alex Sloan. Details/tickets here.
• Up-and-coming progressive/jazz fusion band Squatch lights up the Local Spins Wednesdays series at SpeakEZ Lounge on Jan. 22, followed by a singer-songwriter night on Jan. 24 featuring Spencer LaJoye, Chris DuPont and Kylee Phillips. The month wraps up with Lynn & Ian: The Moonshine Runners on Jan. 31. View the full January schedule here. (February is “Tribute Month” with tributes to Neil Diamond, Neil Young, Jimmy Buffett, Warren Zevon, Linda Ronstadt and Jackson Browne.)
• Irene Sterns Day on Jan. 29 at Bell’s Brewery Eccentric Cafe in Kalamazoo – This fundraising concert for the Sounds of the Zoo fest celebrates Irene Sterns and the women from Kalamazoo who built Gibson guitars during WW II. The concert honors Sterns, who turns 103 on Jan. 29 and is the last surviving member of the so-called “Kalamazoo Gals” who built Gibson guitars during the war. The Incantations, Chris Canas and more will perform, with a video also being shown. Get details/tickets here.

Toad the Wet Sprocket (Photo/Anthony Norkus)
• Ann Arbor Folk Festival — This year’s Ann Arbor Folk Festival boasts one of the best lineups in this event’s 48-year history. The two-day affair takes place at Hill Auditorium on the U-M campus Jan. 24-25 with Waxahatchee, Josh Ritter, Toad the Wet Sprocket, Bruce Cockburn, The Milk Carton Kids, Joy Clark and more. Hosted by The Ark in Ann Arbor. All of the details and ticket info is available online here.
• Fennville’s Salt of the Earth fires up its winter lineup of Sunday shows, with harmony-driven singer-songwriter super-group The Temperances on Jan. 19, followed by the multi-instrumental, Venezuelan-Appalachian folk and Latin/bluegrass fusion of Larry & Joe on Jan. 26.
• The legendary British guitarist and Grammy Award winner Albert Lee makes a tour stop at Grand Rapids’ intimate Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill on Jan. 29, along with The Cryers, just four days after California rockabilly/hillbilly/jazz artist Sebastien Bordeaux plays the same venue.
• How about The Intersection in Grand Rapids? After hosting the 10-band Winter Wheat last weekend, the venue features Big Head Todd & The Monsters (Jan. 19), Rubblebucket (Jan. 23), Tycho (Jan. 24) and Dylan Marlowe (Jan. 30).
PHOTO GALLERY: Steppin’ In It, Zak Bunce at Bell’s Brewery Eccentric Cafe
Photos by Derek Ketchum
PHOTO GALLERY: Winter Wheat at The Intersection
Photos by Eric Stoike and John Sinkevics
PHOTO GALLERY: Kalamazoo Academy of Rock at Bell’s Brewery Eccentric Cafe
Photos by Derek Ketchum