One artist is making waves in country music. The other has drawn attention for dreamy, pop-tinged soft rock. Local Spins
spotlighted each on the radio this week, along with new regional music.
They’re both young musical artists representing different approaches and different genres, and the same passion for their art.
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West Michigan's music scene
Country singer Kari Lynch chose a year ago to leave West Michigan for Nashville, not only to pursue opportunities for industry attention, but also for songwriting collaborations and the inspiring examples set by other artists. But she still performs regularly in the region, and will take the stage at 2:30 p.m. Saturday as part of ArtPrize’s first-ever Blue Bridge Music Festival in downtown Grand Rapids. (Get the full festival lineup online here.)
Indie music’s Jacob Bullard started as a punk rock-loving kid in Traverse City and ended up fronting Grand Rapids soft rock/dream pop outfit Major Murphy, which is getting ready to release videos and another single this fall as it prepares for a Nov. 12 show at Mulligan’s Pub in Eastown with Matt Ten Clay & The Howlers and Suzies.
Both are buoyantly happy about their music and eager to reach new audiences.
“We just kind of wanted to try out some new musical ideas, an anything-goes approach,” Bullard said.
On Wednesday, Bullard and fellow band member/partner, bassist Jacki Warren, stopped the temporary ArtPrize studios of News Talk 1340 AM (WJRW) at the Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts to talk about their music and perform an acoustic rendition of a new song, “Oceans,” for this week’s edition of Local Spins Live. (Drummer Brian Voortman was unable to join them.)
Listen to the full podcast here, with a video below.
PODCAST: Local Spins Live with Major Murphy
Lynch, meanwhile, brought guitarist Justin Eames to the studios of community radio station WYCE-FM (88.1) for the 107th edition of Local Spins on WYCE to chat about touring the country behind her eclectic new album, “Little Game,” and performing two songs – “West Texas Ground” and “Sweetheart” – on the air.
“It’s been overwhelming, the response to it,” Lynch said of her new full-length project that was recorded in Nashville. “So much love this summer touring, with people picking up the album. … When I sit down to write a song, I sort of a while ago I stopped trying to just write for a specific genre and just tried to write a good song. Sometimes that comes out with an Americana vibe. Sometimes that come out with a pop vibe.”
Listen to the podcast below. This edition of Local Spins on WYCE also featured the on-air debut of new songs by hi-ker, Suzies, Mat Churchill, RISE, Olivia Millerschin, The Darling Oranges, Wheelhouse and Strange Honey Valley, along with music by Jimmie Stagger and Silverstiles.
PODCAST: Local Spins on WYCE with Kari Lynch
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