Today, Local Spins not only reviews new albums by Michigan artists, but presents this week’s edition of the Michigan Music Showcase featuring the latest tracks from 11 Mitten State bands and solo acts.
Listen to Songs by 15 Michigan Artists: Four in our album reviews, 11 more in our radio show. (Photos/Steve Baran/Chelsea Whitaker)
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We all know Christmas is right around the corner, partly because artists have been releasing new holiday collections and certain radio stations are playing nothing but seasonal favorites.
Well, Local Spins jumps on that Yuletide train today not only with a new Christmas album from The Accidentals and Kaboom Studio Orchestra, but with reviews of fresh recordings by Michigan artists that would make terrific gifts for the music lovers on your shopping list.
Check out several of those below, along with this week’s Local Spins Michigan Music Showcase radio podcast that boasts tracks from the latest releases by 11 Michigan artists, including Tali Snowden, The Wild Honey Collective, Normal Mode, Laurel Premo, WHILSON, Abe Savas & The New Standards of Beauty, The Crane Wives, Mei Semones, Greg Nagy & Motor City Josh, Tyler Gitchel and Lafayette Gunter Jr.
Scroll down to listen to all of these songs and the full radio show.
Greensky Bluegrass
“XXV”
What Stands Out: It’s difficult to encapsulate, summarize and condense 25 years of performances, songwriting and collaboration into a single, milestone recording – especially when your band has become something of an iconic representation of modern bluegrass with a fervent following that rivals many religions. But Kalamazoo’s Greensky Bluegrass deftly rises to that challenge with the 13-track “XXV” by inviting stars such as Billy Strings, Sam Bush, Lindsay Lou, Holly Bowling, Nathaniel Rateliffe, Aoife O’Donovan, Ivan Neville and others to spice up reimagined versions of Greensky classics such as “Windshield” and “In Control” as well as songs the band has only unleashed in live settings over the years. Bush’s fiddle work on “Can’t Stop Now,” Billy Strings’ vocals and guitar magic on “Reverend” (a tribute to Michigan musician and Earthwork Collective founder Seth Bernard), and Lindsay Lou’s bracing vocals on “In Control” give these tracks that extra oomph that diehard fans relish – partly because they’ve seen these guests rev up these jamgrass staples on stage many times over the years.
Digging Deeper: Co-produced by the band and Lansing’s Glenn Brown, and recorded primarily at California’s legendary 2200 Studios (formerly the Record Plant), “XXV” brilliantly showcases that Michigan-bred progressive bluegrass sound that’s captivated audiences over the past decade or so, with the band even featuring an epic, 14-minutes-plus cover of Mitten State favorite Steppin’ In It’s “Last Winter in the Copper Country” with the virtuosic Bowling on piano. “It was just an opportunity to sort of open up some of the stuff we’ve recorded in our past and breathe new life into it,” said bassist Mike Devol. “Certain songs just were obvious, like, ‘Let’s do this thing that we’ve done with our guests as they’ve become sort of a more common part of our sets.’” Common in terms of live collaborations, perhaps, but uncommonly talented in helping rejuvenate some Greensky standards.
Perfect For: Longstanding Greensky disciples who’ve ridden along on the band’s far-flung journey (from the early days at clubs in Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo to international touring) and for anyone wondering just what this contemporary jamgrass scene is all about – because as mandolinist Paul Hoffman puts it, it’s “so much more than bluegrass.” – By John Sinkevics
Website: https://greenskybluegrass.com/
Upcoming Shows: View the band’s current tour online at greenskybluegrass.com/tour/
Listen: “Last Winter in the Copper Country”
The Accidentals & Kaboom Studio Orchestra
“Sonus Borealis – A Holiday Winter Collection”
What Stands Out: Already beloved for their stunning vocal harmonies and precise musicianship, Michigan-bred folk trio The Accidentals take their skills to the next level by joining forces with the Kaboom Studio Orchestra on this holiday-themed compilation. No matter what you celebrate during the winter season, there is something to love on this album. From inescapable holiday classics with a fresh twist (Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas” and Paul McCartney’s “Wonderful Christmastime”) to modern tracks inspired by the winter season (Noah Kahan’s “Northern Attitude” and Fleet Foxes’ “White Winter Hymnal”), The Accidentals have done so much more than rehash songs that have been covered countless times. Each arrangement plays to the group’s strengths and turns every track into a layered, larger-than-life production with the accompaniment of the orchestra.
Digging Deeper: Each member of the trio— Sav Madigan, Katie Larson, and Katelyn Corll— take on a lead vocal performance over the course of the project, showing new sides of their vocal abilities. Corll displays impressive vocal control on the infamous high note at the end of “All I Want For Christmas” while Madigan brings plenty of tender emotion to a moving rendition of Joni Mitchell’s “River.” Larson manages to capture the tone of timeless classics like the jazzy “I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm,” inspired especially by Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday’s versions. Even with the broad range of genres and generations of music represented, the compilation still feels unified and complete thanks to The Accidentals’ ability to sprinkle a little bit of their own magic into whatever they do.
Perfect For: Easing into the holiday season when you aren’t quite ready for 24/7 Christmas music yet. – By Holly Holtzclaw
Website: https://www.theaccidentalsmusic.com
Upcoming Shows: Nov. 22 at the Village Theater Cherry Hill in Canton; Dec. 17 & 18 at the Milliken Auditorium in Traverse City; Dec. 19 at The Big Room in Grand Rapids; Dec. 20 at Castle Farms in Charlevoix (December shows with Kaboom Studio Orchestra)
Listen: “River”
Tony Halchak
“All the Monsters Love the Dark”
What Stands Out: Rockford-based singer-songwriter Tony Halchak opens up and gets vulnerable on his latest project, “All the Monsters Love the Dark.” According to Halchak’s statement about this new release, it was born from a series of journal entries he wrote to cope with some difficult life events. From the immediate anger and frustration, to lingering sadness, all the way to the optimism for brighter days to come, “All the Monsters Love the Dark” assures its listeners that every one of these emotions must be felt and recognized, not pushed down in favor of shame or guilt.
Digging Deeper: The track “Vampires” sums up the thesis of this project by addressing the feeling of not knowing who or what to trust after being hurt. It portrays the idea that one person can change how you perceive everyone in your life and see them as “vampires lookin’ for another neck to feed.” Instrumentally, much of the album has an unsettled feel. Eerie violin, ghostly echoes provided by singer-songwriter Sarah VE’s backing vocals on “Parasitic Lover of an Everlasting Ghost,” and gothic imagery in the lyrics all add to the underlying feeling of discomfort that comes with facing heartbreak. While Halchak’s songwriting particularly thrives in a folk ballad format, tracks like “These Days” that transition into a full-band Americana-rock sound lend themselves well to the album’s theme of feeling mixed emotions and give it some sonic variety.
Perfect For: Anyone looking for the inspiration to transform their healing process into tangible art. – By Holly Holtzclaw
Website: http://tonyhalchak.com
Upcoming Shows: 7:30 p.m. Friday as part of Local Spins’ Laurel Canyon Tribute at Speak EZ Lounge in Grand Rapids (performing Eagles songs as a trio); Nov. 22 as part of Erin Monroe & Company Presents Sierra Ferrell’s “Trail of Flowers” at The Stray in Grand Rapids; Dec. 20 as part of A Holiday Show at The Stray featuring Rebekah Jon and Gianna D’Agostino
Listen: “Vampires”
The Schrock Bros
“Eprologue”
What Stands Out: The Schrock Bros return with four new, original tracks on a new release that boasts a stellar lineup of Michigan’s finest led by this musical family. The EP is bookended by a jam that builds on the frustrations of living in America in 2025 while also giving space for some great improvisational moments, both aptly titled, “I Can’t Even.” “The Greatest Sin” adds to this feeling with criticism of those who seek to harm others and “From My Mind’s Eye” offers a slower, dusty bar ballad centered on a lost love. Overall, it’s a solid offering from The Schrock Bros that will make the radio rounds and appear in shows around the region.
Digging Deeper: Within the different styles and grooves, listeners are treated to mainstays of the Michigan music scene throughout the release. Mark Schrock joins his sons alongside Peter “Madcat” Ruth, Michael Shimmin, Terrence Massey, Dan Giacobassi and Drew Howard. The recording session was also done at La Luna Recording & Sound in Kalamazoo with Ian Gorman, who captured these moments with mixes oozing warmth and clarity. “Eprologue” is a great listen in a succinct package, and it emphasizes a desire to collaborate and communicate with Michiganders on and off stage.
Perfect For: Fans of observant truth and raw talent on display from the Michigan music scene. – By Dutcher Snedeker
Website: https://www.schrockbrosmusic.com/
Upcoming Shows: Dec. 7 at ArtRat Gallery in Grand Rapids; Jan. 10 at the Winter Wheat Festival at The Intersection in Grand Rapids
Listen: “I Can’t Even”
THE LOCAL SPINS MICHIGAN MUSIC SHOWCASE (11/14/25)
The Michigan Music Showcase airs at 11 a.m. Fridays and 5 p.m. Sundays on WYCE (88.1 FM) and online at wyce.org, and on Interlochen Public Radio at 7 p.m. Saturdays.
PODCAST: Michigan Music Showcase (11/14/25)
Copyright 2025, Spins on Music LLC
