From Grand Rapids to Chesaning to Clarkston, the early October flurry of Michigan music made an impact amid summer-like weather. View the photo galleries at Local Spins.

Scintillating Michigan-Made Music: Billy Strings was just part of the weekend lineup. (Photo/Jesse Faatz)
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As the traditional anthem, “Michigan, My Michigan,” proclaims, the Great Lakes State’s beauty stretches “from Saginaw’s tall whispering pines to Lake Superior’s farthest mines” along with everything in between.
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West Michigan's music scene
That certainly was the case when it came to musical beauty last weekend, with West Michigan bands Candid Antics and Squatch lighting up Founders Brewing Co. in Grand Rapids, the early October Handmade Music Festival celebrating the state’s musical stars in Chesaning (about 28 miles south of Saginaw) and bluegrass powerhouse Billy Strings completing a fan-frenzied, two-night run at Pine Knob Music Theatre in Clarkston.
Check out photo galleries from all of these state-spanning celebrations below, along with Jonathon Alfano’s images from last weekend’s Handmade Music Festival hosted by The Rupple Brothers and emceed by Kevin Lamb that featured performances by more than a dozen regional artists. As organizers put it:
“The Handmade Music Festival was created (in October 2018) by and for the love of music and community. We are creating an atmosphere where the music flows freely, as does love, friendship and gratitude. … We are a community of musicians and music lovers who aim to bring the highest caliber musicianship to mid-Michigan … committed to creating a family-friendly atmosphere while swaying to a handpicked playlist of bluegrass, psychedelic folk, Americana and soul. Our venue, Showboat Park, is located in beautiful Chesaning along the Shiawassee River. The festival is a celebration of Michigan musicians and their original music – handmade and homegrown.”
About 59 miles away — after an epic opening night — Billy Strings and band kept up their electrifying, psychedelic bluegrass display at Pine Knob with a 22-song fusillade on Saturday night, starting with “In the Clear” and wrapping up the encore with the traditional “Little Maggie,” adding several new songs to their live set for the first time.
Check out a review, photos and full coverage of Night 1 of Billy Strings at Pine Knob: Billy Strings incites flat-picking pandemonium at Pine Knob for home-state fans
PHOTO GALLERY: Handmade Music Festival in Chesaning
Photos by Jonathon Alfano
PHOTO GALLERY: Candid Antics, Squatch at Founders Brewing in Grand Rapids
Photos by Chelsea Whitaker
PHOTO GALLERY: Billy Strings at Pine Knob Music Theatre in Clarkston (Night 2)
Photos by Jesse Faatz