As we enter our 14th year, we recap 2025 at Local Spins by looking back at the numbers — our flurry of stories, photo galleries, reviews, podcasts and more that embrace Michigan’s music scene.
A Robust Year: Some of Local Spins’ images from 2025. (Local Spins Photos)
EDITOR’S NOTE: The mammoth task of showcasing Michigan’s music scene via feature stories, reviews, photos, videos, podcasts and event listings doesn’t come without considerable cost, time, energy and talent by a Local Spins team featuring dozens of writers, photographers and other contributors who are passionate about their work. But Local Spins won’t survive and can’t continue this Herculean endeavor without the support of its readers. If you’ve supported us in the past, we are beyond thankful and grateful. If you haven’t and appreciate what we do as a music lover, please consider any measure of financial support online here. Thank you.
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West Michigan's music scene
In many ways, 2025 was much like previous years at Local Spins when it comes to covering Michigan’s ever-illustrious and expanding music scene.
Over those 12 months, Local Spins published:
• 120 artist/band spotlight features and interviews, many of which also were republished by the Ottawa News Network and the Traverse City Record-Eagle;
• 403 photo galleries from more than 350 concerts and festivals across the state, as well as more than 50 videos of live performances;
• Reviews of 127 concerts and two dozen music festivals, along with previews of many more;
• Podcasts of 50 Michigan Music Showcase radio shows that debuted more than 450 new songs by Michigan artists, with the radio show airing on Grand Rapids’ WYCE (88.1 FM) and three northern Michigan stations via Interlochen Public Radio;
• Weekly “Amplified” newsletters that featured exclusive content, ticket giveaways, our “Song of the Week,” concert announcements and other music-related tidbits (sign up for the newsletter online here);
• Our exclusive Michigan Music Festivals Guide (with the 2026 list featuring more than 60 festivals with links to their websites);
• Our constantly updated Local Spins Concert Calendar (add your shows here by clicking on the + sign in the red circle at the top right of listings);
• The Free Outdoor Community Concerts and Summer Concerts at Michigan Venues guides (with literally hundreds of summertime shows featured in these listings available only at Local Spins);
• The Local Spins Comedy Roundup (a guide to area comedy shows), Open-Mic Nights listing and regular Three Albums That Changed the World features (in which musicians and music industry managers reveal their most influential albums and artists).
In support of Michigan bands and solo artists, we also hosted 30 concerts by local and regional acts at SpeakEZ Lounge in downtown Grand Rapids (with more on tap this winter) and purchased hundreds of songs/tracks by Michigan artists which we spotlighted via the Local Spins Michigan Music Showcase radio show and the Amplified newsletter’s “Song of the Week,” while also publishing reviews of 40 new releases by Michigan artists.
In Support of Live Music: Local Spins
We also gave away free tickets to Local Spins readers to more than 80 concerts throughout the year and published our annual Local Spins Calendar featuring concert photos of Michigan bands and music festival dates.
Since Local Spins first rolled out of the gates in 2012, the online music publication has covered everything from the meteoric rise of such Michigan stars as Billy Strings, Greta Van Fleet, The Accidentals, The Crane Wives, The War and Treaty and many others, documented the ups and downs of concert venues through the COVID pandemic and beyond, and reflected on the loss of influential regional artists while also alerting readers to the emergence of new faces, places, events and trends — through thousands of articles and posts.
Of course, we’re doing it all again as celebrate our 14th birthday in 2026, so hang on tight, have a spectacular music-filled year and please, be good to each other.
We know you’re inundated with donation requests from charities and public/community radio and TV stations, and times are tight, but if you’re a lover of music and the arts, and if you value Local Spins, please consider supporting us online here. We are eternally grateful for the continued advertising and sponsorship support of many area venues and businesses, but the lion’s share of live music outlets and festivals have never advertised at Local Spins or provided this publication with financial support despite our coverage of their events. That’s why reader contributions are essential. And if you see one of our writers or photographers doing their job out there, please thank them and give them a pat on the back. They’re a dedicated bunch.
Copyright 2026, Spins on Music LLC
