This week’s radio show podcast delivers fresh tracks by Protomartyr, Tee Grizzley, The Blue Pines, Space Bar, Morgan Haner, Louie Lee, Michelle Held and more from across the state.
Musical Melange: Some of the 2026 Michigan releases spotlighted by Local Spins this week.
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Michigan artists are carrying their musical gospel to all corners of the state and the globe, as they unfurl music from new releases.
Detroit post-punk band Protomartyr will travel the country behind its latest album starting later this month, before heading overseas for a European jaunt.
Michigan-bred bluegrass queen Lindsay Lou is crisscrossing the state this week with an all-female band, promoting her new “Bluegrass Women” record.
Artists such as The Blue Pines, Louie Lee, Kylee Phillips, Jack Droppers, Michelle Held, Gabe Fuss, The Reverend Jesse Ray and Space Bar, meanwhile, are sticking closer to home with their upcoming performances after dropping new music.
And this week’s Local Spins Michigan Music Showcase radio podcast brings fresh tracks from all of these artists and more right to your door, with information about where you can catch these acts on stage. Here’s the early October roster of featured Michigan artists:
The Blue Pines – The Grand Rapids rock band recently released a new studio album, “A Means to Begin,” celebrating the release with a show at Off the Record in Grand Haven on Oct. 16. The band features Tyler James, Aaron Humphrey, Brian Ritzer, Mike Dorman and Adam Singer. More at thebluepinesmusic.com.
Duke Charelle – Metro Detroit and Flint artist Duke Charelle — a guitarist, songwriter and producer — recently released the funk/fusion rock/psychedelic soul single, “Tangerine Sky,” which also features Detroit artist Chavis Chandler. His website: dukecharellemusic.com.
Morgan Haner – Grand Rapids alt-country and Americana artist Morgan Haner has a new studio album titled, “Phantom Limb,” which features an all-star cast of guests, including drummer Daine Hammerle, bassist Max Lockwood, lead guitarist Steve Leaf, keyboardist Mike Lynch and singer Eric O’Daly. It was recorded at Centennial Sound in Grand Rapids and produced by Centennial Sound’s Ben Zito, who’s also the bassist for The Crane Wives. Learn more about Haner here.
Protomartyr – Detroit art rock, noise rock and post-punk band Protomartyr just released a new album, “Hotel Usona.” The group kicks off a North American tour later this month, with a hometown show back in Detroit at the Majestic Theatre on Dec. 4. The group also will be heading across the pond in February for a tour of Europe. More about the band at protomartyrband.com.
Louie Lee – Detroit country-pop artist Louie Lee released a new studio album, “Desperado,” earlier this year. He brings his “Haunted Honky-Tonk” to Orchid Theatre in Ferndale on Oct. 16 and plays the Westown Theater in Bay City on Nov. 21. More at thelouieleeshow.com.
Lindsay Lou (Photo/Dana Kalachnik)
Tee Grizzley – Celebrated Detroit hip hop and trap artist Tee Grizzley’s latest album is titled, “They Forgot,” which was released at the end of September. It includes “No Effort 2” — a sequel to his breakout hit, “No Effort” that was released in 2017. Follow Tee Grizzley here.
Michelle Held – We feature Detroit singer-songwriter’s 2026 single, “Another Jane,” as part of this week’s radio show podcast. She’ll play the Woodbridge Porch Concerts series in Detroit on Oct. 10 and the Token Lounge in Westland as part of the Last Waltz 50-year Anniversary Tour on Oct. 18. More at her website here.
Kylee Phillips – Ypsilanti-area indie-pop singer-songwriter Kylee Phillips will be touring behind her debut studio album with release shows at The Acorn in Three Oaks on Oct. 9, The Stray in Grand Rapids on Oct. 23 and The Ark in Ann Arbor on Oct. 29. Show details/links here.
Lindsay Lou – Lindsay Lou pays tribute to classic bluegrass songs written by women on her new “Bluegrass Women” album that features a bevy of acclaimed instrumentalists and singers. Read all about that in this Local Spins Artist Spotlight. Lindsay Lou and her all-female band are playing a series of Michigan shows this week, including Milliken Auditorium in Traverse City, The Acorn in Three Oaks, The Big Room in Grand Rapids and The Ark in Ann Arbor, with details/tickets available online at lindsayloumusic.com. You can also check out reviews of the new bluegrass albums by Lindsay Lou and Billy Strings this week here.
Gabe Fuss – Grand Rapids country/Christian artist Gabe Fuss has a new single, “Better Without.” He’s part of a four-act country show taking place Oct. 23 at the Intersection’s Stache in Grand Rapids, with Harry Dean & The Dusty Boys, Corey Dakota and Prior Noon also on the bill. More about Fuss here.
Jack Droppers & The Best Intentions – The Grand Rapids rock band released a single, “I’d Rather Be Fishing” this summer and will play the Local Spins Wednesdays series at SpeakEZ Lounge this coming week on Oct. 7 (with SpeakEZ hosting The American Hotel System on Oct. 9).
Kitten & The Tonics – West Michigan surf-rockers Kitten & The Tonics have a new EP titled, “Get Lost!” The band featuring bassist Kitten Redman, guitarist Charley Redman and drummer Jacob Truitt will play Waycaster Tiki Bar in South Lyon on Oct. 17, and then Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill in Grand Rapids on Oct. 30 along with Delilah DeWylde, with both acts opening at Tip Top for King Sickabilly.
Jack Droppers: Playing SpeakEZ Wednesday.(Photo/Joshua Tufts)
The Reverend Jesse Ray – West Michigan blues, soul and rockabilly favorite The Reverend Jesse Ray released his latest solo album, “Collector,” this summer after recording it at the Grand Rapids all-analog studio Goon Lagoon. The Reverend Jesse Ray and Futuretime String Band will performing at the Pyramid Scheme in Grand Rapids on Oct. 16 as part of an album-release show for Americana act Roosevelt Diggs (who will be our featured guest for the Michigan Music Showcase next week).
Space Bar — an “avant-fusion” Grand Rapids ensemble complete with horns and jazz-driven improvisation — just sent us the live track “Here We Go” that was recorded and mixed by Tommy Pancy at The Stray in Grand Rapids in 2025. Space Bar will play an unusual, space-inspired set at The Stray on Oct. 17 as part of a show dubbed “Here We Boldly Go” that will also feature a discussion of space exploration and science fact and fiction with authors Glen Swanson and Deana Weibel. More info here.
Listen to the podcast with music from all of these artists below. 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. Check out previous show podcasts online here.
WYCE (88.1 FM) in Grand Rapids wraps up its fall fund drive this week. If you support Michigan music and WYCE’s eclectic programming, consider a donation by going online here.
PODCAST: Local Spins Michigan Music Showcase (10/2/26)
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