The June 20 street party also features Elephant Revival, Gringo Star, Billy Strings & Don Julin, Devin & The Dead Frets, Organissimo and FBC All-Stars. Advance tickets go on sale April 17. Check out the details for one of Grand Rapids’ biggest summer street fests.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Upcoming shows
Indie-folk’s E Minor relishes supportive northern Michigan music scene while eyeing next studio album
Raised in an ultra-musical family, the singer-songwriter with collaborative ties to Blake Elliott and The Accidentals plays the Grand Rapids area this week. Read the story and check out a video/podcast of her appearance on Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuted tracks from several West Michigan bands.
Breaking music news · Upcoming shows · Videos
Joshua Davis watch party for ‘The Voice’ Tuesday at Grand Rapids’ Wealthy Theatre
To show support for the Earthwork Music artist, the Grand Rapids Community Media Center has organized a live simulcast of the TV reality show this week, and supporters urge fans to vote for Davis. Get details here.
Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
La Famiglia, The Soil & The Sun, Willamena, LadyFest GR: Weekend Photo Gallery
Easter week yielded an intriguing mix of performances around West Michigan, from Darlingside and Tall Heights in Spring Lake to South of Wealthy Trio in Rockford to the Mike G’s birthday bash and the annual LadyFest GR celebration. Check out the photos at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Features · Upcoming shows
La Dispute credit DAAC roots for early rock success; ‘hometown heroes’ return for Grand Rapids show to support cause
Update: The internationally acclaimed experimental post-hardcore band from Grand Rapids plays a sold-out show at The Pyramid Scheme on Tuesday night. Read the remarkable story about rock ‘n’ rollers with a mission.
Breaking music news · Concert announcements
Greensky Bluegrass, Hard Working Americans to headline 2015 Hoxeyville fest; Michigan guitarist Greg Nagy tops national R&B chart
The April Fool’s Day edition of the music news roundup is no joke: A much-beloved Michigan blues artist is making big waves nationally and the Hoxeyville festival in the middle of the Manistee National Forest is back for a 12th year. Read details and see the full lineup.
Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
Local Spins on WYCE: Nicholas James Thomasma, plus a new track from The Extra Texture
To celebrate kickoff of the 2015 spring fund drive, Edition No. 31 of Local Spins on WYCE chatted with longtime WYCE supporter and singer-songwriter Nicholas James Thomasma, who also performed a song on the air. Listen to the full podcast.
Breaking music news · Features
Joshua Davis gives ‘masterful performance,’ secures Top 20 berth on ‘The Voice’
The northern Michigan singer-songwriter took the next step in the TV reality show competition, continuing to wow judges with his vocals. He’ll now move on to the live performance round. Read the post-show Local Spins interview with Davis and watch the video from Monday’s show.
Lecrae, Circa Survive, Donna the Buffalo, Eric Paslay, Bill Heid: The Weekend Photo Gallery
Heart boasted the weekend’s biggest show at Van Andel Arena, but there were more stars in the limelight, including local bands Moxieville, The Outer Vibe, Heavier Than Air Flying Machines, Big Dudee Roo, Steve Rivers, Comments of Aether and more. Check out the amazing photos and show roundup in the Local Spins Weekend Photo Gallery.
Heart, Joan Jett ‘Kick It Out’ impressively for zealous Grand Rapids fans
Heart and Joan Jett & The Blackhearts made their final 2015 tour stop together a mostly memorable one, cranking out driving rock hits for a gleefully nostalgic crowd at Grand Rapids’ Van Andel Arena. Read the review and check out the photo gallery.
Breaking music news · Summer Concerts
Summer concerts heat up: Lineups for Rockford’s Rogue River Blues, Lowell’s Sizzlin’ Summer, Wyoming and Holland series
Live music in the great outdoors is everywhere – often free – across West Michigan every summer. Here are the first few announcements of summer lineups featuring regional acts. See the schedules thus far.
Artist Spotlights · Podcasts · Videos
Steve Rivers: Taking ‘really good ideas’ and turning them into captivating country songs
The up-and-coming Grand Rapids country singer opens for Eric Paslay at The Intersection tonight, with a new album set for release this summer. Read the Local Spins interview, with Rivers’ take on songwriting, collaborating with other artists and performing across Michigan. (Story, podcast, video)
Breaking music news · Commentary · Photos
SXSW: Local Spins highlights from the ‘mob scene’ of Austin’s music industry showcase
Traverse City’s The Accidentals made their mark with Billboard magazine and industry folks at last week’s mega-event in Texas, but Local Spins writer Troy Reimink found plenty of other SXSW highlights amid the musical chaos. Check out his report and a SXSW photo gallery.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Kathy Lamar, The Go Rounds, Here Come the Mummies, Skankadank, Fable the Poet: Weekend Photo Gallery
Fun music aplenty. This weekend’s roundup of live music images ranges from The Lacs’ country rap to the Mummies’ funk to Jesse Ray & The Carolina Catfish’s rockabilly to The Go Rounds’ rootsy-but-danceable vibe to Kathy Lamar’s jazz and more. Scan the complete photo gallery.
Features · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
Local Spins on WYCE: Bigfoot Buffalo, plus new music from Kathy Lamar, Moxieville, Big Sherb, Ed Englerth Band, Vox Vidorra
The 30th edition of the radio show that spotlights West Michigan’s music got up close and personal with the rootsy, Dead-like Bigfoot Buffalo from Grand Rapids, who made their in-studio, on-air debut. And it debuted new tracks from several regional acts. (Podcast, video)
South by Southwest diaries: West Michigan’s The Accidentals, The Outer Vibe
This week’s mammoth SXSW music conference in Austin, Texas, is one of the music industry’s biggest events. Several West Michigan bands have made the trip to make their mark and soak it all in. Local Spins asked some of them to provide their impressions in “diary” entries. Here are two of them. See who they’ve been rubbing elbows with thus far.
Concert announcements · Summer Concerts · Upcoming shows
Let the festival fun begin: Buses by the Beach, Jake’s Music Festival and Jazz in the Park (not Jazz at the Zoo)
Spring arrives this weekend, so Local Spins looks ahead to a few much-beloved warm-weather festivals and concert series. Find lineups for Jake’s Music Fest in April, Buses by the Beach in May and learn why Jazz at the Zoo is now Jazz in Park — at downtown’s Ah-Nab-Awen Park — starting in June.
Breaking music news · Features · Photos
SXSW gets The Mitten musical treatment at the Creative Many Michigan House (Photo gallery)
From The Accidentals to Nathan Kalish to Heaters, West Michigan bands are making a splash in Austin like never before at the massive South by Southwest music conference. View the photo gallery and learn more about what Michigan bands are doing in Texas this week.
Commentary · Features · Videos
Fenian’s Irish Pub hosts final St. Patrick’s Day parade amid sunshine, throngs of well-wishers
Thrilled to be named one of America’s most authentic Irish pubs, owners Mary Ann and Terry Reagan are throwing their last St. Patrick’s Day ‘hooley’ at the charming Conklin pub today. Read the column hailing the end of an era and watch a video from today’s parade and celebration.
The Waxies’ Branden Garner: Local Spins’ St. Patrick’s Day Guest Playlist
The Pogues, Dropkick Murphys, Flogging Molly and Michigan bands such as an Dro and Stone Clover show up on this mandolinist’s playlist, created exclusively for Local Spins as a St. Patrick’s Day soundtrack. Check out the songs, the videos and the Spotify playlist, then kick up your heels.
Miranda Lambert delivers country sass and style for capacity Grand Rapids audience
Lambert proved to be the “Fastest Girl in Town” on Sunday night, delivering hits and more with Justin Moore, Sunny Sweeney and Jukebox Mafia also revving up the Van Andel Arena crowd. View the photo gallery and read the review.
Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
Irish on Ionia, Sam Hunt, WO-Stock, Todd Snider, Gasta: Weekend Photo Gallery
Much of the week’s musical hoopla was about celebrating St. Patrick’s Day early, from An Dro and David Molinari playing SpeakEZ Lounge mid-week to Sam Hunt entertaining a capacity crowd at The Intersection to upwards of 20,000 emerald-clad beer drinkers heating up Saturday’s Irish on Ionia in downtown Grand Rapids. But there was more. Check out the photo gallery and video highlights from Irish on Ionia and other music-driven celebrations.
Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
Local Spins on WYCE: Fable the Poet, plus new tracks from Zac Quist, J. Robb, CARE and The Muruga Band
Grand Rapids’ Fable the Poet talks about major upcoming shows, his spring tour and melding poetry with music on Edition No. 29 of Local Spins on WYCE, plus tracks from a host of local and regional bands. Listen to the full podcast.
Breaking music news · Features
Zellie’s Opry House in Howard City closes doors; Grand Haven Walk The Beat seeks 60 bands, offers $20,000 in prizes
Howard City’s quaint, much-beloved folk and bluegrass venue calls it quits after six years as the building is sold. Meanwhile, the lakeshore’s unusual Walk the Beat event announces its return in August with more prizes for bands and a condensed area for performances. Read the details and check out the links.
WO-Stock returns for 13th year with 28 bands on two stages, unique opportunity to ‘give back’
Midwest Skies, Valentiger, The Legal Immigrants, SoundIsRed, Maybe Next Time, American Wifi and dozens more play the West Ottawa High School weekend festival which showcases the region’s emerging, diverse talent. See — and save — the full schedule.
Services Thursday for Grand Rapids musician Wil Lucy; singer-songwriter Joshua Davis advances on ‘The Voice’ in dramatic fashion
Friends say Thunder Chicken bassist Wil Lucy was a loving, ‘kind-hearted guy’ who died unexpectedly. And Davis performed another Dylan tune on “The Voice” with impressive results while his blind audition song hit the Billboard charts. Watch the video.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Heavyweights Finals, North Mississippi Allstars, Big Dudee Roo, Big Boss Blues: Weekend Photo Gallery
Society Kills won Saturday’s Heavyweights competition between six heavy metal bands in Grand Rapids, with Local Spins capturing the battle in photos. But there was plenty more on this week’s docket, from Suicide Silence to North Mississippi Allstars to The Carboys.
Audio · Features · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
Local Spins on WYCE: RJ Nordlund of The Carboys, Justin Dore of Big Dudee Roo, plus new tracks from Joe Hertler, Desmond Jones, Fauxgrass
The March 6 edition of Local Spins on WYCE (Show No. 28) heralds the debut of Nordlund, a new country project led by RJ Nordlund, plus a bevy of regional music gems. Listen to the podcast, watch the video of the in-studio performance of a brand new Nordlund song.
Playlists · Top 10 Lists · Videos
‘The Voice’ contestant Joshua Davis: Local Spins Guest Playlist and video preview of his Battle Rounds performance
With northern Michigan’s Joshua Davis getting a hero’s welcome on his return to Traverse City this week based on his impressive run on “The Voice,” Local Spins revisits the Guest Playlist he compiled just before heading into the Battle Rounds in March. Check out some of his favorite songs, including tunes by local fave Jen Sygit and icons ranging from Joni Mitchell to Bob Dylan to Sister Rosetta Tharpe.
Artist Spotlights · Features · Videos
Fauxgrass ‘on the move’ with touring and work on new album a year after bassist’s devastating hand injury
With a reshuffled lineup that includes fiddler Jeffrey Niemeier, Grand Rapids’ prog-bluegrass band is crisscrossing the state and the country, working in the studio and just released a new video. And bassist Tim McKay has adjusted to a new style of playing since mangling his hand in a snowblower.
Michigan Album Reviews: Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers, The Lippies, The Outer Vibe, Backyard Songbook, Jade TV, Ben Scott-Brandt
The early March edition of Local Spins reviews probes regional albums with a pop sheen along with a few that boast truly inventive folk textures. Check out this month’s lineup, along with links for listening to the featured albums.
Concert reviews · Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
Winter Beer Festival, Floozies, Vox Vidorra, GR Musician Collective: Weekend Photo Gallery
Thousands braved bitter cold to drink beer and listen to music outdoors — some dressed in wild costumes — while others stayed indoors to revel in EDM, soul, hip hop, blues and rock. Check out the full photo gallery and some video snippets of the past week’s musical action.
Local Spins on WYCE · Playlists · Podcasts
Rick Chyme: The Local Spins Guest Playlist and Local Spins on WYCE podcast
As a bonus to his in-studio appearance Friday on WYCE, Grand Rapids hip hop artist Rick Chyme supplied Local Spins with a playlist of 12 songs that are near and dear to his heart, from The Roots to John Lennon. He plays Founders Brewing on Saturday night.
Features · Playlists · Upcoming shows
John Prine tribute tour featuring all-star Michigan band honors ‘incredible songwriter’
Mark Lavengood, Seth Bernard, Dan Rickabus, Michael Beauchamp and Max Lockwood will bring their tribute to four cities in four days: Kalamazoo, Traverse City, Bellaire and Fennville. Read the back story of this first-time tour and check out a playlist of John Prine gems.
Breaking music news · Features · Videos
‘The Voice’ and singer Joshua Davis: A positive ‘out of the box’ experience and once-in-a-lifetime opportunity
The 37-year-old Traverse City singer-songwriter talks to Local Spins about Monday’s “blind audition,” his national TV debut and moving on to the next round of the competition. And he has lots of good things to say about his L.A. experience. Watch a video of his performance.
Michigan Global Roots Music Festival aims to celebrate multi-cultural, instrumental magic in family-friendly fashion
The interactive, second annual festival started by An Dro percussionist Carolyn Koebel shifts from Lansing to Kalamazoo to Grand Rapids over three days, ending Sunday at One Trick Pony in Grand Rapids. Get details about the shows and lineups.
Swans blow fuse in Grand Rapids, plow ‘terrifying and thrilling’ sonic terrain (Review, photo gallery)
Playing in front of a capacity crowd at The Pyramid Scheme, New York’s legendary post-punkers led by Michael Gira delivered intense, lengthy and improvisational musical pieces. Read the review by Brian J. Bowe, with photos by Anthony Norkus.
The Accidentals, Paper Diamond, Cherub, American Wifi, Cooper’s Glen festival: Weekend Photo Gallery
Another weekend of riveting live music photos at Local Spins. This one took the bitter chill off with some big names and hot shows by the likes of Mike Mains & The Branches, Brad Fritcher + trois, Kevin Devine, Flint Eastwood, hi-ker and more.
Local Spins on WYCE: An Dro, plus the debut of new songs by The Crane Wives, Another One, The Invaders, An Dro
Welcome to Episode No. 26 of Local Spins on WYCE: A chat with Carolyn Koebel and Jim Spalink about their various musical projects, the upcoming Michigan Global Roots Music Festival and more. Check out the podcast, video.
Swans: The iconic post-punk band’s musical transmutation and ‘LSD carpentry’
Unleashing music that’s ‘not exactly typical pop pablum,’ the cutting-edge New York post-punk band with a Detroit connection plays Grand Rapids for the first time on Monday. Read the Local Spins interview by Brian J. Bowe.
Artist Spotlights · Podcasts · Videos
The ‘live feel’ of Grand Rapids electronic indie-pop band hi-ker: Local Spins Artist Spotlight
With an intriguing blend of influences, from The Talking Heads to Animal Collective, the emerging West Michigan band whose debut EP was a Jammie Award finalist for best album by a new artist plays The Pyramid Scheme on Friday and is eyeing a follow-up album in 2015. (Video, podcast)
Breaking music news · Concert announcements
Buttermilk Jamboree boasts stellar Michigan lineup and adds new stages for 2015
The family-oriented festival held in mid-June at Circle Pines Center will expand with more stages, national acts such as Brown Rice Family and local faves The Crane Wives, Alexis, The Accidentals and Seth & May. See the entire lineup thus far with information about early bird ticket sales.
Traverse City’s Great Indoor Folk Festival on Sunday to spotlight 100-plus regional musicians
The seventh annual indoor festival aims to “beat the doldrums” of winter with performances on seven stages by New Third Coast, Drive South, Ralston Bowles, Olivia Mainville, Missy Zenker, Miriam Pico, Sour Mash and more. Read about the popular indoor event, with links to directions and a full schedule.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Railroad Earth, Lindsay Lou & The Flatbellys, Megan Rae, Jesse Ray & The Carolina Catfish: The Weekend Photo Gallery
Flanking the mammoth Jammie Awards show on Friday which boasted dozens of West Michigan bands were other compelling live shows, from folk to rockabilly to country to bluegrass — all captured in photos at Local Spins.
Breaking music news · Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
Greensky Bluegrass, The Accidentals, The Soil & The Sun lead surprising bunch of Jammie Award winners
Ghost Heart, Seth Bernard, Hannah Rose Graves & Justin Wierenga, Dante Cope, Alexis and Jesse Ray & The Carolina Catfish shared the award spotlight during a jam-packed Intersection show on Friday. See the full list of winners, photo gallery and videos.
Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
Local Spins on WYCE: Mustard Plug, plus a recap of nominated albums by new artists
Episode No. 25 of Local Spins on WYCE was “the Jammie Awards” edition, with special guests David Kirchgessner and Brandon Jenison of Legacy Award winner Mustard Plug, plus tracks from best new artist album nominees. Listen to the podcast here.
Playlists · Top 10 Lists · Videos
Local Spins Guest Playlist: Singer-songwriter Max Lockwood
With the Jammie Awards being unleashed tonight, nominee and Big Dudee Roo frontman Max Lockwood offers up his batch of favorite songs, a diverse list spanning decades — from Pearl Jam to Gustav Mahler to Curtis Mayfield.
Josh Rose @ The Musicians’ Soundboard: Shunning pop’s “ol’ boy” network in favor of the Jammies’ inclusive music club
The West Michigan singer-songwriter pulls no punches in panning the “exclusive fraternity” of today’s hit-makers while embracing Friday’s local Jammie Awards show. Read his Local Spins guest column, then leave your own comments about the Jammies and you could win a local CD and tickets to an upcoming concert.
Breaking music news · Concert announcements
Diana Krall, Beach Boys, Temptations, Trombone Shorty to play Meijer Gardens summer concert series
The teaser announcement of three 2015 concerts for the outdoor amphitheater boasts big names, with the full schedule revealed in mid-April. Tickets go on sale to Meijer Gardens members on April 25.
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