The Grand Rapids rock bands made their Local Spins Hot Top 5 Chart debut in September with new studio rrecordings. Check out the chart, listen to tracks from all of the releases.
Concert reviews · Festivals · Photos
Kalamazoo’s Sounds of the Zoo wraps up amid sunshine and ‘sense of community’
From Spanish-infused rock to soul to folk to hip hop, the inaugural music festival reveled in good weather and an upbeat vibe. The recap and photo galleries at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Festivals · Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
Wynonna Judd, Brandi Carlile salute Naomi + Opiuo, Sounds of the Zoo, Horizon Fest & more
Friday’s Van Andel Arena show was a tribute to The Judds, part of a West Michigan weekend that included Sounds of the Zoo, Horizen Fest, the third-to-last show at Seven Steps Up, Lower Leisure Class, Opiuo, Larry Fleet and more. The photos at Local Spins.
Features · Local Spins Rewind · Summer Festivals · Top 10 Lists
Top 10 Michigan Music Stories of Summer 2022: The Local Spins List
As we dive into October, it’s time to look back at the Local Spins stories and reviews which got the most attention from readers over the summer.
Artist Spotlights · Breaking music news · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
Michigander’s Jason Singer breaks leg, delays EP and tour, but still kicks up big pop buzz
The anthemic pop band frontman reveals details about his latest calamity while debuting a new track for Local Spins on WYCE, which also showcased fresh music by several other Michigan artists. Get the back story, watch Michigander’s new music videos and listen to this week’s radio show podcast.
Concert reviews · Festivals · Photos
Sounds of the Zoo unfurls kaleidoscopic musical colors for mid-week shows
The first-year festival pumped up three different Kalamazoo venues Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday — and Local Spins was there to capture the action in words and photos.
Bitter Truth on mission to ignite, expand Grand Rapids’ hardcore music scene
With blood-pumping riffs and a vintage hardcore approach, the GR band has new music on the way while imploring more venues to showcase the genre. Get the back story on this band and a watch a video of their performance at Local Spins.
Bad Bad Hats create quirky, relatable charm at Grand Rapids tour stop
Nashville’s Wildermiss and Grand Rapids’ Phabies joined the indie pop-rock band for Tuesday’s concert at Calvin University. The review and photo gallery at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Festivals · Photos
Funk, hip hop, rock light fuse for first-ever Sounds of the Zoo festival in Kalamazoo
The Mainstays, DC, DJ Boogie and The Incantations made it a manic Monday at Bell’s Brewery, kicking off the inaugural Sounds of the Zoo with an eclectic blast. View the photo galleries at Local Spins.
Album reviews · Audio · Upcoming shows
Album Reviews: Lokella, The Accidentals, Djangophonique, Desmond Jones and more
After an insanely busy summer, Local Spins is back with a batch of reviews of 2022 releases by Michigan artists, from dark rock to folk to Gypsy swing to jam-band glory, plus a look at projects by Wild Honey Collective and Jeremy Ensley. Learn more about these diverse recordings and listen to tracks from each release.
Concert reviews · Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
Lucinda Williams, Tall Tall Trees, Peach Pit, Marcus King, Old 97’s ignite West Michigan
Revisit more than a half-dozen live shows in vibrant images at Local Spins, including Joe Hertler, Overdrive Orchestra, DJ Mel V, Lipstick Jodi, Melvins and more. Photo galleries you’ll only find at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
Keith Urban, Apocalyptica, Joe Hertler, Mary Gauthier, Oktoberfest fire up fall (Photos)
The kickoff to autumn 2022 had it all: country, folk, symphonic metal, Americana, soulful pop and German party music. Local Spins revisits the action in words and photos.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Upcoming shows · Videos
Overcoming MS, Michigan’s Dani Darling flaunts cool, reverent, psychedelic soul
The Ann Arbor chanteuse playing next week’s Sounds of the Zoo fest debuted a single for Local Spins on WYCE, which also aired new music by Last Gasp Collective, Martyr for Madison, Conklin Ceili Band, Keith Hall & more. Learn more about Dani Darling and the Kalamazoo festival, watch the singer’s new music video and listen to this week’s full radio show podcast.
Ever-inventive Joe Hertler, Tall Tall Trees ready to amp up tech-driven Confluence Festival
The free, second-year event at Grand Rapids’ Studio Park aims to unify art, music and technology for a multi-dimensional weekend experience. Get the lowdown at Local Spins and watch videos of the artists who’ll be playing music showcases.
Breaking music news · Photos · Videos
Michigan country singer Sadie Bass turns heads – and chairs – on ‘The Voice’
Hailing from Bath, Mich., the fast-rising country singer made a splash on the NBC show Tuesday and will advance to the next round. The story, video and photo gallery at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
Healing Reunion: Highlights from Earthwork Harvest Gathering 2022 (Photos, Video)
The return of last weekend’s Earthwork Harvest Gathering festival outside Lake City after a COVID hiatus was a Michigan-bred, music-filled celebration of love and community. The recap, photo gallery and video highlights, exclusively at Local Spins.
Juke Box Heroes: Foreigner caps Meijer Gardens season with vintage rock flourish
Playing amid mild temperatures and regaling a sold-out crowd, classic rock’s Foreigner delivered the outdoor amphitheater’s final punch of summer. The review, photo gallery and set list at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Bleachers, Perrin Bash, Ballpark Jam, Ghost-Note, BBI, Edison Jazz Fest rev it up: Recaps
A spectacular September weekend covered a lot of bases outdoors and in: indie-rock, country, funk, jazz, psych-rock and more. Get the recaps in words and photos at Local Spins.
‘Beloved’: A moving Grand Rapids Symphony swan song; Paula Cole impresses Forest Hills FAC
GR Symphony opened its season with passion, a premiere and one of the final concerts for a beloved percussionist, on the same night that iconic songwriters held court for a new series in Forest Hills. The concert reviews and photo galleries at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Emerging Artists to Watch · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Upcoming shows · Videos
Prior Noon poised to bring country-fueled ‘small-town roots’ to GR’s ‘Ballpark Jam’
The emerging Lowell band spotlighted new singles for Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuted tracks by Future Misters, DL Rossi, Chris Bathgate, Djangophonique, The Kings of Strings, Samil and more. Learn more about Prior Noon and Sullivan Field’s upcoming concerts.
Goo Goo Dolls prove at Meijer Gardens that Michigan ‘really loves rock ‘n’ roll’
Rolling out big hits such as “Iris,” “Slide” and “Black Balloon,” the New York rockers fired up a capacity crowd Thursday in the next-to-last Meijer Gardens concert of 2022. The review and photo gallery at Local Spins.
Breaking music news · Features
Billy Strings, The War and Treaty win major Americana Music Association awards
The Michigan artists landed major awards on Wednesday night in Nashville. See what prestigious honors they walked away with and their reaction at Local Spins.
Playlists · Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows · Videos
Muskegon Gets Celtic: Michigan Irish Music Festival returns with global and local stars
After a COVID interruption, the long-running Irish music spectacle kicks off tonight and runs through Sunday. Get the preview and festival map, playlist and videos at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Guest Column · Upcoming shows
Beat of a Different Drummer: Bill Vits’ legacy with GR Symphony, The Concussions & more
Battling terminal cancer, beloved W. Michigan musician Bill Vits played his final concerts with Grand Rapids Symphony in September. Before he passed away on Oct. 19, he shared his remarkable story in his own words with Local Spins
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
‘Sacred Ground’: Highlights from Wheatland 2022’s revelry, energy, musical prowess
The return of the beloved Wheatland Music Festival for the first time in three years outside Remus last weekend electrified fans and bands alike. Revisit the action in words, photos and video.
Paula Cole, Sophie B. Hawkins, Lucy Kaplansky to kick off inaugural Festival of the Arts series
A Friday concert and Saturday songwriting ‘master class’ at Forest Hills Fine Arts Center will launch the expansion of Festival’s mission to spread arts across West Michigan. Learn more about the weekend event and watch videos of the featured artists.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
Earthwork Harvest Gathering 2022 to create ‘chill landing zone’ for Michigan bands
After a three-year COVID hiatus, 85 acts will play a more subdued festival on Earthwork Farm outside Lake City next weekend. See what attendees can expect in this Local Spins preview and view the lineup for this year’s festival.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Eastown Streetfair, Mountain Goats, Wayland, Dayseeker, Mega Ran rally fans: Photo Recaps
September hasn’t seen any slowdown in concert fervor across West Michigan as Local Spins’ weekend photo galleries prove. Revisit the live music action in words and resplendent images.
Inaugural ‘Sounds of the Zoo’ festival raring to make Kalamazoo a music mecca
The brainchild of Jennifer Hudson-Prenkert, the week-long affair at several venues in downtown Kalamazoo will boast vastly diverse performances and a collaborative vibe. Learn more about this first-year event, view the full schedule and listen to a playlist of performers.
Concert reviews · Summer Concerts · Top 10 Lists
Local Spins’ Top 10 Summer Concerts of 2022: From Elvis Costello to Japanese Breakfast
Based purely on reader traffic for our concert reviews, Local Spins presents a fun Top 10 of this summer’s most memorable shows. Plus check out our editor’s Top 3 picks of the summer and fan comments on other favorite shows of the season.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Upcoming shows
Northern Michigan’s Brett Mitchell relishes touring behind latest pop-rock gems
The Bellaire-based singer-songwriter talked about his love of northern Michigan and shared new music for Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuted tracks by Bond Girl, Crossword Smiles, Michael Waite, Michael Varverakis, Trickified and more.
Photos · Venue Spotlight · Videos
Celebrating 50 Years: The Intersection revels as ‘godfather’ of Grand Rapids’ music scene
To commemorate the Grand Rapids nightclub’s half-century milestone, Local Spins Rewind today updates a 2017 Venue Spotlight on a hot spot that showcases ‘every genre of music.’ Get the history, take video tours and browse photo galleries at Local Spins.
Shaking It Up: All-new Local Spins Hot Top 5 Chart with Djangophonique, Jetty Rae, Samil
New releases by a diverse group of Michigan artists all made their Local Spins Hot Top 5 Chart debut in August and captivated listeners as well as radio programmers at WYCE (88.1 FM). View the chart, listen to music from all of the releases at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Emerging Artists to Watch · Upcoming shows
Community-driven Ugly Flannel churning out ‘superman ice cream’ of its favorite genres
With an eclectic sound, DIY roots and a new album on the way after signing with a Detroit record label, the Grand Rapids indie emo-punk band plays Wealthy Annex on Saturday. Learn more about this emerging outfit and watch one of their videos.
Biggest Eastown Street Fair in six years rolls out Saturday: Schedule & Local Spins playlist
More than 20 bands playing three different stages highlight the Grand Rapids Eastown community’s upcoming weekend celebration, which will also feature vendors, food trucks, beer. art and the WYCE CD & Record Sale. View the performance schedule, listen to a playlist of performers and get the complete Eastown Streetfair lowdown at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Live Music Recap: Kamasi Washington, Keller Williams, Izubel, Magic City Hippies, Emmylou
The week leading up to Labor Day brought a diverse mix of artists — national and local — to area stages. Local Spins was there to document the late-summer revelry in photos.
Lack of fair pay for the work they do? Labor Day’s State of the Union for Michigan musicians
Local Spins’ annual Labor Day column targeting hurdles still faced by working musicians in 2022 focuses on sobering results of a new Michigan Music Alliance survey. Peruse this year’s report and read comments from Michigan musicians.
Playlists · Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
The beautiful, internationally traditional ‘holy grail’: Wheatland Music Festival set for return
For the first time since the pre-COVID days of 2019, the beloved Michigan festival revs up next weekend with revered touring acts and Michigan stars. The preview, main stage schedule and a playlist at Local Spins
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
Honing its sound, Melophobix feeds off energy of fans for funky, genre-melding attack
Boasting a more exploratory approach, the Grand Rapids band debuted new tracks for Local Spins on WYCE, which also premiered music by Pretoria, Cal in Red, Rick Chyme, Chris Canas, The Legal Immigrants, Matt McAlpin, Super Future, Lucius Fox and more. Dive into the Melophobix back story and listen to this week’s radio show podcast at Local Spins.
‘Red Dirt Girl’ Emmylou Harris finds green pastures with beguiling eve at Meijer Gardens
Legendary country and Americana singer Emmylou Harris returned to Grand Rapids on Thursday with renowned singer-songwriter Mary Chapin Carpenter opening the show. Browse the photo gallery at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows · Videos
Acclaimed avant-pop artist Helado Negro excited to play ‘magical’ Traverse City
The boundary-pushing, ‘groove-heavy,’ bilingual artist from Asheville, N.C., headlines the inaugural All Call Music Festival taking place in Traverse City on Sunday. The Local Spins interview, plus Helado Negro’s latest music videos.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
Perrin Backyard Bash eyes return in September with ‘bigger names,’ bigger crowd
Gunnar & The Grizzly Boys, The Hacky Turtles and more will pump up the Sept. 17 party, with thousands expected to attend. View the schedule and get details at Local Spins.
Pitbull brings ‘Party of a Lifetime’ to Grand Rapids’ Van Andel Arena: Photo Gallery
The Miami rapper, singer and pop artist Pitbull delivered a dance-happy set on Tuesday night, along with Australian hip-hop artist Iggy Azalea. Browse the action-packed photos at Local Spins.
Playlists · Summer Festivals · Uncategorized · Upcoming shows
Twiddle, Shlump, Truth and more to pump up jams at northern Michigan’s Big Fam Festival
The Labor Day weekend festival at Liberty Mountain also boasts more than 50 Michigan acts, from Biomassive to Desmond Jones. Get the preview and the Big Fam Festival playlist at Local Spins.
‘Doesn’t get any better’: Forest Trail Music Festival 2022 revisited in words and photos
Last weekend’s cozy music festival in Free Soil left attendees raving about the regional bands and solo artists, as well as the atmosphere of the third-year event. The recap at Local Spins.
Playlists · Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
Inaugural All Call Music Fest set to power up ‘new, different music’ in Traverse City
The Labor Day weekend celebration at The Little Fleet will feature eclectic sets by national acts Helado Negro, Daniel Villarreal, Finom, Kaina, Tiny Jag and The Antivillains. Details and the full schedule at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Summer Festivals · Weekend Photo Gallery
Weekend Recap: Kehlani, Re(turn) to the River Fest, Disco Biscuits, Morgan Evans & more
August’s final weekend was chock full of sizzling live music, from national touring acts like Clownvis Presley and Michigan Rattlers to local favorites, all reflected in images at Local Spins. Get the recaps and check out more than a half-dozen photo galleries.
Looking for the Perfect Beat · Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
DJ giants set to amp up Labor Day weekend’s ARC Fest in Chicago, birthplace of house music
Local Spins’ Looking for the Perfect Beat columnist Todd Ernst gives West Michigan fans a sneak preview of The Windy City’s second annual massive celebration of electronic music starring Fatboy Slim, Carl Craig & more. View the schedule and tips for attending ARC Music Festival.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
Teen singer-songwriter Izubel striving to ‘spread the joy’ with debut indie-folk album
The emerging Rockford indie-folk/pop artist with a release show next week lit up Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuted new music by Cameron Blake, Low Phase, Martyr for Madison and much more. Learn more about Izubel and listen to this week’s radio show podcast.
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