Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
The venerable band jammed out Saturday to memorable songs from ‘Waiting for Columbus’ for a gleeful, near-capacity crowd that reveled in its revisiting of genre-spanning gems. Review, plus photos from several West Michigan concerts, including Mitchell Tenpenny, Martin Sexton, May Erlewine, Kanola Band and more.
Friday night’s live music lineup included emerging acts competing in the first night of a March battle and seasoned, acclaimed songwriters unfurling poignant, harmony-hued tunes in an intimate setting. Get the show recaps and browse the photo galleries at Local Spins.
Local Spins’ February chart based on WYCE airplay features repeat entries by three strong releases from Greensky Bluegrass, Kanola Band and Normal Mode. Listen to tracks from all of the charted albums.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
Releasing a new ‘Time Out’ EP today, the Traverse City-bred musicians play Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo this weekend with three iconic fellow songwriters. Local Spins on WYCE spotlights the new project and debuts tracks by several other Michigan bands. Learn more about the ‘Time Out’ project and listen to this week’s radio show podcast.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows · Videos
With an upcoming performance at Grand Rapids’ Listening Room, Local Spins writer Enrique Olmos profiles Kalamazoo singer-songwriter Kaitlin Rose and her ‘honest, healing’ music. Learn more about Rose and listen to her songs.
Kicking off with five bands on Friday, the month-long contest culminates in the finals on March 25, with cash prizes for winners. Get details and the band lineups at Local Spins.
Albums that Changed the World · Audio · Playlists
This week, Local Spins asked Grand Rapids saxophone icon John Gist to reveal the recordings that most influenced him as a musician, starting with the legendary Stanley Turrentine. Check out his picks, plus a current favorite that’s a ’60s classic.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows · Videos
In an interview with Local Spins, the legendary keyboardist talks about the “Waiting for Columbus” tour and Little Feat’s special place in rock history. Plus, watch videos from the anniversary tour and listen to a new recording of “Fat Man in the Bathtub.”
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
From the EDM mania of Virtual Riot to the jazz of Christian McBride to the blues of James Reeser and prog-rock of CBDB, it was a resplendent weekend of live music from Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo, captured in Local Spins images and show recaps.
Concert announcements · Summer Festivals
The Grand Rapids heavy metal festival announced its lineup this week – from Three Days Grace to Heartsick. June’s long-running Charlotte Bluegrass Festival also revealed its roster. Get details at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
With educator/musician Glenn Bulthuis hosting a Motown class in March, Local Spins on WYCE digs into Motown’s impact while also debuting new music by several Michigan artists. Learn more about Motown and listen to this week’s radio show podcast.
Launching a St. Patrick’s Day celebration a few weeks early, Gaelic Storm kicked up its heels Tuesday, followed by jam band Proxima Parada and Kalamazoo’s own Fake Baseball on Wednesday. Get the show recaps and view the photos at Local Spins.
Concert announcements · Summer Festivals
Michigan’s summer festival season shapes up as the busiest since 2019’s pre-COVID days. Check out lineups for three returning festivals, plus details about applying for June’s Festival of the Arts.
Today, Local Spins takes a deep dive into six recent, varied releases by artists from across West Michigan — Kalamazoo to Grand Rapids to Traverse City to Albion. Listen to tracks from all of the recordings.
Albums that Changed the World · Audio · Playlists
This week, Local Spins probes the intriguing musical influences of the multi-talented Grand Rapids artist Dante Cope, who propels the Les Creatif ensemble. View — and listen to — his picks for recordings that shaped him, along with the latest tracks from Les Creatif.
Artist Spotlights · Audio · Videos · Whatever Happened To
A rising West Michigan mainstay more than a decade ago, the folk-driven Potato Moon hints that its first album in 10-plus years may be in the works. Find out what band members are up to now in the latest installment of our “Whatever Happened To” series revisiting once prominent regional acts.
Concert reviews · Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
Saturday’s concert at Fountain Street Church highlighted a robust weekend of live music and events from Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo to Hudsonville: Caroline Jones, Beach House, Marc E. Bassy, Mungion, 1964 The Tribute & more in Local Spins photos and recaps.
Several genre-spanning shows — big and small — helped fire up and heat up February in Grand Rapids on Thursday and Friday. The recaps in words and photos at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE
The band led by Karli Morehouse aims to ‘hit the ground running’ with shows and new music this year. Plus, Local Spins on WYCE debuts fresh Michigan-made tracks, from Steven Malcolm to The Good Old Days to Fake Baseball and Grace Theisen. Listen to the full radio show podcast.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows · Videos
The platinum-selling singer-songwriter plays Calvin University on Friday night. In an interview with Local Spins writer Enrique Olmos, McMillan covered a lot of bases — from religion to aliens.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows · Videos
With her tour stopping at Fountain Street Church on Saturday, Waxahatchee’s Katie Crutchfield opens up to Local Spins writer Enrique Olmos about her sobriety, cooking, astrology and songwriting. Learn more about Waxahatchee and watch her videos at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows
The mammoth Christian music tour rolls into Grand Rapids on Friday night. The Local Spins interview with John Cooper of headliner Skillet. Plus, get more details about the Winter Jam tour.
Concert announcements · Summer Concerts
Meijer Gardens also plans to expand its Tuesday Evening Music Club Series, according to today’s teaser announcement. Get more details at Local Spins.
Albums that Changed the World · Audio · Playlists
The Local Spins series highlighting music that most influenced Michigan musicians continues with Michigander frontman Jason Singer revealing his picks — plus a couple of current faves he “can’t stop” playing and a pair of Michigander tracks.
Concert announcements · Summer Concerts
The northern Michigan venue and arts academy today revealed the first two of its summer 2022 shows, with more in the offing. Details at Local Spins.
This February roundup of new Michigan albums also features an in-depth look at releases from Detroit rock band Three Spoke Wheel and Kalamazoo’s Jay Gavan. Plus, sample tracks from all of the albums.
Concert reviews · Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
Emerging hip hop star Steven Malcolm wrapped up his ‘Long Live the Hype Tour’ at a jam-packed Muse GR Saturday, wrapping up a weekend of diverse live music — country, hip hop, funk, rock, folk — captured in Local Spins photos and videos. Revisit shows by Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, Niko Moon, Scotty McCreery, The Legal Immigrants, King Possum, Conrad Shock + The Noise, Lisa Can’t Sing and Erin Enderlin.
Super Bowl weekend once again delivers a Local Spins playlist for the ages: A roundup of songs by this year’s halftime performers that tells the tragic tale of the Motor City’s last-place Lions. Hey, things can only get better from here, right?
Concert announcements · Summer Festivals
After previously being held in northern Michigan, the festival hosted by Greensky Bluegrass will relocate to “a stone’s throw from Grand Rapids.” Get the lowdown at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Videos
The Grand Rapids band today debuts a new video at Local Spins, which also spotlights fresh tracks by Katie Pederson, The Volcanic, Flowers on the Grave, Jay Gavan, Drew Hale, Laura Rain and more. Watch the video, listen to the Local Spins on WYCE radio show podcast and learn more about Phabies in today’s Artist Spotlight.
Local Spins Rewind · Photos · Videos
This was to be the weekend when WYCE’s Jammie Awards finally returned to The Intersection. The pandemic, however, has pushed that back to June. So today, Local Spins revisits the jubilant 2020 awards show in words, photos and video highlights.
Artist Spotlights · Audio · Videos
The busy northern Michigan artist just released a new album, with plans for another release later this year. Local Spins catches up with country/roots rocker Drew Hale in today’s profile and showcases some of his latest tracks.
Albums that Changed the World · Audio · Playlists
With a new record on the way, ‘Michigan Songbird’ May Erlewine plays St. Cecilia Music Center in Grand Rapids on Feb. 17. Today, she reveals that albums that have influenced her the most. Bend an ear to the recordings, along with songs from Erlewine herself.
The Kalamazoo-bred progressive bluegrass band soared straight to the top of the WYCE chart with its eighth studio album. Listen to tracks from all of the charted albums.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
This week’s roundup of concert photos actually starts last weekend with the return of live music to Founders, plus the first West Michigan shows in quite some time starring some compelling bands. Browse all of the photo galleries at Local Spins.
Local Spins Rewind · Playlists
This column ran prior to the 2021 Super Bowl, with the wretched tale of the Lions told in hit singles by last year’s halftime performer, The Weeknd. Come back next week when we’ll do the same for the 2022 roster of halftime stars.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
The Kalamazoo super-group previewed its debut album for Local Spins on WYCE, which also premiered tracks by Chirp, Bradley Sinclair, The Blue Pines, Aspen Jacobsen, Cross Eyed Strangers, Katy Needs a Life and other Michigan artists. Learn more about Fake Baseball and listen to this week’s full radio show podcast.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows · Videos
To help kick off Black History Month, Local Spins today profiles veteran singer Serita Crowley of Serita’s Black Rose, a mainstay on area stages with compelling, blues-fired new original music in the works. The Artist Spotlight feature and video.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows · Videos
The 17-year-old artist with a new single who’s performed since she was 9 is part of this week’s ‘Interlochen Singers & Songwriters Concert’ for up-and-coming tunesmiths. And that’s just part of an action-packed 2022 ahead. She’s this week’s ‘Artist to Watch,’ part of our 2022 series on rising stars.
Albums that Changed the World · Playlists
The Local Spins series continues today with a focus on recordings that most influenced the frontman for Grand Rapids indie-rock’s Major Murphy, from the Beatles to Breathe Owl Breathe to Here We Go Magic. Sample all of the albums, plus tracks from Major Murphy’s latest release.
Concert announcements · Summer Festivals
After a two-year hiatus, the diverse three-day festival on Shagbark Farm near Caledonia will also feature Tunde Olaniran, Desmond Jones, Lady Ace Boogie, Dixon’s Violin, Sophistafunk and dozens more. View the lineup and get more details about the final edition of Cowpie at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
This weekend’s photo roundup of West Michigan concerts zeroes in on a Grammy-nominated star, an emerging country artist, tributes to ABBA and The Beatles, and three compelling female singer-songwriters. Browse the photo galleries at Local Spins.
A year ago this weekend, The Ark staged a successful online-only version of its popular folk festival with a host of national and regional stars. Tonight, it goes virtual again with a Michigan tribute to songwriter Nanci Griffith featuring performances by The Accidentals, May Erlewine, Annie and Rod Capps and many more. Get details and revisit last year’s event here.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Upcoming shows
The super-trio with a Tuesday night residency at Listening Room in February was featured by Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuted music by The Accidentals, FINKEL, Luke Winslow-King, Morgan Haner, Emma A. Ward, Prior Noon, Daniel Terry, Jack White and more. Learn more about Normal Mode and listen to this week’s radio show podcast.
Album reviews · Audio · Upcoming shows
This late January round-up of new releases by Michigan artists ranges from the latest by a national bluegrass powerhouse to the debut of a new Grand Rapids project to a heavy metal fusillade from Detroit. Browse the reviews and listen to tracks from all of the releases at Local Spins.
A renowned cast of well-wishers — including Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland, Emily Saliers of The Indigo Girls, Tommy Emmanuel, Rosanne Cash and more — will help commemorate the milestone on Sunday, recalling an important era in music history. The event will be live-streamed by the Michigan Music Alliance. Get details at Local Spins and learn more about Stearns and the ‘Kalamazoo Gals’ who built Gibson guitars during World War II.
Albums that Changed the World · Audio · Playlists
Today’s installment of this popular Local Spins series features albums that influenced and shaped mid-Michigan producer and musician Jake Rye, who’s spun the dials on some impressive projects. Listen to tracks from all of his picks.
Artist Spotlights · Whatever Happened To
Once the frontman for Grand Rapids folk-rock outfits Watching for Foxes and Winnow, Joey Frendo has since moved to Oklahoma where he’s carving out a career as a solo artist. The Local Spins interview.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
This weekend’s concert photo roundup has a distinctly jazzy flavor — national and local — plus it features a tour stop by Swedish dubstep star Liquid Stranger and a Kalamazoo showcase with WOOTS and Grace Theisen. Browse the images at Local Spins.
It was a spectacle. For Friday’s Grand Rapids tour stop on his ‘Gather Again’ tour, country star Eric Church uncorked his mix of ‘Country Music Jesus,’ ‘That’s Damn Rock & Roll’ and ‘Smoke a Little Smoke’ for enthused fans. The review, photos and set list at Local Spins.
