The Traverse City alt-folk trio joined other Michigan stars in a Holland benefit concert for an ailing super-fan, part of a 55-concert summer that also includes finishing up a new studio album and scoring songs for orchestras
Playlists · Top 10 Lists · Videos
Freedom Rock: The Local Spins Top 10 playlist for the Fourth of July
Celebrate Independence Day with a Local Spins soundtrack for the holiday that’s all about freedom, in all its glory, with songs by everyone from Jimi Hendrix to Neil Young to Tom Petty to Beyonce.
Artist Spotlights · Audio · Podcasts
Local Spins on Michigan Radio: The passionate reinvention of Winnow, Molly and August
Local Spins’ July segment highlighted two Grand Rapids acts who’ve retooled their approach a little bit and a new band featuring members from another group with a vastly different sound. Listen to the statewide podcast and songs from the featured artists.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals · Top 10 Lists
Electric Forest Revisited: The Top 10 best things about #EF2019
Local Spins writer Ryan Boldrey made the most of his first Electric Forest experience and came up with his Top 10 impressions from a wondrous weekend in the woods of Rothbury. Check out his picks and browse the photo gallery by Anna Sink.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
Los Lonely Boys christen Grand Haven’s new waterfront stadium with rock ‘n’ roll party
The Summer Sessions Concert Series debut on a sun-splashed Monday night along the Grand River channel in Grand Haven kicked off July in impressive fashion. Get the review of Los Lonely Boys and Tony Lucca, ogle the photos of this new venue and watch the video at Local Spins.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
The Big List (July 1-7): Los Lonely Boys, Nikki Hill, Daddy Long Legs, Dumpstaphunk, LudRock, Tuesday Evening Music Club
The Fourth of July holiday week also delivers musical fireworks from Beths, Delta Rae, Kyle Jennings, Go Rounds, the return of Pedro’s Pig Roast and much more. Plus, see how you can win tickets to see the uber-energetic rock ‘n’ roll of Nikki Hill.
Concert reviews · Summer Concerts · Weekend Photo Gallery
Built to Spill, RAIN, JuneGrass, Jon Stickley: Weekend Photo Galleries
Amid big events such as Electric Forest and Common Ground, West Michigan music fans also reveled in some crowd-pleasing tour stops and a Lowell bluegrass festival. Peruse the images at Local Spins
Commentary · Photos · Summer Festivals
Electric Forest’s magical mystery tour of marvels, merrymaking and boundless energy
Three days at the wondrous and sprawling festival in Rothbury can feel like a year anywhere else. Local Spins writer Ryan Boldrey immersed himself in Electric Forest for the first time and found surprises throughout, as well as a supportive, caring ‘Forest Family’ that extends to a drug-free faction of the community. Check out his column, browse the photo gallery.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
Winnow revisits stripped-down approach for dynamic, alt-country musical stories
Reoriented as a duo, Winnow releases a new EP this month and performed during this week’s Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuted new tracks by As Am I, Ghost-Orchard, Free Hat, The Accidentals and more. Watch the video, read Winnow’s back story and listen to the full radio show podcast at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
Common Ground launches with sweaty, crowd-wowing sets by Brandi Carlile, Robert Randolph
The four-day festival in Lansing reveled in summer weather and a rock vibe, with hip hop, country and electronic music still to come. Check out the opening-day recap and Local Spins photo gallery featuring Brandi Carlile, Robert Randolph and City and Colour.
Big Easy favorite Trombone Shorty and musical krewe invigorate sold-out Meijer Gardens
The talented multi-instrumentalist packed the amphitheater for the third year in a row, inspiring the big crowd to move to an energetic mix of jazz, funk and rock. Get the review and peruse the photo gallery at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
Electric Forest 2019 opens with teeming throngs, sun, heavy beats, funk and fun
More than 45,000 strong flooded the sprawling site in Rothbury on Thursday, with a Michigan favorite getting the music train rolling. Get the first-day recap and browse the robust photo gallery at Local Spins.
O.A.R. stirs it up at Meijer Gardens with ‘Crazy Game’ of fan-firing rock
The alt-rock band’s return to the sold-out amphitheater on Wednesday came amid splendid summer weather. Check out the review and browse the photo gallery at Local Spins.
Knower, Amtrac, Jellybean, Yotto, Lee Fields: The 2019 Electric Forest Musicians’ Picks
With Electric Forest opening to early campers today, Local Spins asked two Michigan performers at the festival and an electronic music guru to pick this weekend’s must-see acts. Check out their selections and listen to a Spotify playlist of their picks.
Breaking music news · Summer Festivals
Walk the Beat festival set to return to Grand Haven in August with 46 bands
After taking a hiatus in 2018, the popular and unusual festival featuring local and regional acts playing nearly two dozen venues is back in this lakeshore community. See the lineup, get details at Local Spins.
Features · Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
Electric Forest 2019: The Local Spins festival guide, tips and music picks
For the ninth year, the much-ballyhooed Electric Forest music festival ramps up this weekend with electronic music, jams, psychedelic art installations and a hippie vibe. Get the lowdown, Forest rules and a preview at Local Spins.
Steve Miller, Marty Stuart add ‘hot sauce’ to classic rock and country throwdown
Returning to Meijer Gardens, the Steve Miller Band held off the rain Monday night with help from country star Marty Stuart — who joined Miller on stage — and blues guitarist Matt Andersen. Peruse the review and photo gallery, exclusively at Local Spins.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
The Big List (June 24-30): Shawn Mendes, O.A.R., Electric Forest, Steve Miller, Common Ground, JuneGrass, Trombone Shorty
It’s full steam ahead for summer concerts, with Hillsong United, Wayne Baker Brooks, Liz Longley, Lovelytheband, Jon Stickley, Built to Spill and much more on the docket. Get the lowdown and ticket links for this week’s shows at Local Spins, and see how you can win free tickets to see Hey Marco’s Steely Dan tribute.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Week-in-Review: Molly, The Go Rounds, Concussions, Yolonda, Jesse Ray, Guitar UP!
From Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo to Allegan, West Michigan celebrated the arrival of summer with live music and album-release shows, captured in images at Local Spins. Check out all of the resplendent photo galleries at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
Founders Fest throngs party hearty with Gov’t Mule, Toots, Macy, War & Treaty, Lady Ace
With a jump in attendance from last year, Founders Fest 2019 drew thousands for a beer-propelled Grand Rapids street party with no shortage of dynamic sets by national and regional acts. Check out the review and recap at Local Spins, along with two photo galleries and three videos.
Grand River Water Festival oozes ‘relaxed’ vibe with music for a good cause
With a chill, laid-back atmosphere, the 10th edition of the Grand River Water Festival spilled out along the Grand River in Grand Rapids on Saturday. Get the recap and browse the photo gallery at Local Spins.
Singer Macy Gray talks new music, CBD line and being present
In a Local Spins interview, Macy Gray, one of Founders Fest’s featured acts this weekend and a Grammy-winning artist, said she plans to release a video for her single, “Buddha,” in July and tour Europe, with ‘a proper U.S. tour next year.’ The story with videos at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Concerts
Old Crow Medicine Show celebrates summer solstice with acrobatic bluegrass display
The country/bluegrass Nashville-based, Virginia-bred band enthralled a sold-out Meijer Gardens audience on Friday in its triumphant return to the Grand Rapids venue. Check out the Local Spins review and photo gallery.
Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
Local Spins on WYCE: Nobody’s Darlin’ reunites in-studio plus new regional music
Check out a live performance by the all-female string band Nobody’s Darlin’ and the debut of tracks by Dennie Middleton, Porter Kenyon, Beaver Xing, August, Aspen Jacobsen and more. Listen to the full radio show podcast.
Big Head Todd, Toad the Wet Sprocket deliver double-dose of ’90s nostalgia and more
The bands also rolled out some new material for fans at Meijer Gardens. Check out the review and photo gallery at Local Spins.
Album Releases · Artist Spotlights · Kalamazoo · Upcoming shows
Surf’s up with West Michigan’s Guitar UP! as band releases new ‘Western Pacific’ album
This quartet brings a Pacific Coast and Spaghetti Western vibe to its music, channeling Dick Dale, Link Wray and Agent 007 along the way. Get the back story, listen to their music at Local Spins.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
Grand River Water Festival poised for 10th year of music, environmental advocacy
Saturday’s day-long affair in Riverside Park will once again blend music with water education. See the full schedule for Grand River Water Festival 2019 and a festival playlist at Local Spins, and find out why this is such a beloved event for many Michiganders.
Artist Spotlights · Audio · Upcoming shows
The raw, uncompromising ‘real stories’ of Grand Rapids singer-songwriter Molly
The former frontwoman for Vox Vidorra is set to release a new solo EP and video on Friday at Creston Brewery. Learn more about the project at Local Spins and listen to her captivating single.
Josh Groban “Bridges” generation gap with heartfelt songs, personal touches
The gracious, operatic pop singer unfurled a wide-ranging set of music for fans at a near-capacity Van Andel Arena on Tuesday. Check out the Local Spins review and photo gallery.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows · Videos
Sweet Water Warblers super-group preparing for Michigan mini-tour, debut LP
The all-star trio of Michigan-bred singers — May Erlewine, Lindsay Lou and Rachael Davis — launch a four-show run through the Mitten at Bell’s in Kalamazoo on Wednesday, and are eyeing a really big year for Sweet Water Warblers in 2020. Learn more about the group, watch videos of their performances at Local Spins.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
The Big List (June 17-23): Josh Groban, Big Head Todd, Founders Fest, Grand River Water Fest, Charlotte Bluegrass Fest, Tip Top’s Birthday
Old Crow Medicine Show, Electric Six, The Mystic Braves, Gnash, Lindsay Beaver, Molly, Sweet Water Warblers, August, The Hill People, Guitar UP, The Concussions also fill out a hefty week of concerts. Plus, see how you can win tickets to Mollly’s EP-release show with The Go Rounds.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Concerts · Summer Festivals
Week-in-Review: Buttermilk Jamboree jams on, Jake Kershaw’s Summertime Blues, Hannah Rose rocks Rockford
Live music in Michigan’s great outdoors got rolling this past week with the first Rogue River Blues Series and LAV Summertime Blues shows, Rockford Start of Summer and Buttermilk Jamboree. Revisit them via photos and a video at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
Grand Rapids Pride Festival celebrates with music, powerful message: ‘This is our time’
Dodging some rain, Saturday’s festival on Calder Plaza boasted live music from MAX, Sizzy Rocket, Mya and local musicians, drag displays and food, with an inspirational vibe for the LGBTQ community. Recap and photos at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Kalamazoo · Photos
Trampled By Turtles take over Bell’s Beer Garden with fast grass, haunting melodies
The rains lifted just in time for the second of two Duluth, Minn., bands to rock the sold-out beer garden. Offering up a perfectly balanced, nearly all-original setlist, TBT performed its share of classic cuts, new numbers and a rousing Pixies’ cover to close it out. Photos, videos and review at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
Buttermilk Jamboree rocks, rolls, folks and funks on a robust Day 1
Amid Friday’s pleasant weather, Buttermilk Jamboree boasted one of the best opening days for a Michigan music festival in recent memory. Get the recap, photos and video highlights at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
How to Live Together: Fun, upbeat synth-pop with ‘heavy, meaningful lyrics’
The Grand Rapids “synth-usiasts” of How to Live Together, who are headlining Synth Night on Friday night at The Pyramid Scheme, brought their compelling approach to Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuted tracks by Molly, Lipstick Jodi, Boss Ruff, Stef Chura and more.
New Kids on the Block unleash nostalgic ‘Mixtape’ of songs, stars at Van Andel Arena
The boy band brought its hits and a stage spectacle to Grand Rapids Thursday along with plenty of nostalgia for devoted fans, plus appearances by Salt-N-Pepa, Tiffany, Debbie Gibson and Naughty by Nature. Get the show recap and a photo gallery at Local Spins.
Lake Street Dive, The Wood Brothers ‘free up,’ fire up Grand Rapids fans
The Wednesday night tour stop dodged rain and served up a tantalizing combo of acts for a sold-out Meijer Gardens amphitheater. Get the review and photo gallery at Local Spins.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
Buttermilk Jamboree 2019: Local Spins’ Best of Buttermilk Picks for a music-filled weekend
Circle Pines Center south of Grand Rapids will again host this family-friendly festival boasting regional stars with a few national acts. Local Spins asked some performers to pick must-see acts for the weekend. Plus, browse the full festival schedule and listen to a Local Spins playlist of Buttermilk Jamboree performers.
Concert announcements · Summer Concerts
GRAM on the Green 2019: Last Gasp Collective, Molly, Pink Sky, Lipstick Jodi, Hannah Rose
The summer music scene is heating up. Check out the Grand Rapids Art Museum’s diverse lineup for Thursday nights, plus the June schedule for Garage Bar’s Wednesday Block Party and Bike Night series.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
Camp Greensky Revisited: Camaraderie, collaboration, ‘incredible energy’
Last weekend’s second-year festival hosted by Greensky Bluegrass in the Manistee National Forest gave 2,100-plus attendees from all over the country memories to treasure. Relive some of the highlights in this recap by writer Ryan Boldrey with a colorful photo gallery by Anna Sink.
Buddy Guy, Kenny Wayne Shepherd prove ‘blues is alive and well’ at Meijer Gardens
The Monday concert paired one of music’s most influential bluesman, Buddy Guy, with a blues-rock virtuoso, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, for a night of guitar-driven joy. The review and photos at Local Spins.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
The Big List (June 10-16): New Kids on the Block, Lake Street Dive, All That Remains, Buttermilk Jamboree, Pentatonix
Buddy Guy and Kenny Wayne Shepherd start a week that also features big community concerts, the Ronnie James Dio hologram tour, Grand Rapids Pride Festival, Trampled by Turtles, Rockford’s Start Of Summer, LAV’s Summertime Blues and more. And see how you can win tickets to Thank You Scientist or Synth Night.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Concerts
High-intensity guitar duo Rodrigo y Gabriela get ‘warm and cozy’ in rain at Meijer Gardens
A weekend of impeccable weather came to an end with rain Sunday, but it didn’t deter the phenoms or their fans from reveling in dazzling, acoustic guitar-driven rock. And they even gave an unusual local musician some stage time. Check out the review and photo gallery at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
B93 Birthday Bash, GR Festival, Bridge Blast, Kalamazoo Pride heat up June: Photo galleries
Beautiful summery weather set the table for crowd-pleasing outdoor music from Comstock Park to Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo. Get the recap and photos at Local Spins, along with some indoor shows starring local bands.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
Festival’s 50th unfurls ‘smorgasbord’ of sun-splashed entertainment on opening day
The three-day celebration of the arts in downtown Grand Rapids couldn’t have ordered better weather or offered more diverse music on Friday. And it continues today and Sunday. Check out the Day 1 recap and photo gallery at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
The Brandino Extravaganza: A ‘full-on one-man band’ with an ambiguous funky folk twist
Grand Rapids musician Brandon Proch demonstrated his musical “tap dance” for Local Spins on WYCE, which also premiered tracks by Cold Mountain Child, Desmond Jones, Von Kaiser, James Reeser & The Backseat Drivers and more. Watch the in-studio video, listen to the radio show podcast.
Nahko Bear brings Medicine for the People, positivity, cameraderie to Meijer Gardens
Thursday’s official opening to the 2019 national concert series in the refurbished amphitheater offered a celebratory vibe amid nearly perfect weather thanks to Nahko Bear and Medicine for the People. The review and photo gallery at Local Spins.
Podcasts · RSVP Music Chat · Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
Festival 2019: 50 years of saluting the arts with ‘largest performance schedule’ in decades
Listen to the RSVP Music Chat podcast with three key figures in the 2019 edition of Grand Rapids’ Festival of the Arts — David Abbott, Fred Bivins and James Sofranko — which takes over downtown Grand Rapids starting Friday.
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