The California DJ and producer unfurled the first of two straight sold-out Halloween weekend shows for a costume-bedecked throng of exuberant fans at DeltaPlex Arena. Check out the wild and resplendent photo gallery from Friday night’s show.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
Bet on Rats proud to bring punk attitude to ‘danceable folk-rock’: Local Spins on WYCE
The Grand Rapids band which unleashes its sophomore album on Sunday at The Pyramid Scheme cranked it up on the radio show, which also debuted new songs by Murder Party, Ars Nova, The Sauce, Cartorson, Trash Hounds, The Boulevard Billies and more. Read the story and listen to the podcast at Local Spins.
Local Spins Halloween Playlist No. 4: Hazy Past’s Brian Haik gets strange with Alice Cooper, Dead Kennedys and David Bowie
Like Ministry (and Alice Cooper), Grand Rapids musician Brian Haik really wishes every day was Halloween, so he concocted his own roster of rock-oriented, fun Top 10 faves for the Local Spins Halloween guest playlist. Listen to the songs, check out the videos while you’re getting your monster gear and werewolf garb ready.
Music on Campus · Upcoming shows
World’s leading female classical guitarist Lily Afshar to play Hope College; 22-year-old French guitar star Thibaut Garcia stops at GRCC
This edition of the “Music on Campus” round-up in the Grand Rapids area: Classical guitar devotees can look forward to an earful and an eyeful over the next week as two of the globe’s preeminent young acoustic musicians perform in West Michigan. Get the details at Local Spins.
Local Spins Live · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
Local Spins on WYCE: Diff & Dudley plus new tracks from Nashon Holloway, Benjaman James, Friends With the Weather
The Oct. 21 edition of Local Spins on WYCE boasted an in-studio performance by vintage country’s Diff & Dudley, plus new music by Nashon Holloway, Benjaman James and Friends With the Weather. And this week’s episode of Local Spins Live on WJRW got creepy for the holidays with some Halloween-hued rock. Read the story and check out both radio podcasts at Local Spins.
Halloween Playlist No. 3: Concussions’ Tommy Schichtel throws a ‘Mad Monster Party’ with ghost riders, werewolves, headless horsemen
Local Spins continues its series of Halloween guest playlists with Dick Chicklet’s gruesomely groovy Top 10, from Black Sabbath and The Troggs to The Surfmen, Thurl Ravenscroft and Link Wray. Check out the videos and Spotify playlist to tingle your spine as you get ready for the creepiest of holidays.
Halloween Hoopla, West Michigan-style: From Stranger Things to a Fear Factory, a guide to your masquerade mayhem
Halloween falling on a Monday just gives folks an excuse to extend the weekend and party like zombies four nights in a row. Local Spins has your guide to West Michigan’s haunting musical maelstrom of fun. Make your plans by checking out this mega-roster of Halloween bashes.
Cold Creek Campout festival’s ‘great intimate experience’ produces ‘special night’: The Local Spins Photo Gallery
The debut of the Cold Creek Campout on property near Fremont featured nine West Michigan bands bringing their “A-game” on Saturday, playing for a small but enthused cadre of fans. Check out the photo gallery from this new autumn music festival.
Tegan and Sara, LoCash, Failure, Heaters, Seth Bernard, Har Mar Superstar, M.C. Nightshade: Week-in-Review Photo Galleries
October’s autumn splendor came in the form of an eclectic blend of West Michigan concerts by touring national acts and much-beloved local stars. Check out all of the images at Local Spins.
Local Spins Halloween Playlist No. 2: Murder Party’s Rob Bruce kills it with ‘Blood on the Wall,’ ‘Chainsaw Massacre’ and more
There’s no party like a Murder Party Halloween party. And this Grand Rapids rock band’s frontman has come up with a menacingly maniacal Top 10 party soundtrack that even boasts a local flavor.
Brand New adds to cult legacy with ‘raging,’ fan-pleasing finale at DeltaPlex
In what could be the band’s final salvo for West Michigan fans, the New York alt-rock/emo outfit offered up its own eulogy via dark, crowd-rousing songs. Read the Local Spins review and browse the photo gallery.
Breaking music news · Upcoming shows
Cold Creek Campout scrambles to relocate to land near Fremont; still plans to spotlight nine West Michigan bands Saturday
Forced to move from Hart earlier this week due to a miscommunication regarding use of the property, the organizer has shifted the first-time festival to eight acres of rural land outside Fremont. Check out details of this free event and a full schedule at Local Spins.
Local Spins Halloween Playlist No. 1: Rockabilly’s Delilah DeWylde scares up faves from the Hellbenders to Eddie Angel
To get all of you ghouls and goblins in a frightening frame of mind for Halloween, West Michigan rockabilly queen Delilah DeWylde offers Local Spins a rollicking Top 10 of spine-tinglers, from Screamin’ Jay Hawkins to Los Straitjackets to The 3-D Invisibles. Give ’em a listen, if you dare.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows
Hammond organ ‘madness’: Jim Alfredson and Brian Charette team up for rare four-fisted keyboard tour
The Charette-Alfredson Organ Duo featuring two acclaimed, award-winning musicians will play Grand Rapids’ SpeakEZ Lounge on Saturday to wrap up a limited Midwest tour. Read the back story of this unique collaboration.
Album Releases · Artist Spotlights
Seth Bernard keeps blazing new musical trails with unique collaborations, socially conscious songs: Local Spins Rewind
The Michigan singer-songwriter and Earthwork Music collective founder has had a whirlwind year after releasing his response to “a defining time for humanity.” With Bernard playing Grand Rapids Wednesday night, Local Spins Rewind revisits a feature that first ran earlier this year.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
Grand Rapids singer-songwriter Dale Wicks’ four-year quest produces ‘hopeful and reflective’ album
A songwriting challenge produced many of the tracks that appear on Wicks’ new album, which officially gets released Sunday. He performed with guitarist Eric Boyea for Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuted new tracks by regional artists. Listen to the full radio podcast.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Photo Galleries and Concert Recap: Tunde Olaniran, Founders Harvest Party, The Legal Immigrants, Justin Wierenga, Particle
For this week’s concert roundup, Local Spins chose a mix of regional acts and those performing at Founders Brewing Co.’s 13th annual Harvest Party in Grand Rapids, Spring Lake’s Seven Steps Up and Bell’s Brewery in Kalamazoo. Check out the images in these photo galleries.
Concert reviews · Guest Column · Photos
Desert Trip: A West Michigan musician’s wild and wobbly, inspiring, magical mystery tour odyssey to see McCartney, The Stones, Dylan
Singer-songwriter Nicholas James Thomasma packed up his flawed-but-fabulous ’73 VW bus and made the 2,200-mile trek to California to see a half-dozen rock legends. This is his story in words, photos and videos — only at Local Spins.
Live at River City · Podcasts · Videos
Watching for Foxes taps ‘raw emotion’ for ever-expanding flannel rock sound: The Local Spins Live at River City Studios session
The Grand Rapids indie folk-rock ensemble talks about its growth as a band and performs in-studio for the latest edition of HopCat presents Local Spins Live. Check out the story, listen to the podcast and watch the video from this intimate interview and concert.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins Live · Podcasts · Videos
Joe Cartoon morphs into Kerrville award-winning singer-songwriter Joe Shields
The Grand Rapids-area artist who first made a splash as an animator has reinvented himself as a uniquely entertaining songwriter embarking on a bold new adventure. He plays SpeakEZ Lounge on Wednesday night.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows
Tunde Olaniran dancer Aurora Lewis revels in ‘surreal,’ captivating and fun stage spectacle
The Grand Rapids dancer and former Big Dudee Roo member has relocated to Flint, but returns home for Friday’s Tunde Olaniran show at The Pyramid Scheme. Read the story about this artist’s stage journey.
Nine West Michigan music videos you absolutely must see
In recent months, some of West Michigan’s most promising bands have turned their songs into visually fetching videos. Here are nine to ogle, courtesy of Local Spins, from rock to hip hop to harmony-hued folk.
Beats Antique, The Accidentals, Chris Robinson, Skillet, The Suffers, Suzies, Mustard Plug, The Crane Wives, The Legal Immigrants: Week in Review in Photos
The week in photos includes a big ArtPrize viewing party, some national tour stops, CD-release shows and rousing sets by regional acts from Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo: Skillet, Beats Antique, Chris Robinson Brotherhood, Suzies, Trash Hounds, Mustard Plug, The Legal Immigrants, The Whigs, The Suffers.
Ingrid Michaelson lights up Calvin College crowd with festive, indie-pop spectacle
Hell, yes, the college-age fans ate it up. Ingrid Michaelson brought her “Hell No” tour to Grand Rapids and schooled her devotees in the art of pop flair. Check out the review and photos at Local Spins.
ArtPrize song contest winners Flint Eastwood, Kari Lynch, Bello Spark, Four Lincolns join repeat honorees Roger MacNaughton, Matthew Fisher, Lou Baron & the New Lovers
A ‘hell of a party’: Ten music entries won $1,000 each in this year’s separate ArtPrize song contest, including Robin Connell, Rachael Claire Eid-Ries and Jessey Jansen. See the full list of this year’s winners and listen to their songs.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE
Guitarist Justin Wierenga branches out with striking solo ‘soundscapes’ while earning West Michigan acclaim as sideman
The Grand Rapids guitarist for Hannah Rose & The GravesTones is at work on a riveting new solo project. He performed for Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuted some ArtPrize-related songs from Caffein, Four Lincolns, Brian Criner and more.
Jason Isbell exudes ‘something more’ than just country charm in inspiring Grand Rapids show
Acclaimed Americana artist Jason Isbell, touring behind his latest album, “Something More Than Free,” left the DeVos Performance Hall crowd mesmerized on Monday night. Read the review, browse the photo gallery and check out the set list at Local Spins.
Audio · Breaking music news · Videos
Billy Strings lands ‘Instrumentalist of the Year’ award from international bluegrass group
Billy Strings says he eats, sleeps and breathes bluegrass music. Well, the Michigan-bred bluegrass whiz who moved from Traverse City to Nashville late last year continues to turn heads with his guitar prowess, and has now earned an industry Momentum Award. Read the story and listen to a new song from his recent solo EP.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Nick Moss, Dennis Gruenling heat up Harmonica Summit, plus Frank Turner, AJJ, Nashon Holloway, Brother Adams
This week’s live music hoopla ranged from a tribute to blues icon William Clarke to support the Killer Blues Headstone Project — featuring Nick Moss, Dennis Gruenling and Hank Mowery — to musical magic from AJJ, Brother Adams, Frank Turner and Nashon Holloway. Check out all the images in the Local Spins Weekend Photo Galleries.
Water over the bridge: Blue Bridge Music Fest dodges rain to showcase Flint Eastwood, Heaters, other regional acts
Weather conditions weren’t ideal for the debut of this two-day festival on a downtown pedestrian bridge, but those ArtPrize visitors who braved the elements were rewarded. Check out the recap and photo gallery at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows
Local Spins Rewind: Flint Eastwood living in the moment with ‘pop music that never sleeps’
With Flint Eastwood returning to Grand Rapids tonight to play the first-ever Blue Bridge Music Festival, Local Spins revisits a story about Detroit’s dynamic Flint Eastwood, fronted by Jax Anderson.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins Live · Local Spins on WYCE
Major Murphy, Kari Lynch take different musical tacks with same inspiration: Local Spins Live, Local Spins on WYCE (Podcasts)
One artist is trying to make waves in country music. The other is drawing attention for dreamy, pop-tinged soft rock. Local Spins spotlighted each of them on the radio this week. Listen to both radio podcasts, with plenty of new regional music to soak up.
Local Spinsology 101: Music on Campus roundup for West Michigan
Local Spins occasionally rounds up festivals and events, interesting people and intriguing musical projects at West Michigan colleges and universities. Today, we spotlight a few of those coming up at Ferris State University, Grand Valley State University and Grand Rapids Community College.
John Mayall keeps ‘Moving Out and Moving On’ with Holland blues show for the ages
The legendary 82-year-old British bluesman made a rare West Michigan appearance Wednesday, playing the intimate confines of Holland’s Park Theatre. Local Spins contributor Mark R. Smith interviewed the icon and provided this exclusive Local Spins review of the show.
Nick Moss Band and Dennis Gruenling to bring ‘killer blues’ to Grand Rapids Harmonica Summit
Thursday’s concert at The B.O.B. will raise funds for the Killer Blues Headstone Project with some of blues music’s most scintillating performers paying tribute to blues harp icon William Clarke. Get the lowdown on the fourth annual Harmonica Summit at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows
Grand Haven’s Room Full of Elephants mixes styles, works to inspire others with its music
Room Full of Elephants has taken its roots-based rock music to the next level, with members pushing comfort levels to create “a new different sound.” The band makes its SpeakEZ Lounge debut in Grand Rapids on Wednesday. Get an inside look at this up-and-coming lakeshore act.
Tears for Fears defies Mother Nature to romp through dance-friendly, nostalgia-laden Grand Rapids concert
The rescheduled show — and final Meijer Gardens volley of 2016 — started just as raindrops fell, but the capacity crowd stayed “Head Over Heels” and on its feet for the entire concert. Read Tricia Woolfenden’s review of this long-awaited concert and browse the photos by Anthony Norkus.
Weekend Photo Galleries: Danny Brown, The Verve Pipe, Barry County Roots Music Fest, Ladyfest at the Lakeshore, Tycho rev up fans
From Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo, Middleville to Grand Haven, weekend — and mid-week — warriors were on the march musically, from rock to hip hop to folk to punk and beyond. The action, of course, was captured in images at Local Spins.
Features · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Upcoming shows
Grand Haven’s Ladyfest at the Lakeshore 2016 to spotlight female West Michigan voices
Saturday’s day-long event at Grand Armory Brewing showcases musical talent, poetry and more. Learn more in the Local Spins on WYCE podcast with Ladyfest performers and the debut of new tracks by regional artists. And check out the full Ladyfest schedule at Local Spins.
Giving music away for free, getting paid less for gigs but finding success with digital tools: Paul Winkler @ The Musicians’ Soundboard
The struggles of local musicians haven’t changed much in four decades, with average gig pay even dipping. But the president of Grand Rapids’ Corporate Live says in this Local Spins guest column that there are ways to succeed with digital communication tools.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
Barry County Roots Music Fest to celebrate second year with stars from Michigan’s ‘thriving music scene’
Being staged this year at Sesquicentennial Park in Middleville, Saturday’s day-long festival will feature sets by Seth Bernard, Big Dudee Roo, Megan Dooley, Peter Madcat Ruth and more. Local Spins has the full schedule for Saturday’s event.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows
Mike Mains & The Branches: Staying adventurous, finding ‘beautiful rays of sunlight’ amid the pain
The Michigan indie-rocker has tasted some success while experiencing the joy — and grueling trials — of his trade. His house show tour makes a Grand Rapids stop this week as he eyes returning to a Detroit studio to record a new album. Read the back story behind this engaging songwriter and musician.
Commentary · Festivals · Photos
Earthwork Harvest Gathering 2016 Revisited: Fun, respectful, with incredible music ‘unlike anything’ else (Recap, photo galleries)
The 16th Earthwork Harvest Gathering unfurled last weekend outside Lake City with what many call a “magical celebration” of Michigan’s collaborative music scene. Musician/singer Megan Dooley describes why it was so special in this Local Spins column, with images by Anna Sink.
ArtPrize to fire up first two-day Blue Bridge Music Fest, AMI jukeboxes for song entries
Heaters, Flint Eastwood, The Go Rounds, Kari Lynch, JRob and other regional acts will play the free Sept. 30-Oct. 1 event on the pedestrian bridge over the Grand River. See how it all came together and check out the full performance schedule.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Granger Smith, Of Montreal, Nuclear Noize, Cottage Bar Chili Cook-Off, Sean Watkins, Los Straitjackets: Weekend Photo Gallery
The week started with legendary performers NRBQ and Los Straitjackets at a packed Tip Top and continued with a bevy of stars and festivals: Julien Baker, Of Montreal, Billy Talent, Over the Rhine, Michael Dause & Band of Bros, plus the Fallasburg Fall Festival and Arcadia Ales’ anniversary. Check out all the images and a video at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
Harvest Gathering launches ‘magnificent weekend’ with inspiring sets by Seth Bernard, The Go Rounds, more under Harvest Moon
The first volley of the three-day festival was an impressive one, with more than two dozen performances and an unparalleled musical spirit. Check out the story, video highlights and photo gallery. Check out the recap, video highlights and photo gallery from the opening salvo of this beloved northern Michigan music festival.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
Red Tail Ring duo’s confident acoustic glory ‘fed on the past’ while looking to future
With a new album, “Fall Away Blues,” the Kalamazoo musicians are touring the Midwest, stopping by Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuted new tracks by Public Access, Michael Robertson and more. Check out the Local Spins Artist Spotlight story, videos and the full radio show podcast.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
Earthwork Harvest Gathering’s ‘wave of awesomeness’ and musical camaraderie set to wrap up festival season
Several hundred Michigan musicians – among them Seth Bernard, The Accidentals, The Crane Wives, Joshua Davis and many more – will gather this weekend outside Lake City to celebrate and share their art. Check out the preview of this year’s momentous season-ending event.
Breaking music news · Commentary
Live Nation’s House of Blues pairs with Gilmore for 20 Monroe Live downtown concert venue
Early next year, Grand Rapids will be home to a new 2,580-seat concert venue next to The B.O.B. Is that one of the final pieces of the puzzle for West Michigan’s music scene? Read the story and commentary at Local Spins.
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