Albums that Changed the World · Audio · Playlists
Mathews, who recently left his position as Midtown and Studio C’s music and programming director, reveals the albums that have sparked a lifelong love of music. Listen to tracks from all of them.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows · Videos
The ‘quirky,’ veteran folk singer plays Midtown in Grand Rapids with West Michigan’s own Kyle Joe on Sunday night. The Local Spins interview and a music video.
Artist Spotlights · Audio · Upcoming shows
The celebrated Traverse City mandolinist recently unveiled his long-planned, genre-melding recording, with several upcoming Michigan concerts to promote the release. Get the back story and listen to tracks from the new album.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows · Videos
The Southwest Michigan band led by twin sisters will make its Local Spins Wednesdays debut while eyeing new music releases in 2025. The band back story and a video at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows · Videos
With a new “Celtic Charms” album and novel on the way, the celebrated harp duo plays Zeeland’s Waypoint Community Church on Wednesday for a special Halloween show. They’ll also play Grand Rapids Comic-Con in November. The interview, videos and more at Local Spins.
Local Spins showcases several imaginative, boundary-pushing releases by Michigan artists in this week’s album-review roundup, which includes a collaborative project featuring Joey Gados Jr., Ben Steer and Noah Mercil.
Concert announcements · Festivals · Upcoming shows
The lineup for the two-day festival taking place at Ann Arbor’s Hill Auditorium features big name indie artists, including Josh Ritter, The Milk Carton Kids, Jobi Riccio and Joy Clark, with Old Crow’s Ketch Secor emceeing. Get all of the details at Local Spins.
Album Releases · Album reviews · Audio
As fall settles in, Local Spins turns its attention to new releases by Michigan artists. Check out reviews of six recordings, including The Brothers Crunch and Quilter, and listen to tracks from each release.
Concert reviews · Festivals · Weekend Photo Gallery
From Grand Rapids to Chesaning to Clarkston, the early October flurry of Michigan music made an impact amid summer-like weather. View the photo galleries and recaps at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Festivals · Photos
Hawks and Owls delivered a tantalizing first chapter in a new Grand Rapids concert series, while eclectic bands from across the state closed out Kalamazoo’s week-long music festival. The images from both events at Local Spins.
Concert Listings · Upcoming shows
As summer turns to fall, music fans are turning to indoor shows starring Michigan bands and solo artists. Here are schedules for several fall concert series across the region, with some concerts kicking off on Sunday.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows · Videos
The award-winning musician, singer and songwriter kicks off the fall concert series at Grand Rapids’ Royce Auditorium. The Local Spins interview, with recent performance videos.
Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
The 51st edition of the folk and roots music festival rolled out north of Grand Rapids last weekend with a plethora of national and local stars. The recap, photos, video at Local Spins.
Albums that Changed the World · Audio
The West Michigan tunesmith of Chain of Lakes who also leads a songwriters’ group reveals the recordings that have influenced him the most over the years.
Concert reviews · Festivals · Photos
Saturday’s second annual festival celebrated the KDL Vibes regional music streaming service with sets by more than a dozen acts, including Phabies, Earth Radio, Ralston Bowles and more. Revisit the event in words and photos at Local Spins.
Andrew Bird, Amadou & Mariam enchanted fans at Meijer Gardens on Friday with their complex-but-accessible double billing of musical intrigue. The review and photos at Local Spins.
Michigan’s thriving music scene has spawned another intriguing volley of new releases reviewed at Local Spins, including fresh recordings from Josiah DeNooyer and Rabbit Fur. Learn more about these releases and listen to tracks from the albums.
Album reviews · Audio · Videos
In less than three weeks, the bluegrass guitar phenom’s live album has racked up more than 1.1 million listens on Spotify and soared to No. 1 on the Bluegrass Chart. Check out the review, listen to tracks from this popular release by the Michigan-bred superstar.
Album reviews · Audio · Upcoming shows
Local Spins crisscrosses the state and traverse genres with this latest batch of releases by Michigan, including albums by Bruce Matthews Band and The Whiskey Charmers. Listen to tracks from all of the album and see where many of these artists will be performing this summer.
Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
A bit of scattered light rain fell on festivalgoers outside Trufant on opening day, but performers rocked stages in diverse ways anyway. The recap at Local Spins.
Two highly touted touring phenoms from different parts of the musical spectrum lit up venues in Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo this past week. Browse the photo galleries at Local Spins.
Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Upcoming shows
Local Spins on WYCE debuted fresh tracks from these Michigan artists and more — from Sophia McIntosh to Don Julin — with high-profile shows and tours on tap. The lowdown and the radio show podcast at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Audio · Emerging Artists to Watch
The classically trained, Marshall-based pianist and songwriter on Friday released her first full-length album, “Plainsong.” The back story on this emerging Michigan artist to watch.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
Wednesday night lit up Grand Rapids with three shows by disparate artists in varied venues, from The Accidentals’ ‘Cover Art’ tour stop at cozy Midtown to metalcore’s Fit for a King shaking up the sprawling Intersection. Recaps, photos at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
Our weekend concert photo recap not only commemorates Earth Day, but Record Store Day, 4/20 and West Michigan’s live music hubbub, from Frontier Ruckus to Alejandro Escovedo to Trifocal, The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band and more. Browse images in 10 photo galleries, plus a video at Local Spins.
Concert announcements · Summer Festivals
Michigan favorites May Erlewine, Desmond Jones and Full Cord also are on the docket for the iconic Harbor Springs-area festival taking place in July. View the full lineup, the official poster and get details at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows · Videos
Michigan’s masterful, eclectic multi-instrumentalist plays Traverse City on Saturday and a big 75th birthday bash at Ann Arbor’s The Ark on April 2. The Local Spins interview with a beloved musician and collaborator.
The February chart representing the most-played Michigan albums at WYCE boasted everything from rock to ska to folk to country to funk. View the chart, listen to tracks from all the releases.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
West Michigan tour stops were just part of an active live music week with Chase Matthew, Crankdat, Celeste Allison, Payton & Annabelle, Garbage Angel and more lighting up stages. Browse all of the photo galleries and a video at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Festivals · Photos
The Kalamazoo festival celebrating the heritage of stringed instruments on Saturday boasted nine fan-enticing performances, impromptu jams and lots of folks browsing exhibits and vendors. Get the recap, video highlights and a photo gallery at Local Spins.
Festivals · Upcoming shows · Videos
The Fretboard Festival’s return this weekend to Kalamazoo Valley Museum features returning veteran artists as well as fresh musical faces, along with guitars, vendors and more. Get the full performance schedule and more at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
WYCE’s annual celebration of local and regional music not only toasted some of the best releases of the year but showcased diverse talent on three stages amid a packed house of robust fans at Intersection. Highlights, photos, video.
Festivals · Traverse City · Upcoming shows
The 14th indoor fest takes place the last Sunday of the month at The Village at Grand Traverse Commons, with more than 100 musicians playing eight different stages. The lowdown at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE
The Grand Rapids-based singer-songwriter who’s part of a statewide concert series has a unique approach, spotlighted at Local Spins, along with new tracks by other Michigan artists, from Cordero to Laddermatch and Trakzero. Learn more about Billy Blanchard and listen to this week’s Local Spins on WYCE radio show podcast.
Artist Spotlights · Audio · Videos
For three decades, the Royal Oak tunesmith has hosted Lamb’s Retreat for Songwriters in northern Michigan, creating a beloved annual event embraced by musicians. And he’s still releasing his own music, too. Learn more about the retreat and listen to his music at Local Spins.
Concert announcements · Festivals
After the one-day Jan. 13 festival was scrapped due to a snowstorm, the Wheatland Music Organization found a way to line up nine Michigan bands for a February soiree. Get the lowdown at Local Spins.
Announcements · Local Spins Rewind · Photos · Playlists · Videos
The snow-pocalypse has canceled scads of Michigan shows, including Saturday’s 12-band benefit for Wheatland Music Organization. But listen to the music that had been scheduled for the event and relive last summer’s Wheatland festival amid today’s storm thanks to a special Local Spins playlist and photo gallery.
Album reviews · Audio · Upcoming shows
2024’s first roundup of Michigan releases at Local Spins ranges from singer-songwriter charm to hip hop glory to funk to rock fervor, from Southeast Michigan’s Annie & Rod Capps to Holland’s Lost Magic. Check out the reviews; listen to the music.
The country and Americana artist has organized Saturday’s benefit show in Caledonia, with more than a dozen West Michigan acts performing and raffles to support Mel Trotter Ministries. View the lineup and learn more about this special concert at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows
The Ohio duo has long made Grand Rapids a regular tour stop and will bring their holiday concert — and lots of memories — to Calvin University’s Chapel on Saturday night. The Local Spins interview.
Albums that Changed the World · Playlists
The popular Local Spins series revealing the musical influences for Michigan musicians and producers continues with the picks of a Michigan tunesmith from the wilds of the Upper Peninsula. Check out his picks, listen to tracks from all of the albums — including a couple of songs from his most recent release.
From rock and soul to world music and “Traditional Songs & Ballads of the Irish Diaspora” courtesy of Nick Veine and Ben Traverse, this mid-November round-up covers plenty of musical territory. Check out the reviews, listen to the music.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows · Videos
Diana Ladio and Alison Lynn say they’re ending their successful stint on “a complete high note,” playing for longtime Michigan fans in four cities. Get the back story on this talented duo, with details about their upcoming shows.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
Thursday night in Grand Rapids was special in more ways than one, highlighted by singer-songwriter Amos Lee’s amazing concert and post-show, beer-enhanced sing-along. Photos and video at Local Spins. […]
Local Spins Rewind · Photos · Videos
Local Spins’ “Billy Strings Month” continues with a look back at the young, up-and-coming West Michigan guitarist eight years ago as he prepared to play the cozy Local Spins Wednesdays series at SpeakEZ Lounge. Plus, view a full performance video of Billy Strings & Don Julin from earlier the same year.
Album reviews · Audio · Upcoming shows
This early October roundup of 2023 releases by Michigan artists boasts a diverse mix of genres and artists, including new music by The Bloody Pickups and Round Creek String Band. Check out the reviews and listen to tracks from all of the releases.
Friday’s all-star concert at the new northern Michigan listening room will feature a “community” of the respected musician and Earthwork Music founder’s friends. The details at Local Spins.
Concert announcements · Upcoming shows
Alger Park Church hosts the third season of the series featuring eclectic Michigan acts, including classical music, a twist on opera and ‘The Music That Raised Us’ tribute to black female icons. Get the schedule and more details at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
As summer turned to fall, live music shined in Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo and Rockford, with a first-time indoor Michigan showcase hosted by the Kent District Library. Browse the photos at Local Spins.
The Kent District Library’s two-day festival this weekend at the Cascade Township branch will feature performances by 15 regional acts on two stages. Get details and the schedule at Local Spins.
