Announcements · Breaking music news · Upcoming shows
Community radio station WYCE-FM’s 2016 mega-party at The Intersection on Feb. 19 will feature 23 bands on two stages, with Bigfoot Buffalo, The Waxies, Rick Chyme and many more in the mix. And singer-songwriter Ralston Bowles will be honored with a Legacy Award. See the entire lineup.
Upcoming shows · Venue Spotlight · Videos
The Local Spins series focusing on interesting — and sometimes off-the-beaten-path — music venues continues with a look at a popular Grand Haven brewery that hosts shows weekly. Read the story, check out the photos and video, and peruse the upcoming lineup of live music performances.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
New and familiar West Michigan venues hosted spirited performances over the past week by the likes of Bigfoot Buffalo, Lady Ace Boogie, Olivia Mainville & The Aquatic Troupe, Dead Eye Zack, Mavericks & Monarchs and Dear Tracks — documented in Local Spins photo galleries.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins Live · Videos
The celebrated Holland teen who fronts Olivia Mainville & The Aquatic Troupe hosts a CD-release show at SpeakEZ Lounge on Wednesday night, with a major out-of-state tour lying ahead.
Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
Episode No. 70 of Local Spins on WYCE featured from Kalamazoo singer-songwriter Megan Dooley with bassist Jason Walker, plus Rick Chyme chatting about a new project and the debut of fresh regional album tracks. Listen to the complete podcast at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
It was a week of legends, legendary performances and coming-out parties for new ventures and future legends in their respective genres across West Michigan, captured in images at Local Spins. View several different photo galleries from shows in Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo and Grand Haven.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
Winter Wheat set a record for attendance on Saturday while lining up all-star bands in fiery performances on two stages for nearly 12 hours on Saturday at The Intersection. Soak up the vibe from this special event in this Local Spins recap, photo gallery and video highlights.
Breaking music news · Concert reviews · Features · Photos
In a close vote, the acts vying to play the Kalamazoo Fretboard Festival topped nine other diverse West Michigan bands and solo artists during a jam-packed Friday event at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum. Read a recap of the evening and view a full photo gallery from the competition.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins Live · Podcasts · Videos
With his band finishing up its third album, Jake Kalmink also brings other artists’ “vision to life” in the studio. He debuted a new song live on the air this week for Local Spins Live. Check out the video and podcast; The Fever Haze plays Grand Rapids on Thursday night.
Breaking music news · Upcoming shows
The Accidentals, The Ragbirds, Brian Vander Ark and more will grace the monthly concerts in downtown Grand Haven, presented by the Red House Concert Series. See the full schedule of upcoming shows.
Saturday’s day-long Winter Wheat fest at The Intersection boasts dancing, 12 bands on two stages — including The Accidentals, Billy Strings & Don Julin and Roosevelt Diggs — and a “family reunion” vibe for musicians. Read the story behind this singular event and check out the full schedule.
Another busy year for music gave fans much to celebrate, with Local Spins spotlighting a fast-growing scene that’s producing stellar talent – some of it basking in the national spotlight.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Holiday hoopla and homecomings: West Michigan’s music scene was full of both this weekend as Christmas approached, with the story told through images at Local Spins. Check out the local and regional stars in the weekend photo gallery.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE
Check out the in-studio performance by this new super-group of musicians from three different bands, plus new tracks from Kris Hitchcock, Loren Johnson, The Soul Syndicate, Dalinian and more.
Features · Upcoming shows · Venue Spotlight
Part of a Local Spins series spotlighting unique music venues that feature local and regional acts. Check out this microbrewery and take a video tour of the venue.
With only 10 shopping days left till Christmas, Local Spins has the ideal gift for the music lover or musician on your list: Two different calendars featuring Michigan artists in colorful photos taken at concerts by Local Spins photographers.
This week’s Local Spins photo gallery also boasts images from performances by regional acts Channing & Quinn, Nobody’s Darlin’, Heartsick, Megan Dooley and a Mitten Kitten Christmas, plus video highlights from Hazy Past’s tribute to the Allman Brothers Band.
The third installation of Local Spins’ late-year roundup of new local and regional releases also includes a new single from Steve Rivers and a Christmas EP by The Crane Wives. Check out the reviews and listen to the music.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
A vintage bluesman, West Michigan hard-rock fave, up-and-coming Detroit pop star and emerging alt-country/rock band strutted their stuff this week — captured in compelling images by Local Spins photographers.
Artist Spotlights · Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
Billy Strings & Don Julin played one of their few remaining Michigan shows Friday at Spring Lake’s Seven Steps Up, the day after Billy Strings lit up One Trick Pony in a surprise gig with his dad. Check out the photo gallery from both shows.
Artist Spotlights · Breaking music news
After 11 years of joyful music and performances, Grand Rapids’ all-female string band is calling it quits with a celebratory ‘grand finale’ on Dec. 10 at one of its favorite haunts. Read about the decision and watch a video of a band performance.
Album reviews · Upcoming shows
Phase Two of the pre-holiday Local Spins albums roundup also spotlights new releases by Nordlund & The Nomad Assembly and Brotha James. Check out the reviews with sound clips from the featured albums by local and regional artists. Consider them perfect additions to any Christmas gift list.
Breaking music news · Features · Upcoming shows
Check out the early December music news roundup at Local Spins, with a couple of popular West Michigan bands ready to uncork high-profile holiday shows and an annual reminder to musicians that Festival 2016 is right around the corner.
Features · Top 10 Lists · Videos
Led Zeppelin, The Band, Jimi Hendrix and The Velvet Underground get heartfelt thanks from Michigan bands, but there are plenty of surprises – and a bunch of local artists – on this bountiful banquet table, too, from G’itis Baggs to Lady Ace Boogie. Check out the full list, with videos of the featured bands.
Young virtuoso guitarist Billy Strings, aka William Apostol, is heading to Nashville to pursue solo projects, but credits Don Julin for his mentorship and success. They play their last Traverse City show this week, with an early December concert in Spring Lake.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
From the lilting folk of Sweet Water Warblers and singer-songwriters at the Fall Flannel Folk Fest to the searing jam-band spectacle of UV Hippo, it was another groovy week to remember, captured in images at Local Spins. And check out the video from a hectic Saturday night: Five shows at five venues in less than two hours.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows · Videos
May Erlewine, Rachael Davis and Lindsay Lou join forces in the indie-folk trio that plays four Michigan venues this week, with an eye toward recording their first studio album. Read the back story, check the show schedule and view a video from their only previous performance — a truly inspiring one.
Concert reviews · Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
It was a week for new albums, and new or revamped bands in West Michigan. Check out all the images, including The Bootstrap Boys, Jesse Ray & The Carolina Catfish, The Trash Hounds, Hannah Rose & The GravesTones, Rev. Peyton’s Big Damn Band and more in these Local Spins photo galleries and show recaps, plus two videos.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
Frontman Tyler Bradley talks about his music and unveils two new songs during this week’s Local Spins on WYCE, which also features new tracks by Bennett, Lipstick Jodi, Rival Maps and more. Listen to the radio podcast and check out the video of Bradley performing a new song.
With a diverse musical roster that includes Seth Bernard & May Erlewine, Steve Hilger and series-starter Ralston Bowles, Bethlehem Lutheran Church south of downtown Grand Rapids offers music and art to support social justice causes and aid the Heartside area. Read the story about this unique series and check out the full lineup.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
There’s no shortage of colorful oddness, passion and down-home charm in the roundup of recent concerts across West Michigan, from The Orbit Room to Bell’s Brewery to Seven Steps Up. Check out the photo galleries and show recap.
Commentary · Concert reviews · Photos
The first two days of 2015’s Eastown house concert event have boasted jam-packed crowds and buoyant optimism about Grand Rapids’ musical future. See the photo gallery from the first two days, and check out the Sunday schedule.
Audio · Features · Upcoming shows · Videos
The extraordinary, unique event returns to Eastown with 33 diverse performances, plus classes and workshops, all unfolding in three homes. Get the lowdown here and check out Local Spins’ “five acts to catch” at Lamp Light 2015.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
The week in live music leading up to Halloween covered funk, jazz, bluegrass, R&B, hip hop and folk. And that eclectic mix was captured in images at Local Spins. Check out the photo gallery, with more to come from Halloween night.
Check out the updated Local Spins Weekend Photo Gallery, including images from the Dizzybird Records anniversary show. When it comes to live music, October’s midway point sparked some gems, with local and regional artists getting into the act, too: Organissimo, Lucas Wilson, Mid-Life Crisis, Josh Rose and others.
When it comes to live music, October’s midway point sparked some gems, with local and regional artists getting into the act, too: Organissimo, Lucas Wilson, Mid-Life Crisis, Josh Rose and others. Check out the colorful images.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Upcoming shows
With its expanded lineup, the band made a studio appearance for Local Spins on WYCE, will release a new single next week and plans to record a new album later this fall. Read the back story about this band that “reaches to all ends of the emotional and musical spectrum,” check out its new video and listen to the full radio podcast with new songs by a host of West Michigan bands.
In a guest column, the Grand Rapids musician suggests the no-frills, no-texting, no-talking vibe of a listening room can be a moving experience for fans and performers alike. Another Local Spins essay giving a voice to West Michigan musicians on topics dear to their hearts.
Breaking music news · Upcoming shows
After a planned sale of the historic building fell through, owners of the Howard City venue will reopen the unique and popular music venue later this month — a move that will surely please acoustic players across the region. Read more about the developments and check out the concert series schedule.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
ArtPrize dominated the entertainment landscape in its final week, but there was some boffo music to be found in the Grand Rapids area if you knew where to find it. Local Spins did. Check out the photo gallery from this week’s live music spectacles.
With separate public and critics’ awards, twice as many songwriters were honored by St. Cecilia Music Center in this year’s ArtPrize contest. Roger MacNaughton has won for the third time in four years. Check out the full list of winners, listen to the songs and check out the reaction of winners.
Artist Spotlights · Podcasts · Upcoming shows
The Grand Rapids singer who left Sweet Japonic several years ago has a new rock band, The Bad Disciples, which plans to release its debut album later this year. Wilson also plans to record a solo EP. Read the story, listen to the podcast and check out the video of a new Wilson song.
Artist Spotlights · Breaking music news · Upcoming shows
With the Billy Strings & Don Julin duo starting to “pull back” from performing quite as much, the Ionia-bred guitarist is writing songs and reveling in jams with other musical pals. He’s performing several times in Grand Rapids this week, including an early evening show at SpeakEZ Lounge on Wednesday. Read the story, check out the video.
Concert announcements · Upcoming shows
The Ragbirds, Big Dudee Roo, Fauxgrass, Peter Madcat Ruth, Nicholas James & The Bandwagon, Chuck Whiting and more will pump up downtown Hastings for the free celebration. Read the story and check out the full Saturday schedule.
Outside the hoopla of ArtPrize and the new Eddy music festival, venues from the lakeshore to Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo hosted some special shows this past week. Check out the images and recaps at Local Spins.
Northern Michigan’s Joshua Davis got a hero’s welcome after his impressive run on “The Voice.” Tonight, he plays St. Cecilia Music Center in Grand Rapids. To warm up for his show, check out the songs that have influenced and inspired this singer-songwriter.
The first Local Spins on WYCE episode of October also featured a chat with Porterhouse Presents promoter Sam Porter and new tracks by Romance for Ransom, Max Lockwood and The Muteflutes. Listen to the podcast, watch the video of Fauxgrass’ in-studio performance.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows · Videos
The Michigan singer-songwriter with roots in Grand Rapids brings his new “Outlier” album to SpeakEZ Lounge on Wednesday, with a Midwest and East Coast tour on tap. Read the story behind this emerging indie-folk artist and listen to a song from the new album.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
The week unfolded with the arrival of ArtPrize 7 in Grand Rapids and a special SpeakEZ Lounge show, but there was plenty more musical art to embrace across West Michigan. Check out all the photo galleries and concert recaps..
Breaking music news · Upcoming shows
It launches tonight (Wednesday) at SpeakEZ Lounge with ArtPrize song entrants and continues with a new outdoor venue, Michigan House’s indoor space and 150-plus busking performances around Grand Rapids. Get the lowdown on all of the ArtPrize-related music options.
