This mid-January roundup of regional releases ranges from Roger MacNaughton’s soothing instrumentals to singer-songwriter Jeff Socia’s debut album to some robust Americana gems. Read the reviews, listen to the music at Local Spins.
Playlists · Top 10 Lists · Videos
The Kalamazoo brewery’s booking and marketing team reminisced about the most compelling performances by bands and solo artists pre-COVID at Bell’s, from May Erlewine and Joe Hertler to Kurt Vile and Trampled by Turtles. Check out the Top 10 playlist and videos.
Local Spins Rewind · Photos · Videos
Held at The Intersection exactly one year ago today, the 11th annual benefit for the Wheatland Music Organization boasted more than a dozen performances on two stages in spite of wintry weather. Revisit the event in words, photos and video.
Playlists · Top 10 Lists · Videos
Today, we spotlight the local and regional albums that most dominated the Local Spins Hot Top 5 charts at WYCE-FM during the year of the pandemic, from Medicinal Groove to The War and Treaty, with plenty of gems in between. See which Michigan artists made a splash and listen to tracks from all of the recordings as part of this week’s playlist.
This mid-December roundup of new releases by West Michigan artists ranges from the soothing to the rousing, from the dreamy to the thought-provoking, and from the heart-pounding to the unique collaboration of Oxford Fields. Get the back story on these releases and listen to selected tracks at Local Spins.
The beloved guitarists – one from Grand Rapids who battled leukemia and one from Kalamazoo stricken with COVID – passed away on Saturday, saddening fans of The Moonrays and Bride of Fleckenstein. Read the memorials and comments at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
The Plainwell High School junior was this week’s guest for Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuted tracks by Brandino Extravaganza, Heavy Color, Oxford Fields, Kate Hinote Trio and more. Learn more about Lucy Lowis and listen to this week’s radio show podcast.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
With an EP and new album on the way, the Ypsilanti-based singer-songwriter took center stage for Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuted fresh tracks by several Michigan artists, including Rick Chyme, Eric Engblade, Olivia Dear, Jordan Moore, Jack Droppers and Shin Hoo Yong. Get the back story on DuPont, watch a video of him performing a new song and listen to this week’s radio show podcast.
For more than a decade, the Grand Rapids chapter of this volunteer group has tutored military veterans and handed out dozens of guitars to bring music into their lives and help them cope. A feature for Veterans Day at Local Spins, with information about how you can help veterans and the Guitars for Vets program.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
The days are getting shorter and so is the list of live music options in West Michigan. Nevertheless, the show goes on in a variety of locations as we move into mid-November. Browse this week’s concert listings at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Local Spins Rewind · Photos
A year ago this week, Local Spins published one of the most-read stories of the year — featuring emerging Michigan country artist Sadie Bass — and hailed the long-awaited, official opening of Listening Room. Check out reviews and photo galleries from those November 2019 events, plus several major West Michigan tour stops.
Breaking music news · Venue Spotlight
The national Live Music Society awarded grants to 20 clubs across the country, the same day that the Michigan Music Alliance announced a ‘relaunch’ of a fundraising campaign to aid musicians hurt by the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more about both developments at Local Spins.
Playlists · Top 10 Lists · Videos
Grammy Award-winning stars from folk, country, jazz and classical music light up this special Tuesday playlist compiled by Cathy Holbrook, director of the historic Grand Rapids concert venue. Check out the songs, watch the videos.
Playlists · Top 10 Lists · Videos
The Sweet Water Warblers, Joshua Davis, Hoots & Hellmouth, Billy Strings & Don Julin, Luke Winslow-King and other favorites pump up the intimate Fennville venue’s Local Spins playlist. Ogle the videos, listen to the featured songs on Spotify.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Live music has unfurled in some unusual places in West Michigan as fall settles in — from the marquee at Kalamazoo State Theatre to a parking lot at Cedar Springs Brewing to John Ball Park in Grand Rapids. Browse the images at Local Spins.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
The days of outdoor shows in Michigan are numbered, so the final week of September features some of the final concerts and festivals at various locations across the region. The lowdown, as always, on The Big List at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
A busy September lineup of concerts after a mostly quarantined summer kicked off over Labor Day weekend with small but vibrant shows from Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo. Browse the photo galleries at Local Spins.
This year’s Labor Day column on the plight of musicians comes amid what may be the worse year ever for live music due to COVID-19. See how bands are struggling to survive and how they view the future in this commentary.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
The guitarist was the featured guest for this week’s expanded Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuted music by Earth Radio, Dalmatian Stone, Brothers Crunch, Stone Soup & the Broken Teeth and more. Read the Local Spins Artist Spotlight feature and listen to this week’s radio show.
Local Spins delves into some brand new Michigan-made releases — from a jazzy and soulful new Erlewine project to a Lansing band hitting its stride. Read the reviews, listen to songs from each of the featured albums.
Grand Rapids’ Nicholas James Thomasma and Ian Thompson return to the chart for the second month in a row, too. Listen to tracks from all of the featured albums at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
The Kalamazoo singer-songwriter’s new album was featured for this week’s Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuted tracks by Distant Stars, From Big Sur, Joel Comstock, The American Hotel System and more. Get Koenigsknecht’s back story and watch one of his music videos; listen to this week’s radio show podcast at Local Spins.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
A couple of new outdoor concert series fire up in Grand Rapids this week, along with the usual patio and deck shows at various bars and restaurants across West Michigan. Check out this week’s concert offerings at Local Spins.
Our mid-July roundup of new West Michigan releases covers fresh entries in rock, jazz, pop, folk and Western swing. Check out the reviews; listen to tracks from each artist.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
Start your week with a look at the first live music events in months at bars, breweries and eateries across West Michigan, amid health warnings that we must follow the rules to stay safe. Check out the roster of concerts — many of them outdoors — as well as other details about restarting live music at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
The Grand Rapids singer-songwriter rolled out his latest gems for Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuted new tracks by The Gasoline Gypsies, Lipstick Jodi, Adam Main, Jess, Darcy Wilkin and more. Learn more about Thomasma’s new album, watch a video of his performance and listen to this week’s full radio show podcast at Local Spins.
More new releases from Michigan artists are on tap in this week’s Local Spins roundup, including a female super-group, a VW bus-loving singer-songwriter, a Detroit-area alt-country band and a Traverse City funkster. Check out the reviews and listen to tracks from all of the featured albums.
Announcements · Breaking music news · Features
The longtime Michigan music collective re-emerges today after a two-year overhaul with a revamped organizational structure, a slate of new artists and some live-stream performances. Get the full story at Local Spins along with some videos of Earthwork artists.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
Allison was this week’s guest for Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuted music by Silent Spirit, Andy Baker, The Accidentals, Martyr for Madison, The Ryne Experience and The American Hotel System. Learn more about Allison and listen to the full radio show podcast at Local Spins.
Concert announcements · Live-Stream Concerts
Different online Michigan music events fire up May, including Chris Good’s Sing Me Home Festival shows, an Earthwork Harvest Gathering/Hoxeyville series and five straight nights of regional stars and culinary experts hosted by Pure Michigan, MLive and PBS’ ‘Under the Radar.’
Features · Weekend Photo Gallery
Local Spins continues its “concert photo rewind” series spotlighting the stellar work of its photographers, this time focusing on our Kalamazoo live music honcho: Derek Ketchum. Here are his favorite photos and the stories behind these colorful, action-packed shots.
Local Spins rolls out eight new Michigan-bred music videos for those trying to stay entertained during a pandemic that’s quarantined many and gotten us antsy for fresh material — including another COVID-19 parody. Check out the musical action from a diverse set of artists.
ataraxia[ at-uh-rak-see-uh ] noun a state of freedom from emotional disturbance and anxiety; tranquillity. Here is your chance to let go. Pour some wine and join me for a half[…]
Gabrial James will be playing his fourth livestream concert from his home on Friday 4/10 from 8:00 to 10:00pm. He’ll be performing original music and some choice covers. The second[…]
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
Although he doesn’t want to “lose the blues,” the 19-year-old Kershaw showed off another side to his music for Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuted new tracks by several Michigan artists, including Desmond Jones, Chris DuPont, Dawning, Chris Canas, Vagabonds, Justin Wierenga and more. Learn more about Kershaw, watch a video of him performing a new song and listen to the full radio show podcast at Local Spins.
Aaron Burroughs, the muse of Funkwagon will be performing a series of sets solo at the piano with his favorite songs , thoughts and memories, and advise for performers and[…]
Every Wednesday at 8:00pm EST, Nicholas James Thomasma – Singer Songwriter presents the All Request Hour! Each week I’m teaming up with a different community organization or non profit for[…]
Singer songwriter and environmental educator Joe Reilly offers a fun and interactive live stream performance of original folk songs in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Earth Day.
With Earth Day approaching, Grand Rapids singer and multi-instrumentalist Patty PerShayla created a special soundtrack of songs to get us contemplating the state of our environment. Welcome to Tuesday’s Local Spins Playlist. Watch the videos, listen to the riveting songs at Local Spins.
Tune in on Monday, April 20th at 4:20pm EST for an uplifting set of stories and songs about everyone’s favorite plant streaming live from my home to yours right here[…]
Sunday Evening Comfort Music with Doc & Donna on Facebook LIVE! Sunday, April 19, 2020 Showtime: 6:00 – 7:00 pm To see the show go to the Facebook Doc Probes[…]
I will be doing a short live-streamed solo show online via Facebook Live. I’ll be playing mostly originals and maybe a few covers. If you want to stream some free[…]
Round 2 of Local Spins’ spotlight on the amazing work of its concert photographers continues with Jamie Geysbeek. Browse some of his favorite photos, including images of Skillet, Black Veil Brides, Chris Thile, NF, Slash, Lauren Daigle and more, with stories behind the shots.
Livestream concert from Michigan folk songwriting project Strawberry Heritage celebrating the release of their new full length album “Light Magic”
*$5 suggested donation* Proceeds will benefit our entire staff who have made RBC the place we’ve all come to love. If you are unable to contribute financially at this time,[…]
Our first live streaming concert from the newly decorated corner of our basement. This would have been the night of our full band performance at the amazing Riverdog Concerts in[…]
More socially distanced live performances of Silverstiles songs and covers: gonna do one for the late, great John Prine.
Every Wednesday at 8pm Grand Rapids Singer Songwriter and Earthwork Music artist Nicholas James Thomasma will play an hour of requested songs from his home while interacting with the live[…]
We’re going live this Sunday, April 12th at 4pm EDT in celebration of Carmen’s 41st birthday. Join us at the Folias Duo Facebook page. We’re premiering new music! Program Moody[…]
Kris Pride is live-streaming eclectic acoustic covers and originals everyday at 4-5 p.m. on the following platforms: http://Sessionslive.com/KrisPrideMusic http://LiveMe.com/KrisPride http://YouTube.com/c/KrisPride http://Facebook.com/KrisPrideMusic
