Concert reviews · Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
West Michigan’s weekend of live music had a rootsy, country and folk-flavored charm, with a couple of national tour stops and a new open-mic night at a high-profile venue. Browse the images at Local Spins.
Features · Upcoming shows · Videos
Longtime songwriter and financial advisor Daniel Terry spearheads this weekend’s songwriters-in-the-round performances and workshop at Blythfield Country Club. Get the back story and ticket details at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
Not surprisingly, multiple performances by Michigan-bred bluegrass hero Billy Strings topped the roster of memorable moments at a northern Michigan festival that returned after a one-year hiatus. Browse the weekend highlights, pore over the photos and view videos from an action-packed Hoxey.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows · Videos
It’s back for 2021 in the Manistee National Forest this weekend with national headliners and regional favorites, including a bluegrass singer who adores Hoxey and all it entails. An interview with Lindsay Lou, along with the festival schedule.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
The West Michigan folk revivalist was this week’s spotlighted artist for Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuted tracks by Bradley Sinclair, EPCYA, Rochelle & The Spoilers, Tiny Tree, Hominian, Jake Allen and more. Dig into the story of ‘old soul’ Ben Traverse and listen to this week’s interview and radio show podcast.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
Battling cancer, the Kalamazoo multi-instrumentalist responded with an epic project featured by Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuted tracks by Seth Bernard, Tobin Sprout, Ernie Clark and more. Discover more about Paulie Cohen’s remarkable musical journey and listen to this week’s radio show podcast.
Artist Spotlights · Audio · Videos
The resident at Assemble Sound in Detroit just dropped a live piano single, “Bite My Tongue,” while eyeing more releases and a fall U.S. tour with Motor City artist Chloe Moriondo. Learn more about Evenson and watch a new video in the second installment of a series partnering with Ypsilanti’s Grove Studios to showcase artists from the east side of the state.
Playlists · Top 10 Lists · Videos
With the American music icon hitting a major milestone today, Local Spins asked West Michigan singer-songwriter and Dylan devotee Nicholas James Thomasma to offer up a playlist for the ages. Listen to the tracks and see why these songs are on his Top 10 list, plus watch a brand new video of Thomasma & his band covering a Dylan classic.
Start your Sunday with a refreshing look into six new releases by West Michigan artists, ranging from instrumental virtuosity to rock ‘n’ roll passion. Chain of Lakes and Shane Tripp are among the featured releases. Plus, listen to selected tracks from all of the albums.
New albums from KJ & The Good Time Family Band and Amy Love fill out this mid-April roundup of releases by Michigan artists. Check out the reviews from Local Spins writers, listen to tracks from each recording.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
The Grand Rapids rock group frontman divulged details about an upcoming solo album for Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuted tracks by Megan Dooley, LVRS, Cal in Red, Upon Wings and more. Get Chris Cranick’s back story and listen to this week’s radio show podcast.
This late March roundup of West Michigan releases ranges from rock and hip hop to synth-pop and folk. Check out the Local Spins reviews and listen to tracks from each featured artist.
Concert reviews · In Memoriam · Local Spins Rewind · Photos
One year ago — before the pandemic erupted — West Michigan not only cheered a tour stop by mandolin whiz Chris Thile but mourned the unexpected death of beloved local musician Eric Soules. Local Spins revisits both events in today’s ‘Rewind’ feature.
In this week’s guest column giving a voice to Michigan musicians, singer-songwriter Nicholas James Thomasma hails the advantages folk musicians have during a COVID lockdown — and the importance of staying active and educated. He performs online tonight.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Over the past week, three West Michigan establishments hosted live music in different ways — with and without audiences, and with pandemic restrictions in place. Local Spins captured it all in photo galleries featuring King Biscuit Trio, Rufus Ferguson and other local musicians.
Features · Venue Spotlight · Videos
Better than “sitting in my bedroom with an iPhone.” Local Spins today presents two interview and performance videos probing the unique advantages of live-stream concerts broadcast from a bona fide stage as gauged by musicians Ralston Bowles and Michael Crittenden, and St. Cecilia’s Cathy Holbrook. “It’s an actual venue,” Crittenden said of playing St. Cecilia even without an in-person audience.
Concert reviews · Features · Photos
After a year of COVID, the Portage brewery’s second anniversary party boasted performances by Lexi Adams, St. Joe Jack and more — with limited capacity, regular sanitization and new brews. Check out the recap and photos at Local Spins.
The first Michigan albums roundup for February hails releases from the Upper Peninsula to Detroit to Grand Rapids. Get the Local Spins take on these recordings and listen to tracks from each featured artist.
Concert reviews · Live-Stream Concerts
Friday and Saturday’s unprecedented online benefit for The Ark boasted a record number of performances by local and international musical heroes who offered up 11 hours of intimate, touching sets. The review at Local Spins. The festival continues with a special John Prine tribute tonight.
Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
This week’s edition of the WYCE show that spotlights Michigan music spanned the state, with tracks from Detroit, Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids, Petoskey, Traverse City, Marquette and more. Listen to the full radio show podcast at Local Spins.
Concert announcements · Festivals · Live-Stream Concerts · Upcoming shows
Jam-packed with acclaimed international artists, the festival kicks off in virtual, live-stream fashion Friday. The third night will pay homage to the late Prine, propelled by May Erlewine, Joshua Davis, Erin Zindle, Seth Bernard and more. Learn more about the festival lineup with links to streaming passes at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
Ralston Bowles and Michael Crittenden kicked off St. Cecilia Music Center’s virtual folk-and-blues series on Thursday. Local Spins was there to capture the unusual vibe in an empty auditorium with two veteran West Michigan musicians.
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.
