A busy year for new Michigan releases amid a pandemic gives music fans a lot to savor, including impressive albums by four Grand Rapids artists as well as northern Michigan’s Biomassive and the trio of Pico, Chown & Sears. Read the reviews, listen to music from each of the spotlighted artists.
Playlists · Top 10 Lists · Upcoming shows
Ladysmith Black Mambazo, The Verve Pipe, Waldo, The Bad Plus and more impressive, eclectic acts played Grand Rapids’ Listening Room before the COVID shutdown. Here’s a sampling of the venue’s favorites. Check out the videos and the Spotify playlist at Local Spins.
Grand Rapids guitarist Hayes Griffin held onto the top slot for the third month in a row, but four West Michigan releases made their debut on the chart at WYCE-FM. Listen to tracks from all of the albums at Local Spins.
Playlists · Top 10 Lists · Videos
This week’s venue playlist comes courtesy of Brian Hoekstra and the folks at Rockford Brewing — a mix of gems from Pink Floyd and Grateful Dead to Weezer, Heaters and Afro Zuma. Listen to the music they brewed up, watch the videos.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
On another pleasant summer evening, The Verve Pipe frontman regaled fans Thursday with songs new and old as part of Listening Room’s ‘Listening Lawn’ series in downtown Grand Rapids. The review, photo gallery and video highlights at Local Spins.
It’s another impressive batch of Michigan releases that pumps up this roundup of Local Spins reviews — from hip hop to rock to soul to Americana — with sample tracks from all of the albums.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
The northern Michigan rock band’s sophomore album was featured this week for Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuted music by Lady Ace Boogie, The Legal Immigrants, May Erlewine and Jessica in the Rainbow. Learn more about the band, watch a video of a new track from their album and listen to this week’s radio show at Local Spins.
Features · Local Spins on WYCE · Upcoming shows
To celebrate Great Lakes State artists, the Grand Rapids station will exclusively play Michigan music during a special 36-hour drive with a goal of raising funds to make up for a $36,000 shortfall during a COVID-impaired year. Get the details at Local Spins.
Asking Local Spins readers to name their favorite concert of all time was asking for trouble. But the ridiculously difficult task produced some incredible memories from some remarkable shows. Check out the responses in this fun, reader-generated assignment.
Playlists · Top 10 Lists · Videos
In what would have marked the halfway point in another robust amphitheater series except for COVID-19, Meijer Gardens’ John VanderHaagen offers up a Top 10 playlist of artists who’ve played the summer series — and one act he’d love to see there. Check out the list and listen to songs from each of the featured performers.
Playlists · Top 10 Lists · Videos
This week’s guest contributor, Calin Skidmore of Grand Rapids’ SpeakEZ Lounge, tapped a keg filled with drinking songs that fondly recall pre-pandemic days of sharing good times with friends. Watch the videos, listen to the tracks on Spotify.
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.
