The all-new Local Spins Hot Top 5 Chart for November also features new albums from Free Hat, Full Cord, Liz Townsend and Roosevelt Diggs. Listen to tracks from all the releases.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Beyond a flurry of football, the long Thanksgiving weekend cooked up a buffet of rock, hip hop, bluegrass, Americana and jam-band charm at venues from Grand Rapids to Holland to Kalamazoo.
As Thanksgiving approaches, Local Spins unfurls its takes on a half-dozen new releases by artists from across Michigan, covering Americana, hip hop, folk, jazz and electronic music. Check out the reviews and listen to tracks from all of the releases.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
The weekend produced some fascinating performances from Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo, including metal band If He Dies He Dies’ reunion show at The Pyramid Scheme and Mariachi Herencia De Mexico at Kalamazoo State Theatre. Browse all the photo galleries at Local Spins.
In 2023, Local Spins asked readers a ‘Question of the Week’ about favorites in a lot of categories. Here are the top questions and responses. Plus, we’ve got fresh year-end queries that could score you a gift.
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.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Our concert photo round-up for the week kicks off with Saturday’s benefit show starring Young the Giant at GLC Live at 20 Monroe, plus Valerie June, Papadosio, Apashe, Honey Revenge and more. Browse more than a half-dozen photo galleries at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
From Traverse City to Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo, the first musical blast of November featured everything from jazz to EDM to singer-songwriter magic. Browse the photos at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
From inviting mid-week gems to Halloween-haunted weekend revelry, the final full week of October brimmed with celebratory concerts and album-release shows across the state. Browse the photo galleries exclusively at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
Droppers talks about ‘Scooter’ and the rock band’s many changes for Local Spins, which also debuted some Halloween tracks and new music from Izubel, Feeding Grizzlies, Nick Veine & Ben Traverse, Overdrive Orchestra and others.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Local Spins’ week-in-review concert photo roundup also features the big Bass Country Halloween show, Ernest, Bad Religion and The Stray’s ‘Night of Ambient Music.’
Album reviews · Audio · Upcoming shows
Local Spins is back with another batch of reviews covering 2023 releases by regional artists, including Heart Dreams and After Ours. Check out the reviews, listen to selected tracks from the releases.
Friday night’s tour stops rattled downtown Grand Rapids, from GLC Live at 20 Monroe to The Intersection. Browse the photos at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Check out Local Spins photo galleries featuring Fred Armisen’s Grand Rapids tour stop, plus weekend shows in Kalamazoo starring Headband Henny and Horseshoes & Hand Grenades.
Concert reviews · Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
An unusual folk-punk collaboration with Grand Rapids Symphony, a rock-pop sensation and some metal mayhem found receptive audiences this week. Plus, check out video highlights from Pulaski Days and Saturday’s Horizen Fest. The photo galleries at Local Spins.
Features · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
Our spotlight on the historic Grand Rapids studio also includes the Local Spins on WYCE debut of tracks by Preta Nova, Pretty Sure, Theometric, Sam Kenny & Emma A. Ward, LVNDR, Flxnn and more. Get River City’s back story and listen to this week’s radio show podcast.
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.
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 ambitious week-long showcase of Michigan bands unfurls at eight different venues, plus some busking stations. Get the background, schedule and a playlist at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows
With compassion-fueled apoplexy, alt-metal’s Helmet rolls into The Pyramid Scheme on Sunday as it prepares to release a new studio album, “Left.” The Local Spins interview with frontman Page Hamilton.
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.
Festivals · Playlists · Upcoming shows
Aiming to educate and entertain, the two-day festival at Grand Rapids’ Rosa Parks Circle will feature a keynote address by acclaimed music industry expert Ari Herstand, plus live music, a robotics expo, gaming competition and much more. Get details, the full schedule and a playlist at Local Spins.
The long-running, Boston-bred alterna-rockers closed out the amphitheater’s most successful season on Friday with an energetic set for a sold-out audience. The review, photos and setlist.
Audio · Emerging Artists to Watch · Videos
Local Spins’ ‘Emerging Artists to Watch’ series focuses on a genre-bending act led by a singer and songwriter from Southwest Michigan who’s generating sparks live. The band released its debut album last week.
Concert reviews · Summer Festivals · Weekend Photo Gallery
From The Baseball Project super-group to a battle of up-and-coming bands, the post-storm weekend of wondrous weather unfurled rock, bluegrass, hip hop, soul and polkas for big West Michigan audiences. Local Spins was there to capture it in photos and video.
The busiest summer ever for live music and festivals captivated the attention of Local Spins devotees. Today, we reveal the Top 10 concerts and festivals that enthralled our readers. Revisit all of the biggest shows of the summer.
Playlists · Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
With six female or female-led acts on the bill, Sunday’s celebration in Hastings aims to close out the summer with transfixing music. Get the preview, schedule and playlist at Local Spins.
The second annual, one-day festival and friendly competition on Tuesday along the Rogue River benefits ShelterBox, with three West Michigan bands gracing the stage. The schedule, details, voting links and band videos at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE
Local Spins traveled to Kalamazoo’s La Luna studio to showcase new projects from Seth Bernard, G’itis Baggs and Liz Townsend. Plus, the radio show debuts tracks by several other Michigan artists, including Nathan Walker, May Erlewine, Low Phase and Lowke. Learn more about Ian Gorman’s studio and listen to this week’s radio show podcast.
Announcements · Photos · Summer Festivals
The up-and-coming, jazz-fueled Grand Rapids band outpolled more than 50 other Michigan acts performing on Saturday while music lovers strolled outdoor venues in the lakeshore town. The story and photos.
Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Summer Festivals · Videos
Today’s Local Spins on WYCE podcast travels the state to showcase new music from Michigan artists performing at several August festivals. Plus, get details — and links — for nine festivals taking place this weekend, with a chance to win tickets to one of them, and watch Local Spins publisher John Sinkevics recap the August festival lineup for TV8’s EightWest.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows · Videos
The Southwest Michigan band plays Bell’s Back Room this weekend, with a new full-length album set for release in December. Learn more about the band in this Artist Spotlight feature.
Concert reviews · Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
The July music train kept rolling across West Michigan this week, with a new GR music festival, national tour stops and local star fervor aplenty, from Domestic Problems to Stephen Marley to Steep Canyon Rangers — all captured in photos at Local Spins.
Local Spins on WYCE traveled to Grand Haven to chat with the veteran bandleader as well as Third Coast Recording founder Bill Chrysler while also debuting new tracks by Michigan artists, including Fire in the Attic, Cal in Red, FINKEL, Daves at 7, Lost Magic, Bradley Sinclair, Trifocal and more. Learn more about Carl Webb and Third Coast Recording, watch a video and listen to this week’s radio show podcast.
Playlists · Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
One of Michigan’s youngest music festivals has quickly become a favorite, lighting up Fourth of July weekend for the third year in Trufant. Get the lowdown and listen to music from this year’s performers.
The Canadian twin sisters and pop stars offered a smorgasbord of popular hits and deep cuts spanning a 20-plus-year career in their Grand Rapids tour stop Friday. The concert review and photos at Local Spins.
Michael Franti captivated a sold-out crowd at Meijer Gardens, the same evening that Alejandro Escovedo told musical tales amid an illustrious career at Midtown. The Local Spins reviews and photo galleries.
Artist Spotlights · Playlists · Upcoming shows
The illustrious, highly acclaimed Texas-based musician and songwriter brings his tour to Michigan for shows at Midtown in Grand Rapids and Acorn Center for the Performing Arts in Three Oaks. The Local Spins interview, with a Top 15 playlist of his songs.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
The Memorial Day weekend festival along Lake Michigan has become a tradition for many, with performances by more than a dozen Michigan artists. The schedule and details at Local Spins.The Memorial Day weekend festival along Lake Michigan has become a tradition for many, with performances by more than a dozen Michigan artists. The schedule and details at Local Spins.
Album reviews · Audio · Upcoming shows
This May roundup of new releases by Michigan artists also features a look at recordings by Signal Quartet, The JR Band and Wowza in Kalamazoo. Listen to tracks from all of the releases and find out where these artists are performing.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
Celebrating Local Spins’ 11th birthday and the power of Michigan’s female artistry, the second annual festival drew enthused crowds Saturday for sets by six regional bands: In the Valley Below, Earth Radio, Sarena Rae, Kari Lynch Band, Lokella and Grace Theisen Band. The recap, photos and a video at Local Spins.
For the third time, the special Kent District Library streaming platform will accept music submissions from local and regional artists. The lowdown at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Regional acts such as Max Lockwood, Megan Dooley, Lisa Can’t Sing and Darcy Wilkin are also part of this weekend’s concert photo roundup, which includes images from Drake White, Real Friends, The Plot in You, Wreckno and more. Plus, see who won the B93 Battle to the Bash. Browse all the galleries at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Upcoming shows · Videos
The Detroit-area band playing SpeakEZ on Wednesday was featured for Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuted new tracks by Jesse Cline, Silverstiles, Chance Jones, Tess Clark, Letrick Olson, Pink Sky, Emma Bieniewicz and more. Learn more about the Kate Hinote Trio and listen to this week’s radio show podcast.
Artist Spotlights · Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
May 20’s Local Spins Fest will spotlight six, eclectic Michigan-bred bands. Today, we spotlight much-beloved singer Kari Lynch, who launched her career in West Michigan. Check out her answers to seven questions, plus watch her music videos.
Album reviews · Audio · Upcoming shows
New releases from Michigan artists Cody Robert DeWindt, Story Cafe and Adam Main are also part of this Local Spins roundup of reviews. Check out Local Spins takes and listen to tracks from all of the recordings.
Summer Concerts · Upcoming shows
From Michigander to NEEDTOBREATHE to Girl Named Tom, two Petoskey venues boast robust summer series for 2023. Plus, check out other unique performance spaces in northern Michigan that make the picturesque region even more of a draw in summer. Get the lineups at Local Spins.
The Grammy-winning outfit gave fans at State Theatre a visually enhanced dose of boundary-pushing charm, plus check out our photo recaps of weekend shows ranging from heavy metal to EDM to post-punk and more. The Snarky Puppy review and concert photo galleries at Local Spins.
Emerging Artists to Watch · Local Spins on WYCE
This week’s radio show toasts up-and-coming acts in several genres, many of them recent award winners. We also debut new tracks by a pair of established artists. Listen to this week’s radio show podcast at Local Spins.
The multi-talented Grand Rapids-based instrumentalist plans to focus on his recording studio, solo projects and the new Moss Manor trio. Read more about Michael Dause’s future and The Accidentals’ new drummer — who’s also a Michigan native.
