Summer Concerts · Upcoming shows
We’ve already told you about Cowpie Music Festival, but there are way more music fests on tap this weekend, from Kalamazoo to Sparta to Gaylord to New Buffalo. And they cover every genre imaginable, from blues to country to punk to folk to Celtic. Check out the lineups and downloadable schedules at Local Spins.
Features · Summer Concerts · Upcoming shows
National act Bill Kirchen and local faves Luke Warm & The Not So Hots, Rochelle & The Spoilers, Tony LaJoye Trio, Macpodz, Rootstand, Legal Immigrants, Big Dudee Roo, Afro Zuma and more will light up this weekend’s farm bash. Get the full schedule and details here.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Whether your tastes ran from the droll Garrison Keillor to the soul of The Temptations and The Soul Syndicate to the rap of ConvoTronics, summer’s music machine kept whirring this week — captured in images at Local Spins.
Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
Chock full of invigorating new material from local and regional acts, the July 31 edition of Local Spins on WYCE featured an animated in-studio performance by Holland’s Brother Adams and the debut of music from upcoming albums. Listen to the podcast and view the video of Brother Adams unfurling a new song.
Concert reviews · Features · Photos
Two of Michigan’s most popular folk-driven acts crossed paths Thursday on tour, playing two New York City clubs within spitting distance of each other in a remarkable coincidence on their tours out East. Local Spins was there to capture it in photos. Check out the full gallery.
Breaking music news · Concert announcements · Top 10 Lists
Tickets for The Avett Brothers’ Oct. 3 concert go on sale next week; the unique, tented ‘Eddy’ venue off Monroe Avenue NW can hold 4,000 and will be part festival, part art project, part food and beer event. The ambitious 11-day affair aims to announce more acts in coming weeks. Read more about it at Local Spins.
Playing for a sold-out amphitheater, the singer-songwriter and opener Anderson East charmed fans with their own compelling original material and some delectable covers. Read the review and view the photo gallery.
Breaking music news · Features
St. Cecilia Music Center plans to amp up its annual ArtPrize music competition with juried prizes in five categories and a benefit show featuring ‘The Voice’s’ Joshua Davis. Get the details in this Local Spins story.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Seasoned and emerging national acts made West Michigan tour stops, but local acts basked in summer’s power, too, including Bennett, Roosevelt Diggs, The Go Rounds, Jim Shaneberger, The Sailor Kicks. Check out all the photos in this weekend’s spectacular photo gallery.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
Local Spins’ latest radio episode spotlighting regional music got soulfully skanky in-studio with Grand Rapids’ Skankadank and boasted a sneak peek into several new local albums. Listen to the entire podcast here.
Features · Summer Concerts · Upcoming shows · Videos
The Ragbirds, Josh Garrels and Bill Kirchen might have escaped your notice but they shouldn’t. Local Spins takes a closer look at three shows flying below the radar this week in the Grand Rapids area, with links to their music and videos.
Concert reviews · Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
Summer heated up this week on the live music front, with national and local acts pumping up West Michigan audiences. And some big names rolled into Meijer Gardens, too, including Pat Benatar, The New Pornographers and Steve Miller. It’s all part of this week’s roundup in the Local Spins Weekend Photo Gallery.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
Boasting a host of West Michigan connections, the lively Americana-hued trio just released an EP with an album’s worth of material still to come. Check out an exclusive video of a new song performed in the WYCE radio studio and listen to Friday’s entire Local Spins on WYCE show podcast.
With storm clouds gathering, Thursday’s sets by Miller and opener Drew Nelson were moved up. But “The Joker’s” show wasn’t rushed and ended just in time to beat the rain. Read the review and check out the photo gallery.
National and regional stars graced several stages at the 35th annual festival southeast of Cross Village, attracting thousands for a weekend of music and art. Check out the Local Spins photo gallery.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
From Kalamazoo to Lansing to Grand Rapids, live music took center stage this week with the Tuesday Evening Music Club kickoff, Billy Strings & Don Julin, Nobody’s Darlin’, the season’s first GRAM on the Green show and much more in the mix. Check out the resplendent photo gallery with links to images from concerts by Mat Kearney, Patty Griffin, Mavis Staples and Joshua Davis.
Concert reviews · Local Spins on WYCE · Photos
Joshua Davis and his all-star band of friends delivered a reserved yet poignant concert in the “gorgeous” setting of Fountain Street Church. Check out the review and photo gallery at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Concerts
Although the Grammy-winning singers never took the stage together, their inspiring sets on a gorgeous Thursday night in Grand Rapids oozed “positive vibration.” Check out the Local Spins review and photo gallery.
Summer Concerts · Upcoming shows
It’s a big weekend for music festivals across Michigan. From Cross Village to Traverse City to Kalamazoo to Detroit, an eclectic blend of national and regional acts are spotlighted to bolster options for those traveling the Great Lakes State. Check out the lineups and details here, with links to schedules.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows · Videos
Friday’s Fountain Street Church concert is one of several high-profile homecoming shows Davis and his band are playing this summer, with a new Davis recording in the offing and solo tours outside Michigan this fall. Read the Local Spins interview.
Features · Summer Concerts · Upcoming shows
Tuesday’s “Family Night” kickoff will feature interactive performances of music and dance by An Dro, Michigan Hiryu Daiko, Leah Ivory & the Rhym Life Collective, Igor Houwat and more. See the full series schedule for 2015.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
The weather cooperated beautifully during the holiday week for shows large and small, including sets by Mid-Life Crisis, Rusty Wright Band and bands at the Fourth of July celebration downtown. Check out the full photo gallery at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Podcasts · Videos
The hard-gigging, honky-tonking country/rockabilly/Americana band plans to fire up Founders Brewing on Thursday night with songs from its new album before heading back on the road and into the recording studio for its next project. Read the story, watch the on-air studio performance, listen to the podcast.
Banjos-and-bluegrass night at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park on Monday had some legendary, veteran players sharing the bill for a night of jamming and story-telling. Read the Local Spins review and check out the photo gallery.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
No shortage of live music options across West Michigan now that summer is in full swing, captured here in images, from return of West Michigan Freedom Cruise and the Celadon series to Time & Luck in Spring Lake. Check out the mini-reviews and full photo gallery at Local Spins.
Features · Summer Concerts · Upcoming shows · Videos
It’s an exceptional collection of acts on tap Sunday for the festival at Riverside Park: Peter “Madcat” Ruth, Fauxgrass, Drew Nelson, K. Jones & The Benzie Playboys, Seth and May and much more. Read the story and see the complete schedule, which you can save on your smartphone.
Artist Spotlights · Audio · Upcoming shows
After returning from Scotland, the couple takes its folk/bluegrass duo project on the road, with plenty more Flatbellys travels on the horizon. Read the back story about Time & Luck and learn what’s next for The Flatbellys.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
Several thousand music and beer fans once again jammed streets outside Founders Brewing on Saturday for sets by Nahko, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Gringo Star, Elephant Revival, Billy Strings & Don Julin, Devin & The Dead Frets, Organissimo and those lovable FBC All-Stars. Read the round-up and check out the photo gallery and video.
Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
Grand Rapids old-timey folk group Hawks & Owls came in to perform and chat about the upcoming Grand River Water Festival, while electronic/rock duo AOK talked about their upcoming video release party at Mexicains Sans Frontieres. Plus more local gems. Listen to the entire podcast and check out a video of Hawks & Owls performing in-studio.
Here’s a great soundtrack to kick off the summer, courtesy of folk-rock’s The Crane Wives, with My Morning Jacket, Lake Street Dive, Radiohead, Shakey Graves and more spotlighted in their Guest Playlist. Check out all the tracks, videos and a Spotify version to play.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows · Videos
Now based in Traverse City after years in Grand Rapids, Stover is recording a new studio album at Amber Lit Audio and literally writing ‘365 Songs for 365 People.’ He plays Elk Brewing on Thursday. Read the back story of this remarkable one-man band and watch a video of him playing his contraption.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Despite some rainy weather, the shows must go on. And they did, with country’s Jake Owens and more in Martin, regional stars at Circle Pines Center, rock and blues in Rockford, and indoor gems in Grand Rapids. Check out three full photo galleries from all the events and a roundup of the week’s musical action at Local Spins.
Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
The super-deluxe, star-studded edition of Local Spins on WYCE (Episode No. 42) boasted in-studio appearances and performances by acts offering up house concerts in a WYCE auction, plus brand new music from Scott Pellegrom and The Tosspints. Check out the podcast and watch the video of the first-ever live collaboration between Big Dudee Roo and Rick Chyme.
Breaking music news · Concert announcements · Videos
Sparked by his third-place finish on the NBC show, the Traverse City singer-songwriter has a crazy Michigan summer concert schedule ahead. Tickets for the Grand Rapids show go on sale Friday. Get details and information about other upcoming Davis concerts.
Features · Upcoming shows · Videos
Set in an out-of-the-way camp between Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo, the three-day fest boasts sets by Billy Strings & Don Julin, The Crane Wives, The Accidentals, Alexis, Maraj, Brown Rice Family, That 1 Guy, Sparky & Rhonda Rucker and more. See the full schedule and save it on your smartphone.
Artist Spotlights · Live at River City · Podcasts · Videos
In another exclusive video performance and interview, Traverse City’s hottest trio talks about being on the road as minors, an upcoming new studio album and being ‘socially awkward.’ And check out in-studio performances of brand new unreleased songs.
Features · Summer Concerts · Upcoming shows
With hundreds of West Michigan performers jamming stages in downtown Grand Rapids this weekend, Local Spins spotlights some must-see acts in this guide to “the best of Fest,” courtesy of Local Spins writers and some well-known local musicians. See who’ve they’ve picked.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
The Crane Wives, Max Lockwood and Tom Hymn packed Grand Rapids’ SpeakEZ Lounge like never before, while The Outer Vibe celebrated release of its new album with American WiFi, Desmond Jones and Watching for Foxes. Check out the photos and video, plus images from concerts by Wayland and Sepultura,
Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Weekend Photo Gallery
The third week in May revved up with Ryley Walker, the return of Nathan Kalish & The Lastcallers, Buses by the Beach and the Local Spins Third Anniversary Celebration at Rockford Brewing with Devin & The Dead Frets, who also appeared on the 39th edition of Local Spins on WYCE. Check out the photos, listen to the podcast.
Breaking music news · Concert announcements · Summer Concerts
Summer and fall concert announcements keep rolling out, with rootsy Michigan acts playing Riverside Park in June, Lynyrd Skynyrd firing up Bike Time, Steel Wheels launching the Acoustic Cafe series, and Martha Reeves and Joshua Davis playing Ann Arbor’s Sonic Lunch. See all the lineups in this Local Spins roundup.
Concert reviews · Features · Photos
Invigorating sets by The Accidentals, Fauxgrass and Bigfoot Buffalo – plus a display of all those vintage VW buses – capped Saturday’s timeless entertainment. Read the re-cap of Saturday’s big day along Lake Michigan, check out the Local Spins photo gallery and listen to audio from Friday’s set by Roosevelt Diggs.
Breaking music news · Features
In a Local Spins interview, the northern Michigan singer-songwriter says it’s ‘really good to be home’ and planning his next move after a star-studded experience on the NBC show. But would he do it all over again?
Artist Spotlights · Podcasts · Videos
Michael Boxer and Laura Crosswait, formerly known as Fiddleface, already have one album under their belts with another in the works. They play Rockford Brewing on Thursday night. Read the back story about this fast-emerging band and check out an exclusive video of a new song.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows
The band closes out this weekend’s Buses by the Beach benefit along Lake Michigan, with The Accidentals, Roosevelt Diggs and more also performing. Rootstand releases a new EP this summer, followed by “focused” touring. Read the Local Spins feature and see the full Bus Benefit lineup.
Breaking music news · Commentary · Videos
Michigan songwriter Joshua Davis made an “incredible” run to the finals of the NBC singing competition. Finishing third is actually a plus: He’s now a national star with a bright future. Read the Local Spins commentary and check out a video of Davis’ on-air debut of an original song.
The week started with the Pigpen Theatre Company’s theatrical folk and kept rolling with Brad Fritcher’s MOODS, Pokey LaFarge, Billy Strings & Don Julin, some mid-May festivals and plenty more, captured in images at Local Spins.
Breaking music news · Commentary · Features · Videos
Traverse City’s Joshua Davis was saved on Tuesday, after a week in which he also sparked more attention for West Michigan’s burgeoning music scene. See what other regional roots acts are on the cusp of a national breakout.
Features · Upcoming shows · Videos
LaFarge brings a national tour with his band in support of a new album, “Something in the Water” – and his vintage, stylistic authenticity – to Grand Rapids’ Pyramid Scheme this week. Read the Local Spins interview with Brian J. Bowe.
This live music week in West Michigan also boasted shows by The Accidentals, Fauxgrass, Hey Marco!, Full Catastrophe, Hall & Oates and, yes, a Traverse City homecoming bash for “The Voice’s” Joshua Davis. Check out the full photo gallery at Local Spins.
May’s batch of Local Spins album reviews covers the gamut from soul to folk, a round-up that also includes new releases from Plain Jane Glory, Watching for Foxes and Complicated Animals. Check out the reviews, with links to audio samples and upcoming gig schedules for the featured bands.
