January’s first batch of Local Spins reviews rounds up riveting releases from the past few months, including CDs by Mat Churchill, Downie, Madcat Midnight Blues Journey and Max Lockwood.
Features · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
Show No. 21 of Local Spins on WYCE features in-studio performances by Thirsty Perch Blues Band, a conversation with Hot Capicola Records co-owner Luke Schmidt, and song debuts from Lady Ace Boogie, THEO and more.
Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
The Jan. 9 edition of Local Spins on WYCE features in-studio performances by old-timey folk band Hawks & Owls who performed later in the weekend at the Winter Wheat benefit in Grand Rapids. Also, we debut brand new tracks from Thirsty Perch Blues Band, Lindsay Lou & the Flatbellys, Ben Scott-Brandt, Pete Bass & the Odds Elite and Westrin & Mowry.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
More than two dozen acclaimed Michigan acts played two venues — The Intersection and Founders Brewing — within a block of each other Saturday, sparking huge crowds and memorable performances. And Billy’s Lounge hosted a bluesy CD-release show.
Breaking music news · Commentary · Features · Photos
Local Spins’ final look back at the year that was, reliving the excitement, controversy, emotions and pageantry that West Michigan’s music scene sparked in 2014
Features · Podcasts · Upcoming shows · Videos
More than a dozen Michigan roots acts from the collective will share songs and back each other on stage, including Lindsay Lou & The Flatbellys, who move to Nashville later this month.
Features · Upcoming shows · Videos
The annual Wheatland fundraiser will boast two indoor stages and more than a dozen performances, including Fred Willson’s An Dro finale and sets by Billy Strings & Don Julin, Fauxgrass and more.
Spring Lake listening room’s first ‘Standing Room Only’ show revs up crowd with fiery bluegrass while The Pyramid Scheme hosts JOE’s CD-release party to draw attention to the DAAC. (Photos, review)
The folk-rock band’s longtime banjoist played his final show with the group at Founders on New Year’s Eve and is pursuing a new musical project dubbed Great Lakes Natives as well as working with a new nonprofit group.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
Despite chilly temps, thousands crowded Calder Plaza for HOT FM’s annual party, with hundreds more celebrating at SpeakEZ Lounge, Founders, Tip Top Deluxe and Wealthy Theatre. (Photos, review)
Commentary · Features · Top 10 Lists
Once again, Local Spins asked music writers and West Michigan musicians to submit picks for the year’s best albums and songs – and they came through with a truly diverse mix, from Future Islands and New Pornographers to Snarky Puppy and Against Me! to The Go Rounds and Heaters. Submit yours and you could win a special gift package
Breaking music news · Concert reviews · Features
The pre-Christmas music news update at Local Spins checks in on Seger’s “Ride Out” tour, takes a gander at a plucky banjo project and finds more local albums nominated for honors.
Rock, country, bluegrass, folk, jazz and hip hop unfolded in a host of West Michigan venues, from Jon Pardi to the Appleseed Collective to The Beat Suite to Sharkanoid and more.
Breaking music news · Features · Podcasts · Videos
After playing 230 shows in 2014, the teenage indie-folk phenoms from Traverse City continue to tour and record ceaselessly as a break-through act. They return to One Trick Pony tonight. (Videos, podcast)
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
The acclaimed, Cadillac-bred singer-guitarist returns to Michigan where he cut his teeth. Read the back story about this celebrated artist and his journey.
Breaking music news · Upcoming shows
Grand Rapids radio station WYCE-FM (88.1) reveals the roster of local and regional acts nominated for top honors during February awards show at The Intersection; 88-plus acts will vie for album of the year.
Some of West Michigan’s most compelling concerts didn’t feature arena-sized superstars, but inventive bands in their respective genres: jazz, psych rock/garage rock, hip hop, EDM and more.
The second concert in the Acoustic Café Folk Series had the singer-songwriter regaling an audience of 400 with tales and laid-back, old-timey-hued musical travails.
Artist Spotlights · Podcasts · Videos
The guitarist and singer has focused primarily on his solo career while performing across Michigan, but he’s eyeing a full-band project, too. (Story, video, podcast)
Breaking music news · Upcoming shows
WYCE has revealed its final performance lineup with Legacy Award winner The Verve Pipe, Micah Ling, Nicholas James Thomasma, Tom Hymn and more now part of the evening-long entertainment on two stages. Dozens will be honored with awards in several categories. See the full list of performers.
Artist Spotlights · Features · Videos
In the Local Spins Artist Spotlight: The buzz about the fiery Michigan bluegrass duo keeps growing. They play northern Michigan this week, with December shows at Rockford Brewing and Founders Brewing.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
From Wealthy Theatre to the Tip Top to SpeakEZ Lounge, Grand Rapids’ Wednesday night was firing on all cylinders: The Local Spins roundup and photo gallery.
Breaking music news · Features · Upcoming shows
The November music news round-up at Local Spins focuses on area concert venues: an old one on the auction block, a new one firing up and a fresh local music series.
Also in this week’s images of West Michigan concerts: The Campanellis, Mac McAnally, Jonathan Edwards, Whitechapel, Sacred Strays, Mat Churchill, The Go Rounds, Lady Ace Boogie and a host of others.
Baby Iris recovering “like a champion” at home near Traverse City; May takes time off from the stage, with couple “inspired” by those helping out financially.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
Taped for national broadcast, the evening of music lined up by Ralston Bowles boasted up-and-coming Michigan artists as well as national touring acts. (Review, photo gallery, video)
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Starting with Joan Osborne at Wealthy Theatre, the weekend also boasted Gringo Star and Heaters heating up a record label launch at The Pyramid Scheme, with a legend playing the Civic Theatre.
Artist Spotlights · Podcasts · Videos
The Grand Rapids singer-songwriter unveils “Outrider” at The Pyramid Scheme tonight with Seth Bernard, Dan Rickabus and “some really great friends.” (Story, video, podcast)
Breaking music news · Features
This week’s music news round-up at Local Spins revisits a well-known West Michigan performer who’s back from a Western stint and updates the status of a pair of recording projects.
Artist Spotlights · Podcasts · Videos
The award-winning Grand Rapids band recently added singer and instrumentalist Olivia Mainville to its lineup. The group plays The Pyramid Scheme Friday, opening for Larry & His Flask.
Lend an ear to some brand new music – and unusual projects – from some of West Michigan’s most compelling artists, exclusively at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
It started with Girls With Guitars and Tweedy and, despite the rain, just kept rolling with some early October festivals and Gunnar at the ‘Section, captured in images at Local Spins.
The opening weekend of ArtPrize and the closing weekend of baseball’s regular season may have gotten most of the attention, but there was plenty of live music amid glorious weather to inspire audiences.
With Grand Rapids’ ArtPrize officially launching today, Local Spins asked a chief architect of the drive to include music entries in the competition to offer her playlist of current favorites. Can you say “eclectic”?
Commentary · Concert reviews · Summer Concerts
On summer’s final day, Local Spins looks back at the rollercoaster ride of perhaps the busiest concert season West Michigan has ever seen, with exhilarating ups and stomach-churning downs.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
From the rootsiness of farm-fed music fests boasting some of Michigan’s best bands to dance-fueled electro-pop at Grand Rapids’ biggest taproom and metal at the DeltaPlex, summer said goodbye in style.
Concert reviews · Features · Photos · Videos
Laughing off occasional showers, festival-goers reveled in weekend sets by 100-plus bands on four stages on the site northeast of Lake City. (Story, photo gallery, video)
Breaking music news · Concert reviews · Videos
The accordionist and keyboard player for the platinum-selling Colorado folk-rock band played an unscheduled concert for a packed house Monday at Hideout Brewing.
Concert reviews · Features · Photos
From The Accidentals to The Steel Wheels, the folk and roots music festival has turned the rural Remus site this weekend into a ‘village’ of 10,000 very happy Wheatland devotees.
The Kalamazoo duo of Michael Beauchamp and Laurel Premo has wowed audiences across the country and in Europe with its ‘tight sound.’ They play Wheatland for the first time this weekend.
Album reviews · Breaking music news · Features
The co-producer of the chart-topping new folk compilation helped assemble an all-star cast, including Judy Collins, Pete Seeger, Janis Ian and some Michigan faves.
Some 10,000 folk fans will flock to the rural site in Remus for sets by Rodney Crowell, Claudia Schmidt, The Steel Wheels, The Accidentals, Billy Strings & Don Julin, Rachael Davis and more. See the full schedule.
Hard-touring Grand Rapids jam band to call it quits for awhile in hopes of re-energizing shows and music; up-and-coming teen duo gets boost from big names Marshall Crenshaw and Stewart Lerman in New York.
Artist Spotlights · Podcasts · Videos
This week’s Local Spins Artist Spotlight shines on an 18-year-old, up-and-coming West Michigan artist with a new album and a tour under her belt. (Story, video, podcast)
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
Separated by nine miles, Tuesday’s two outdoor concerts in the Grand Rapids area boasted different vibes but the same enthusiastic crowd support. And T-Pain’s hip hop lit up The Intersection. (Photo gallery)
The weekend started early with a long-awaited Meijer Gardens show, a rap battle and a CD listening party, and kept right on rolling from Grand Rapids to Traverse City.
The August batch of Local Spins reviews spotlights some much-anticipated recording projects from acclaimed bands (with sneak audio peeks), plus releases from The Northern Soul, Junior Valentine & Jason Wheeler, The Carboys, Bruce Matthews and Jake Vroon.
Outdoors and indoors, West Michigan’s concert docket was as lively as any weekend of the summer, from Berlin Raceway to Hoxeyville to the streets of Grand Haven, all captured in Local Spins images.
After an impressive first day, the Woodstock-like Hoxeyville in the Manistee National Forest continued with aplomb Saturday and Sunday as it trotted out a top-notch regional lineup. (Story, video, photos)
Up-and-coming indie-rock bandleader Ben Daniels says his actor-singer dad “burned the blues into my mind.” The Michigan band will back Jeff Daniels on stage.
