As August continues to heat up, Local Spins spotlights six new releases by West Michigan artists, from compelling Americana to lively indie-pop to reimagined punk. Check out the reviews, with audio samples from each album.
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.
Albums that Changed the World · Playlists
Michigan native Luke Winslow-King plays Grand Rapids on Thursday and two northern Michigan music festivals this weekend. Today, he reveals the recordings that helped shape his own career. Listen to tracks from all of the albums at Local Spins and see how you can win tickets to see his ‘Listening Lawn’ show at Studio Park this week.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
After taking 2020 off due to COVID, Saturday’s afternoon event will boast performances by 46 bands in ‘some pretty unconventional places.’ Get the preview and schedule at Local Spins.
The final night of the legendary acts’ August joint touring run enchanted a sold-out crowd Sunday at Meijer Gardens. The review and photo gallery at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
On the heels of releasing two new singles, the band was this week’s guest for Local Spins on WYCE, which also featured new tracks by Phabies, Mannhattan, Superfluiid,Michigan Rattlers and more. Get the back story on Paradise Outlaw and listen to this week’s radio show podcast at Local Spins.
The soulful, award-winning Detroit act led July’s roster of regional artists earning the most airplay at WYCE, just ahead of Michigan Rattlers, Patty PerShayla, Seth Bernard and Lipstick Jodi. Read more about Laura Rain, who plays Grand Rapids later this month, and listen to tracks from all of the new releases at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Features · Weekend Photo Gallery
For artists such as Joshua Davis and Troll for Trout, the return to stages in Grand Rapids this summer after more than 16 months of COVID silence has created a peculiar but welcome feeling. Get the back story of their experiences and recaps of their shows, along with photo galleries that also include images of Djangophonique at Grand Rapids Art Museum and Pink Martini with Grand Rapids Symphony at Meijer Gardens.
As we move into the final week of July, Local Spins spotlights new releases from some familiar Michigan artists representing a wide swath of styles, from Seth Bernard to Lauren Pearson. Browse the reviews, listen to tracks from all of the albums at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
After a silent 2020, Beaver Island last weekend again hosted its unique music fest with The Hacky Turtles, Benzing Graves Collective, Patty PerShayla & The Mayhaps, The Gasoline Gypsies and other regional stars. The Local Spins recap in photos — and in the words of the performers themselves.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows · Videos
The remote, cozy festival in northern Lake Michigan will feature a host of Michigan stars this weekend, including The Gasoline Gypsies, Hacky Turtles, Patty PerShayla & The Mayhaps, The Founding and more. Learn more about this year’s event and watch videos of some of the featured bands at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
From Grand Rapids to the lakeshore, bands and fans celebrated the return of live music to packed venues, many hosting their first concerts in more than a year. Browse the images from The Intersection, The Pyramid Scheme, Burl & Sprig, Listening Room/Studio Park and Grand Haven’s Waterfront Stadium at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
The frontman for Grand Rapids’ Deep Greens & Blues delved into his new solo material for Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuted tracks by Brett Mitchell, Brian Lybrandt, Desmond Jones, The Vermeers, i.am.james and others. Learn more about Atkinson’s music and listen to this week’s full radio show podcast.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
The first Tuesday Evening Music Club show in nearly two years filled the amphitheater for sets by The Accidentals and Roosevelt Digs. Get the recap, view the photos and video exclusively at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
West Michigan’s 2021 Independence Day weekend proved to be far busier music-wise than the pandemic-impaired 2020, and Local Spins was there to capture the concert action in photos.
Features · Upcoming shows · Venue Spotlight
The charming and unique ‘right-on-the-water’ club in Douglas bids farewell at the end of the season after hosting regional bands and national touring acts for more than two decades. Discover the back story and browse a photo gallery at Local Spins.
Breaking music news · Concert announcements · Upcoming shows
Things aren’t quite back to normal with live music, but WLAV’s free Thursday night blues shows and live music in Founders’ beer garden means Grand Rapids fans will move closer to a pre-pandemic vibe. Get the details and the schedule at Local Spins.
Summer Concerts · Upcoming shows
Canada’s Brass Transit plays Bay View outside Petoskey on Saturday, kicking off a hectic month of concerts across northern Michigan. Learn more about this band and view a full schedule of “up north” shows.
Album reviews · Audio · Upcoming shows
Local Spins wraps up June with a look at six intriguing and diverse new releases by West Michigan artists. Plus, listen to tracks from all of the albums.
Features · Upcoming shows · Venue Spotlight
After barely surviving the pandemic, the ever-groovy and intimate Tip Top Deluxe celebrates a major milestone this weekend. The back story and Saturday’s schedule at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
With release of the band’s third full-length album, “Dad Rock,” Droppers opens up about getting in trouble while growing up in Florida, being a new father and crafting a record during a pandemic. Learn more about the project, view the videos and browse a photo gallery from the band’s recent record-release show.
Concert announcements · Summer Concerts · Upcoming shows
From The Sea The Sea to Seth Glier to The Young Fables, the 10-concert lineup on Friday nights will feature nationally acclaimed artists starting in July. View the full schedule and details at Local Spins.
Concert announcements · Summer Concerts
After skipping concerts in 2020, the outdoor amphitheater resumes its main summer series on July 18 with Preservation Hall Jazz Band and the Grand Rapids Symphony. The full lineup at Local Spins, with ticket prices and other details.
Summer Concerts · Upcoming shows
We’ve got 10 more summer series starring regional acts unfolding in communities from Buchanan to Canadian Lakes, with several of these kicking off this coming week. The lineup at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
The West Michigan songsmith debuted tracks from his sophomore album for Local Spins on WYCE, which also premiered songs by Patty PerShayla, Jack Droppers, Pack Sounds, The Lasso, Steve Leaf and more. Learn more about Haner’s project and listen to this week’s full radio show podcast.
Summer Concerts · Upcoming shows
As summer kicks into full gear, so do outdoor concerts hosted by communities across West Michigan. Learn more about the return of these shows and get the latest update to Local Spins’ comprehensive listings of music in the great outdoors.
Concert announcements · Summer Festivals
After taking 2020 off due to COVID, the granddaddy of Michigan music festivals plans ‘as near normal a regular festival as possible’ this year. The September festival will be slightly smaller in terms of attendance. Get details at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
The new West Michigan super-group of multi-instrumentalists debuted two songs for Local Spins on WYCE, which also featured tracks by EPCYA, Sherdizzil, Laura Rain, The Accidentals, Ally Evenson, Lord Huron, ttypes, .Shi, Keeynote and more. Check out the profile of King Possum — who play Tip Top Deluxe on Saturday night — and listen this week’s complete radio show podcast.
Summer Concerts · Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
Despite some COVID obstacles, the summer of 2021 looks a lot different than 2020 when it comes to music events in northern Michigan. Local Spins previews some recently announced concert series in the region. Get details and view the lineups of this summer’s performers.
Summer Concerts · Upcoming shows
More communities across West Michigan are re-entering the concert fray after a year that silenced live music due to COVID. View the schedules, from Monday night jazz at Walker’s Millennium Park Meadows to weekend rock and blues in several outdoor hot spots.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
The new album by the Grand Rapids songwriter who relocated from Nashville was featured for Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuted tracks from WOOTS, Jacob’s Brother, Vespre, Nathan Walton, Ohly and more. Learn more about this acclaimed artist and listen to this week’s full radio show.
Breaking music news · Concert announcements · Summer Festivals
The brand new, two-day festival hosted by Dobro whiz Mark Lavengood will limit capacity and feature sets by ‘a stronghold of West Michigan greats’ playing on a site with plenty of space for social distancing. Get details, ticket information and the full lineup at Local Spins.
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 · Live-Stream Concerts · Upcoming shows
Cadillac native Luke Winslow-King and Italian slide guitarist Roberto Luti unleash a multi-camera, online concert from Spain on Saturday, with a new album and Michigan shows on the way in 2021. The Local Spins interview, with details about the upcoming live-stream.
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.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
The Traverse City songwriter plays Spread the Music Festival today and was featured for Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuted tracks by Medicinal Groove, Laine Rex, Snacks & Five, Amy Love, KJ & The Good Time Family Band, Shady Groves & more. Learn more about Butzin and listen to this week’s full radio show podcast.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
After a mostly silent winter, two popular West Michigan bands revved up tunes new and old for live audiences in Grand Rapids and Holland on Friday. Find recaps of both shows in words and images at Local Spins.
Breaking music news · Local Spins at SXSW · Upcoming shows
‘SXSW Week’ boasts a series of online events, pop-up performances, a Michigander live-stream and an outdoor wrap-up concert on Friday at Studio Park with Brother Elsey, which releases a new single that day. Get details on this week’s Michigan House activities as well as an update on Brother Elsey.
Albums that Changed the World · Audio · Features · Playlists
With his own new solo album on the way this spring, Michigan music ambassador Seth Bernard today reveals the three albums that most influenced his career, along with a current favorite. Listen to tracks from all of his selections (along with a standout Bernard song) as part of this week’s playlist.
Concert announcements · Festivals
For the second year, the late March online festival raising money for the Michigan Artist Relief Fund will feature performances from across the Great Lakes State. This year’s event will feature more than 200 artists. Get details and see who else is in the initial lineup.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
The Hudsonville-area singer-songwriter opens up about his new album for Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuted tracks by Nordy, DAYZ, The Great United, Dance Contraption, Chain of Lakes, Steve Leaf, Ben Traverse & Michael Dause and more.
The lion’s share of local and regional releases populating the February Hot Top 5 represent reentries in the chart due to WYCE’s celebration of past Jammie Award winners and potential nominees. Listen to tracks from all of this month’s featured artists, plus view a list of new local additions to the WYCE library.
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.
Breaking music news · Upcoming shows
Due to COVID, dozens of performers and thousands of fans won’t gather for the annual WYCE event that would have taken place Friday at The Intersection. But a revised Jammies is still possible. Get the lowdown 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.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
The Holland songwriter who fronts the Hundred Star Hotel opened up for Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuted tracks by Pink Sky, Public Access, The Band Mint, Steve Leaf, Breaker Brothers, I Believe in Julio, Chris DuPont, Medicinal Groove and others. Learn more about Harrell and listen to this week’s full radio show podcast.
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.
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.
