Announcements · awards · Videos
The acclaimed guitarist — honored on Sunday for best bluegrass album — also has announced a summer tour that closes out with two ‘hometown’ shows at the Ionia County Fairgrounds. Check out the reaction to his Grammy win and watch a music video from the winning album.
Concert reviews · Festivals · Photos
The beloved Kalamazoo bluegrass powerhouse kicked off the Ann Arbor Folk Festival on Friday with a fan-inspiring set that followed an opening salvo by guitar icon Junior Brown. The review and photos at Local Spins. The festival continues today with Amos Lee, Dawes and The Crane Wives.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Upcoming shows · Videos
The award-winning Wild Honey Collective continues to makes a splash, especially with its live shows, captured recently on a new double album. Get their back story along with the debut of new tracks by a host of Michigan artists, including May Erlewine, The Legal Matters, Koipondcondo and more.
Features · Festivals · Upcoming shows
Greensky Bluegrass and special guest, ‘guit-steel’ guitarist Junior Brown, star on Ann Arbor Folk Festival’s Day 1, a first for both the band and the festival. Learn more at Local Spins and check out videos from both artists.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
Local Spins spotlights the 15-year-old bluegrass maven who’s turning heads and who joins Oberlin at SpeakEZ Lounge tonight. Check out an exclusive video of a recent performance and listen to this week’s radio show podcast filled with new Michigan music.
Artist Spotlights · Festivals · Upcoming shows · Videos
Detroit area’s Ember & Ash are just one of more than 10 bands performing Saturday at The Intersection as part of the Wheatland Music Organization’s one-day festival and fundraiser. The preview and schedule.
Festivals · Local Spins on WYCE · Photos · Podcasts
Today, Local Spins not only recaps New Year’s Eve celebrations across West Michigan in words and photos, but spotlights a memorable Michigan Music Showcase podcast filled with tracks by regional artists.
Concert reviews · Photos · Top Stories of the Year Countdown · Videos
Michigan’s bluegrass hero returned to Grand Rapids in late May for two jam-packed, epic nights at Van Andel Arena, sparking pre-parties, a marketplace and more. Revisit the hubbub in words and images.
Audio · Best Music of the Year · Videos
From Perfume Genius to NF to Rosalia, the roster of impressive albums cited by Local Spins writers covered a lot of territory in 2025. View their picks — along with some selections submitted by readers — and listen to this week’s Michigan Music Showcase featuring some of the best tracks by Michigan artists.
Photos · Summer Festivals · Top Stories of the Year Countdown
The guitar phenom in June headlined Day 1 of the Charlotte Bluegrass Festival, the first festival he ever attended as a boy. Later that night, sadly, his mother died. The recap in our top stories countdown.
Gift Guide · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
Local Spins has assembled a holiday shopping list that would be the envy of Santa Claus when it comes to the perfect gifts for music lovers on your radar. And most of them sport a Michigan vibe. Plus, get more ideas by listening to this week’s Michigan Music Showcase radio podcast, featuring new music by 14 Mitten State artists.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
The week started and ended with a bang … at different ends of the musical spectrum. Maddy O’Neal, The Claudettes, Cold Leather Seats, Ghost-Note and Miki Yamaka are also part of the Local Spins live music-in-review roundup. Browse all of the photo galleries.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Winter arrived in Michigan with a snowy bang over Thanksgiving weekend, but bands from Kalamazoo to Traverse City heated up stages in spite of the weather, including Desmond Jones’ traditional day-before-Thanksgiving romp. View the photos at Local Spins.
To heat things up for our upcoming year-end round-up of best concerts and albums of 2025, we’re revealing the Top 5 concerts based on reader counts of concert reviews, and asking readers to submit their favorites, too. Those that do will be entered into a drawing for a Local Spins gift pack.
Album reviews · Audio · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
Today, Local Spins not only reviews new albums by Michigan artists, but presents this week’s edition of the Michigan Music Showcase featuring the latest tracks from 11 Mitten State bands and solo acts. Check out the reviews, listen to the radio show podcast and see where some of these artists will be performing.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows
The renowned Traverse City mandolinist Don Julin has formed a new super-trio with bassist Tom Knific and guitarist Hayes Griffin, with upcoming shows at The Alluvion, The Ark and beyond. The back story at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Country singer Ryan Hurd, jam band Dogs in a Pile, Here Come the Mummies and more filled up a weekend of live music that also included the second annual GIG conference in Jackson. Browse the photo galleries.
Concert reviews · Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
Musical contrasts were everywhere when it comes to West Michigan concerts to close out October and kick off November. From bluegrass heroes Greensky Bluegrass and Americana’s The Rebel Eves to heavy metal’s Mushroomhead, Local Spins recaps the week in scintillating images.
Dressed appropriately for their silver anniversary, Greensky Bluegrass revved up Kalamazoo fans at Wings Event Center on Friday with two sets featuring guests Sam Bush and Lindsay Lou. The Local Spins recap and photos.
Album Releases · Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
Local Spins spotlights the Kalamazoo bluegrass heroes who celebrate their 25th anniversary with a new record and two hometown shows. Mike Devol from Greensky Bluegrass talks about the new record, Billy Strings and more. Plus, this week’s Michigan Music Showcase podcast with new tracks from Caitlin Cusack, Lady Ace Boogie, Jack Droppers, Izzy Reign and more.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows · Videos
Coinciding with release of its ‘XXV’ album, the bluegrass powerhouse plays two nights at Wings Event Center starting on Halloween. Part 1 of our conversation with Greensky Bluegrass bassist Mike Devol.
The award-winning musician returned to St. Cecilia Music Center on Thursday for a special evening that combined the somber with the upbeat. The review and photos at Local Spins.
National Public Radio’s ‘Fresh Air’ last week aired a revealing interview with the Ionia County-bred bluegrass star, who’s still haunted by the overdose death of his mother. We revisit excerpts at Local Spins.
The shining, award-winning bluegrass star captivated fans on Friday. Check out the Local Spins review by West Michigan fiddler Keala Venema, who performs with the area bands Whorled, Candid Antics and others. Check out the review and browse the photos at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Weekend Photo Gallery
Umphrey’s McGree returned to Meijer Gardens for a weekend-ending, jam-filled, prog-rock-infused spectacle, the day after Greensky Bluegrass finished a bluegrass stint at Interlochen. Plus, shoegaze bands revved up a new Kalamazoo venue. Photos.
The Kalamazoo-bred, progressive bluegrass dynamo unleashed the first of two straight northern Michigan shows at Interlochen on Friday, after revving up fans in Detroit on Thursday. Photos, recap at Local Spins.
The veteran Colorado band that’s long been the “house band” at Michigan’s Electric Forest returned to the region to fire up a capacity crowd at Meijer Gardens on Thursday. A recap and photos at Local Spins.
Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Summer Festivals
Local Spins chats with Shagbark fest honcho Farmer John Crissman about taking 2025 off and the challenges facing many festivals. On the flip side, our podcast features artists playing a host of August festivals.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals · Weekend Photo Gallery
The mid-July torrent of live music across West Michigan this weekend ranged from blues to bluegrass to metal to Americana to jazz and more, including shows by The Bacon Brothers, The Flying Leaps, The Local Commuters and a first-ever Jazz Bash. Relive the action in words and photos at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows · Videos
The Colorado bluegrass band joins The Infamous Stringdusters and Kitchen Dwellers at Meijer Gardens on Friday. The Local Spins interview, with a chance to win tickets to the show.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
The Avett Brothers and Everclear topped off a hectic week of live music across West Michigan that also included Rising Appalachia, Miss May I, Full Cord, Smiling Acres fest and more. Get the week-in-review photos and recaps exclusively at Local Spins.
Playing solo, the guitar phenom headlined the opening night of the Charlotte Bluegrass Festival, the first festival he ever attended as a young lad. The recap, fan quips and photos at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
Sunny, sultry weather greeted fans of vibrant music on Tuesday: The Music That Raised Us at Meijer Gardens, Jake Kershaw in Rockford and Watchhouse in Kalamazoo. Revisit the musical action in images at Local Spins.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
The intimate, long-running festival at Eaton County Fairgrounds boasts a ‘surprise’ Thursday headlining set by Billy Strings, but also features a host of national bluegrass acts.
Concert reviews · Summer Festivals · Weekend Photo Gallery
It was another action-packed weekend of live music, the mid-June array of shows and festival romps recapped in words and photos at Local Spins.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
Oscoda County Fairgrounds will light up with dozens of performances on three stages this coming weekend, spotlighting a bevy of regional acts. The preview and schedule at Local Spins.
It rained throughout Sunday’s concert at Meijer Gardens, but those who stuck around were treated to the trio’s fetching covers and original gems. The review and photos.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
The last week in May offered up a two-night Billy Strings spectacle, the first Meijer Gardens summer show, the debut of a new venue and more, all captured in words and photos at Local Spins.
Michigan’s bluegrass hero returned Friday to Grand Rapids for the first of two-jampacked nights at Van Andel Arena. Check out the review, photos and set list at Local Spins.
Features · Local Spins on WYCE · Photos · Podcasts · Upcoming shows · Videos
A weekend celebrating the West Michigan bluegrass star kicked off Thursday with a vendors’ market and jamming in Ionia, with much more to come. Check out the recap, photos and video. Plus, listen to this week’s Michigan Music Showcase radio show podcast that kicks off with a Billy classic and features new tracks by Larry McCray, Phabies, Carbon Decoy and more.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows · Videos
The bluegrass powerhouse who’s become Grand Rapids’ hometown hero returns to Van Andel Arena for two straight nights later this week. Today, Local Spins’ Ryan McCahill previews this much-buzzed-about homecoming. And see how you can win tickets to see Billy Strings on Friday.
Grand Rapids and Ionia will host special pre-shows, performances and vendor lots before the bluegrass superstar’s Van Andel Arena concerts May 30 and 31, organized by devoted fans and artisans who follow Billy Strings across the country. The details at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
From Shades’ electronic spectacle in Grand Rapids to Jon Hayes debuting new music in Kalamazoo to a record label birthday, concert excitement unfolded across W. Michigan. The images at Local Spins.
Breaking music news · Summer Concerts
The shows just keep coming. Local Spins’ exclusive listing of outdoor community concerts across Michigan now boasts 100-plus series. We’ve added 25 more schedules to our summer guide; here are a few to check out and get an update on The Accidentals, who will play several of these series this summer.
Albums that Changed the World · Audio · Playlists
The Full Cord trio plays SpeakEZ Lounge on Wednesday night. To warm up fans for the special show, Local Spins Rewind revisit Full Cord bluegrass mandolinist Brian Oberlin’s picks for albums that influenced him most.
Concert reviews · Festivals · Photos · Videos
Rolling out for the 20th year, the festival featuring concerts, instrument vendors and workshops at Kalamazoo Valley Museum drew an upbeat audience on Saturday. The recap, photos and video highlights.
The free Saturday festival with live performances and instrument vendors at Kalamazoo Valley Museum also boasts a Friday kickoff event starring Brian Oberlin of Full Cord. Get the full schedule and a preview of this year’s event at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
The 25th WYCE Jammie Awards lit up The Intersection in Grand Rapids with wildly diverse sets by 18 Michigan acts for big crowds while honoring the best Michigan releases of 2024. The Local Spins recap, photo galleries and video highlights.
awards · Breaking music news · Concert reviews
Friday night’s musical celebration hosted by WYCE-FM at The Intersection boasted an enthused crowd, riveting sets and honors for in the Valley Below, Michigan Rattlers, Earth Radio, Pablo Eskobear and more. View the full list of winners and more at Local Spins.
Friday night’s mammoth show on all three stages at The Intersection in Grand Rapids will feature 18 bands and numerous award presentations. View and save the full schedule at Local Spins.
