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.
Concert reviews · Festivals · Photos
Sunday’s 15th Great Indoor Folk Festival unfurled at The Village at Grand Traverse Commons with more than 75 musicians and singers performing. The story and photos at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
The week’s concert lineup also boasted a Jackson Browne/Linda Ronstadt/Warren Zevon tribute, Mark Lavengood and a musical Winter Beer Fest romp. The images and more at Local Spins.
The unusual Feb. 23 event at The Village at Grand Traverse Commons will feature performances by more than 75 Michigan musicians and singers. The lowdown on the 15th festival at Local Spins.
awards · Breaking music news · Upcoming shows
The two Michigan artists representing different genres — bluegrass and gospel — added to their Grammy arsenals on Sunday, and both have upcoming West Michigan tour stops.
Concert reviews · Festivals · Photos
The 48th annual two-day festival at Ann Arbor’s Hill Auditorium kept ‘the dream alive’ with sets by acclaimed headliners, plus Josh Ritter, Bruce Cockburn, Joy Clark and more. The review and photos at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Festivals · Photos · Videos
Saturday’s 10-band winter festival at The Intersection in Grand Rapids unfurled everything from bluegrass to soulful pop to Cajun and Celtic charm on Saturday. Check out the recap, photos and video.
Concert announcements · Upcoming shows
Today, Local Spins announces the winter/spring concert series at the downtown club and restaurant, showcasing Michigan acts and tribute bands. View the full schedule.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
Bands and revelers ushering in 2025 celebrated amid a wide swath of musical styles unfurling from Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo. The recaps, photos and a video at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Top Stories of the Year Countdown · Videos
Michigan’s top bluegrass powerhouses joined forces for a surprising and electrifying night at Meijer Gardens in June, captivating fans and readers, who made our review the No. 3 story of the year. Revisit the evening in words, photos, video and set list.
Album reviews · Audio · Top Stories of the Year Countdown
Writer Ryan McCahill’s take on the virtuoso bluegrass guitarist’s new double-album ranked No. 10 on Local Spins’ countdown of the year’s top stories. Revisit it here today.
Audio · Best Music of the Year · Videos
Our year-end picks for the best releases and concerts of 2024 covers a lot of musical ground. Check out the selections, listen to the music.
Album reviews · Top Stories of the Year Countdown · Videos
Our July review of the bluegrass guitarist’s first live album got plenty of attention from Billy Strings fans, making it the No. 12 story of the year. The album has since been nominated for a Grammy Award. Revisit the review; check out tracks from the release.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
May Erlewine’s Winter Dance Party and Kari Lynch’s Very Merry Jingle Jam were part of a festive week of December concerts across West Michigan — shows that also featured All American Funk Parade, Chris Knight, Gunnar Nyblad and more. The recaps and photos at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows · Videos
The Del McCoury Band led by an iconic, award-winning guitarist plays St. Cecilia Music Center on Thursday. The Local Spins interview with the influential bluegrass star.
Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
This week’s special Thanksgiving weekend edition of Local Spins on WYCE lays out a banquet of tracks by Michigan artists. Plus, we celebrate the holiday with special performances by three Michigan stars.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Kalamazoo boasted a busy Saturday of live music with The Incantaions, Them Coulee Boys and The Smokin’ Dobroleles, capping a week that also saw packed shows in Grand Rapids. Browse the photo galleries exclusively at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Audio · Upcoming shows
The celebrated Traverse City mandolinist recently unveiled his long-planned, genre-melding recording, with several upcoming Michigan concerts to promote the release. Get the back story and listen to tracks from the new album.
Artist Spotlights · Emerging Artists to Watch · Upcoming shows · Videos
The emerging Michigan band chats about its evolving sound and latest release ahead of a Nov. 8 show at GIG: The Art of Michigan Music in Jackson. Learn more about the band and watch their videos at Local Spins.
Features · Local Spins Rewind · Podcasts · Videos
The bluegrass guitarist’s fans traveled from across the country to catch a wild 2023 Grand Rapids concert that folks are still talking about. This year’s Halloween spectacle was epic, too. Check out a video clip from this year’s concert affair and listen to the 2023 Local Spins on WYCE radio show featuring interviews with diehard fans and more.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Once again, West Michigan’s live music week covered a lot of bases: country, folk, bluegrass, psych-rock, metal, drone and more — from Boris to Neko Case. The photo recaps at Local Spins.
Concert announcements · Festivals · Upcoming shows
The lineup for the two-day festival taking place at Ann Arbor’s Hill Auditorium features big name indie artists, including Josh Ritter, The Milk Carton Kids, Jobi Riccio and Joy Clark, with Old Crow’s Ketch Secor emceeing. Get all of the details at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
From classic rock to bluegrass to funk to indie-rock, West Michigan venues offered plenty of variety for music fans over the past week. Browse the photo galleries, concert recaps and a video at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Festivals · Weekend Photo Gallery
From Grand Rapids to Chesaning to Clarkston, the early October flurry of Michigan music made an impact amid summer-like weather. View the photo galleries and recaps at Local Spins.
The new dad and award-winning bluegrass guitar phenom from Ionia County celebrated a brand new double-album with his band in the first of a two-night run at the Clarkston amphitheater. The recap and photos at Local Spins.
Album reviews · Audio · Upcoming shows
Writer Ryan McCahill provides his take on the virtuoso bluegrass guitarist’s new double-album as Billy Strings celebrates fatherhood and prepares to play two nights at Michigan’s Pine Knob. Check out the review, listen to a track from the new release.
Concert reviews · Festivals · Photos
Hawks and Owls delivered a tantalizing first chapter in a new Grand Rapids concert series, while eclectic bands from across the state closed out Kalamazoo’s week-long music festival. The images from both events at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows · Videos
The award-winning musician, singer and songwriter kicks off the fall concert series at Grand Rapids’ Royce Auditorium. The Local Spins interview, with recent performance videos.
Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
The 51st edition of the folk and roots music festival rolled out north of Grand Rapids last weekend with a plethora of national and local stars. The recap, photos, video at Local Spins.
