Audio · Hot Top 5 · Top 10 Lists
Check out the final roster of local and regional albums which earned the most airplay at WYCE-FM last year, topped by a Michigan bluegrass powerhouse. Then, listen to tracks from all of the featured artists.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
This week’s concert photo gallery and video roundup also features Stone Soup & The Broken Teeth’s album-release, Toth, Leland Blue and Paradise Outlaw. Browse the images at Local Spins.
The Wheatland Music Organization’s 11th annual soiree will pack Grand Rapids’ Intersection this weekend with performances by more than a dozen roots music and folk artists on two stages. Details, schedule at Local Spins.
West Michigan ushered in 2020 with the bluegrass brilliance of Billy Strings, an outdoor Pop Evil party, Manic Focus, 20 Monroe Live’s Resolution Ball, Kalamazoo’s New Year’s Fest and more captured in photos and videos at Local Spins, with a full review of Billy Strings’ homecoming show.
Artist Spotlights · Features · Upcoming shows
Maintaining mental health and dealing with “a lot of pressure” represent real challenges for touring musicians, especially road warriors such as The Accidentals and Billy Strings, who plays a sold-out New Year’s Eve show in Grand Rapids. In Part II of its interview with Billy Strings, Local Spins delves into the issues that have become a growing concern for many bands.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
The Gasoline Gypsies kick off a holiday-hued week that also features Pink Sky, Tammi Savoy, Full Cord, Roosevelt Diggs, American Hotel System, Sullivan King, Earth Radio and more. See this week’s featured concerts, plus the Under-the-Radar Picks.
Artist Spotlights · Audio · Podcasts
The new “Michigan Music” compilation featuring 33 Great Lakes State artists and impressive recordings by Billy Strings and Sandra Effert take center stage in the statewide December segment. Bend an ear to the podcast and the featured songs, plus get the back stories about these artists at Local Spins.
The two-night Thanksgiving weekend stand at State Theatre unleashed epic sets and memorable riffs. Enjoy the review and photo gallery at Local Spins, along with Friday’s set list.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
The first Michigan Mondays show at Listening Room with members of The Accidentals kicks off a party-up holiday week in West Michigan that also features concerts by Henhouse Prowlers, Mike Mains, Luke Winslow-King, Merkules and much more. Browse this week’s featured live music selections and the always-intriguing Under-the-Radar Picks.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
Brent Shirey of Valentiger unfurled new songs on-air for Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuted music by Catfish & The Man, Aspen Jacobsen, Edison Kitt, Jack Droppers and more. Peruse the story, podcast and video at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows · Videos
The hometown boy with roots in Ionia and Traverse City can’t wait to play a sold-out New Year’s Eve show at The Intersection in Grand Rapids after a “crazy,” award-winning, chart-topping year. Part 1 of a revealing, on-the-road Local Spins interview with William Apostol, aka Billy Strings.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
The Grammy-nominated band of virtuosos made a tour stop Wednesday at Grand Rapids’ Listening Room, impressing a small but approving crowd. They play Petoskey, Interlochen and Ann Arbor next. Peruse the review and photo gallery at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Audio · Podcasts
There are compelling stories behind each of the West Michigan artists featured on this month’s edition of Local Spins on Michigan Radio’s “Stateside.” Listen to the podcast, get the back story on these three acts.
For the second year, the Folk Alliance Region Midwest conference will host seminars and performances by hundreds of touring musicians in Grand Rapids. Get the Local Spins preview, schedules of performances and details about this week’s “truly real” event.
Album reviews · Audio · Videos
Fall brings with it some frightfully good new regional music, including the latest from Michigan-bred bluegrass hero Billy Strings, a popular hip hop collective, fetching fiddle music and scary-cool Halloween gems. Check out the reviews, sample the new music at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Features · Kalamazoo · Photos
The third annual Great Lakes Music Camp along the Lake Michigan shoreline drew dozens of ‘pupils’ for workshops and even more acoustic music fans for a packed Saturday night concert starring instructors. In Kalamazoo, meanwhile, the Great Lakes Acoustic Music Association also celebrated acoustic glory at its GLAMA-versary event. Story and photos at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
September closed out with a bang: Rain washed out country star Luke Bryan’s ‘Farm Tour’ stop in Richland, but other acts rocked the house, including Skillet, Alter Bridge, BoomBox, Judah & The Lion, Frankie Cosmos, Sigrid, Greyhounds, Mark Lavengood and more. Get the recaps and photos at Local Spins.
Breaking music news · Features · Videos
The Michigan-bred guitarist and emerging national bluegrass star who’s made a splash across the country snagged IBMA awards on Thursday, including guitar player of the year honors. His new album, “Home,” comes out today and he’s already sold out many of the shows on his fall U.S. tour. The lowdown at Local Spins, with videos of songs from his new album.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
The week starts with the roar of GWAR, but there are also big shows starring JRob, The Accidentals, Pink Sky, Earth Radio, Delbert McClinton and way more firing up stages in West Michigan. Get the complete concert lowdown at Local Spins along with this week’s Under-the-Radar Picks.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
The 46th edition of this much-admired Michigan music festival rolled out last weekend with a hefty slate of national and regional roots music stars. The recap by Local Spins’ Ricky Olmos, with photos by Anna Sink.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
The Way Down Wanderers and Arkansauce also performed Saturday at the Earth’s Edge/Courtyard Concerts event in Mill Point Park. Get the recap and browse a photo gallery at Local Spins.
With a politically conscious new record releasing in four weeks, the North Carolina folk/rock band was ready to connect with a modest-but-enthused audience. Check out the review of Friday night’s show at Local Spins. along with a photo gallery.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows · Videos
The “adventurous” event at Mill Point Park also stars The Way Down Wanderers and Arkansauce. Get the lowdown about this first-time event at Local Spins and watch videos of the featured performers.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
The Hoxeyville Music Festival in the Manistee National Forest near Wellston wrapped up Sunday with two memorable sets by bluegrass star Billy Strings. But Local Spins’ Ricky Olmos found plenty more to like about Hoxey 2019, with photos by Anna Sink.
Artist Spotlights · Audio · Podcasts
The August Local Spins segment on Michigan Radio’s “Stateside” showcased the sophomore album from a popular jam band, the debut from a veteran blues outfit and some lively bluegrass. Listen to the podcast and full songs from each of the featured artists.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
The second week of August also boasts Beach House, JD McPherson, Bass Country, Low Cut Connie, Grasshoppah, Tommy Tutone, Farmfest, I Prevail, likemelikeyou, a John Prine Tribute, Sparta Celtic Fest and more. Plus, win tix to Tutone and Cowpie.
The first batch of Local Spins album reviews for August features a popular jam band, a hard-rock fave, an up-and-coming hip hop artist and a bluegrass gem. Check out the latest round-up of new releases and listen to songs from each of the featured albums.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
Prettymuch, Corrosion of Conformity, The Beach Boys, Gaelic Storm, The Menzingers, the Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival and much more are also on the docket. Check all of this week’s featured concert selections, Under-the-Radar Picks and win tickets to see Badfish: A Tribute to Sublime at The Intersection’s Rock The Lot.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
Local Spins asked several performers from last weekend’s Beaver Island Music Festival to choose three highlights that stood out. Read their picks and browse a photo gallery, only at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Summer Concerts · Weekend Photo Gallery
Amid big events such as Electric Forest and Common Ground, West Michigan music fans also reveled in some crowd-pleasing tour stops and a Lowell bluegrass festival. Peruse the images at Local Spins
With a chill, laid-back atmosphere, the 10th edition of the Grand River Water Festival spilled out along the Grand River in Grand Rapids on Saturday. Get the recap and browse the photo gallery at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Concerts
The country/bluegrass Nashville-based, Virginia-bred band enthralled a sold-out Meijer Gardens audience on Friday in its triumphant return to the Grand Rapids venue. Check out the Local Spins review and photo gallery.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows · Videos
The all-star trio of Michigan-bred singers — May Erlewine, Lindsay Lou and Rachael Davis — launch a four-show run through the Mitten at Bell’s in Kalamazoo on Wednesday, and are eyeing a really big year for Sweet Water Warblers in 2020. Learn more about the group, watch videos of their performances at Local Spins.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
Old Crow Medicine Show, Electric Six, The Mystic Braves, Gnash, Lindsay Beaver, Molly, Sweet Water Warblers, August, The Hill People, Guitar UP, The Concussions also fill out a hefty week of concerts. Plus, see how you can win tickets to Mollly’s EP-release show with The Go Rounds.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
Last weekend’s second-year festival hosted by Greensky Bluegrass in the Manistee National Forest gave 2,100-plus attendees from all over the country memories to treasure. Relive some of the highlights in this recap by writer Ryan Boldrey with a colorful photo gallery by Anna Sink.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
Buddy Guy and Kenny Wayne Shepherd start a week that also features big community concerts, the Ronnie James Dio hologram tour, Grand Rapids Pride Festival, Trampled by Turtles, Rockford’s Start Of Summer, LAV’s Summertime Blues and more. And see how you can win tickets to Thank You Scientist or Synth Night.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
The West Michigan band that’s toasting its 12th year with a new EP played Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuted songs by several Michigan bands. Get the back story on Full Cord and listen to the radio show podcast at Local Spins.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
This weekend’s festival in Stanton north of Grand Rapids fires up this weekend with Joshua Davis, Rachael Davis, Act Casual, The Gasoline Gypsies, Bootstrap Boys, Max Lockwood and more. See — and save — the full schedule at Local Spins.
Major arena tour stops by Jason Aldean and The Who dominated the week, but other artists also made the West Michigan roundup of concerts, from hip hop’s Tech N9ne and synthwave’s Perturbator in GR to metal’s Drink Their Blood in Kalamazoo. Browse the photo galleries at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
The weekend concert attack also featured Moss Jaw in an album-release show and Desmond Jones — seven exclusive photo galleries in a live music roundup that was just part of a robust roster of tour stops. Browse the images at Local Spins.
Outdoor music abounds in summertime in communities across West Michigan and today’s lineups feature bands playing free shows along the lakeshore. Check out the schedules for a half-dozen series at Local Spins.
Lots of repeat acts dominated the Hot Top 5 chart of local and regional airplay at WYCE-FM for April, but artists from Detroit and Grand Rapids made their debut, too. Peruse the chart, listen to music from all of the featured albums.
The Michigan native and Steppin’ In It member has a growing role as producer, working with Greensky Bluegrass, Jen Sygit, Eddie Vedder, Buddy Miller and even the Chicago Cubs and The Dead. Check out the Local Spins profile of Dominic John Davis by writer Ryan Boldrey.
Local Spins presents another roundup of summer concerts taking place across West Michigan, many of them featuring an impressive lineup of regional stars. Peruse the schedules for these free shows.
Concert announcements · Summer Concerts
The outdoor summer concert season starts early in Grand Rapids, with downtown lunchtime shows starting in early May. Check out the schedule for those shows as well as series lineups for Hastings, Ada and Allendale.
Breaking music news · Concert announcements · Summer Concerts
The revamped amphitheater will also host summer shows by Foreigner, The B-52s, Mandolin Orange, Tash Sultana, Steve Miller & Marty Stuart, O.A.R., CAKE, Andrew Bird, Trombone Shorty, Lake Street Dive, JJ Grey with Jonny Lang and more. Member tickets on sale April 27. See the full concert lineup and ticket prices at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows · Videos
The Colorado jamgrass faves boast strong West Michigan roots and say they’re in it for the long haul. Trout Steak Revival play Bell’s Brewery Eccentric Cafe on Saturday. Check out the Local Spins Artist Spotlight feature and videos.
The Grand Rapids alt-country band’s latest album, “Roll On,” was one of four new chart entries, joined in March by Joshua Davis, Max Lockwood and Bermudas. Listen to songs from all of the charted artists and check out a list of new local and regional releases.
Photos · Upcoming shows · Venue Spotlight
The intimate venue and craft brewery has become a key part of the Southwest Michigan city’s growing arts community, while shining a spotlight on regional stars and homegrown talent. And it hosts its first Firkin Fest later this spring. Learn more about the hot spot in this Local Spins Venue Spotlight as well as the new Earthwork Music concert series.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
The California rapper’s weekend tour stop was just part of a rambunctious week of live music across West Michigan, with shows by Nothing More, Badflower, Jeff Austin, Travelin’ McCourys, Veronica Swift & The Benny Green Trio, Jack Droppers & The Best Intentions, Brother Elsey and more. Check out the photo galleries and recaps at Local Spins.
