Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows · Videos
Featuring two Kent County natives, the Colorado-based bluegrass band plays two straight ‘homecoming’ shows this weekend at Grand Rapids’ Listening Room. Read the Local Spins interview and watch videos of the band ahead of the weekend run.
This edition of our concert week-in-review spotlights some W. Michigan tour stops by fan favorites — from metalcore to indie-folk to bluegrass to a funky jam band. Browse all of the images at Local Spins.
The 15th annual edition of the Fretboard Festival brought a couple thousand people to Kalamazoo Valley Museum on Saturday for performances by 19 regional artists, plus workshops and instrument vendors. The recap, photo gallery and video highlights, exclusively at Local Spins.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
March roars in like a lion music-wise with Gaelic Storm, Cowboy Junkies, Shiba San, Scotty McCreery, Will Sexton, The Accidentals, Distant Stars and more on the docket. Plus, Local Spins’ Big List has ticket giveaways for three different concerts this week.
Concert announcements · Summer Festivals · Videos
The August festival outside Wellston, Mich., will also feature the likes of Sweet Water Warblers, Michigan Rattlers, Luke Winslow-King, The Go Rounds and more. See the full roster of performers at Local Spins and watch recent videos of the headliners. Tickets are now on sale.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
This week’s concert recap focuses on three shows in particular that celebrated the talents — new as well as experienced — of West Michigan artists. But there are images of Raul Midon, Fatoumata Diawara, We Were Promised Jetpacks, Dave Bruzza and more, too.
Chris Thile’s sold-out show Tuesday at St. Cecilia Music Center was an uplifting, mutual love affair between the performer and his fans. “Your town is crushing it,” Thile raved at one point. The review and photo gallery, exclusively at Local Spins.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
February closes out with We Were Promised Jetpacks, Symphony With Soul, Winter Delights Fest, Dave Bruzza, Excision, The Go Rounds, a much-buzzed-about Rush tribute and much more. Browse our Under-the-Radar Picks and check out the “Big List Spotlight” on a new concert series kicking off on Grand Rapids’ North Side.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows · Videos
Amid sold-out shows this week, the super-group of May Erlewine, Rachael Davis and Lindsay Lou took time out to reflect on the “real magic” of their project for Local Spins. Learn more about this Michigan-bred phenomenon and the group’s upcoming album, and watch a video of a recent a cappella performance.
The Grammy-winning band lit up St. Cecilia’s sold-out Royce Auditorium in Grand Rapids on Thursday night with impressive instrumentals and vocal harmonies during the Acoustic Cafe Folk Series show. The review and photo gallery at Local Spins.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
Tributes to David Bowie and Tom Petty also are on tap, along with concerts by Domestic Problems, The Autumnatic, Darcy Wilkin, Coffin Problem, Jack Droppers, Roosevelt Diggs, Roger MacNaughton and a Crooked Tree Creative showcase. And check out this week’s ticket giveaway.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
In a bid to drive away the winter blahs, West Michigan audiences embraced a dynamic mix of touring and local artists. And once again, Local Spins captured it in photo and video form.
Concert announcements · Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
The announcement of the initial lineup for the June festival came the same day that Billy Strings revealed he’s mounting a February tour of intimate Michigan venues with his dad. Find out who else is playing Camp Greensky and which cities are part of the “Family Strings” tour.
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.
