Concert announcements · Playlists · Upcoming shows
Kicking off next Wednesday, the mid-week concerts will feature Lighting Matches, Hannah Rose Graves, Roosevelt Diggs, Evidence Jazz and more. View the schedule, listen to a playlist and get details at Local Spins.
It’s time for readers to speak out when it comes to their favorite concert and festival experiences of the past summer — and some of their comments show just how memorable those experiences were.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
Well worth the trip to Michigan’s East Side, two big music festivals unfold over Labor Day weekend, with some giants of jazz in the Motor City and 200-plus diverse acts in Royal Oak. Info and schedules at Local Spins.
Playlists · Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
With six female or female-led acts on the bill, Sunday’s celebration in Hastings aims to close out the summer with transfixing music. Get the preview, schedule and playlist at Local Spins.
As summer begins to wane, live music continues to heat up stages from Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo. Revisit eight shows from the past week in images at Local Spins.
Playlists · Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
Hoxeyville uncorks its unique musical charm in the Manistee National Forest west of Cadillac this weekend with Marcus King, Molly Tuttle & more. Get the lowdown on this much-adored gathering.
Announcements · Photos · Summer Festivals
The up-and-coming, jazz-fueled Grand Rapids band outpolled more than 50 other Michigan acts performing on Saturday while music lovers strolled outdoor venues in the lakeshore town. The story and photos.
Two beloved septuagenarians brought their enduring music to Meijer Gardens on Thursday night for a sold-out concert that covered a lot of musical ground. The Local Spins review and photo gallery.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Amid heat, humidity, rain and forest fire smoke, West Michigan’s musical train kept chugging as Independence Day weekend roared ahead. The photo galleries at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Summer heated up over the past week, with energetic tour stops, a superstar tribute to female artists, the christening of a new stage, jazz in the park, a blues fest and blues on the river and more captured in images at Local Spins.
A capacity amphitheater crowd reveled in the iconic blues guitarist’s farewell performance in Grand Rapids on Friday. The review and photo gallery at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Summer Festivals
The much-beloved Buttermilk Jamboree at Circle Pines Center south of Grand Rapids unfurls with more than 50 acts playing several stages this weekend, including ‘Florida Man’ Selwyn Birchwood. The Local Spins interview with Birchwood, plus check out the full festival schedule.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Starting with another Tuesday Evening Music Club show at Meijer Gardens to weekend-ending tour stops and the debut of a new West Michigan concert venue, it was a week to remember. Browse all of the photo galleries at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
The new recording by the West Michigan band was spotlighted for Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuted tracks by Common Molly, The Missing Generation, Rustbell, The Rockit King and more. Learn more about The Schrock Brothers and listen to this week’s radio show podcast.
Breaking music news · Upcoming shows · Venue Spotlight
Chicago blues legend Duke Tumatoe will kick off a summer of music at the Allegan County venue, with a day-long Blues Fest planned for July. Learn more about this new concert space and view photos at Local Spins.
Friday’s Grand Rapids tour stop matched the scorching temperatures outside with sizzling sets that included a homecoming welcome for the Michigan-bred War and Treaty. The concert review and photo gallery at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
A unique new Muskegon venue opened its doors over the weekend, captured in photos at Local Spins along with concerts at three different Kalamazoo hot spots. Learn more about The Starlight Room and revisit its premiere in images.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Upcoming shows
The West Michigan duo playing an anniversary show next week got cozy with Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuted music by Space Bar, Jack Droppers, The Crane Wives, Cameron Blake, Brent Godfrey and more. Learn more about Jesse Ray and listen to this week’s radio show podcast.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins Fest · Videos
On May 20, Kalamazoo’s Grace Theisen Band kicks off the second Local Spins Fest in downtown Grand Rapids. Today, Theisen answers seven questions about her musical journey and her favorite artists. Plus, watch her most recent music video and check out the full Local Spins Fest schedule.
Concert announcements · Summer Festivals
The flurry of summer music festival news continues, with Michigan boasting celebrations covering everything from metal to folk to blues to jazz and more. Details at Local Spins with links to Phil Denny’s Jazz Fete, Battle Creek Caribbean Festival, Battle Creek Music Fest, Smiling Acres, Local Spins Fest and more.
Album reviews · Audio · Upcoming shows
New releases from Michigan artists Cody Robert DeWindt, Story Cafe and Adam Main are also part of this Local Spins roundup of reviews. Check out Local Spins takes and listen to tracks from all of the recordings.
Albums that Changed the World · Audio · Playlists
From his home base in Traverse City, Jabo Bihlman has crisscrossed the globe, helped lead Son Seals and risen up the Billboard charts with Grinder Blues. Today, he reveals the recordings that have impacted him. Listen to the music, along with tracks from two of his bands.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows · Videos
Blues-rock icon Kenny Wayne Shepherd, who recently re-recorded his 1997 classic collection, plays GLC Live at 20 Monroe on Tuesday. The Local Spins interview with a video of his 25th anniversary version of “Blue on Black.”
Artist Spotlights · Podcasts · Upcoming shows · Videos
Michael and Tanya Trotter of The War and Treaty discuss their major label debut, touring and a recent on-stage calamity for Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuted tracks by Protomartyr, May Erlewine, Earth Radio, Boundarywater Trio and more. Discover The War and Treaty’s biggest milestones of the past year, watch a video and listen to this week’s radio show podcast.
On Saturday, ‘the biggest local blues event’ in recent memory will showcase bands at Saugatuck’s Sand Bar Saloon to raise money for the highly respected bluesman, who’s battling cancer. Get details and the benefit lineup at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Festivals · Photos · Videos
Saturday’s free event at Kalamazoo Valley Museum drew hundreds of fans, luthiers and musicians, including guitar virtuosos Fareed Haque & Goran Ivanovic. The recap, photo gallery and video at Local Spins.
It’s been three years since the Kalamazoo Valley Museum has hosted the festival as an in-person event. Get the lowdown and the performance schedule at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
Our recap of this week’s live music blizzard — indoors and out — travels from Comstock Park to GR to Hudsonville to Kalamazoo, and from touring stars to local band favorites. Browse all of the images and check out the show recaps at Local Spins.
Breaking music news · Concert announcements · Summer Concerts
Today’s teaser announcement of three concerts in the 2023 amphitheater series covers folk, blues, rock and roots music, with the complete concert lineup being announced in April. Get the lowdown on the shows revealed thus far, along with music videos of the featured artists.
Festivals · Traverse City · Upcoming shows
Interrupted for two years by COVID, the unique indoor event will boast more than 40 performances by folk-hued artists on several stages later this month. The lowdown and schedule at Local Spins.
Concert announcements · Festivals · Upcoming shows
West Michigan music fans have a couple of fresh events to embrace this winter: Stovepipe hosts the first singer-songwriter show next week at The Pyramid Scheme and Kalamazoo Valley Museum returns with its Fretboard Fest in early March. Details at Local Spins.
Breaking music news · Concert announcements · Upcoming shows
More than 20 regional acts will perform during the Feb. 24 celebration at The Intersection, described as the ‘premier music event of the season.’ View the lineup and get reactions from some performers, plus a link to the list of award nominees and the public vote for album and artist of the year.
Festivals · Playlists · Upcoming shows
Eleven diverse bands will play two stages at The Intersection in the first Winter Wheat fest since early 2020. The back story, the schedule and a playlist at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
A pair of new global music concert series kicked off on Sunday in Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo, with a healthy helping of blues to boot in both cities. The photos and more at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
From crowd-pleasing shows by veteran Michigan artists to performances by up-and-coming young acts at a second-year talent competition, there was a lot to celebrate in early January. The photos, a video and more at Local Spins.
Local Spins kicks off the year by spotlighting yet another flurry of new releases by Michigan artists, including projects by Dana Nyson and The Heiden Underground. Read the reviews, listen to the music.
Audio · Best Music of the Year · Videos
Amid another turbulent and hectic year, recorded and live music made a huge comeback. Today, Local Spins writers reveal their picks for the best of both in 2022. Check out the robust roster of notable releases and concerts and listen to select tracks in this special feature being published today in lieu of our usual Thursday ‘Amplified’ newsletter.
With Christmas just ahead, we review six new Michigan releases you might want to add to your shopping list, including fresh collections from Silver Creek Revival and The Dangling Participles. Delve into the recordings and listen to tracks from all of the releases.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
As Christmas approaches, live music continues to rev up audiences from Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo to the lakeshore. Revisit the action in photos at Local Spins.
Albums that Changed the World · Audio · Upcoming shows
Today, the popular Local Spins series revealing the recordings that have impacted Michigan musicians the most continues with popular, award-winning singer-songwriter Joshua Davis. Listen to tracks from all of his picks.
This pre-Thanksgiving round-up of new releases by West Michigan artists also features Lisa Can’t Sing and The Good Old Days. Listen to tracks from all of the recordings at Local Spins.
The early November round-up of Michigan releases not only covers a wide swath of genres, but artists from Grand Rapids to the Detroit area to Petoskey. Listen to tracks from all of the recordings.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
From decades-old classics to music by emerging stars, the region’s week of live music boasted some intriguing tour stops beyond just the return of Michigan’s Billy Strings. Browse the weekend photo galleries at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
The Grand Rapids harp player and singer’s latest album basked in the spotlight for Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuted tracks by Billy Strings, Josh Rose, Jair, 84 Tigers, Nathan Walton and more. Read more about Bruce Madden and listen to this week’s full radio show podcast at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows · Videos
The British-born blues-rock phenom who splits time between Detroit and Nashville brings the tour behind a new album to Kalamazoo State Theatre on Wednesday. The Local Spins interview, with two music videos.
Kicking off the season on Friday with Serita’s Black Rose and Kait Rose, the free, four-concert series at Alger Park Church will spotlight folk, world music, soul, classical, blues and more. Learn more about the series and view the schedule at Local Spins.
Breaking music news · Concert reviews · Photos
The seasoned Grand Rapids blues outfit outpolled four other West Michigan bands to take home the top prize in Sunday’s competition hosted by the West Michigan Blues Society at Billy’s Lounge. Learn more and check out photos at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Contests · Upcoming shows
Five groups will play Billy’s Lounge in Grand Rapids on Sunday, vying for a chance to travel to Memphis in January as part of the Blues Foundation’s International Blues Challenge. Learn more about the bands and the competition at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
When Michigan-bred post-hardcore band I Prevail revved things up at GLC Live at 20 Monroe on Saturday, it capped a week of fan-pleasing music from Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo. The recaps and photo galleries at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
The return of the beloved Wheatland Music Festival for the first time in three years outside Remus last weekend electrified fans and bands alike. Revisit the action in words, photos and video.
