Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows · Videos
The Grand Rapids trio has ‘fun no matter what.’ The band known for its lively shows and story-telling plays SpeakEZ Lounge on Wednesday night as part of the Local Spins Wednesdays series. Read the back story about the group and check out the video.
Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
The Lippies were this week’s in-studio guests delivering acoustic renditions of their feminist pop-punk, with the show also featuring song debuts by Brother Adams, Vox Vidorra, Black Monuments, Puzzlecuts and more. Listen to the radio podcast, watch the video, read the story.
Breaking music news · Concert announcements
The rootsy August festival returns to Shagbark Farm in southern Kent County with more than a dozen acts and a ‘Stampede Mud Run,’ too. Check out the Michigan band lineup and details.
Concert reviews · Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
There were lots of musical goodies to devour the week after Easter, including Michigan acts Asamu Johnson, E Minor, The Extra Texture, Shane Tripp, Desmond Jones, and a ton of others at Jake’s Music Festival, including PotatoeBabies and Sext Farm. Check out the photo gallery and video.
Concert announcements · Summer Concerts
Interlochen’s summer of music opens with Michael McDonald in mid-June and wraps up with O.A.R on Sept. 1. Tickets go on sale April 24. See the full lineup.
Breaking music news · Concert announcements
The April Fool’s Day edition of the music news roundup is no joke: A much-beloved Michigan blues artist is making big waves nationally and the Hoxeyville festival in the middle of the Manistee National Forest is back for a 12th year. Read details and see the full lineup.
Breaking music news · Summer Concerts
Live music in the great outdoors is everywhere – often free – across West Michigan every summer. Here are the first few announcements of summer lineups featuring regional acts. See the schedules thus far.
Concert announcements · Summer Concerts · Upcoming shows
Spring arrives this weekend, so Local Spins looks ahead to a few much-beloved warm-weather festivals and concert series. Find lineups for Jake’s Music Fest in April, Buses by the Beach in May and learn why Jazz at the Zoo is now Jazz in Park — at downtown’s Ah-Nab-Awen Park — starting in June.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Society Kills won Saturday’s Heavyweights competition between six heavy metal bands in Grand Rapids, with Local Spins capturing the battle in photos. But there was plenty more on this week’s docket, from Suicide Silence to North Mississippi Allstars to The Carboys.
Playlists · Top 10 Lists · Videos
With northern Michigan’s Joshua Davis getting a hero’s welcome on his return to Traverse City this week based on his impressive run on “The Voice,” Local Spins revisits the Guest Playlist he compiled just before heading into the Battle Rounds in March. Check out some of his favorite songs, including tunes by local fave Jen Sygit and icons ranging from Joni Mitchell to Bob Dylan to Sister Rosetta Tharpe.
Local Spins on WYCE · Playlists · Podcasts
As a bonus to his in-studio appearance Friday on WYCE, Grand Rapids hip hop artist Rick Chyme supplied Local Spins with a playlist of 12 songs that are near and dear to his heart, from The Roots to John Lennon. He plays Founders Brewing on Saturday night.
Breaking music news · Concert announcements
The family-oriented festival held in mid-June at Circle Pines Center will expand with more stages, national acts such as Brown Rice Family and local faves The Crane Wives, Alexis, The Accidentals and Seth & May. See the entire lineup thus far with information about early bird ticket sales.
Breaking music news · Concert announcements
The teaser announcement of three 2015 concerts for the outdoor amphitheater boasts big names, with the full schedule revealed in mid-April. Tickets go on sale to Meijer Gardens members on April 25.
Breaking music news · Concert announcements · Videos
GVSU students create a short and impressive documentary celebrating the players, venues and studios which boost the region’s burgeoning music scene. Watch the video here. And Rhiannon Giddens is launching a tour behind her new solo album and will play Grand Rapids April 24 with singer Bhi Bhiman.
Concert reviews · Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
There’s the touching Mary Free Bed tale of Bob Bernard, and a special performance by Seth & May, plus so much more in images and video at Local Spins. From Spring Lake to Grand Rapids to Ann Arbor, and from EDM to pop-rock to folk, West Michigan musicians made a joyful noise this week.
Features · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
Buoyed by writing and playing his new songs, the Michigan guitarist and singer is now ready to unleash his CD. He appears on WYCE this morning and plays the Tip Top Deluxe in Grand Rapids tonight.
Local Spins on WYCE · Photos · Podcasts · Videos
Edition No. 22 of Local Spins on WYCE featured an in-studio performance by folk-rock’s Watching for Foxes, with song debuts by SoundIsRed, Willamena, Downie, The Soul Syndicate and more. And an update on the condition of musician Olivia Mainville, who was injured in a car crash later the same day.
January’s first batch of Local Spins reviews rounds up riveting releases from the past few months, including CDs by Mat Churchill, Downie, Madcat Midnight Blues Journey and Max Lockwood.
Features · Playlists · Upcoming shows
Mark VandenBerge’s lush ‘Ken Burns meets Trans-Siberian Orchestra’ production on Saturday will boast an all-star band, orchestra, choir and striking visuals. And check out his playlist of Top 5 Van Morrison songs.
Breaking music news · Features
UPDATE: Two West Michigan blues bands competed alongside 140-plus acts in the international competition this week. Read more about their Memphis experience.
Rousing performances in familiar and not-so-familiar locales from Holland to GR were the rule, including sets by Hank Mowery & The Hawktones, Eric Engblade, Billy Strings & Don Julin, Jonny Caroll, Roosevelt Diggs and more.
Features · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
Show No. 21 of Local Spins on WYCE features in-studio performances by Thirsty Perch Blues Band, a conversation with Hot Capicola Records co-owner Luke Schmidt, and song debuts from Lady Ace Boogie, THEO and more.
Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
The Jan. 9 edition of Local Spins on WYCE features in-studio performances by old-timey folk band Hawks & Owls who performed later in the weekend at the Winter Wheat benefit in Grand Rapids. Also, we debut brand new tracks from Thirsty Perch Blues Band, Lindsay Lou & the Flatbellys, Ben Scott-Brandt, Pete Bass & the Odds Elite and Westrin & Mowry.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
More than two dozen acclaimed Michigan acts played two venues — The Intersection and Founders Brewing — within a block of each other Saturday, sparking huge crowds and memorable performances. And Billy’s Lounge hosted a bluesy CD-release show.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
The acclaimed, Cadillac-bred singer-guitarist returns to Michigan where he cut his teeth. Read the back story about this celebrated artist and his journey.
Breaking music news · Upcoming shows
Grand Rapids radio station WYCE-FM (88.1) reveals the roster of local and regional acts nominated for top honors during February awards show at The Intersection; 88-plus acts will vie for album of the year.
West Michigan musicians, Fenian’s Irish Pub (as it winds down toward the end of an era) and yes, the Detroit Lions, rank high on this Thanksgiving Day roster for 2014.[…]
Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
Winter roared in a month early, but that didn’t stop some popular local acts from roaring on stage at CD-release shows and elsewhere, including the International Wine, Beer & Food Festival at DeVos Place. All captured in images at Local Spins.
This year’s ArtPrize song contest winners officially got their rewards Tuesday, so Local Spins wanted to reward readers with a special playlist, from Edye Evans Hyde to Nick Drake.
The acclaimed singer plays Grand Rapids Thursday for the first time in years, performing as a duo while touring behind her new album, “Love and Hate.” And check out what[…]
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
A bit o’ rain and an unseasonable chill didn’t deter revelers from Allegan to Grand Rapids this weekend, with Guided by Voices and Wavves heating things up indoors.
The award-winning blues singer fires up Grand Rapids’ Tip Top Deluxe on Sunday with her band, including Organissimo’s Alfredson, who’s played with Magness the past four years. See how you can win tickets to the show.
Touring behind their latest album, “Turn Blue,” Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney deliver a brilliantly constructed chronicle of their career during their Grand Rapids tour stop.
While folk and roots music fans — including British actor Tom Hiddleston — packed a field in rural Mecosta County for Wheatland No. 41, local faves Hank Mowery & The Hawktones made their Founders Brewing debut and The Soul Syndicate played Billy’s Lounge for the first time.
Concert reviews · Features · Photos
From The Accidentals to The Steel Wheels, the folk and roots music festival has turned the rural Remus site this weekend into a ‘village’ of 10,000 very happy Wheatland devotees.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
The holiday weekend launched with a big Thursday of shows and boasted local acts such as An Dro, Scott Pellegrom Trio, David Molinari, Mail Order Monsters and Hannah Rose.
The first night of the unusual co-headlining tour starring G. Love & Special Sauce and Keb’ Mo’ at a sold-out Meijer Gardens amphitheater boasted separate sets by the pals and invigorating collaborations.
Up-and-coming indie-rock bandleader Ben Daniels says his actor-singer dad “burned the blues into my mind.” The Michigan band will back Jeff Daniels on stage.
Features · Summer Concerts · Upcoming shows
The summer’s weirdest live music event? Or a brilliant way to spotlight lakeshore bands and businesses? Saturday’s unusual, free event unfolds Saturday in Grand Haven, Spring Lake and Ferrysburg.
After a one-year hiatus, a cozier Cowpie uncorked 15 regional bands on a single stage on the cattle farm in southern Kent County, and fans loved every minute. And it’ll be back in 2015. (Photo gallery)
Concert reviews · Features · Upcoming shows
Hometown boys Jack White and bandmate Dominic John Davis return to Detroit for two sold-out shows next week after setting Chicago ablaze with buzzed-about concerts. (Review, photos)
Weirdest night ever at Meijer Gardens? Acclaimed singer-songwriter playing sold-out amphitheater takes exception to loud fan chatter and departs amid f-bomb laden tirade, then returns to finish concert. Oh, and Jenny Lewis performed, too.
After eight years at the helm of the community radio station, the avid supporter of Grand Rapids’ music scene and ‘Barry Sanders of station managers’ is going back to the land. (Video)
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
From Harbor Springs to Kalamazoo, West Michigan throttled up music from folk to blues to hip hop, captured in images at Local Spins — plus a recap of part of Blissfest.
The 34th annual Blissfest north of Harbor Springs fires up this weekend with more than 50 acts, from New York’s Donna the Buffalo to Michigan’s Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers.
Concert announcements · Summer Concerts · Upcoming shows
Local Spins’ July news update features the Cowpie 2014 band lineup, the scoop on this year’s GRAM on the Green and GR Brewing’s decision to discontinue weekend shows.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Musical liberty was the theme for Independence Day weekend in West Michigan, with multiple bands playing free events in Grand Rapids and Comstock Park, even a show on the beach in Grand Haven.
The duo retraces Grammy-winning “Get Up!” in bracing show Thursday at a sold-out Meijer Gardens. The guest Local Spins review by The Crane Wives’ Ben Zito.
Concert reviews · Features · Photos
Wednesday’s one-time move of WLAV’s Blues on the Mall from downtown Grand Rapids to Fifth Third Ballpark for the Freedom Cruise kickoff drew throngs in the thousands.
Playing to a sold-out amphitheater on a sun-splashed night, Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks led their jam-driven band through a guitar-fueled evening.
