Founders Fest: Beer, bands, throngs, and as always, The FBC All-Stars
With a revamped site in downtown Grand Rapids and a second beer tent, record crowds are expected for Saturday’s festival headlined by G. Love & Special Sauce. Oh, and some[…]
Tagged: blues
Peter Frampton’s Grand Rapids guitar party: Steve Cropper adds star power to Meijer Gardens show
Frampton’s Guitar Circus brought a Big Top of high-profile musicians — Peter Frampton, Steve Cropper, Robert Cray — to the outdoor amphitheater Monday for a tasteful show cut short by[…]
Buttermilk Jamboree, Gov’t Mule, Rockford Start of Summer Celebration: The Local Spins Weekend Photo Gallery
Summer pumped up this sizzling West Michigan weekend with a cornucopia of bands playing from Grand Rapids to Rockford to the nether reaches of Barry County. (Photos, video) Favorite[…]
Gov’t Mule romps in Grand Rapids, unfurls diverse set at Meijer Gardens
For the second year in a row, the Warren Haynes-led Mule fired up devotees with blues-infused favorites and singular covers. (Photo gallery, video) Pandora’s online version of “Gov’t Mule[…]
Buttermilk Jamboree: Rusted Root, Crane Wives, The Bandwagon and dozens more in ‘a beautiful setting’
For the third year, Circle Pines Center in Delton will host the unique outdoor music festival that boasts more than 30 local and regional bands performing on two stages. See[…]
ZZ Top to headline August’s Rock the Rapids festival at Fifth Third Ballpark
Kenny Wayne Shepherd is also on the Aug. 22 bill. It’s the first show announced for the festival’s return to Comstock Park after two years in downtown Grand Rapids. […]
Grand Rapids’ Festival 2013: The Local Spins Weekend Photo Gallery
As usual, Festival showcased the marvelously eclectic range of Michigan’s musical talent, bringing out huge throngs amid stellar weather. Check out the photos and “A Day in the Life” video[…]
Grand Rapids’ Festival 2013: Some Local Spins picks to peruse
From emerging act Spence & Friends to longtime fave Mid-Life Crisis, Festival covers the gamut of musical styles and sounds. But can a 13-year-old steal the show? At 13,[…]
B.B. King brings legendary guitar — and lovable personality — to Meijer Gardens for opening night
With West Michigan’s own Vincent Hayes Project getting the party started, the iconic bluesman launched the 2013 concert series amid sunny skies with a veteran band and plenty of audience[…]
Ageless B.B. King to kick off record-setting 2013 Meijer Gardens concert series on Monday
Meijer Gardens courts stars for its outdoor amphitheater series, which sells out more shows and increases attendance every summer. See the updated list of sellouts, plus a change in the[…]
Tommy Castro, Walter Trout, Kelly Richey, Nick Moss, Sena Ehrhardt part of 2013 Blues on the Mall lineup
Kicking off on June 12 with Castro, the WLAV Budweiser Blues on the Mall series returns with free Wednesday shows at Rosa Parks Circle in downtown Grand Rapids. See the[…]
Breaking music news · Concert announcements
Billy’s Lounge to kick off new jazz night; HopCat’s Sunday blues jams come to an end
Grand Rapids pianist Steve Talaga will host Tuesday jazz jams at the Eastown club starting June 4; HopCat unplugs guitarist Jimmie Stagger’s weekend blues nights; West Michigan Blues Society won’t[…]
Free summer concerts: The Local Spins round-up of Grand Rapids’ outdoor live music options
Michigan music for free: It’s everywhere this summer, from jazz to rock to blues. Check out schedules for weekly summer series in the Grand Rapids area here at LocalSpins.com. […]
Grand Rapids rock band Devin & The Dead Frets: The Local Spins Live Artist Spotlight (video, podcast)
With an endearingly ragged, bluesy rock sound, The Dead Frets will celebrate release of a self-titled debut during a Founders Brewing show. But before that, they revved up Local Spins[…]
ArtPrize song competition returns with $10,000 in prizes from St. Cecilia Music Center: Register by June 6
For the second year in a row, cash prizes will be offered to song contest winners in five categories during ArtPrize; new “busking stations” will spotlight live music. Hailing[…]
The debut of Grand Rapids’ Jim Shaneberger Band: The Local Spins Artist Spotlight
Veteran well-known bassist and guitarist Jim Shaneberger unveils a bluesy new band on Friday and celebrates his solo album debut in June. (Podcast, video) Jim Shaneberger will never forget[…]
Breaking music news · Features
Michigan Stage Monitor: Limp Bizkit, The Breeders, Traverse City blues and other Mitten music news
Michigan music news this week ranges from a feature on Traverse City’s Peter, Paul & Mary Remembered to an interview with The Breeders to a limp Limp Bizkit, performing in[…]
Pop Evil, Honor By August, Gurf Morlix and a Bob Dylan tribute: Grand Rapids’ Big List Concert Guide
Ted Nugent’s Midwest Rock ‘n’ Roll Express kicked off the week, but the weekend offers up way more rock with a Pop Evil CD-release, Active Commute Week celebration, a Dylan[…]
Features · Photos · Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
Bimini Brothers, Hannah Rose Graves, Jamey Johnson, Deadstring Brothers, Nathan Kalish: The Local Spins Weekend Photo Gallery
As volatile and diverse as this week’s weather, photo images of the Grand Rapids area’s live music ranged from the alt-country power of Nathan Kalish to the ribald antics of[…]
Cinco de Mayo party, Drew Nelson, Tommy Womack, The Soil & The Sun: The Local Spins Weekend Bucket List
Celebrate Cinco de Mayo a day early in downtown Grand Rapids at Michigan’s biggest celebration of its kind, plus a dual CD-release show by The Wallace Collective and Chain of[…]
Cinco de Mayo party, Drew Nelson, Ben Rector, Tommy Womack, The Soil & The Sun: Grand Rapids’ Big List Concert Guide
West Michigan’s lively week of live music boasts Michigan’s biggest Cinco de Mayo Bash, a dual CD-release show by The Wallace Collective and Chain of Lakes, a chiptune celebration and[…]
Breaking music news · Concert announcements · Upcoming shows
Nick Colionne, Deon Yates, Paul Keller, Sheila Landis, Kinsey Report to play 2013 GRandJazzFest
The expanded jazz festival on Rosa Parks Circle in downtown Grand Rapids boasts 10 acts over two days in mid-August. Chicago jazz/funk/R&B guitarist-singer Nick Colionne will headline this year’s[…]
Dead Prez, Amy LaVere, Van Morrison Experience, Amy Speace: The Local Spins Weekend Photo Gallery
Hip-hop, rock, Americana, rockabilly, bluegrass, folk and a Prince/MJ dance party: With spring weather springing, West Michigan heated up with an eclectic blend of live music, shared in images at[…]
Commentary · Guest Column · Upcoming shows
Steve Hilger @ The Musicians’ Soundboard: Mentoring young talent for a lifetime of musical passion
Recalling his own youthful experience, guitarist-singer Steve Hilger started a jazz jam night for young players, giving them a chance to sit in with pros. It rolls on again Thursday[…]
Grand Rapids music heats up with Bernie Worrell, Bobbie McFerrin, Stray Birds, Larry McCray, Record Store Day: The Local Spins Weekend Photo Gallery (photos, videos)
From blues celebrations in Grand Rapids and Grand Haven to rock-fueled Record Store Day performances, it was an unseasonably wintry weekend when live music prevailed … and caught in photos[…]
Bob Dylan, Bobbie McFerrin, Donald Kinsey, Larry McCray, Stray Birds: Grand Rapids’ Big List Concert Guide
Hectic week with tour stops by national acts and special events starring local bands: Record Store Day, Local Blues Matter at Billy’s, GrooveWalk in Holland, Inside the Mitten in Muskegon[…]
Clutch, Donna the Buffalo, Jake’s Music Festival, Blue Molly, Hatebreed: Weekend Photo Gallery
Diversity reigned yet again — from local to national, from metal to blues to alt-rock — as evidenced by photos shared at Spins on Music. (Photos, videos) Winter refused[…]
Breaking music news · Concert announcements · Upcoming shows
Avett Brothers, ZZ Top, Josh Groban to play Interlochen; G. Love & Special Sauce headline Founders Fest; Bela Fleck and The Duhks at Wheatland
The summer concert and festival announcements just keep coming. Interlochen’s eclectic lineup ranges from Trace Adkins to Brian Wilson; Wheatland’s folk schedule boasts some icons of the genre; Founders Fest’s[…]
Breaking music news · Concert announcements · Upcoming shows
Sheryl Crow, B.B. King, Grizzly Bear, Dwight Yoakam, Beach Boys, Harry Connick Jr., Peter Frampton in huge 2013 Meijer Gardens lineup
With a record-breaking 30 shows on the docket, the Meijer Gardens summer concert series boasts some high-priced big names and emerging acts in a bevy of genres. See the full[…]
Concert announcements · Upcoming shows
The Soil & The Sun, Lucas Wilson, Asamu Johnson, Kari Lynch, An Dro and more part of 2013 Tuesday Evening Music Club series
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park’s “other” concert series stars some of West Michigan’s top talent starting in July. Check out the full lineup. Every spring, the big guns[…]
Meijer Gardens: The 12 best concerts of the summer series’ first decade
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture park has hosted 10 seasons of summer concerts at its outdoor amphitheater; the 2013 series gets announced later this week. Here’s Spins on Music Top[…]
Rocktagon Throwdown, Crane Wives, Koh Kohs, Ana Popovic: Spins on Music Weekend Photo Gallery
Diversity reigned around Grand Rapids during April’s opening salvo: singer-songwriter intensity (Josh Rose), heavy alt-rock (Uncommon Road), indie-rock (Desert Noises), Celtic charm (An Dro) and more, captured in images. For[…]
Breaking music news · Features · Upcoming shows
New bluegrass jam night hits Rockford Brewing; Organissimo soars up jazz charts; The Soil & The Sun bask in SXSW glow
The Spins on Music April music news update spans the globe (or at least West Michigan) with hot news about local bluegrass and nationally hailed folk and jazz. BREWING[…]
Concert reviews · Features · Photos · Videos
LadyFest GR, Keb’ Mo’, Here Come the Mummies, Dan Navarro and more: The live music weekend in photos
Starting with funk from the grave at The Intersection, spring got sprung in fine fashion with riveting blues, gypsy music, rootsy acoustic strains, energetic hip-hop, pub-styled classical music and more[…]
Grand Rapids’ Big List Concert Guide: Here Come the Mummies, Keb’ Mo’, Dan Navarro, LadyFest GR, Reverend Raven, Lil’ Ed at Chilly Blues
The post-St. Patrick’s Day musical lineup gets bluesy, funky and folky this week, with national acts and a bunch of West Michigan stars: The Go Rounds, Steve Hilger, Vincent Hayes[…]
Commentary · Features · Top 10 Lists
Summer Songs at Spring’s Door: The 10 best tunes to chase away your winter blahs
At long last, the ‘ice is slowly melting,’ which makes this the perfect time to dream of summer and those days of lazing around a cottage and dangling your feet[…]
Breaking music news · Upcoming shows
Grand Rapids’ Big List Concert Guide: Bob Seger, Brit Floyd, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Karan Casey, Flyleaf, Janis Ian, Ben Kyle
In between the yuks of LaughFest, West Michigan’s live music options are sizzling this week, from Bob Seger and UV Hippo returning to Grand Rapids to pre-St. Paddy’s Day revelry[…]
Grand Rapids’ concert weekend in photos: Dustin Lynch, Mutemath, The Moonrays, Neil Jacobs, Stepdad
Usher in a musical March with photos/videos from West Michigan concerts, ranging from the national (Mutemath, Dustin Lynch, Eric Johnson) to the local (Alexis, An Dro, Delilah DeWylde, Moonrays, Asamu[…]
Breaking music news · Concert announcements · Upcoming shows
Jimmie Stagger launches new Sunday night blues jam at HopCat with a real bang … and big stars
Grand Rapids bluesman Jimmie Stagger resumes his new blues sessions on Sunday at downtown’s HopCat, but there are other under-the-radar musical events you might have overlooked this weekend. Take a[…]
Eric Johnson: As tour hits Grand Rapids, Grammy-winning guitarist reflects on career, influences and ‘sublime’ inspiration
Austin’s Eric Johnson has rubbed elbows with the greats, covering a wide range of styles that extend his legacy well beyond the iconic, acclaimed single, “Cliffs of Dover.” For[…]
Grand Rapids’ Big List Concert Guide: Dustin Lynch, Eric Johnson, Stepdad & Alexis, Mutemath, Roster McCabe
February romps to a close with star power, not to mention local must-see shows by Neil Jacobs, Asamu Johnson, An Dro, Serita’s Black Rose and some sweet under-the-radar picks. […]
Concert reviews · Features · Photos
Jammies, Winter Beer Fest, Vince Hayes, Pat McGee: West Michigan’s concert weekend in photos
From the Jammies to the Winter Beer Festival and beyond, the beer was flowing and bands were rocking, including The Concussions, Michigan Mark DePree, Deborah Kay & The Bluebloods, Jimmie[…]
Breaking music news · Concert reviews
The Soil and The Sun, Drew Nelson, Blue Molly big winners at 14th Jammie Awards show (photos, video)
WYCE-FM’s jam-packed Jammies on Friday jammed two stages with two dozen performances and doled out 19 awards to Michigan bands and artists. Rootsy artists The Soil and The Sun[…]
The Jammies on Friday: The lineup, the lowdown, the loving vibe at West Michigan music’s biggest night
The 14th annual Jammie Awards show hosted by WYCE-FM moves to a new night at The Intersection this year, and musicians say the celebratory spirit in spotlighting the region’s musical[…]
Concert reviews · Features · Photos · Videos
Grand Rapids’ live music weekend in photos: One Billion Rising, Gunnar & the Grizzly Boys, Roosevelt Diggs, Thirsty Perch Blues Band, Four Lincolns, Van Halen tribute
Mid-February’s concert lineup offered more than just big shows at Van Andel Arena and Miller Auditorium: West Michigan bands of every ilk were pounding it out at benefits, bars and[…]
Breaking music news · Features
Jack White @ the Grammys: ‘Once-in-a-lifetime’ gig for Michigan’s Dominic John Davis to back an icon
In this exclusive Spins on Music interview, folk/rock/blues bassist Dominic John Davis talks about touring with Jack White and playing the Grammys … and the story behind that really shiny[…]
Grand Rapids’ concert weekend in photos: Big Gigantic, Kip Moore, Los Lobos, Talib Kweli, Heavyweight Finals
Shakin’ off the cold and snow, music lovers warmed up with bluesy Tex-Mex (Los Lobos), hip-hop (Talib Kweli), indie-soul (Genna & Jesse), EDM (Big Gigantic), heavy metal (Mushroomhead, Heavyweights finals),[…]
Breaking music news · Upcoming shows
Free tickets to 12 fabulous concerts? Enter the “Spins on Music is My Valentine” contest
Spins on Music toasts its first full year of covering West Michigan’s music scene with a contest that will put a lucky winner in live music heaven for 12 upcoming[…]
Grand Rapids Concert Guide: Avett Brothers, Los Lobos, Lotus, Journey, Joshua Davis, Big Gigantic, Kip Moore, Mother Hips, Candlebox, Talib Kweli
The Big List’s big shows means running shoes may be in order to keep up this week, and that doesn’t even count the Heavyweights heavy metal finals, Reverend Raven’s blues[…]
Breaking music news · Concert announcements · Upcoming shows
Friday’s Bucket List: GR’s Jazz Fest expands, Inside the Mitten keeps rocking, and three Groundhog Day concerts you might have overlooked
It’s Friday, the perfect time to round up music news about an expanded summer jazz fest, more Mitten music and a bunch of under-the-radar weekend shows. CHECK OUT MORE[…]
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