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[…]
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
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
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 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
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
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[…]
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
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[…]
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
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[…]
January’s final weekend of concerts ramped up with Alexis, Kris Hitchcock, Lindsay Lou, Cameron Blake, Rachael Davis, Thirsty Perch Blues Band, Flatfoot 56, Winter Jam for a Cause, Heavyweights and[…]
National touring acts mesh with CD-release shows by Kris Hitchcock & Small Town Son, Thirsty Perch Blues Band and more, from Michigan folk icons to jazz gurus to heavy metal[…]
Concert announcements · Features · Upcoming shows
Familiar big names mix with emerging acts as the community radio station’s first-ever Friday night awards bonanza hosts two dozen performances on two stages at The Intersection. Some of[…]
Grand Rapids-area concert offerings are like a three-ring circus this week: country-rap, pop-punk, folk, blues, jam bands, rock and, yes, fire-eaters and a Brew Ha Ha. Colt Ford, Gunnar[…]
The Big List of West Michigan’s live music runs the gamut this week, with The Northern Skies, Joshua Davis, John Mark McMillan, heavy metal headbangers and top-notch singer-songwriters. All[…]
Album reviews · Commentary · Features
Spins on Music wraps up its year-end spotlight with a bang, targeting impressive releases by Michigan artists Willamena, The Legal Immigrants, SoundIsRed, Kari Lynch, Kris Hitchcock, Thirsty Perch Blues Band[…]
West Michigan’s pre-Christmas musical revelry had things jingling merrily from The Intersection to the lakeshore, shared in photos at Spins on Music. Christmas is coming, the goose is getting[…]
Check out West Michigan’s hefty weekend of live music in Spins on Music’s Weekend Photo Galleries, with bands lighting up stages big and small. Another hyper-hectic Friday night. A[…]
Breaking music news · Commentary
At long last, prog-rock’s Rush and blues icon Albert King get their due. Does it matter that they’re finally getting inducted into rock royalty alongside a disco queen and a[…]
Breaking music news · Commentary
Grammy nominations announced Wednesday hailed Sapp’s latest gospel gem, with surprising nods to the likes of Dr. John, Gotye, Joan Osborne and the Alabama Shakes … with the usual head-scratchers.[…]
Grand Rapids’ concert lineup for December’s first full week also boasts Lamb of God, Caravan of Thieves, Melissa Ferrick, GR Symphony Holiday Pops, Decembersongs and some beloved West Michigan favorites.[…]
Grand Rapids’ concert lineup for Thanksgiving week ruffles musical feathers, from Other Lives to an Aria Flame debut and Four Finger Five farewell. (Videos) Benje & Ashley Daneman, The[…]
Bob Dylan croaked and banged away mercilessly on piano with his band through a 15-song set for a one-third-full house at Van Andel Arena, after a bracing opening set by[…]
Dr. John and the Blind Boys of Alabama played to a less-than-hefty crowd at DeVos Performance Hall on Tuesday, but still delivered “Spirituals to Funk” in often rousing, upbeat fashion.[…]
Concert reviews · Upcoming shows · Videos
Regina Spektor’s Monday night show at Calvin College kicked off a bracing week of live music. Check out everything from bluegrass and folk to punk and metal. Regina Spektor, Only[…]
Feed the needy and feed your musical cravings with Spins on Music’s Big List: The best in West Michigan’s live music offerings and a worthy cause. And check out the[…]
Breaking music news · Features
Check out the top vote-getters in the separate ArtPrize music competition, with winners sharing $10,000 in prizes. ArtPrize has finally paid off for artists of the musical variety. None[…]
From Grand Rapids to the Lakeshore, live music options abound for ArtPrize visitors and West Michiganders during Week 2 of the art competition. Martin Sexton, Brothers McCann 7 p.m.[…]
The show really must go on: Most scheduled acts on the second day of the ArtPrize Musicians’ Showcase performed in spite of Friday’s rainy weather. It continues Saturday and Sunday[…]
New West Michigan releases by The Hawktones, The Concussions, Bronk Bros., Roosevelt Diggs, Chain of Lakes, Roger MacNaughton, Eric Kehoe and more. Officially, three weeks of summer remain. Plenty of[…]
Bonnie Raitt delivers a near-perfect bluesy performance on a near-perfect night at Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids. The instant Bonnie Raitt takes the stage pretty much anywhere, something magical[…]
Features · Upcoming shows · Videos
Deadstring Brothers’ Kurt Marschke tells Spins on Music about shelving solo act and going full-bore with a full band again. The group hits Grand Rapids Thursday. The Deadstring Brothers,[…]
Concert reviews · Features · Videos
Expanded Cowpie fest on Shagbark Farm south of Grand Rapids survived rainy opening night; thrives Saturday with fine mix of Michigan bands. Video, photos From Mudpie to Cowpie … just[…]
Concert announcements · Upcoming shows · Videos
West Michigan’s concert guide for July 30-Aug.5 includes the Coast Guard Festival. Elsewhere in the state, there’s Coldplay, Sugarland, Chicago, Matt Giraud. David Thom Band 9:30 p.m. Monday Free The[…]
It was a Fourth of July to remember. On the hottest day of the year thus far, with the temperature reaching a searing 99 degrees, thousands flooded the banks of[…]
Breaking music news · Concert reviews · Videos
Gary Clark Jr. made it all worthwhile. Cranking out the raw blues-rock of “Bright Lights” in the brilliant sunshine at Double JJ Resort in Rothbury with undulating, brightly bedecked Electric[…]
The temperature was in the 90s at showtime, but nothing was hotter than Warren Haynes’ guitar work as Gov’t Mule made its Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park debut on[…]
Features · Upcoming shows · Videos
Gov’t Mule 6:30 p.m. Thursday $40 Frederik Meijer Gardens, Grand Rapids Township Gov’t Mule may have started as an Allman Brothers’ side project in the mid-1990s by guitarist Warren Haynes[…]
It was a celebration worthy of John’s Day. No, I didn’t see any guys strolling around with bushy oak-leaf crowns, but I saw plenty of unusual headgear at Saturday’s Founders[…]
Al Green 7 p.m. Monday The concert is sold out. Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, Grand Rapids Township I fondly recall many things about soul singer Al Green’s much-ballyhooed[…]
Vincent Hayes Project Huntington Rogue River Blues Series 7 p.m. Tuesday Free Garden Club Park, Rockford I mentioned the Carnival of Madness tour in a recent post. Well, it’s festival[…]
It was a day to celebrate summer … about two weeks early. With the mercury in the upper 80s and the sun broiling West Michigan, it was also a day[…]
Concert announcements · Upcoming shows · Videos
Roger Waters’ “The Wall” 8 p.m. Wednesday $66.50-$214.35 Van Andel Arena, Grand Rapids Let’s hope the sun keeps smiling as it did on Festival Sunday, because outdoor summer music hoopla[…]
Breaking music news · Upcoming shows · Videos
Billed as the “youngest blues band in America,” the Homemade Jamz Blues Band will launch the 2012 edition of the LAV Budweiser Blues on the Mall series on June 13.[…]
Concert announcements · Upcoming shows · Videos
Boasting 17 of Michigan’s most dynamic bands and performers, 2012’s edition of the Tuesday Evening Music Club series at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park is sure to pack the[…]
Breaking music news · Concert announcements · Upcoming shows
Bonnie Raitt’s done it again. For the second straight time, the blues guitarist-singer’s scheduled concert at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park has sold out on the first day of[…]
Caroline Herring 7:30 p.m. Monday Free, donations to KidsFirst One Trick Pony, Grand Rapids Grand Rapids is always looking for an excuse to party. This week, it doesn’t need one.[…]
Commentary · Features · Videos
How about a Rock ‘n’ Roll Draft? With the over-hyped, prime-time-powered NFL Draft under way tonight, I couldn’t help but wonder what the selection process might look like if rock[…]
Breaking music news · Concert announcements · Upcoming shows · Videos
This summer’s garden party just got a whole lot more interesting. Soul singer and hometown hero Al Green, blues legend Bonnie Raitt (with Mavis Staples), reggae icon Jimmy Cliff, jam[…]
