Albums that Changed the World · Audio · Playlists
With chart-topping success for music from Lord Huron’s latest album, frontman Ben Schneider today reveals the recordings that have inspired him the most, from hip hop to vintage country to “shining” art rock. View his picks and listen to tracks from the albums at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
It was the first big week of live music in the great outdoors across West Michigan with nightly offerings of regional stars from Kalamazoo to Allegan to Grand Rapids to Rockford. Relive the performances in images and a highlights video at Local Spins.
Photos · Upcoming shows · Venue Spotlight
The Alpine Township farm hosts regular shows, including band performances on a stage built to deliver a unique concert experience for musicians and fans. The back story about this unusual concert venue, with photos.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
The new West Michigan super-group of multi-instrumentalists debuted two songs for Local Spins on WYCE, which also featured tracks by EPCYA, Sherdizzil, Laura Rain, The Accidentals, Ally Evenson, Lord Huron, ttypes, .Shi, Keeynote and more. Check out the profile of King Possum — who play Tip Top Deluxe on Saturday night — and listen this week’s complete radio show podcast.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
The Grand Rapids band premiered a new single for Local Spins on WYCE, which also premiered tracks by DJ Blaze, Medicinal Groove, Dawning, Emma A. Ward, WOOTS, Biomassive and more. Get an update on The Bootstrap Boys and listen to this week’s full radio show podcast.
Summer Concerts · Upcoming shows
More than 200 free concerts have been added to the lineups of Michigan communities hosting shows by local and regional artists. View all of the schedules at Local Spins.
Friday night’s inaugural show at the baseball stadium on Grand Rapids’ West Side drew more than 100 people who soaked up the live music and unique outdoor atmosphere. The concert roundup and photo gallery at Local Spins.
Welcome to Grand Rapids’ newest outdoor “amphitheater,” namely the historic West Side baseball stadium that will host an outdoor concert Friday night. Get details at Local Spins and see what The Hacky Turtles have in store for fans in their first concert in nearly 18 months.
Summer Concerts · Upcoming shows
More communities across West Michigan are re-entering the concert fray after a year that silenced live music due to COVID. View the schedules, from Monday night jazz at Walker’s Millennium Park Meadows to weekend rock and blues in several outdoor hot spots.
Concert announcements · Summer Concerts
Regional stars The Bootstrap Boys, Patty PerShayla, Molly, Last Gasp Collective, Cabildo and more will perform outdoors at the Grand Rapids nature center starting in June. View the full schedule at Local Spins.
Audio · Features · Playlists · Videos
On what’s become an annual holiday for many, today’s special playlist from Agri-Med and Local Spins reveals the most popular cannabis-inspired tunes as chosen by readers in our 4/20 contest. Peruse the diverse 20+4 list and see which four readers won smoking-cool gift packs.
In-Depth Report · Photos · Weekend Photo Gallery
Amid capacity restrictions and limited ticket sales, bands and solo artists must adjust to an altered financial landscape as live music returns. Local Spins presents an in-depth report on the impact the pandemic has had on musicians’ livelihood.
Announcements · Contests · Features · Videos
West Michigan’s Agri-Med & Local Spins announce a contest asking readers for their favorite pot-flavored tunes to be revealed in a playlist on April 20. Plus, we feature several local artists who’ve paid tribute to marijuana in song and video.
Concert reviews · In Memoriam · Local Spins Rewind · Photos
One year ago — before the pandemic erupted — West Michigan not only cheered a tour stop by mandolin whiz Chris Thile but mourned the unexpected death of beloved local musician Eric Soules. Local Spins revisits both events in today’s ‘Rewind’ feature.
Concert reviews · Live-Stream Concerts
Friday and Saturday’s unprecedented online benefit for The Ark boasted a record number of performances by local and international musical heroes who offered up 11 hours of intimate, touching sets. The review at Local Spins. The festival continues with a special John Prine tribute tonight.
After a brutal, COVID-impaired 2020, music fans need to step up if regional artists are to survive. In this guest column, Grand Rapids musician Justin ‘Stovepipe’ Stover explains why buying music, not just streaming for free, is imperative.
Playlists · Top 10 Lists · Videos
As Christmas approaches, the folks at Grand Rapids’ Van Andel Arena assembled this holiday-hued soundtrack featuring some of the top artists who’ve played the venue or are slated to play it in 2021. Get into the spirit of things with this Top 10 playlist.
Playlists · Top 10 Lists · Videos
Veterans Day is Wednesday, so this week’s playlist at Local Spins unfurls some classic tracks that commemorate those in the military and the sacrifices they’ve made in spite of the politics involved. Watch the videos, listen to the Top 10 on Spotify.
Concert reviews · Local Spins Rewind · Photos
A year ago this week, Local Spins published one of the most-read stories of the year — featuring emerging Michigan country artist Sadie Bass — and hailed the long-awaited, official opening of Listening Room. Check out reviews and photo galleries from those November 2019 events, plus several major West Michigan tour stops.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
As West Michigan eases into November 2020, the indoor live music scene is much different and more restricted than it was last November. Local Spins rounds up the musical happenings amid what’s expected to be a turbulent election week.
A year ago this week, country, pop, jam band, rock and folk fans were in the thick of memorable West Michigan performances and events — oblivious to the approaching COVID pandemic. Relive the week in words and photos courtesy of Local Spins Rewind.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
Frontman Alex Austin spotlighted his band’s new music for Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuted tracks by The Accidentals, The Crane Wives, Laine Rex, The Concussions, Brother Wolf, VASE and more. Learn more about Deerfield Run, check out a video performance by the band and listen to this week’s radio show podcast at Local Spins.
From Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo to Port Huron, this week’s batch of album reviews covers a half-dozen new releases from Michigan artists covering a wide spectrum of genres. Learn more about these recordings and listen to tracks from each of the featured artists at Local Spins.
Playlists · Top 10 Lists · Videos
Grammy Award-winning stars from folk, country, jazz and classical music light up this special Tuesday playlist compiled by Cathy Holbrook, director of the historic Grand Rapids concert venue. Check out the songs, watch the videos.
Concert reviews · Local Spins Rewind · Photos
When live music was still at the entertainment forefront (pre-Covid) October 2019 boasted memorable highlights of the local and national variety, from sold-out tour stops to big announcements. A look back at a busy week in words and photos.
The ‘Year of COVID’ has wiped out months of performances in a 2020 that started with such promise. But before all that, October 2019 rolled out concerts and big events on a nightly basis. Local Spins looks back on a robust week of shows in words, photos and videos.
Album reviews · Audio · Videos
A half-dozen new releases by Michigan artists — from Detroit’s The Messenger Birds to the U.P.’s John Davey — are showcased via reviews, audio samples and more at Local Spins. It’s an eclectic bunch of albums, from jazz to prog-pop to soulful Americana to vintage country.
Playlists · Top 10 Lists · Videos
Red Hot Chili Peppers, Styx, Charlie Daniels, Greensky Bluegrass, Frankie Ballard, Goo Goo Dolls, Styx and more populate this week’s soundtrack courtesy of State Theatre. Check out the videos and listen to the Top 10 playlist on Spotify.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Musicians have made the most of a pleasant September after a COVID-impaired summer of live music. Sadie Bass, Jake Kershaw, Edison Kitt, Hayes Griffin, Josh Rose, Kyle Rasche, FlyLiteGemini, Out of Favor Boys, Jack Leaver and more light up our weekend photo galleries.
Playlists · Top 10 Lists · Upcoming shows
Ladysmith Black Mambazo, The Verve Pipe, Waldo, The Bad Plus and more impressive, eclectic acts played Grand Rapids’ Listening Room before the COVID shutdown. Here’s a sampling of the venue’s favorites. Check out the videos and the Spotify playlist at Local Spins.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
Mid-September and the final week of summer offers intriguing live music options across West Michigan, from outdoor decks to drive-in shows. Make your plans with the show lowdown at Local Spins.
Summer Concerts · Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
The summer has been mostly silent, but September fires up a bevy of unusual concerts across West Michigan – from drive-in shows to online festivals. See the roster of options at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming Album Releases
Eight years after her last album sparked national media attention, the Lovells singer is back with her “Michigan twang” and more vintage charm via “The Loneliness in Me.” Get the back story on Rachel Brooke and listen to a new track exclusively at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
The Gobles-based artist who’s a finalist in two songwriting competitions was this week’s guest for Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuted music by Madelyn Grant, Brett Mitchell, Ghosts of Sunset and more. Learn more about Andy Baker, watch one of his music videos and listen to this week’s radio show podcast at Local Spins.
Grand Rapids’ Nicholas James Thomasma and Ian Thompson return to the chart for the second month in a row, too. Listen to tracks from all of the featured albums at Local Spins.
Check out this robust bunch of genre-spanning music videos by Michigan artists — plus a video plea to support bills that would help rescue concert venues ravaged by COVID-19.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Concerts · Weekend Photo Gallery
Performing sets Saturday on a wheeled flatbed trailer, the Grand Rapids band hit different West Michigan sites for an unusual “Traveling Road Show.” Check out this week’s live music photo galleries, including photos from Thursday’s performances by the Oat Bran Boys in Cutlerville and Megan Dooley in Kalamazoo.
With 2020’s festival canceled due to COVID-19, Local Spins looks back at a 2019 country music celebration in Jackson County that drew more than 40,000 fans for sets by Keith Urban, Toby Keith, Zac Brown and more. Check out the photo galleries and recaps of last year’s performances.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
Innovative ideas for outdoor concerts populate this week’s concert guide as the region continues to struggle with recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. See who’s playing where this week across West Michigan.
The most-played regional albums in June at WYCE came from some veteran West Michigan musicians. Learn more about the “crazy” fan reaction to Griffin’s Western swing album, view the full chart and listen to songs from all the featured artists. Also, check out the list of new local/regional additions to the WYCE library.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
The Grand Haven-area country artist was this week’s guest for Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuted music by Public Access, BoneHawk, Woody Mac and more. Learn more about Rivers, watch a video of his performance for the show and listen to the full radio show podcast at Local Spins.
The Grand Rapids Southern rock and country band will trailer a stage to five different parking lots in Grand Rapids, Marne and Wyoming on July 18 to play its first shows since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Get details about this “Traveling Road Show” and the schedule at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
The Grand Rapids singer-songwriter rolled out his latest gems for Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuted new tracks by The Gasoline Gypsies, Lipstick Jodi, Adam Main, Jess, Darcy Wilkin and more. Learn more about Thomasma’s new album, watch a video of his performance and listen to this week’s full radio show podcast at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Audio · Features
One of music’s most unusual, transatlantic partnerships – two songwriters in Michigan and the Netherlands who’ve never met – has spawned an eerie Gothic Americana single with more to come. Learn more about how these two talented artists met online and forged a songwriting partnership, then listen to their haunting track.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
Wicks performed two new songs for Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuted fresh tracks by In the Valley Below, Steve Rivers, Full Cord, August, Kanin, Stephie James and more. Listen to the radio show podcast, learn more about Dale Wicks and his new album.
Audio · Playlists · Top 10 Lists · Videos
Popular Grand Rapids jam band Desmond Jones whipped up a Top 10 roster of group members’ favorite songs during the current coronavirus pandemic, from D’Angelo to Thundercat. Watch the videos, listen to the Local Spins playlist on Spotify.
Concert announcements · Summer Concerts · Summer Festivals
Scrapped due to COVID-19, the popular northern Michigan series at Interlochen is among numerous live music events slated for summer 2020 across the state that are being dropped, postponed or revised. Get details and see an updated list of festival cancellations at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
Allison was this week’s guest for Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuted music by Silent Spirit, Andy Baker, The Accidentals, Martyr for Madison, The Ryne Experience and The American Hotel System. Learn more about Allison and listen to the full radio show podcast at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Audio · Videos
In an interview with Local Spins writer Ricky Olmos, Nathan Kalish opens up about his new album, cooking for himself, and the way the coronavirus has ravaged the music industry. Learn more about the West Michigan-bred Kalish and listen to songs from his latest release. And he plays a live-stream concert tonight.
Playlists · Top 10 Lists · Videos
Grand Rapids’ Jammie Award-winning Bootstrap Boys put their heads together (virtually) for this week’s Local Spins playlist to pay homage to John Prine, Dolly Parton, Kenny Rogers, Johnny Cash and a few unexpected artists like Orville Peck. Check out the videos and listen to all the songs via Local Spins’ Spotify playlist.
