Concert reviews · Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery

Hip hop’s Steven Malcolm ignites fans at GR homecoming + Valent-Ice, Pigeons, McCreery

• February 13, 2022

Emerging hip hop star Steven Malcolm wrapped up his ‘Long Live the Hype Tour’ at a jam-packed Muse GR Saturday, wrapping up a weekend of diverse live music — country, hip hop, funk, rock, folk — captured in Local Spins photos and videos. Revisit shows by Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, Niko Moon, Scotty McCreery, The Legal Immigrants, King Possum, Conrad Shock + The Noise, Lisa Can’t Sing and Erin Enderlin.

Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery

Parade of Firsts: Railroad Earth, Oracle, Bass Country, Gary’s Brain and more musical revelry

• February 6, 2022

This week’s roundup of concert photos actually starts last weekend with the return of live music to Founders, plus the first West Michigan shows in quite some time starring some compelling bands. Browse all of the photo galleries at Local Spins.

Album reviews · Audio · Upcoming shows

Album Reviews: Greensky Bluegrass, Travis Atkinson, Les Creatif, Dynaflo and more

• January 27, 2022

This late January round-up of new releases by Michigan artists ranges from the latest by a national bluegrass powerhouse to the debut of a new Grand Rapids project to a heavy metal fusillade from Detroit. Browse the reviews and listen to tracks from all of the releases at Local Spins.

Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery

Jazzing Up January: Joshua Redman Trio, Scott Veenstra Trio and more deliver musical magic

• January 23, 2022

This weekend’s concert photo roundup has a distinctly jazzy flavor — national and local — plus it features a tour stop by Swedish dubstep star Liquid Stranger and a Kalamazoo showcase with WOOTS and Grace Theisen. Browse the images at Local Spins.

Upcoming shows · Venue Spotlight

The Stray café aims ‘to inspire and be inspired’ with diverse concerts, warm setting

• January 13, 2022

Grand Rapids’ newest live music venue offers an intimate space and striking stage for emerging and established acts, with a ‘Battle of the Bands’ on tap. Learn more about this S. Division Avenue business and view a schedule of upcoming shows.

Album reviews · Audio

Album Reviews: Hacky Turtles, Bootstrap Boys, Cal in Red, Fiona Dickinson, Zebra 3 & more

• January 11, 2022

Welcome to the first album review roundup of 2022, with a half-dozen new releases by West Michigan artists encompassing rock, country, electronic music, folk, pop and more. Check out the reviews and listen to tracks from all of the releases.

Features · Venue Spotlight · Weekend Photo Gallery

Ringing in a new year: DAAC ‘thrilled’ for 2022 at new site, plus Kalamazoo New Year’s Fest

• January 2, 2022

After finally reopening in a new Grand Rapids location this fall, The DAAC staged a New Year’s Eve show that was an all-ages celebration of community and the arts. Get the back story, plus photos of the new space, Kalamazoo’s New Year’s Fest and Motion City Soundtrack at The Intersection.

Weekend Photo Gallery

Sullivan King, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Milk Carton Kids, Drew Nelson: Concert Photo Recap

• December 5, 2021

Hard to envision a more contrasting set of shows unfurling in West Michigan over the weekend: swing revival, folk, a metal-EDM hybrid, Americana, blues, you name it — all showcased in photos at Local Spins.

Announcements · Upcoming shows

WYCE raring to resume Jammie Awards celebration in February 2022

• December 4, 2021

After a 2021 hiatus due to COVID-19, the community radio station will stage the popular event once again at The Intersection, with fans invited to vote for their “Artist of the Year.” The lowdown at Local Spins.

Features · Special Offers

The 2022 Local Spins Calendars: Music festival dates, photos of two dozen-plus Michigan bands

• November 22, 2021

Local Spins once again is offering unique, Michigan-centric calendars that spotlight concert photos of Michigan artists and 2022 festival dates. They make perfect holiday gifts. Get ordering details and a list of artists featured in the new calendar.

Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery

Rodney Crowell uncorks ‘joyful’ show of gems, plus Zach Bryan, Nada Surf, Dixon’s Violin

• November 14, 2021

The Americana icon regaled fans at St. Cecilia Music Center amid a week filled with varied musical spectacles at West Michigan venues. Browse all the photo galleries at Local Spins, from Jinjer to Zach Bryan to Dixon’s Violin to Major Murphy and more.

Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery

An Dro’s final show, Pop Evil, Todd Snider, Pokey LaFarge, Every Time I Die: Photo Recaps

• November 8, 2021

Amid the flurry of national tour stops firing up crowds from Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo was an understated finale for a much-beloved West Michigan Celtic band that decided to end its long run. Check out the An Dro story along with 10 photo galleries from a hectic week of concerts.

Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts

Too Chillay for Cats: West Michigan’s take on a ‘Euro chill-out’ record in tribute to Miss Paris

• October 22, 2021

Grand Rapids studio owner Michael Crittenden unveiled a unique instrumental project for Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuted music by River City Narrative, Laura Rain, Flowers on the Grave, Laggies and more. Get the back story on ‘Too Chillay for Cats’ and listen to this week’s full radio show.

Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos

Grand Rapids’ Edison Kitt pours out rootsy ‘Whiskey Ramblings’ to shed pain and emotion

• October 8, 2021

The frontman for Edison Kitt & The Strangers talked about his new solo album for Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuted tracks by Joey Frendo, Lee Heerspink, Bond Girl, Dick Chiclet, The Krelboynes, Tail from the Crypt, Pieces, Blondfire and more.

Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery

Musical energy galore: Backyard Bash, Pink Sky, Troll for Trout, Joe Hertler, Brother Elsey

• September 26, 2021

Perrin’s day-long Backyard Bash highlighted a weekend of crowd-pleasing shows from Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo — captured in images at Local Spins. Relive the action in seven photo galleries.

Concert reviews · Top 10 Lists

The Summer of 2021’s Top 10 Concerts and Festivals: A Local Spins List

• September 25, 2021

Fall has arrived, so Local Spins columnist John Sinkevics offers up his Top 10 favorites shows or live music events that he attended this summer. We also list some readers’ picks of best concerts. What are yours?

Artist Spotlights · Audio

Ann Arbor-based Beanstalk pilots exhilarating interplanetary, synth-house voyage

• September 3, 2021

The Local Spins and Grove Studios series spotlighting emerging talent from eastern Michigan focuses today on a singular DJ and multi-instrumentalist with a dynamic new album. Read more about Beanstalk and listen to his music at Local Spins.

Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows

Looking for the Perfect Beat: ARC Music Fest setting sail in Chicago with top-shelf lineup

• August 31, 2021

Local Spins columnist Todd Ernst encourages West Michigan electronic music fans to skip down to the Windy City over the holiday weekend for an inaugural ARC Music Festival that he says is ‘pulling out all the stops.’ The preview and performance schedule at Local Spins.

Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos

Weekend Rave: Breakaway, blues, ska, rock, pop music and muscle cars (Photo Galleries)

• August 29, 2021

August’s final weekend featured a flurry of live music from Grand Rapids’ Breakaway festival and The Pyramid Scheme to the 28th Street Metro Cruise to Kalamazoo’s State Theatre. Revisit the action in images at Local Spins.

Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals

‘Crazy Times’: Breakaway Music Festival romps at Belknap with Illenium, exuberant fans

• August 28, 2021

The opening day of the first Breakaway celebration in two years brought sunshine, heat, electronic music stars and gyrating throngs to the Grand Rapids park on Friday. The Local Spins recap, photo gallery and some video highlights from Day 1, with Day 2 on tap Saturday.

Commentary · Looking for the Perfect Beat · Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows

Looking for the Perfect Beat: Breakaway goes big, anchored by heavy W. Michigan talent

• August 27, 2021

Local Spins’ authority on electronic music, DJ Todd Ernst, chimes in about this year’s lineup for Belknap Park’s Breakaway Music Festival, which gets unleashed Friday and Saturday in Grand Rapids. Check out his take, listen to a Breakaway playlist and browse the weekend schedule at Local Spins.

Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows

Illenium, Quinn XCII, Gettoblaster, Choff & more set to heat up ‘biggest’ Breakaway yet

• August 25, 2021

The two-day festival descending on Grand Rapids’ Belknap Park this weekend brims with some top names in electronic, hip hop and pop, including several Michigan faves. Get the preview and full festival schedule at Local Spins.

Concert reviews · Photos

Pink Sky, Earth Radio, Brandino launch ‘Listening Lawn’ series in summery style

• June 4, 2021

A happy crowd of mask-less concertgoers gathered in the courtyard of Studio Park in downtown Grand Rapids to cheer a diverse trio of Grand Rapids acts thrilled to be back on stage. The recap and photo gallery at Local Spins.

Audio · Hot Top 5

The Accidentals and Biomassive EPs jump to top of Hot Top 5 Chart for May

• June 3, 2021

The two Traverse City bands released new EPs this spring that earned them lots of attention and lots of radio airplay at WYCE-FM. Check out their reaction to the news, discover what other albums made the May chart and listen to songs from the featured artists.

Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos

The Bootstrap Boys grow up: Rootsy country act hones skills, ups ante with new musical tales

• May 22, 2021

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.

Concert announcements · Summer Festivals

Illenium, Michigan’s Quinn XCII to headline Grand Rapids’ Breakaway Festival in August

• May 7, 2021

After a one-year hiatus, the two-day electronic/pop festival at Belknap Park will also feature Gryffin, Madeon, Big Wild and Chelsea Cutler. Learn more about August’s Breakaway and July’s Upheaval festival, both being held at the Grand Rapids park, with organizers hoping COVID capacity restrictions will be eased.

Concert announcements · Summer Concerts

Listening Lawn returns to downtown Grand Rapids with Pink Sky, Accidentals and more

• May 6, 2021

For the second summer, Studio Park will host outdoor concerts starring Michigan artists, including Jack Droppers, Joshua Davis, Last Gasp Collective and Luke Winslow-King. Get details and see who else will perform at this downtown venue.

Summer Concerts · Summer Festivals

N. Michigan’s mixed-bag summer: Interlochen series still on hold, boutique fests move ahead

• May 6, 2021

While Interlochen is still assessing prospects for staging concerts this summer, a brand new festival and a fourth-year ‘micro’ event will bring live music to northern Michigan’s great outdoors. Get the lowdown on these events at Local Spins.

Album reviews · Audio

Album Reviews: Emma Bieniewicz, Lucky Da Realest, Laine Rex, Nordy, Venoma, Troutman

• March 28, 2021

This late March roundup of West Michigan releases ranges from rock and hip hop to synth-pop and folk. Check out the Local Spins reviews and listen to tracks from each featured artist.

Album reviews · Audio · Videos

Reviews: Hollywood Makeout, GRJO, Ryne Experience, Aquaerials, Kevin Ream, Dawning

• February 25, 2021

This late February roundup of releases by Michigan artists has something for a myriad of musical tastes: rock, jazz, folk, electronic music and pop. Read the reviews, listen to tracks from each album.

Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos

Electronic duo Pink Sky reinvents approach for dynamic, textural recordings amid lockdown

• February 19, 2021

Shifting from live shows to the studio due to COVID, the GR duo is releasing striking new singles, debuting two of them for Local Spins on WYCE, which also premiered fresh tracks by more than a half-dozen Michigan artists. Explore Pink Sky’s year in lockdown and listen to this week’s radio show podcast.

Concert reviews · Local Spins Rewind · Photos · Videos

Local Spins Rewind: The loving magic of the Valentine’s Day 2020 WYCE Jammie Awards

• February 14, 2021

Thousands filled The Intersection on Valentine’s Day 2020 to celebrate the best regional music of the year with impressive performances on three stages. With this year’s edition of the Jammie Awards indefinitely postponed due to COVID, browse highlights from last year’s big night in words, photos and video.

Playlists · Videos

Tuesday Soundtrack: The 2020 WYCE Jammie Award Winners Playlist

• February 9, 2021

If not for COVID, Grand Rapids radio station WYCE, Michigan artists and their fans would be getting ready for the Jammie Awards this week at The Intersection. Instead, let’s revisit last year’s big winners, with updates on what they’ve been up to — along with new music from some of them.

Album reviews · Audio

Album Reviews: Rick Chyme, Heavy Color, Lucy Lowis, Brandino Extravaganza, Marsupials, Jess

• December 7, 2020

Welcome to a pre-Christmas flurry of new releases by Michigan artists, from instrumental flair to hip hop to rock to funk to singer-songwriter charm. Check out today’s reviews and listen to tracks from each album.

Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows

Big List Concert Guide (Oct. 26-Nov. 1): Halloween hoopla, a street party & more

• October 26, 2020

Although the weather is limiting outdoor performances these days, Local Spins has scared up a smattering of spine-tingling Halloween week shows and socially distanced costume parties to consider.

Album reviews · Audio

Album Reviews: Les Creatif, Patty PerShayla, American Hotel System, Stratos & more

• October 15, 2020

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.

Features · Music and Technology · On Campus

Quadio: A revolutionary platform to boost collaboration, exposure for college musicians?

• October 8, 2020

With the pandemic limiting live music opportunities, Worry Club and other emerging acts have turned to the Quadio app to connect with each other and up their social media reach. An in-depth report from Local Spins, with profiles and music showcasing four college artists from Michigan.

Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows

Big List Concert Guide (Sept. 28-Oct. 4): Trixy Tang, Cabildo, Community Unity Festival

• September 28, 2020

As West Michigan rolls into October, some of the last vestiges of outdoor live shows are spotlighted for this week’s The Big List, from Cedar Springs Brewing’s beer tent bash to Beats on Bates in Kalamazoo. It’s also the final week of Grand Rapids’ month-long “The Bridge” events.

Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows

Big List Concert Guide: The Bridge, Bootstrap Boys, GR Symphony, Joe Hertler, RockShow

• September 8, 2020

The post-Labor Day week is chock full of live music options as outdoor and drive-in shows continue to rev up across West Michigan. See a full roster of shows at Local Spins.

Album reviews · Audio · Videos

Album Reviews: Derek Brown, Aquaerials, Odd Space, Ryne Experience, Danielle, Jessica

• August 20, 2020

Amid a flood of new regional releases, Local Spins delves into albums and EPs by an eclectic bunch of artists for this roundup of reviews. Find out more about the recordings and listen to tracks from each album.

Album Releases · Artist Spotlights · Audio · Videos

Traverse City’s Biomassive set to release live album boasting its ‘finest sonic blend’ yet

• July 30, 2020

Forced to shelve a new studio recording due to COVID-19, the West Michigan electronic rock band and festival favorite has instead leaned on its live-show prowess to satiate fans. Read more about the band, listen to a track from the new live album and watch a video of a recent live set at Third Coast Recording.

Big List Concert Guide · Summer Concerts · Upcoming shows

The Not-So-Big List: Inaugural Sherwood Forest revs up Rothbury, plus other shows to ponder

• June 22, 2020

Topping this week’s Not-So-Big List Concert Guide is a new event for Double JJ Resort campers on the same weekend that would have hosted Electric Forest, plus a smattering of live music shows across West Michigan. Get the lowdown at Local Spins.

Concert announcements · Upcoming shows

The Big List Rescheduled: New dates for postponed West Michigan concerts

• May 27, 2020

Another month amid a COVID-19 shutdown means more concerts and live music events have been canceled or postponed. Here are new dates for some shows you might be wondering about, along with a list of canceled Michigan concerts.

Audio · Playlists · Top 10 Lists · Videos

Tuesday Playlist: Pink Sky delivers ‘A Loop in Self-Isolation,’ from Pink Floyd to Nils Frahm

• May 26, 2020

In an exclusive playlist crafted for Local Spins, the Jammie Award-winning Grand Rapids electronic duo meshes contemporary synth gems with iconic tracks by Pink Floyd, Radiohead, Bjork and Nick Cave. Unfurl this mesmerizing soundtrack, with Pink Sky’s descriptions of each song.

Announcements · Breaking music news · Features

Earthwork Music collective rebrands, relaunches with vision for ‘cultural healing’

• May 22, 2020

The longtime Michigan music collective re-emerges today after a two-year overhaul with a revamped organizational structure, a slate of new artists and some live-stream performances. Get the full story at Local Spins along with some videos of Earthwork artists.

Album reviews · Audio

Michigan Album Reviews: Wuzee & Samil, Anna Burch, Sean Miller, Silent Spirit, Amy Petty

• May 14, 2020

May’s second round of Local Spins album reviews focuses on artists from across the Great Lakes State, from Grand Rapids hip hop and electronic acts to singer-songwriters in Detroit, Saginaw and Petoskey. Scrutinize the reviews and listen to song selections from each featured artist.

Audio · Playlists · Top 10 Lists · Videos

Tuesday Playlist: Desmond Jones jams to EOB, Nirvana, Frank Zappa, Weezer, Gram Parsons

• May 12, 2020

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.

Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts

Kalamazoo’s Celeste Allison Trio takes jazzy indie-folk/pop to next level with new EP

• May 9, 2020

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 · Hot Top 5 · Videos

Andrew Brown’s Djangophonique soars to No. 1 on Local Spins Hot Top 5 Chart for March

• April 4, 2020

The album inspired by iconic jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt topped an all-new roster of popular Michigan releases, which also included Via Mardot, Pink Sky, Darcy Wilkin and Seth Beck. Learn more about Djangophonique, view the complete chart and listen to songs from all of the featured artists.

Album reviews · Audio

Album Reviews: Hoom Hits compilation, Loren Johnson, Cole Hansen, Frank Pfaff

• April 2, 2020

Smack dab in the middle of a COVID-19 shutdown, Local Spins presents an early April roundup of new West Michigan album releases. Read the reviews, listen to selected tracks from the featured albums.