Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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
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
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
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.
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.
The star-studded, March 26-29 live-streamed festival is hosted by Michigan Music Alliance as way to raise donations for the Michigan Artist Relief Fund that’s assisting musicians hurt by the COVID-19 crisis. See the full schedule at Local Spins.
Concert announcements · Summer Festivals · Videos
The festival moves to Detroit’s Historic Fort Wayne Park for the July 25-26 weekend with Kaytranada, Purity Ring, Doja Cat, Phoebe Bridgers, Orville Peck and more on board. Pre-sale passes go on sale Friday. See the full lineup and watch new videos from some of this year’s featured performers.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
March roars in like a lion music-wise with Gaelic Storm, Cowboy Junkies, Shiba San, Scotty McCreery, Will Sexton, The Accidentals, Distant Stars and more on the docket. Plus, Local Spins’ Big List has ticket giveaways for three different concerts this week.
This February roundup of new releases is a potpourri party, not only covering the mainstream but pushing the experimental envelope with releases by bands and artists from mid-Michigan to Muskegon. Check out the reviews; listen to the music.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
Thousands filled The Intersection on Friday to celebrate the best regional music of the year with impressive performances on three stages. Browse highlights from the big night in words, photos and a star-studded video.
Artist Spotlights · Playlists · Upcoming shows
Two dozen artists will rev up Friday’s Jammie Awards at The Intersection. Listen to them and learn more about these acts in Part II of Local Spins’ preview, which includes a full schedule of performances that you can save on your smartphone to take along for the big event.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
Sweet Water Warblers, John Doe/Kristin Hersh/Grant-Lee Phillips, Mike Doughty, American Authors, Whitney and more fill out a busy concert week. And check out this week’s ticket giveaways and the tantalizing Under-the-Radar Picks.
Audio · Playlists · Upcoming shows
Two dozen artists will perform at the Jammie Awards on Feb. 14 at The Intersection. Listen to half of them and learn more about these acts — from JRob to Jack Droppers, Medicinal Groove to Michigander — in the first of two Jammies previews at Local Spins to help you get you ready for the big day.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
From a national tour celebrating the 25th anniversary of a classic hip hop album to a Listening Room debut by a local ensemble celebrating release of a new EP, the week covered a lot of bases, including country, electronic music and folk. Browse all of the images at Local Spins
Audio · Breaking music news · Local Spins at SXSW · Upcoming shows
For the sixth year, Michigan House will set up shop in Austin for the March South by Southwest festival, promoting Michigan music, entrepreneurs and innovation. See which Michigan bands are playing this year’s show and listen to their music at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
In a bid to drive away the winter blahs, West Michigan audiences embraced a dynamic mix of touring and local artists. And once again, Local Spins captured it in photo and video form.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
This week’s concert photo gallery and video roundup also features Stone Soup & The Broken Teeth’s album-release, Toth, Leland Blue and Paradise Outlaw. Browse the images at Local Spins.
January’s second batch of albums reviews at Local Spins spotlights the latest releases by several artists from Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo. Check out the reviews, listen to the music, find out where some of these artists are performing.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
DJ Faren Strnad kicks off a week that also features Small Glories, Garcia Peoples, Toth, Cousin Avery, Paradise Outlaw, Pink Sky, How to Live Together, Leland Blue, Henhouse Prowlers, Lady Ace Boogie’s birthday bash and much more. And check out this week’s ticket giveaways.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
The Fretboard Festival Play-In Contest and shows by Tomas Esparza Blues Band, Erin Zindle & The Ragbirds, The Fast Hands Band album-release and more are also on tap. And check out this week’s ticket giveaways for shows at Listening Room.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
The holiday week keeps the live music rolling with Jesse Ray & The Carolina Catfish, The Bootstrap Boys, Coldville, Steve Talaga, Rachael & Dominic Davis and more on tap. Browse all of this week’s live music picks.
Concert reviews · Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
A week that launched with The Gasoline Gypsies’ first-ever acoustic show also featured Sum 41, Sullivan King, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Whitey Morgan, the “Christmas at Critter’s” benefit, May Erlewine & The Motivations and more. Relive the action in photos and videos at Local Spins.
The year-end holidays are upon us, so Local Spins helps you plan your New Year’s Eve celebrations with a Top 10 list of music-driven bashes to behold. View the list, as well as a comprehensive calendar of year-end concerts.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
Mid-December also heats up with May Erlewine, Dalmatian Stone, Wayland, Mary Gauthier, Brother Elsey, A Winter’s Tune, Tuba Christmas and more. Peruse this week’s featured concerts, check out the Under-the-Radar Picks, and win tickets to shows at The Pyramid Scheme.
West Michigan’s live music week included The Bad Plus, Louis the Child, Blanco Brown, SunSquabi, Laith Al-Saadi, Gunnar & The Grizzly Boys, Sadie Bass, Left Lane Cruiser and more reflected in dazzling photos (and a couple of videos) at Local Spins.
Breaking music news · Summer Festivals
The Electric Forest announcements top news items about several 2020 Michigan music festivals. Get the lowdown on new Electric Forest features, changes in other Michigan festivals and links at Local Spins.
Sold-out, jam-packed shows — national and local — filled venues across West Michigan in mid-November, including the International Wine, Beer and Food Festival at DeVos Place. Ogle all of the the action-filled images at Local Spins.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
From jazz to rock to funk to country, it’s a busy week that also features Ganja White Night, Moxie Strings, Unknown Hinson, Freekbass, Mark Lavengood, Peat in the Creel, the Diatribe’s Grand Showcase, Terry Lower Quartet and more. This week’s “Under-the-Radar” picks are special, too.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
K. Michelle kicks off a week that also features Anamanaguchi, Big Wild, The Hot Sardines, Tommy Castro, Brendan James and much more. See the full roster of shows and win tickets to see Lettuce or Donna the Buffalo at The Intersection.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
A busy week of West Michigan concerts includes Thank You Scientist, Willy Porter, Tunde Olaniran and more. And check the roster of bracing Under-the-Radar Picks for the week.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
Rings of Saturn gets Halloween week started, with Nobuntu, Blue Water Ramblers, Michigan-I-O, The Crane Wives, Andreas Kapsalis and some horrifically good Under-the-Radar Picks on tap, too. Check out all of this week’s live music selections at Local Spins.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
Los Straitjackets, J.S. Ondara, Jon Langston, Lazer Lloyd, The Japanese House, Erin Zindle, a Folk Alliance gathering and tons of Halloween parties are also on the agenda this week. The Under-the-Radar Picks also feature a rescheduled Luke Bryan show, an album-release show and the closing event for ArtPrize’s Project 1.
Ghost gets things started in a week that also boasts the first shows at the Listening Room in downtown Grand Rapids, Jinjer, Tyrone Wells, Faren Strnad, Fred Hersch and much more. Plus, see how you can win tickets and a special prize package to an upcoming TAUK concert in Kalamazoo.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
Michigander, a Horsefeather reunion, Messer Chups, May Erlewine, Jack & The Bear, Seth Glier, Chris Michels, Stovepipe, Kari Lynch, GTG Fest and more fill out the week of live music in West Michigan. Browse this week’s featured concerts and the fascinating Under-the-Radar Picks, and see how you could win tickets to one of three different Tip Top Deluxe shows.
Photos · Upcoming shows · Venue Spotlight
The ArtPrize Project 1 installation is hosting DJs, bands, poets and more this fall in a unique multi-level venue in an old warehouse complex on Grand Rapids’ West Side. Kyd Kane, J. Oscar Bittinger, Lady Ace Boogie and more take the stage this weekend.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
The week starts with the roar of GWAR, but there are also big shows starring JRob, The Accidentals, Pink Sky, Earth Radio, Delbert McClinton and way more firing up stages in West Michigan. Get the complete concert lowdown at Local Spins along with this week’s Under-the-Radar Picks.
Summer Concerts · Weekend Photo Gallery
The West Michigan music week that was welcomed indie-folk, blues, hip hop, electronic music, rock and more to indoor and outdoor stages, including the Blue Bridge over the Grand River and the final blast at Bell’s Brewery Beer Garden. Peruse the images at Local Spins.
Breaking music news · Concert reviews · Photos
Wednesday’s strong, late-summer storm forced the venue to cancel season’s penultimate show before the headliners could take the stage for their 40th anniversary tour appearance. Berlin and Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark did manage to play short sets before the rain hit. Recap and photos at Local Spins. And get details about Meijer Gardens’ refund policy for this show.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
The week also features Reverend Raven, Sebastian Bach, Patty PerShayla, Laith Al-Saadi, Langhorne Slim, Deerfield Run and Project 1’s first-ever Blue Bridge Amplified. Get the complete concert lowdown in this week’s Big List Concert Guide at Local Spins.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
The two-day festival kicking off Friday at Grand Rapids’ Belknap Park has a bevy of must-see acts says Local Spins columnist Todd Ernst. Read his preview, check out the schedule at Local Spins.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
A busy late-summer festival week also features Reignwolf, Desmond Jones, That Beatles Thing, Seth Bernard, 28th Street Metro Cruise, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Polish Festival, Wax Motif and more. Alabama’s Friday concert, however, has been postponed.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
The duo now based in L.A. unfurled some of its ‘wacky, fun’ music for Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuted new tracks by Jake Kershaw, Brother Elsey, Vee the Rula, Paradise Outlaw and Full Cord. Watch the video of FINKEL’s in-studio performance, get the back story on the duo and listen to the full radio show podcast.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals · Top 10 Lists
Local Spins writer Ryan Boldrey made the most of his first Electric Forest experience and came up with his Top 10 impressions from a wondrous weekend in the woods of Rothbury. Check out his picks and browse the photo gallery by Anna Sink.
