Features · Local Spins at SXSW · Upcoming shows · Videos
Michigan House once again aims to offer ‘breath of fresh air’ and ‘authentic’ Mitten State vibe amid the craziness of world’s largest music festival and conference in Austin next month. Get the lowdown on the 2018 events and lineup at Local Spins.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
The week also boasts CD-releases by Suzies and John Proulx, Grand Rapids Symphony’s “Symphony With Soul” and shows by Frontier Ruckus, Gregory Porter, Last Gasp Collective, Murder Party, El Brandino and Jesse Ray, plus West Michigan’s first-ever tribute to Steve Earle. And win tickets to see Galactic or PVRIS.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
This week’s edition of the radio show also featured music from Sleep Cheaters, LVRS, Jeremy Ensley, Lushh, Skyking, Ttypes and An Dro. Listen to the full podcast, watch the in-studio video of The Founding’s performance.
Concert reviews · Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
Another bustling weekend of live music across West Michigan showcased national and regional acts on various stages. Check out the images and videos at Local Spins, with everything from country to swing to house music to rock ‘n’ roll.
Artist Spotlights · Features · Upcoming shows
The L.A.-based star and West Michigan native who plays a sold-out Grand Rapids concert next week talks to Local Spins about the ’70s influences on “Blue Madonna” and the excitement of being back home again. Revisit this hometown hero and watch videos of his latest singles.
Commentary · Looking for the Perfect Beat · Upcoming shows
Legendary DJ Mark Farina plays a much-buzzed-about show Saturday at Founders Brewing in Grand Rapids. He recently shared insights into his musical history — which began in Chicago — with Local Spins columnist Todd Ernst. Read the interview, listen to his music as part of the first Local Spins “Looking for the Perfect Beat” feature.
Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
This week’s episode of Local Spins on WYCE featured in-studio performances by Lynch and the Blue Water Ramblers, plus new music from Public Access, Darin Zarzecki, Seth Bernard, The Krelboynes, Max Morrison, Laura Rain, Spike the Media and Jeremy Porter & The Tucosrs (and check out a video, too).
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
The West Michigan trio brought its electronic wizardry to this week’s radio show, which also boasted the debut of tracks by Shane Tripp, Peat in the Creel, Venson Dix and Bruce Matthews. Listen to the Local Spins on WYCE podcast, which also featured songs by performers at the upcoming Jammie Awards.
Local Spins’ first segment of 2018 on the statewide radio show spotlighted Borns, Greta Van Fleet, The Accidentals, Billy Strings, The War & Treaty and Jake Kershaw, plus new releases from Grand Rapids’ Hannah Rose & The GravesTones, hi-ker and Cassidy Bisher. Listen to this week’s podcast and learn more about these rising acts.
Features · Top 10 Lists · Videos
The critics have had their say. Now, Local Spins asks some West Michigan musicians to list their favorite 2017 releases: The War on Drugs, Rapsody, The Main Squeeze, Jonny Lang, Queens of the Stone Age, Twin Peaks, Father John Misty, Daniel Caesar and more made the grade. Check out all the picks, videos and audio samples.
Album reviews · Top 10 Lists · Videos
Kendrick Lamar, Billy Strings, The National, Perfume Genius, Jaco Pastorius, The Accidentals, The Turnips, Organissimo, May Erlewine, LCD Soundsystem and more earned high marks from Local Spins writers. See who else made the grade in 2017 and listen to samples of music from dozens of releases that turned critics’ heads. Plus, see which concerts stood out this past year.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
The week leading up to Christmas gets rolling with EyeCandy and Antighost, plus there are shows featuring The Bootstrap Boys, Reggie, Mary Rademacher, Great Black Night and much more. And see how you can win tickets to a Michael Jackson tribute, courtesy of Local Spins.
Announcements · Kalamazoo · Upcoming shows · Videos
Electro-pop’s Less is More aims to continue broadening its musical universe as it departs West Michigan. The band plays a farewell show at Bell’s Brewery on Saturday night. Get the back story, check out a video.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
A week heavy on EDM also features Amy Grant & Michael W. Smith, Jon Pardi, Soul Patch, The Concussions, Luke Winslow King, The Secret Sisters, Juanita Stein and much more. Get the full concert lowdown, plus intriguing Under-the-Radar Picks, in The Big List Concert Guide.
The holidays are the perfect time to round up some of the latest releases by Michigan artists, spotlighting albums you can add to your gift lists. Check out the reviews, with audio samples of the new music.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
The week also features the Brad Mehldau Trio, Fall Flannel Folk Fest, Kris Delmhorst, the return of The Outer Vibe, Asamu Johnson & The Associates of the Blues and much more. Browse all the live music selections for the week, plus the intriguing Under-the-Radar Picks.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
There’s plenty to be thankful for this week as the live music scene explodes around the holidays with special shows, both national and local, starting with a Monday jazz show. And check The Big List for your chance to win tickets to Friday’s Billy Strings show.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
Odesza starts the week with a sold-out show, but there’s more: Kerosene Stars, The Ragbirds, Brubeck Brothers, The Contenders, The Krank Daddies, Conklin Ceili Band and a Simon & Garfunkel tribute. And see how you can win free tickets to the mammoth International Wine, Beer and Food Festival.
Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
This edition of the week-in-review also boasts a tour stop by The Yawpers, a Tom Petty tribute and local showcases featuring the likes of Great Black Night, Lapdogs and more. Browse the photos, watch the videos.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
Jai Wolf, The Yawpers, Chris Robinson Brotherhood, Fareed Haque and tributes to Tom Petty, Joni Mitchell and Neil Young help pump up the live music slate. And see this week’s ticket giveaway at The Intersection.
Concert reviews · Festivals · Photos · Videos
The sixth annual house concert festival in Grand Rapids’ Eastown neighborhood featured tightly packed performances by Mark Lavengood, Lando Chill, Glum, Mutual Benefit, Timbre, Breathe Owl Breathe, May Erlewine, Tom Hymn’s Tangerine Dream, Stef Chura and more. Check out the recap, photo gallery and video at Local Spins.
Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
Grand Rapids electronic music duo Pink Sky previewed its Lamp Light Music Festival performance this weekend for Local Spins on WYCE, which also showcased songs from Rachel Zylstra, Bigfoot Buffalo, Great Black Night and FLUSHED. Listen to the full podcast.
The unique Grand Rapids house concert festival will showcase 29 acts over three days in three Eastown neighborhood homes, spotlighting emerging and well-known acts from across the region. Get the lowdown on this weekend’s festival and a schedule at Local Spins.
This weekend’s galleries are awash in early Halloween celebrations which mixed costumed craziness with DJs and bands providing the musical backdrop to haunt venues from Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo. But there were also some special shows beyond that, including Dinosaur Jr. and a Domestic Problems reunion. See all the images at Local Spins.
Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
Another week of audience-inspiring music had West Michigan fans cheering national touring acts and local stars alike — and Local Spins was there to capture the images. Browse all of the photo galleries and find links to reviews of Steely Dan and 311.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
Another week of eclectic music unfolds, from Surfer Blood to Kari Lynch, Mary Chapin Carpenter to CARE, Adam Rudolph to Chris Ayer, Bex Marshall to Lindsay Lou. Get the lowdown with The Big List and this week’s Under-the-Radar Picks, and see how you can win tickets to see 311 or blues-guitar phenom Jake Kershaw.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Rock ‘n’ roll, folk, gospel-fired and soulful Americana, EDM, you name it: West Michigan’s live music lineup was an impressive one this week. And the Local Spins photo galleries prove it. Browse the galleries, read a review of Noah Gundersen’s Grand Rapids concert at The Pyramid Scheme.
Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
Listen to three podcasts spotlighting regional music: The past two episodes of Local Spins on WYCE, plus Local Spins on Michigan Radio, highlighting May Erlewine, Desmond Jones, Valley Girl, Cameron Blake, Sojii, FlyLiteGemini, Joshua Davis, Ruth & Max Bloomquist, Slumlord Radio and more.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Local Spins’ week-in-review photo galleries covered a lot of fan-frenzied ground inspired by national and local stars at venues indoors and outdoors, from Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo.
Concert reviews · Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
Audiotree Music Festival lit up the day and night in Kalamazoo, with national tour stops by hard-rocking stars in Grand Rapids and a harvest festival in Rockford. Browse all of the colorful, action-packed images at Local Spins.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
Iconic singer Gordon Lightfoot gets the week started, with LZ Michigan/Freedom Cruise, Rockford Harvest Festival, Luke Winslow King, Jessica Hernandez, Weyes Blood, a Fleetwood Mac tribute and more on tap. Plus, see how you can win tickets to see Pegi Young at the Tip Top or Scott Stapp at 20 Monroe Live (part of the Make America Rock Again tour).
The Traverse City trio’s new Sony Masterworks album was the most-played regional recording on WYCE last month, with other local faves close behind. Check out the chart, videos of the Top 5 acts and a list of new regional releases.
Guest Column · Summer Festivals
Breakaway’s EDM and hip hop spectacle is playing Grand Rapids on a site that’s never been used for an event like this. Read a veteran DJ’s take on this festival that drew thousands of young fans on opening day along with some advice for Day 2.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
With sets by Travis Scott, R.L. Grime, Waka Flocka Flame and more, EDM and hip hop acts pumped up Belknap Park on Friday on the first day of the national festival. Read the recap, browse the photo gallery, watch the video from Day 1.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
Travis Scott, Zedd and more play the two-day festival at a site that’s never hosted a music festival before. Breakaway shifts to Ohio in September and North Carolina in October. See and save the full festival schedule at Local Spins.
Album reviews · Audio · Hot Top 5 · Videos
The War & Treaty’s debut EP topped July’s Hot Top 5 for WYCE airplay, with Crane Wives drummer Dan Rickabus’ solo CD right behind. Check out a review of that album and other new Michigan releases.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
This weekend’s festival boasts performances by Zoso, Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers, May Erlewine, That 1 Guy, G-Snacks, Brotha James, Andrew Sturtz, Biomassive and more. Get the lowdown on this northern Michigan event at Local Spins.
Concert announcements · Summer Festivals
Being held for the first time in Grand Rapids, 20-plus national and regional acts will play the EDM- and hip hop-oriented Aug. 25-26 Breakaway Music Festival at Belknap Park. Breakaway shifts to Ohio in September and North Carolina in October.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
Two of Michigan’s most intimate and distinctive music festivals starring regional acts took place last weekend, described as “truly amazing,” picturesque and magical. Check out the photo galleries and weekend reviews at Local Spins.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows · Videos
The fifth annual, two-day MoPop music festival held along the Detroit River kicks off Saturday with a mix of national and regional stars. Check out the full schedule and see what Michigan acts have in store for fans.
Concert announcements · Summer Festivals · Videos
The Native Howl, The Gasoline Gypsies, Watching for Foxes, Desmond Jones, Biomassive, The Change and more play this “beautiful” northern Michigan site July 21-23. Get details and ticket links, and watch videos of some of the festival’s featured bands.
The holiday weekend brought fireworks of the musical and pyrotechnic variety to Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo and Lowell, from bluegrass to soul to rock ‘n’ roll. Check out the images at Local Spins from special events at The Pyramid Scheme, Bell’s Brewery, Kent County Fairgrounds and Ah-Nab-Awen Park.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows · Videos
The second weekend of Electric Forest kicks off today, which makes this the perfect time to look back at a wondrous Weekend 1 from Rothbury in photos, stories and reports from Local Spins and publications across the country. Check out the photo galleries and see how other media outlets view this Michigan festival.
Commentary · Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
Local Spins writer Troy Reimink returned to Rothbury for the first time in eight years. And what he saw at Electric Forest both impressed and amused him, a testament to the festival’s “magical legacy” — and “circus of overstimulation.” Check out this columnist’s jocular and insightful take on this Michigan festival and browse more colorful photos from ‘The Forest.’
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
With 40,000 wildly adorned attendees flooding Double JJ Resort on Thursday, the West Michigan music festival dodged rain for a celebratory explosion of national and regional stars. Read the recap, browse the photo galleries and watch a highlights video from Day 1 at Electric Forest 2017.
Playlists · Top 10 Lists · Videos
With a brand new album, “Pluto,” heating things up, Joe Hertler of Michigan’s Rainbow Seekers rolls out his summer festival Top 10 playlist — the third Local Spins roster of songs aimed at getting fans ready for Electric Forest, which officially begins today in Rothbury. Hertler’s list of songs is appropriately “house and techno” in nature. Listen to the songs, watch the videos.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows · Videos
Joe Hertler, The Accidentals, Vox Vidorra and Flint Eastwood are ready to join the wondrous party that is Electric Forest. It unfurls over two weekends in West Michigan led by String Cheese Incident, My Morning Jacket and Bassnectar to create an un-Earthly musical vibe. Check out the schedule for Michigan’s contingent, only at Local Spins.
Concert announcements · Summer Concerts
The Accidentals, SuperDre, The Crane Wives, The Great Ones, Cabildo and more are part of the free Thursday night series. See the full lineup at Local Spins, with videos of the featured artists.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Like a basket full of multi-colored eggs, the week leading up to Easter mixed things up impressively on West Michigan’s music scene from Kishi Bashi’s wild display to STS9’s psychedelic electronica to rock’s Crystal Garden led by Boyd Tinsley of the Dave Matthews Band. Plus, Marc Cohn, Sweet Water Warblers, Parachute. Check out all the images at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
The classic rock guitarist brought his virtuosic talents to 20 Monroe Live on Sunday night, closing out a week that also featured a host of dynamic shows — from EDM to heavy metal — in Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo. Check out the Peter Frampton review and all the images at Local Spins.
