Features · Festivals · Upcoming shows
Greensky Bluegrass and special guest, ‘guit-steel’ guitarist Junior Brown, star on Ann Arbor Folk Festival’s Day 1, a first for both the band and the festival. Learn more at Local Spins and check out videos from both artists.
Announcements · Festivals · Summer Festivals
Happy New Year! Our annual tradition continues with the publication of our 2026 Michigan Music Festival Guide, featuring dates and website listings of more than 50 music festivals across the state.
Announcements · Summer Festivals
The state’s biggest summer music festival returns to Rothbury next June, with tickets on sale Friday. Local Spins’ Looking for the Perfect Beat columnist Todd Ernst gives a rundown of the announced lineup.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
Monday’s opening showcase at The Clover Room in Kalamazoo was the kickoff to seven days of live music at a host of venues. Get the recap, photos and festival schedule for Tuesday through Sunday.
Concert reviews · Festivals · Photos
Friday’s opening night of the three-day, indoor festival at The Pyramid Scheme boasted energetic sets by Michigan’s Greet Death, Pennsylvania’s Carly Cosgrove and more. The recap, photos and weekend schedule at Local Spins.
One of the first music festivals of the summer season returns to Smiling Acres over Memorial Day weekend. Get the lineup and details at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Festivals · Photos
The 48th annual two-day festival at Ann Arbor’s Hill Auditorium kept ‘the dream alive’ with sets by acclaimed headliners, plus Josh Ritter, Bruce Cockburn, Joy Clark and more. The review and photos at Local Spins.
Local Spins’ New Year’s Day tradition continues today with our rollout of the schedule for 2025 Michigan music festivals, from A to Z (or W) – Ann Arbor Folk Festival to Wheatland, and everything in between.
Contests · Features · Festivals · Venue Spotlight
On Thanksgiving week, readers and music lovers were most thankful for more than a dozen Michigan music festivals and 30-plus concert venues. Check out their responses. SCROLL DOWN FOR[…]
Commentary · Festivals · In-Depth Report · Summer Festivals
Several Michigan music festivals called it quits after a “dismal” 2024 and others are reassessing their future. Local Spins takes a deeper dive into the emerging crisis with comments and analysis from festival organizers.
More than a dozen Polish halls across Grand Rapids will fire up dance floors, delectable food, beverages and more this weekend, celebrating the 52nd year of Pulaski Days.
Deadline Extended: Local Spins is looking for designs by young artists ages 12 to 18 that it will incorporate into its official poster for the 2024 Local Spins Fest taking place at Studio Park in Grand Rapids on May 18. The details at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Festivals · Upcoming shows · Videos
The Michigan-bred Americana band has morphed from an acoustic-driven sound to a more electric vibe while retaining its lyrical Midwest charm. Local Spins catches up with the band ahead of its Saturday folk fest appearance.
Concert announcements · Festivals
After the one-day Jan. 13 festival was scrapped due to a snowstorm, the Wheatland Music Organization found a way to line up nine Michigan bands for a February soiree. Get the lowdown at Local Spins.
The ambitious week-long showcase of Michigan bands unfurls at eight different venues, plus some busking stations. Get the background, schedule and a playlist at Local Spins.
Features · Local Spins at SXSW
For many Michigan bands, 2023’s South By Southwest festival was their first-ever Austin experience. They reveled in that experience — except for Nathan Walton & The Remedy’s broken-down van. Check out their takes and highlights in this special SXSW report.
Concert announcements · Summer Festivals
Welcome to another Saturday update to Michigan’s summer music festival season, from Cowpie returning under a new moniker, to Buttermilk and the Grateful Bear Campout lineups and ticket sales info for various festivals.
Festivals · Playlists · Upcoming shows
Songwriter, banjoist and Michigan native Rachael Davis joins Valerie June at The Ark ahead of Saturday’s folk fest with Ani DiFranco, Patty Griffin, St. Paul & the Broken Bones & more. The preview and a festival playlist at Local Spins.
A Friday concert and Saturday songwriting ‘master class’ at Forest Hills Fine Arts Center will launch the expansion of Festival’s mission to spread arts across West Michigan. Learn more about the weekend event and watch videos of the featured artists.
Festivals · Top 12 Stories Countdown
Songwriting legend John Prine’s robust legacy pushed this January story about Ann Arbor Folk Festival’s virtual tribute with May Erlewine, Joshua Davis and more to the Top 5. Revisit the story and Local Spins’ festival coverage from January of this year.
Special Offers · Top 12 Stories Countdown
The late May rollout of these colorful Local Spins bracelets captivated vaccinated music lovers attending summer concerts and festivals, not to mention readers, too. Learn more in the No. 6 story of the year, with new “boosted” bracelets now available as well.
Breaking music news · Concert announcements · Summer Festivals
Initial hopes for a ‘small Buttermilk’ in June were torpedoed by rising Michigan cases of the coronavirus, leaving organizers to look ahead to the fall for a possible mini-event or to June 2022 for the full jamboree. Learn more at Local Spins.
Concert announcements · Live-Stream Concerts
For the second year, the four-day spring festival will broadcast online sets via Facebook to raise money for the Michigan Artist Relief Fund to aid Michigan musicians. And sponsorships are available. Get details and see how bands can participate.
Live-Stream Concerts · Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
Starting Thursday, this weekend’s virtual, season-ending celebration will feature live-streamed sets, videos of past performances, workshops and more. Get details and a full schedule of online performances at Local Spins.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
The nonprofit organization that employs adults with developmental disabilities at its Cadillac cafe aims to move forward with the Aug. 1 event starring American Hotel System while following social-distancing rules. Find out more about this one-day festival and the workers it benefits.
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.
Sunday’s festival in the Village at Grand Traverse Commons will boast sets by more than 75 Michigan artists in the corridors of Building 50 and beyond. Get the lowdown about this long-running event and the schedule at Local Spins.
Summer Festivals · Top 10 Lists
The votes are in, with Blissfest and Earthwork Harvest Gathering topping the list of Michigan’s most beloved music festivals in this year’s readers’ poll. See what other festivals made the Top 10, along with some honorable mentions and links to all of the events.
Local Spins at SXSW · Photos · Top 10 Lists
With the mammoth South by Southwest festival wrapping up in Texas over the weekend, Local Spins writer Ricky Olmos looks back at event highlights — some with a Michigan flair.
Festivals · Kalamazoo · Photos · Videos
Saturday’s day-long event at Kalamazoo Valley Museum unfurled everything from folk to hip hop to blues courtesy of Red Tail Ring, Jordan Hamilton, Chris Canas and more. Read the event wrap-up, check out photos and a video at Local Spins.
Festivals · Traverse City · Upcoming shows
Taking place in the historic Village at Grand Traverse Commons, more than 100 Michigan musicians will perform in a single afternoon, with some of them considering it a “reunion” of sorts. Get details about this northern Michigan tradition at Local Spins.
Announcements · Breaking music news · Local Spins at SXSW
For the pop-up venue’s fifth year, Michigan House is partnering with Detroit’s Opnr to take applications online from Great Lakes State artists, with 10 selected to perform in Austin. Get details and a link to apply at Local Spins.
The 10th annual fundraiser for the Wheatland Music Organization will take over The Intersection on Jan. 12 with a host of rootsy bands and the reunion of The Hill People. Check out the lineup, see the full schedule at Local Spins.
Concert announcements · Upcoming shows
Cabildo, Last Gasp Collective, Tom Hymn, Breathe Owl Breathe and more pump up the festival bill in early November, but the big news is it’s no longer a house concert event. Find out why organizers have changed things up and see the full festival lineup at Local Spins.
Festivals · Photos · Playlists · Upcoming shows · Videos
Audiotree gives regional acts such as Michigander, Lushh, Moss Jaw and Jake Simmons WIDR platform with a brand new second stage; brings top tier national talent to Kalamazoo this weekend. Check out the complete schedule, videos, a playlist and more.
Commentary · Local Spins at SXSW · Photos
Local Spins writer Ricky Olmos ventured into the giant South by Southwest fest for the first time this year. Here are his highlights, plus images by photographer Anna Sink of some of her favorite SXSW sets.
Local Spins at SXSW · Photos · Videos
Mark Lavengood, Seth Bernard, Lady Ace Boogie, Alexander Lynch, The Accidentals, Billy Strings, Major Murphy and more are embracing SXSW 2018, enamored of Austin’s rousing environment, its tacos and all the musical action. Discover their impressions of the gargantuan festival and conference, ogle the photos, watch the videos.
Thousands of people are in Austin this week for SXSW, aka South by Southwest, and hundreds of bands are vying for their attention. This week’s podcast assesses the value of attending these major events for networking, education and as life experiences.
Festivals · Local Spins at SXSW · Upcoming shows
Dozens of Michigan acts – from The Accidentals to Seth Bernard to Tunde Olaniran to Oliver Houston – are headed to Texas to strut their stuff, with Michigan House set to showcase Great Lakes State music, expertise and more. Read about the impact they’re hoping to make and see a list of bands who will be performing in Austin next week.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
Saturday’s ninth annual benefit for the Wheatland Music Organization boasted more than a dozen performances, including sets by Joshua Davis, K. Jones & The Benzie Playboys, Gasoline Gypsies and more. Check out video highlights and a photo gallery, only at Local Spins.
Concert announcements · Summer Festivals
More than two dozen regional acts will play the White Birch event at the Morelands Motocross Park; Greensky hasn’t yet revealed the location of its new festival. See the lineup and details for the White Birch fest.
In the sixth episode of Ralston and Sink’s Virtual Podcast, our intrepid music commentators delve into the scary world of mass mayhem that’s rocked major public concerts and festivals, plus event security in general. Listen to the full RSVP Music Chat podcast.
Festivals · Upcoming shows · Videos
Starting Thursday, the 10-day event boasts bands from West Michigan, the east side of the state and more, with poetry slams and films also part of the festival that oozes intimacy and an all-ages vibe like Grand Rapids’ The DAAC. Get details in this Local Spins story.
Commentary · Festivals · Photos
The 16th Earthwork Harvest Gathering unfurled last weekend outside Lake City with what many call a “magical celebration” of Michigan’s collaborative music scene. Musician/singer Megan Dooley describes why it was so special in this Local Spins column, with images by Anna Sink.
Artist Spotlights · Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
The Grand Rapids soul-rock band kicks off the first-ever Sound of the City festival in Grand Rapids on Saturday, followed by regular touring across the Midwest. Read about Vox Vidorra’s growth as a popular West Michigan band and see Saturday’s full festival schedule of performances by regional acts.
Announcements · Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
The first-time festival at the Harris Building on June 25 will feature Vox Vidorra, The Legal Immigrants, Lady Ace Boogie, Ty Beat, Valentiger and more. Radi8er plans similar events in other cities, too. Read the details and see the full lineup for the Grand Rapids event.
Falling on a busy and beautiful Saturday in Grand Rapids, the 12th annual festival at Wealthy Theatre showcased West Michigan bands of every ilk and raised thousands for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. (Review, photo gallery)
Audio · Features · Upcoming shows · Videos
The extraordinary, unique event returns to Eastown with 33 diverse performances, plus classes and workshops, all unfolding in three homes. Get the lowdown here and check out Local Spins’ “five acts to catch” at Lamp Light 2015.
Breaking music news · Features
Organizers say this year’s all-online application system will make it easier for bands and performers to apply, and speed up scheduling. But the entry fee has doubled to $10.
From emerging act Spence & Friends to longtime fave Mid-Life Crisis, Festival covers the gamut of musical styles and sounds. But can a 13-year-old steal the show? At 13,[…]
