Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
This unusual Michigan music festival on Lake Michigan’s biggest island officially kicks off Thursday with a star-studded lineup of regional acts. Get the lowdown at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Another busy summer week of live music saw everything from blues to rock to folk stretching from Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo to Hastings. Check out the images from the Kalamazoo Blues Festival, Grand Rapids on Tap, Mitski, Steel Panther, The Accidentals, Falling in Reverse, David J, Tim Reynolds, May Erlewine and much more.
This special Local Spins “Sunday Feature” spotlights Kalamazoo recording engineer and producer Ian Gorman’s ‘super comfy’ recording studio that’s attracted a bevy of Michigan’s musical stars. And check out the videos and photos.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
With a back story that involves Saddam Hussein’s piano and gospel roots, this Albion duo and backing band are creating a buzz with passionate performances and a new soulful, upbeat album. Plus, the debut of new music by Cosmic Knot, Gifts or Creatures, The Out of Favor Boys and more. Read the story, listen to the podcast, watch the video of The War & Treaty’s in-studio performance.
The popular Grand Rapids vintage blues/jazz trio appeared on Local Spins Live and officially released its new album at SpeakEZ Lounge this week. Listen to the podcast, watch the video.
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.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
Relive the weekend: Northern Michigan performer and musician Brotha James, aka Jeremy Reisig, provides his take on one of the state’s most beloved music festivals, with photos by Local Spins photographer Anna Sink.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
This week’s national tours are balanced by shows from Michigan-bred acts B-Side Growlers, Michigan Rattlers, Theatre Bizarre Orchestra, KJ & The Good Time Family Band, Comments of Aether, a Picnic Pops Abba tribute and more.
The Grand Rapids folk-rockers topped semi-finalists in fan voting, winning $5,000 and a performance slot at JBL Fest in Las Vegas. Read their reaction to winning and check out the video that sent them into first place.
Breaking music news · Hot Top 5 · Videos
The Local Spins compilation boasting live tracks by 12 West Michigan artists racked up the most spins among regional acts at WYCE-FM in June, followed by solo CDs from Mark Lavengood and Dan Rickabus. And see what new regional music has been added on the air.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
The 2017 season of weekly regional music at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park had more than 1,500 people smiling and dancing to sets by Green on Blue and The Red Sea Pedestrians. View the video highlights.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
Los Lobos, Michael Franti, Donna the Buffalo and a passel of regional stars will light up this sold-out northern Michigan music festival this weekend. See what’s in store for Blissfest 2017 and see the full lineup for this year’s three-day event.
Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
The final Local Spins on WYCE radio show for June also featured tracks from Detroit bands Flint Eastwood, Talking Ear and Saajtak, as well as music from West Michigan acts Flushed, The Extra Texture, Ty Beat, Parlor Voice, Mark Lavengood and Hey Marco! Listen to the full podcast.
Breaking music news · Upcoming shows
The three-day camp in West Olive will offer ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ guitar, mandolin and fiddle instruction for adults and youths from award-winning musicians, plus a concert starring Matt Flinner, Don Julin and Fauxgrass. Read more about this new camp and find links to register.
Artist Spotlights · Traverse City · Upcoming shows
Moving from Nashville back to the Great Lakes State earlier this year after releasing a ‘painful’ and poignant album inspired by the late Pat Carroll of Kalamazoo, the artist inspired by West Michigan’s music scene plays Fountain Point Resort on Thursday evening. Read the profile, watch the video of his single and listen to his music.
Artist Spotlights · Live at River City · Podcasts · Videos
The long-running Grand Rapids band of buddies made a stop at River City Studios for a thought-provoking interview and a compelling, intimate performance. Watch the video, listen to the podcast.
Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
A sun-splashed weekend of festivals wrapped up a lively week of music from Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo. Check out the photo galleries and videos at Local Spins.
Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
To gear up for a new EP and July tour, Angela Gail and Jeffrey Jacob of In the Valley Below appeared on this week’s Local Spins on WYCE, which also featured tracks by Michigan Mafia, Alexander Lynch, Fauxgrass and more. Listen to the podcast, watch a video of In the Valley Below’s recent performance at Founders Brewing.
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.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows · Videos
With sets by Madcat Midnight Blues Journey, Fauxgrass, May Erlewine and more, this fest has expanded for 2017 with a beer tent, children’s area and lots of info about ‘healing our waters.’ Check out the Saturday schedule at Local Spins.
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 reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
Two major music festivals unfurled south of Grand Rapids on the same weekend with distinctly different vibes: Country music’s B93 Birthday Bash in Martin and the eclectic Buttermilk Jamboree in Delton. Browse photo galleries from both events that took place just 14 miles apart.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
The sold-out street party drew thousands to downtown Grand Rapids Saturday with regional and national stars playing a super-sized stage. Get the recap, browse the photo gallery and watch video highlights of Founders Fest at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
Two members of the Kalamazoo-area indie-folk band performed on air for Local Spins on WYCE, which also featured new music from The Accidentals, Kevin B. Klein and Steve Leaf & The Ex-Pats. Learn more about Cousin Avery, watch the in-studio video and listen to the entire radio podcast.
Concert announcements · Summer Festivals
With May Erlewine, Oh Brother Big Sister, Olivia Mainville, Watching for Foxes, The Change, Seth Bernard Trio, workshops and much more on tap, the festival east of Gaylord has expanded for 2017. See the band lineup for this unique August event.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
New York’s Slambovian Circus of Dreams leads a lineup of more than four dozen acts playing several stages this weekend in a scenic setting south of Grand Rapids. Get the schedule and details at Local Spins.
Icons Joan Baez, Mary Chapin Carpenter and The Indigo Girls combined forces — and voices — for a sold-out show on a sultry Monday night at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. The review and photo gallery only at Local Spins.
Breaking music news · Features · Videos
Released last Friday as part of school project, the music video already has garnered 20,000-plus views and support from The Accidentals, who will sing the National Anthem at a Detroit Tigers game Tuesday. Watch the young students’ much-acclaimed new video and read the back story about this project at Local Spins.
Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
Live music that cut across a wide spectrum: That was the M.O. for the week that was across West Michigan. Check out the photo galleries and videos from more than a dozen concerts, only at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
The reggae-fueled band from the Lansing area made its WYCE debut with a summery, in-studio performance during a show that also boasted music by Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers, Blanca Luz and other regional gems.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows · Videos
Grand Haven’s first-ever Pride Fest on Sunday will boast sets by Lipstick Jodi, Olivia Mainville, Abigail Stauffer and Jack & The Bear aimed at promoting the idea that “love wins in the end.” Get the lowdown and the schedule at Local Spins.
Summer Concerts · Summer Festivals · Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
From Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo, live music lovers had plenty of options to heat things up. Check out the photo galleries and links to Local Spins reviews.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
Picture-perfect weather greeted The Crane Wives, ConvoTronics, Cabildo, JRob and more as thousands filled the streets Saturday outside Bistro Bella Vita in Grand Rapids. Browse the photo gallery, watch the video highlights.
Concert announcements · Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
Hosted by The Go Rounds’ Graham Parsons, the 10th anniversary “reunion” in late July in the Keweenaw Peninsula boasts performances by Vox Vidorra, Kansas Bible Co., Seth Bernard, Turbo Pup, Mark Lavengood and more. See who else is playing this year’s festival and get details at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows
The award-winning, Minnesota-based folk singer plays Cadillac, Whitehall, Suttons Bay and Boyne City this week. Read the Local Spins interview and listen to his music.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Rocking stages from Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo to Howell, bands playing venues large and small over the holiday weekend gave Michigan’s music devotees plenty to celebrate. Check out all of the resplendent images at Local Spins.
Concert announcements · Kalamazoo · Summer Concerts · Upcoming shows
The Kalamazoo area boasts tons of opportunities to revel in live music in the great outdoors this summer, from park bandshells to HopCat’s beer garden. Check out the lineups for more than a half-dozen series that kick off in June.
Audio · Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
The festival’s opening night at Camp Blodgett along the lakeshore between Grand Haven and Holland boasted sets by The Waverlys and Nicholas James & The Bandwagon, plus the usual VW bus-inspired camaraderie. Check out the photo gallery and audio clips from this kickoff to Memorial Day weekend.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming Album Releases · Upcoming shows
Hannah Rose & The GravesTones, Big Dudee Roo and Jesse Ray & The Carolina Catfish play outside HopCat Grand Rapids late Sunday afternoon, following the HopCat Extra Time 5K Race. The Local Spins CD featuring tracks by 12 West Michigan artists is available digitally online today, with physical copies available at Sunday’s event.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
The cozy Memorial Day weekend festival along Lake Michigan will boast sets by The Giving Tree Band, Melophobix, Fauxgrass, Roosevelt Diggs, Nicholas James & The Bandwagon and many more. See the full schedule at Local Spins and save it on your smartphone to take with you.
Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
From The Intersection’s first ‘Rock the Lot’ show of 2017 to one of the outdoor season’s first Michigan festivals in St. Joseph to an annual Bob Dylan tribute at Founders Brewing Co. in Grand Rapids, live music turned up the volume this weekend. Check out the colorful images and videos at Local Spins.
Concert announcements · Kalamazoo · Summer Concerts
The new outdoor venue will host four one-day outdoor “festivals,” from June to September, on a new stage in Arcadia Ales’ cozy patio space next to the Kalamazoo River. Check out the lineups, with videos of some of the featured bands.
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.
In this spotlight on the lakeshore, read how top performers from several open-mic sessions will play a special showcase this weekend — and share in ticket proceeds from the event. Get insights into this popular open mic and watch some video highlights.
Concert announcements · Summer Concerts
In another Local Spins roundup of outdoor summer concerts to brighten your weeknights, see the full lineups and schedules for Garage Bar’s block parties, West Michigan Jazz Society’s Monday Jazz in the Park performances and John Collins Park shows.
Grand Rapids’ St. Cecilia Music Center today announced its jazz, folk and chamber music series for 2017-18, and it’s a who’s who roster of award-winning musicians. See the full schedule of concerts at Local Spins.
Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
From national tour stops by pop, hip-hop and bluegrass acts to jam-packed local showcases, West Michigan’s week of live music kept May hopping. Check out the images and videos at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Kalamazoo · Local Spins on WYCE · Upcoming shows · Videos
The veteran artist releases his CD at Louie’s Back Room Friday night, previewing the show during Local Spins on WYCE, which also featured new tracks by Mid-Life Crisis, Willamena, J. Snell, Jake Kershaw, Mark Lavengood, Tail From the Crypt and more. Read the feature story, listen to the podcast, watch the video of Koenigsknecht’s in-studio performance.
Breaking music news · Guest Column · Top 10 Lists
Michigan’s popular Celtic/world music outfit was the most-played local act on WYCE last month. See what other bands made the list and browse a roundup of some of WYCE’s unique, weekly specialty music programs.
Local Spins presents another roundup of free community concerts being held outdoors across West Michigan this summer, starring regional acts. Get the lowdown on more than a dozen series here.
