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.
Breaking music news · Concert announcements · Upcoming shows
More than 20 regional acts will perform during the Feb. 24 celebration at The Intersection, described as the ‘premier music event of the season.’ View the lineup and get reactions from some performers, plus a link to the list of award nominees and the public vote for album and artist of the year.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
It was another week of concerts that appealed to fans from different musical quarters in West Michigan, while showcasing local favorites, too. The photo galleries at Local Spins.
Breaking music news · In Memoriam · Summer Festivals
The death of the Crosby, Stills & Nash co-founder — who addressed his mortality in a recent interview — has sparked memorial tributes across the globe. Plus, a northern Michigan festival has announced its roster of regional performers
Our second January roundup of new albums and EPs by Michigan artists ranges from hip hop to jazzy indie-folk to rock, including Kings of Strings, Nathan K. and Big B & The Actual Proof. Listen to tracks from all of the releases.
Albums that Changed the World · Audio
As the band carrying his moniker prepares to play Rockford Brewing Co. on Thursday, Local Spins asked the Grand Rapids guitarist to reveal the recordings that influenced him most. Listen to tracks from all of the albums.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Saturday’s musical revelry on three stages at The Intersection highlighted a weekend that celebrated Michigan-made bands. Photos, recaps at Local Spins, including a Kalamazoo show led by Celestial.
Festivals · Playlists · Upcoming shows
Eleven diverse bands will play two stages at The Intersection in the first Winter Wheat fest since early 2020. The back story, the schedule and a playlist at Local Spins.
Audio · Concert announcements · Upcoming shows
After a hiatus of nearly three years due to COVID, the popular series will spotlight a wide spectrum of Michigan-based bands and solo artists twice a month. Check out the schedule, plus listen to music from some of the featured acts.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
Led by mandolinist Jason Wheeler, the new band was featured this week by Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuted tracks by Vulfpeck, Ada LeAnn, Myron Elkins, Laddermatch, Moss Manor, Steve Leaf, Nathan K. and more. Learn more about Round Creek String Band and listen to this week’s radio show podcast.
Announcements · Local Spins on WYCE · Top 10 Lists
Based on radio airplay at WYCE (88.1 FM), Local Spins reveals the Top 10 list of songs by Michigan artists that made the biggest impact on listeners and programmers in 2022. Listen to this week’s Local Spins on WYCE radio podcast and see how you can win tickets to see Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers at The Pyramid Scheme this weekend.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
As Christmas approaches, live music continues to rev up audiences from Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo to the lakeshore. Revisit the action in photos at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Audio · Podcasts
The singer and keyboard player recently released ‘Stories We Told Along the Way,’ recorded in Kalamazoo with a who’s who lineup of Michigan musicians. Story, video and more at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
The grand prize winner of the USA Songwriting Competition tells her back story for Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuted tracks by The Gasoline Gypsies, Matt Lenny, Silver Creek Revival, Missing Days and more. Learn more about Sav Buist and The Accidentals, and listen to her winning song and this week’s radio show podcast.
Features · Photos · Upcoming shows · Videos
After 11 years in Spring Lake, owner Michelle Hanks will close the much-beloved listening room following sold-out shows Friday and Saturday, ending a too-brief era of memorable live music. The back story, videos and photos at Local Spins.
Albums that Changed the World · Audio · Upcoming shows
Today, the popular Local Spins series revealing the recordings that have impacted Michigan musicians the most continues with popular, award-winning singer-songwriter Joshua Davis. Listen to tracks from all of his picks.
Artist Spotlights · Photos · Videos
The band officially released its new studio album Friday night with a performance at Lansing’s UrbanBeat. Get the back story on the quartet, view a music video and browse photos at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
Songwriter Taylor Hottenstein basks in the Artist Spotlight and is this week’s special guest for Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuts tracks by Moss Manor, Dangling Participles, Sebastian & The Mood, The Shouting Bones, Josh Rose and more. Learn more about Daisybox and listen to this week’s radio show podcast.
Audio · Concert announcements · Upcoming shows
It’s a singer-songwriter double-header this Sunday: ArtRat’s first show featuring Darcy Wilkin precedes the evening return of ‘Songtellers’ at Midtown. Get the details and upcoming schedule at Local Spins.
This pre-Thanksgiving round-up of new releases by West Michigan artists also features Lisa Can’t Sing and The Good Old Days. Listen to tracks from all of the recordings at Local Spins.
Playing a sold-out show Friday at St. Cecilia Music Center, the revered singer-songwriter played 20 of his fan-pleasing songs over 100-plus minutes. The review and photos at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
The veteran West Michigan artist unveiled tracks from the release for Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuted music by Billy Strings, Citizen Keen, Cal in Red and more. Learn more about Josh Rose’s new music and listen to this week’s radio show podcast.
Concert announcements · Festivals
Ani DiFranco, St. Paul & The Broken Bones, Patty Griffin lead a one-day Saturday event with a cozy ‘BanjoFest’ at The Ark on Friday. And Hoxeyville 2023 will feature Wood Brothers, Keller Williams and more. Get the lowdown at Local Spins.
Concert announcements · Upcoming shows · Venue Spotlight
After a pandemic-driven hiatus of nearly three years, the popular Fennville restaurant returns with Kate Pillsbury, Kyle Rasche and Kait Rose playing Sunday. Get details with the full concert schedule at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
House and bass music stars, rousing prog-metal bands, country crooners, indie-folksters and more delivered an eclectic week of live music to remember across West Michigan. Browse the photos from eight concerts at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Audio · Upcoming shows
Touring behind “Powerful,” their first album since 2015, the Michigan band led by Dede Alder plays Midtown in Grand Rapids tonight. Get the back story and listen to a track from the release.
The early November round-up of Michigan releases not only covers a wide swath of genres, but artists from Grand Rapids to the Detroit area to Petoskey. Listen to tracks from all of the recordings.
Artist Spotlights · Audio · Hot Top 5
New releases by the West Michigan artists joined recordings by Djangophonique and Ficus as the most-played local/regional releases at WYCE (88.1 FM) in October. Listen to tracks from all of the charted releases at Local Spins.
Albums that Changed the World · Audio · Upcoming shows
The Serita’s Black Rose duo is the latest set of West Michigan artists to reveal the recordings that have most influenced them over the years. Listen to their picks at Local Spins.
The live music weekend kicked off early in Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo, with pop, bluesy-folk, reggae, alt-country and the first rock show at SpeakEZ Lounge in more than five months. Browse all the photo galleries at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Orchestral power, indie-folk charm, country crooning, alluring electronic music, rock and pop zest and mummified funk: All on display this past week and recapped at Local Spins in resplendent images and words.
Kicking off the season on Friday with Serita’s Black Rose and Kait Rose, the free, four-concert series at Alger Park Church will spotlight folk, world music, soul, classical, blues and more. Learn more about the series and view the schedule at Local Spins.
With her new release, ‘Time Traveler,’ making waves, the Charlevoix-based singer-songwriter opens up to Local Spins about her music and her love of northern Michigan. Get the back story on Rae’s musical voyage and watch two of her latest music videos.
Award-winning acoustic stars hailing from touring acts that include Punch Brothers and Bruce Hornsby will host workshops starting Thursday at Camp Blodgett along Lake Michigan. Learn more about the camp and view the full roster of instructors.
Concert reviews · Festivals · Photos
From Spanish-infused rock to soul to folk to hip hop, the inaugural music festival reveled in good weather and an upbeat vibe. The recap and photo galleries at Local Spins.
Features · Local Spins Rewind · Summer Festivals · Top 10 Lists
As we dive into October, it’s time to look back at the Local Spins stories and reviews which got the most attention from readers over the summer.
Album reviews · Audio · Upcoming shows
After an insanely busy summer, Local Spins is back with a batch of reviews of 2022 releases by Michigan artists, from dark rock to folk to Gypsy swing to jam-band glory, plus a look at projects by Wild Honey Collective and Jeremy Ensley. Learn more about these diverse recordings and listen to tracks from each release.
Concert reviews · Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
Revisit more than a half-dozen live shows in vibrant images at Local Spins, including Joe Hertler, Overdrive Orchestra, DJ Mel V, Lipstick Jodi, Melvins and more. Photo galleries you’ll only find at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
The kickoff to autumn 2022 had it all: country, folk, symphonic metal, Americana, soulful pop and German party music. Local Spins revisits the action in words and photos.
GR Symphony opened its season with passion, a premiere and one of the final concerts for a beloved percussionist, on the same night that iconic songwriters held court for a new series in Forest Hills. The concert reviews and photo galleries at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
The return of the beloved Wheatland Music Festival for the first time in three years outside Remus last weekend electrified fans and bands alike. Revisit the action in words, photos and video.
The brainchild of Jennifer Hudson-Prenkert, the week-long affair at several venues in downtown Kalamazoo will boast vastly diverse performances and a collaborative vibe. Learn more about this first-year event, view the full schedule and listen to a playlist of performers.
New releases by a diverse group of Michigan artists all made their Local Spins Hot Top 5 Chart debut in August and captivated listeners as well as radio programmers at WYCE (88.1 FM). View the chart, listen to music from all of the releases at Local Spins.
Playlists · Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
For the first time since the pre-COVID days of 2019, the beloved Michigan festival revs up next weekend with revered touring acts and Michigan stars. The preview, main stage schedule and a playlist at Local Spins
Artist Spotlights · Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows · Videos
The boundary-pushing, ‘groove-heavy,’ bilingual artist from Asheville, N.C., headlines the inaugural All Call Music Festival taking place in Traverse City on Sunday. The Local Spins interview, plus Helado Negro’s latest music videos.
Last weekend’s cozy music festival in Free Soil left attendees raving about the regional bands and solo artists, as well as the atmosphere of the third-year event. The recap at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
The emerging Rockford indie-folk/pop artist with a release show next week lit up Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuted new music by Cameron Blake, Low Phase, Martyr for Madison and much more. Learn more about Izubel and listen to this week’s radio show podcast.
The Frontier Ruckus co-founder sat down with Local Spins writer Enrique Olmos to explore his passion for Detroit, and balancing music creation with a financially secure day job. He plays a Detroit festival on Sept. 10.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
The next-to-last Tuesday Evening Music Club show of the summer featured Grand Rapids singer-songwriter Ralston Bowles and an all-star lineup performing amid splendid weather. The recap, video highlights and photos at Local Spins.
Features · Playlists · Upcoming shows
The second-year West Michigan Songwriter’s Festival hosted by Rockford singer-songwriter Dan Terry takes place this weekend in Belmont, starring several respected Nashville tunesmiths, including Grammy winner Steve Leslie. The details and a playlist at Local Spins.
