New albums from KJ & The Good Time Family Band and Amy Love fill out this mid-April roundup of releases by Michigan artists. Check out the reviews from Local Spins writers, listen to tracks from each recording.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
Grand Rapids’ KJ reveals the story behind ‘Dynamics’ for Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuted tracks by Annagail, Seth Bernard, Jack Droppers & The Best Intentions, The Aquaerials, Trevor Ohlsen, Eric Wagenmaker, Steve Leaf and more. Delve into The Good Time Family Band and listen to this week’s radio show podcast.
Mid-November brings another review roundup of new releases by West Michigan artists covering a dizzying array of genres. Read the reviews, listen to tracks from each of the featured artists.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Glorious late-September weather provided the perfect setting for several high-profile outdoor shows in Grand Rapids, from Earth Radio to Melophobix. The recaps, photos and video highlights at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
Belknap’s first-ever drive-in show on Friday impressed fans and bands alike with socially distanced fun and music that reverberated through the neighborhood just north of downtown Grand Rapids. The Local Spins review with photos and video highlights.
Album Releases · Album reviews · Audio
A busy year for new Michigan releases amid a pandemic gives music fans a lot to savor, including impressive albums by four Grand Rapids artists as well as northern Michigan’s Biomassive and the trio of Pico, Chown & Sears. Read the reviews, listen to music from each of the spotlighted artists.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
On a near-perfect July night, Asamu Johnson & The Associates of the Blues and Hannah Rose Graves regaled a happy crowd for a rare display of live music outside Grand Rapids’ Studio Park. Get the recap, photos and video highlights from Thursday’s show at Local Spins.
More new releases from Michigan artists are on tap in this week’s Local Spins roundup, including a female super-group, a VW bus-loving singer-songwriter, a Detroit-area alt-country band and a Traverse City funkster. Check out the reviews and listen to tracks from all of the featured albums.
Features · Weekend Photo Gallery
Local Spins continues its “concert photo rewind” series spotlighting the stellar work of its photographers, this time focusing on our Kalamazoo live music honcho: Derek Ketchum. Here are his favorite photos and the stories behind these colorful, action-packed shots.
This edition of our concert week-in-review spotlights some W. Michigan tour stops by fan favorites — from metalcore to indie-folk to bluegrass to a funky jam band. Browse all of the images at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows
The northern Michigan glam-rock outfit will be strutting through two ‘raw, unpredictable’ GR shows this week. Learn more about the provocative music of Jakey Thomas & crew at Local Spins.
On the eve of the Jammie Awards show, several nominated bands found their way into the Hot Top 5 chart of most-played albums on WYCE-FM. See the full chart and listen to music from each of the Hot Top 5 acts.
Concert reviews · Festivals · Photos · Videos
Hundreds of revelers and runners gathered outside the Comstock Park brewery Saturday for sets by The Crane Wives, Hacky Turtles, Melophobix and Crosscut Kings. The recap, photo gallery and video highlights at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows
The Harbor Springs trio fires up SpeakEZ Lounge and more this week as it gears up to release a new album in 2020. Learn more about The Marsupials in this Local Spins Artist Spotlight and listen to their music.
Audio · Breaking music news · Hot Top 5
The most-played local tracks on WYCE in December came from a fresh batch of artists who also showed up among nominees for Jammie Awards for best regional music releases of the year. Browse the latest Hot Top 5 chart, listen to songs from the featured artists and view the 2020 nominees for best album by a new artist.
Features · Top 10 Lists · Videos
As the year draws to a close, Local Spins asked some West Michigan musicians and readers to make their picks for the best albums and songs of 2019 — a diverse roster covering rock, hip hop, jazz, R&B, folk and more. And listen to music from all of the featured artists.
With December’s holidays fast approaching, here’s a Local Spins roundup of recent Michigan releases that make perfect stocking stuffers — and just plain satisfying listening. Browse the reviews and listen to tracks from each of the featured albums.
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.
As one of the busiest bar nights of the year, Wednesday’s pre-Thanksgiving celebration lit up stages with live music gems from Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo. The photo roundup at Local Spins, including Tuesday’s wild Ski Mask the Slump God tour stop at 20 Monroe Live.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
The music weekend began with Joshua Davis’ debut at Grand Rapids’ new Listening Room and continued with a host of crowd-pleasing regional and national concerts from Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo to Rockford. Browse all of the colorful images at Local Spins, including images from a two-night stand by Joe Hertler and a brewery’s anniversary bash.
Artist Spotlights · Audio · Upcoming shows
The Chris Michels Band, which plays SpeakEZ Lounge on Wednesday, boasts a rotating cast of talented musicians, led by a songwriter about to release a new solo album and determined to squeeze “as much music” as he can into his life. Get the back story on Michels and listen to his new singles at Local Spins.
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.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
Saturday’s Backyard Bash outside the Comstock Park brewery drew thousands for sets by Jake Kershaw, The Hacky Turtles, Paradise Outlaw, Hollywood Makeout and Kozmic Mama. Browse the photos at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
Funk, rock, Americana, jam-band fun, indie-folk, country, blues, you name it, it was on display on stages across West Michigan this past week, including Muskegon’s Moose Fest and a rousing Joe Cocker tribute. Browse the images and show recaps at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Audio · Summer Festivals · Videos
This weekend’s festival near Johannesburg, east of Gaylord, unfurls with a huge roster of Michigan acts, including Traverse City’s Chris Michels, who’s fast building a fan base for his funky, jazzy music. Read more about the festival and MIchels, and listen to his music
Concert reviews · Photos · Weekend Photo Gallery
From a U.K. rock sensation to regional hip-hop stars at Lady Ace Boogie’s Dope Ass Lineup plus Paradise Outlaw’s album-release, it was a crowd-pleasing week indoors and out. Ogle all of the images at Local Spins.
After a rainout for Week 1, the popular Tuesday series at Meijer Gardens boasted blue skies and dance-hued regional music for a family-filled crowd. The recap and photo gallery at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
From the lakeshore to Kalamazoo, the long holiday weekend offered up plenty of live music. Check out the photo galleries and concert recaps at Local Spins.
The talented multi-instrumentalist packed the amphitheater for the third year in a row, inspiring the big crowd to move to an energetic mix of jazz, funk and rock. Get the review and peruse the photo gallery at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
Amid Friday’s pleasant weather, Buttermilk Jamboree boasted one of the best opening days for a Michigan music festival in recent memory. Get the recap, photos and video highlights at Local Spins.
Concert announcements · Summer Concerts
The summer music scene is heating up. Check out the Grand Rapids Art Museum’s diverse lineup for Thursday nights, plus the June schedule for Garage Bar’s Wednesday Block Party and Bike Night series.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Browse the resplendent Local Spins images from another weekend of diverse and crowd-energizing live music, from Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo including Lettuce, Xavier Wulf, Sadie Bass, FLUSHED, Turnspit and more.
Concert reviews · Kalamazoo · Photos
Steppin’ In It with friends and May Erlewine & The Motivations moved a Bell’s Brewery crowd while Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers funked up Old Dog Tavern in outdoor shows. Check out the recap of both summer-opening spectacles by Ryan Boldrey, with photo galleries by Derek Ketchum.
Lots of repeat acts dominated the Hot Top 5 chart of local and regional airplay at WYCE-FM for April, but artists from Detroit and Grand Rapids made their debut, too. Peruse the chart, listen to music from all of the featured albums.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows · Videos
The Ann Arbor band that’s impressed fans with its live shows for years has finally unleashed its full-length studio debut album, and will play Billy’s Lounge on Friday along with Biomassive and Bigfoot Buffalo. Check out the latest artist spotlight feature focusing on bands from the east side of the state and watch a video of Chirp.
Artist Spotlights · Audio · Podcasts
The March Local Spins segment on Michigan Radio’s ‘Stateside’ showcased new music from four attention-getting West Michigan acts from different ends of the musical spectrum: pop to country to soft indie-rock to funky blues. Listen to the ‘Stateside’ podcast as well as full versions of new songs by the featured West Michigan artists.
Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
The “John Mellencamp Show” closed out the weekend, part of the Local Spins wrap-up of Grand Rapids concerts which includes everything from a video montage of an impressive Doors tribute to photo galleries of national tour stops by wildly popular artists, new and old.
Album Releases · Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows
Turning heads with their unique, bluesy sound that gives new meaning to ‘power trio,’ West Michigan’s The Strapping Owls launch an eight-state tour behind their new recording in Saugatuck on Friday. Learn more about this unique band and listen to their music at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Audio · Podcasts
February’s Local Spins segment on Michigan Radio’s “Stateside” gave listeners statewide a taste of Kalamazoo cellist/hip hop artist Jordan Hamilton, Grand Rapids’ funky Melophobix and pop/folk-rock’s Max Lockwood. Enjoy the podcast, read more about the featured artists and listen to their songs at Local Spins.
Album reviews · Upcoming shows
The mid-January roundup of releases features the brand new, long-awaited full-length debut by Melophobix and five other Michigan gems. Check out the reviews, listen to tracks from each of the featured artists.
Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Upcoming shows
With the year’s biggest bar night just ahead, Stefan Paul from Melophobix and Hannah Rose Graves stopped by Local Spins on WYCE to chat about a one-two punch of Wednesday night concerts. The radio show also debuted new regional tracks and previewed a Christmas album by Melophobix, The Legal Immigrants and Gunnar & The Grizzly Boys.
Concert reviews · Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
Blues, rock, folk, Americana, funk, pop, ‘crabgrass’ and more: Local Spins’ week-in-review photo galleries cover the gamut of live music from Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo to Spring Lake. And you’ll only find these images at Local Spins.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
On his farewell tour, Elton John kicks off a week that also features AOK, The Main Squeeze, Harry Lucas, Fiesta Caribena, Jack Russel’s Great White, Indie Fest 18, Dave Bruzza, Monty Alexander and more. And check The Big List to see how you can win free tickets to one of four different Intersection shows this week or to see Alexander at Fountain Street Church.
Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
This week’s edition of Local Spins on WYCE not only kicked off the radio station’s Fall Fund Drive, but was chock full of new music from a diverse blend of Michigan artists. Listen to the full podcast, check out the Vulfpeck video that’s generating a huge buzz.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
Relocating to Grand Rapids from Traverse City, James’ band plays Founders on Saturday and he previewed new tunes on the radio show, which also debuted tracks by several Michigan artists. Check out the in-studio video and listen to the radio show podcast.
The lengthy New Orleans jazz and funk showcase at Meijer Gardens on Wednesday boasted an impressive roster of Big Easy faves: Trombone Shorty, Galactic, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, New Breed Brass Band and special guests. Check out the review of what was described as the most fun night ever at Meijer Gardens, plus a robust photo gallery.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
One of GRandJazzFest’s biggest crowds ever pumped up Rosa Parks Circle on Saturday for a diverse assortment of regional and national stars. Check out photos and a video.
The August Local Spins segment gazed northward, showcasing three Northwest Michigan artists aiming to make a splash with their new albums. Listen to the “Stateside” podcast and new songs by Davis, Allen and Brotha James.
Summer Concerts · Upcoming shows · Videos
Although Grand Haven’s multi-venue Walk the Beat fest won’t fire up this August, Saturday’s ‘Keep the Beat Alive’ concert will rock the city with popular acts from past events, including Jake Kershaw, Melophobix, Cosmic Knot and Dave Palmer. See the full schedule at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
The Grand Rapids group which plays a Saturday night showcase in Kalamazoo lit up this week’s radio show, which also boasted new tracks by Brutes, Flint Eastwood, The Deputies, Overdrive Orchestra, Shawn Butzin and more. Listen to the podcast, watch a video of The GravesTones’ in-studio performance.
