Artist Spotlights · Audio · Videos
In a wide-ranging conversation, Mikeyy Austin expresses his love of black culture, Lansing, tacos and more. Learn more about this emerging hip hop artist and listen to his music in this Local Spins Artist Spotlight by writer Enrique Olmos.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
The Grand Rapids band premiered a new single for Local Spins on WYCE, which also premiered tracks by DJ Blaze, Medicinal Groove, Dawning, Emma A. Ward, WOOTS, Biomassive and more. Get an update on The Bootstrap Boys and listen to this week’s full radio show podcast.
Albums that Changed the World · Audio · Playlists · Videos
As recognizable as any current West Michigan rapper, Jeff “JRob” Robinson today reveals the three albums that shaped his own music. Check out and listen to his his picks, along with an artist at the top of his current playlist and JRob’s latest single.
Features · Live-Stream Concerts · Videos
From hip hop’s Mikeyy Austin to rock’s Patty PerShayla, the Grand Rapids recording studio has helped fill the pandemic void of live music by providing constant, creatively produced live-stream shows and videos starring Michigan acts. Learn more about Dogtown, watch recent videos and browse a photo gallery at Local Spins.
Album Releases · Album reviews · Audio
This early May roundup of new regional releases spotlights rock, hip hop, jazz, folk and more. Check out the reviews, listen to samples of music from all of the featured albums.
Concert announcements · Summer Festivals
After a one-year hiatus, the two-day electronic/pop festival at Belknap Park will also feature Gryffin, Madeon, Big Wild and Chelsea Cutler. Learn more about August’s Breakaway and July’s Upheaval festival, both being held at the Grand Rapids park, with organizers hoping COVID capacity restrictions will be eased.
Concert announcements · Summer Concerts
Regional stars The Bootstrap Boys, Patty PerShayla, Molly, Last Gasp Collective, Cabildo and more will perform outdoors at the Grand Rapids nature center starting in June. View the full schedule at Local Spins.
Audio · Features · Playlists · Videos
On what’s become an annual holiday for many, today’s special playlist from Agri-Med and Local Spins reveals the most popular cannabis-inspired tunes as chosen by readers in our 4/20 contest. Peruse the diverse 20+4 list and see which four readers won smoking-cool gift packs.
Breaking music news · Concert announcements · Summer Festivals
The brand new, two-day festival hosted by Dobro whiz Mark Lavengood will limit capacity and feature sets by ‘a stronghold of West Michigan greats’ playing on a site with plenty of space for social distancing. Get details, ticket information and the full lineup at Local Spins.
This late March roundup of West Michigan releases ranges from rock and hip hop to synth-pop and folk. Check out the Local Spins reviews and listen to tracks from each featured artist.
Announcements · Contests · Features · Videos
West Michigan’s Agri-Med & Local Spins announce a contest asking readers for their favorite pot-flavored tunes to be revealed in a playlist on April 20. Plus, we feature several local artists who’ve paid tribute to marijuana in song and video.
The lion’s share of local and regional releases populating the February Hot Top 5 represent reentries in the chart due to WYCE’s celebration of past Jammie Award winners and potential nominees. Listen to tracks from all of this month’s featured artists, plus view a list of new local additions to the WYCE library.
Concert reviews · Local Spins Rewind · Photos · Videos
Thousands filled The Intersection on Valentine’s Day 2020 to celebrate the best regional music of the year with impressive performances on three stages. With this year’s edition of the Jammie Awards indefinitely postponed due to COVID, browse highlights from last year’s big night in words, photos and video.
Breaking music news · Upcoming shows
Due to COVID, dozens of performers and thousands of fans won’t gather for the annual WYCE event that would have taken place Friday at The Intersection. But a revised Jammies is still possible. Get the lowdown at Local Spins.
If not for COVID, Grand Rapids radio station WYCE, Michigan artists and their fans would be getting ready for the Jammie Awards this week at The Intersection. Instead, let’s revisit last year’s big winners, with updates on what they’ve been up to — along with new music from some of them.
The first Michigan albums roundup for February hails releases from the Upper Peninsula to Detroit to Grand Rapids. Get the Local Spins take on these recordings and listen to tracks from each featured artist.
It’s Feb. 2, which means it’s time to honor groundhogs, “underground” musical gems we’ve dug up and, of course, that classic Bill Murray movie that most of us have replayed again and again and again. Check out this unique soundtrack at Local Spins.
Playlists · Top 10 Lists · Videos
This week’s Local Spins playlist comes courtesy of the staff at Grand Rapids’ Wealthy Theatre, spotlighting songs that represent past concerts, theatre productions and popular film screenings. Listen to the tracks and get an update on the status of Wealthy Theatre at Local Spins.
Audio · Playlists · Top 10 Lists · Videos
The Cedar Springs brewery that’s regularly hosted live music until COVID-19 shut things down offers up this week’s playlist, including many regional stars who’ve played the brewpub. ‘We’re missing everyone terribly,’ says owner David Ringler, who aims to restart entertainment as soon as possible.
Artist Spotlights · Audio · Playlists
Over the last couple of months, Local Spins has debuted impressive music by new or little-known Michigan artists who deserve more attention. Here are 12 tracks by them that you shouldn’t miss, from Mark Huizenga to L. Supreme to Colt Snuffer & The Dead Horsemen.
Live-Stream Concerts · Upcoming shows
Sunday’s online birthday benefit will feature West Michigan hip hop stars Orlando, Kyd Kane, JRob, Dayz, Callab and others, raising money for targeted aid to the homeless. Learn more at Local Spins.
Local Spins Rewind · Photos · Videos
Held at The Intersection exactly one year ago today, the 11th annual benefit for the Wheatland Music Organization boasted more than a dozen performances on two stages in spite of wintry weather. Revisit the event in words, photos and video.
Led by an ambitious tribute to David Bowie, Local Spins has culled some of the best music videos created by West Michigan artists over the past few months for this January roundup, including videos featuring Jordan VanHemert, Rick Chyme, Wuzee and others. Watch all of the videos and get the back story on Mike Dodge’s impressive video homage to Bowie.
Album reviews · Audio · Videos
The first regional albums roundup of 2020 spotlights artists from Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo to Traverse City, and covers a broad spectrum of genres. Get the lowdown on these recordings and sample tracks from all of the releases.
Local Spins Rewind · Playlists · Videos
The No. 2 story of the year was produced in quarantine by Local Spins writer Troy Reimink, who concocted a mid-March, elbow bump-worthy soundtrack for the viral apocalypse. Check out this uber-popular post and listen to the COVID-inspired tracks he assembled.
Features · Top 10 Lists · Videos
Part II of Local Spins’ spotlight on the year’s best releases — from Lianne La Havas to Fontaines D.C. to Tame Impala to Fiona Apple to Earth Radio — focuses on music selected by West Michigan musicians and Local Spins readers. Check out their picks; listen to the songs.
The raging COVID-19 pandemic didn’t stem the 2020 tide of new music — some inspired by the crisis as well as other events in a tumultuous year. Local Spins writers reveal their faves from a most unusual year.
Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
The Christmas Day edition of Local Spins on WYCE kicked off with new holiday tracks and fresh music by Michigan artists, then revisited the best of 2020’s guests on the radio show. Listen to the podcast at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Features · Videos
Ericka “Kyd Kane” Thompson will succeed Marcel “Fable the Poet” Price in the three-year role — the first black woman and first gay/lesbian person to hold that title. Learn more in this in-depth profile of a dynamic performer by writer Nick Moran at Local Spins.
Welcome to a pre-Christmas flurry of new releases by Michigan artists, from instrumental flair to hip hop to rock to funk to singer-songwriter charm. Check out today’s reviews and listen to tracks from each album.
It’s true 2020 didn’t unfold as expected. But West Michigan bands remained active, reflected in spectacular calendar images by Local Spins photographers. And, yes, the calendars optimistically feature 2021 music festival dates. Order them now; it’s the perfect, Michigan-centric holiday gift.
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.
Playlists · Top 10 Lists · Videos
Veterans Day is Wednesday, so this week’s playlist at Local Spins unfurls some classic tracks that commemorate those in the military and the sacrifices they’ve made in spite of the politics involved. Watch the videos, listen to the Top 10 on Spotify.
For this Election Day playlist, Local Spins asked a panel of musicians to cast their ballots for emerging black artists with great potential from the region who deserve a brighter spotlight. Browse their picks, listen to the music.
Concert announcements · Concert reviews · Photos
Halloween weekend amid 2020’s coronavirus crisis is not what West Michigan has come to expect, with closed venues and canceled shows. But Grand Rapids hip hop artists still fired a final musical salvo at Studio Park on Friday. Get the holiday weekend update, see what shows are still happening and browse the photo gallery at Local Spins.
This week, Local Spins spotlights six new releases by Michigan artists, from hip hop to roots rock to folk, and featuring a couple of collections perfect for haunting your neighbors on Halloween. Check out the reviews, listen to songs from each of the releases.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
Although the weather is limiting outdoor performances these days, Local Spins has scared up a smattering of spine-tingling Halloween week shows and socially distanced costume parties to consider.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows · Videos
A pair of milestone events top this week’s concert calendar roundup at Local Spins. Learn more about Callab’s new recording and see what else is cooking in the full roster of shows on the Big List.
It’s been a productive 2020 for many West Michigan bands debuting new music, with some of them releasing captivating videos to accompany those tracks. Check 10 of them out in this mid-October roundup, from The Accidentals to Brother Wolf to Patty PerShayla & The Mayhaps.
From Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo to Port Huron, this week’s batch of album reviews covers a half-dozen new releases from Michigan artists covering a wide spectrum of genres. Learn more about these recordings and listen to tracks from each of the featured artists at Local Spins.
Features · Music and Technology · On Campus
With the pandemic limiting live music opportunities, Worry Club and other emerging acts have turned to the Quadio app to connect with each other and up their social media reach. An in-depth report from Local Spins, with profiles and music showcasing four college artists from Michigan.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
PerShayla opens up about her new power trio for Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuted tracks by Barrel Bones, Trifocal, Blushing Monk, The Messenger Birds and more. Read Artist Spotlight feature, listen to the full radio show podcast.
Artist Spotlights · Audio · Hot Top 5
The Grand Rapids ensemble’s latest project joins releases by Earth Radio, Crispin Campbell and Cameron Blake as new entries on the September chart. View the chart and listen to tracks from each featured album at Local Spins.
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.
Album reviews · Audio · Breaking music news · Local Spins Exclusives
The inaugural collaboration between a Grand Rapids-bred rapper and award-winning Kalamazoo producer is a COVID- and quarantine-inspired, hip hop masterpiece. It debuts today at Local Spins along with a review of the recording.
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.
Playlists · Top 10 Lists · Upcoming shows
Ladysmith Black Mambazo, The Verve Pipe, Waldo, The Bad Plus and more impressive, eclectic acts played Grand Rapids’ Listening Room before the COVID shutdown. Here’s a sampling of the venue’s favorites. Check out the videos and the Spotify playlist at Local Spins.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
Mid-September and the final week of summer offers intriguing live music options across West Michigan, from outdoor decks to drive-in shows. Make your plans with the show lowdown at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
A busy September lineup of concerts after a mostly quarantined summer kicked off over Labor Day weekend with small but vibrant shows from Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo. Browse the photo galleries at Local Spins.
This year’s Labor Day column on the plight of musicians comes amid what may be the worse year ever for live music due to COVID-19. See how bands are struggling to survive and how they view the future in this commentary.
