Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
This week’s concert photo gallery and video roundup also features Stone Soup & The Broken Teeth’s album-release, Toth, Leland Blue and Paradise Outlaw. Browse the images 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.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
DJ Faren Strnad kicks off a week that also features Small Glories, Garcia Peoples, Toth, Cousin Avery, Paradise Outlaw, Pink Sky, How to Live Together, Leland Blue, Henhouse Prowlers, Lady Ace Boogie’s birthday bash and much more. And check out this week’s ticket giveaways.
Announcements · Breaking music news · Local Spins on WYCE · Upcoming shows
Michigander, Lipstick Jodi, JRob, Patty PerShayla, Last Gasp Collective and 20 other acts are on tap for WYCE’s mammoth Feb. 14 event. Check out the full roster of performers and the reaction of nominees chosen to play the 21st annual awards show.
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.
The band which plays The Pyramid Scheme Friday night plans to follow up its high-energy 2019 EP with a full-length album later this year. The Local Spins Artist Spotlight on Birdie Country, with videos.
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.
The No. 2 story in Local Spins’ countdown of the top stories of 2019 was a sad one: The vibrant leader of Southwest Michigan’s Dacia Bridges Project was found dead outside Traverse City in August, sparking tributes from across the globe.
Artist Spotlights · Features · Upcoming shows
Maintaining mental health and dealing with “a lot of pressure” represent real challenges for touring musicians, especially road warriors such as The Accidentals and Billy Strings, who plays a sold-out New Year’s Eve show in Grand Rapids. In Part II of its interview with Billy Strings, Local Spins delves into the issues that have become a growing concern for many bands.
Audio · Local Spins Rewind · Videos
The ‘top secret’ September project that had 15 vocalists gathering to record the Fleetwood Mac song at Third Coast Recording in Grand Haven was one of Local Spins’ most-read stories of 2019. Get the back story on this special project and watch the video at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
The final weekend of 2019 boasted radiant, jubilant concerts with regional stars playing venues from Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo — captured in images and video at Local Spins. Revisit the musical action.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows · Videos
The Kalamazoo-based rock band plays its final show of 2019 at The Pyramid Scheme on Saturday night, as it eyes a new studio album in 2020 and continues to take devoted fans on a psychedelically powerful pop-rock journey. The Local Spins interview, plus videos.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
The holiday week keeps the live music rolling with Jesse Ray & The Carolina Catfish, The Bootstrap Boys, Coldville, Steve Talaga, Rachael & Dominic Davis and more on tap. Browse all of this week’s live music picks.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
The Grand Rapids band debuted new songs in an in-studio performance for Local Spins on WYCE, which also premiered tracks by American Hotel System, Lybrandt, Rob Mickey, The Disruption and more. Get the back story on this new West Michigan group, watch the video, listen to the radio show podcast.
Local Spins presents another December roundup of new releases by Michigan artists — from rock to Americana to blues and more — with audio samples from all of them.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
The Gasoline Gypsies kick off a holiday-hued week that also features Pink Sky, Tammi Savoy, Full Cord, Roosevelt Diggs, American Hotel System, Sullivan King, Earth Radio and more. See this week’s featured concerts, plus the Under-the-Radar Picks.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
West Michigan skated into mid-December with holiday fare, rock ‘n’ roll and more — from Turkuaz to Wayland to Sons of F.U.N.K. to The Bootstrap Boys — captured in images and videos (as usual) at Local Spins. Browse the photo galleries, videos and show recaps.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows
The Grand Rapids band plans an energetic ‘wave of emotion’ at Saturday’s Pyramid Scheme show. The in-depth and revealing Local Spins interview with lead songwriter Brady Stablein, with an exclusive performance video.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows · Videos
After ‘an eventful year,’ the Port Huron-bred, Detroit-based rock and roots band plays Local Spins’ new Michigan Mondays series in Grand Rapids next week, with new music set for release by the group in 2020. Learn more about the band, get details about Monday’s show and watch a video at Local Spins.
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.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
This week’s Local Spins Artist Spotlight showcases the “character stories” of the Rockford singer-songwriter. Plus, Local Spins on WYCE debuted new tracks by Stevie Reidz, Fukushima Daisies, Medicinal Groove, Last Gasp Collective and more. Listen to the podcast, watch the in-studio video.
Artist Spotlights · Audio · Podcasts
The new “Michigan Music” compilation featuring 33 Great Lakes State artists and impressive recordings by Billy Strings and Sandra Effert take center stage in the statewide December segment. Bend an ear to the podcast and the featured songs, plus get the back stories about these artists at Local Spins.
For the third year in a row, a new album featuring singer May Erlewine has jumped to the top of the Local Spins Hot Top 5 chart at WYCE-FM, with Borr McFerrin and Jack Droppers making their first appearance. Check out the chart, listen to songs and watch videos from all of the featured artists at Local Spins.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
Bill Kirchen’s ‘Honky-Tonk Holiday’ starts a week that also features Laith Al-Saadi, Livingston Taylor, Cousin Curtiss, Gunnar & The Grizzly Boys, The Concussions, The Fukushima Daisies, a West Michigan Blues Society benefit and more. And see how you can win tickets to see The Bad Plus.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
The Grand Rapids songwriter played Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuted new tracks by Political Lizard, Stone Soup & The Broken Teeth, One Blown Speaker, Hannah Rose Graves, Asamu Johnson and more. Listen to the radio show podcast and check out the in-studio video 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 · Photos · Videos
Sav and Katie of The Accidentals, Megan Slankard and Stephie James delivered a moving, personal and intimate “Time Out” showcase of their music on a night that also featured the official release of a new Michigan-focused double-album for a good cause. Relive the evening in this Local Spins review, with photos and video.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
The first Michigan Mondays show at Listening Room with members of The Accidentals kicks off a party-up holiday week in West Michigan that also features concerts by Henhouse Prowlers, Mike Mains, Luke Winslow-King, Merkules and much more. Browse this week’s featured live music selections and the always-intriguing Under-the-Radar Picks.
Sold-out, jam-packed shows — national and local — filled venues across West Michigan in mid-November, including the International Wine, Beer and Food Festival at DeVos Place. Ogle all of the the action-filled images at Local Spins.
Breaking music news · Features · Upcoming shows · Videos
The double-album with 30-plus tracks by Mitten State artists raises funds for the Bowles family. It gets released Monday at Grand Rapids’ Listening Room when members of The Accidentals and two other songwriters play a new Local Spins concert series. Listen to songs from the album, get details about this special Michigan-centric project at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
Brent Shirey of Valentiger unfurled new songs on-air for Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuted music by Catfish & The Man, Aspen Jacobsen, Edison Kitt, Jack Droppers and more. Peruse the story, podcast and video at Local Spins.
Watch the inventive video exclusively at Local Spins — the latest from Jack Droppers & The Best Intentions. And learn more about Droppers’ upcoming new role as director of Calvin University’s Student Activities Office, which oversees the university’s concert series and other programs.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows · Videos
The St. Joseph multi-instrumentalist is more than halfway through his challenging beer tour. He’s playing Rockford Brewing tonight. Learn the back story about St. Joe Jack’s wild tour and watch a video from one of his recent performances.
Local Spins writer Ricky Olmos attended David Bazan’s weekend concerts at Listening Room and he spent time with the noted singer-songwriter. This is his report, with photos by Kendra Petersen-Kamp.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
The Grand Rapids singer and musician released her new EP on Friday, previewing songs for the radio show which also debuted music by Overdrive Orchestra, Pretoria and more. The story, the podcast and video at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows
The acclaimed and controversial singer-songwriter plays twice this weekend at Grand Rapids’ Listening Room, with screenings of the documentary about him, “Strange Negotiations,” before each show. The Local Spins interview with director Brandon Vedder about this incredible film and the difficult journey of the artist that it portrays.
The ‘Mexo-Americana’ group and singer-songwriter Heather Maloney earned a warm welcome from fans who braved early season snow to attend Wednesday night’s concert at the downtown venue. The review and photo gallery at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Audio · Podcasts
There are compelling stories behind each of the West Michigan artists featured on this month’s edition of Local Spins on Michigan Radio’s “Stateside.” Listen to the podcast, get the back story on these three acts.
The Grand Rapids singer-songwriter topped a chart of most-played local albums on WYCE that also features new releases by Last Gasp Collective, May Erlewine and The Skinny Limbs. See the full chart, listen to songs by all of the featured artists and browse a list of new regional releases.
Led by Jeff Tweedy, the band made the most of its 20 Monroe Live debut on Monday as it tours behind a new album while giving a nod to Wilco classics. The review, photo gallery and set list at Local Spins.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
A busy week of West Michigan concerts includes Thank You Scientist, Willy Porter, Tunde Olaniran and more. And check the roster of bracing Under-the-Radar Picks for the week.
Formed by Grand Haven’s David Palmer, Five Strand Fusion recently selected Ada’s Skylar Mayton as its lead vocalist via an ‘American Idol’-styled audition. Get the back story on this emerging young band, which hopes to play its first concert next year.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
Rings of Saturn gets Halloween week started, with Nobuntu, Blue Water Ramblers, Michigan-I-O, The Crane Wives, Andreas Kapsalis and some horrifically good Under-the-Radar Picks on tap, too. Check out all of this week’s live music selections at Local Spins.
Halloween parties galore filled the weekend, including 20 Monroe Live’s wild Monsters Ball, but the week also featured Michigan tour stops by San Fermin, Trey Anastasio, Luke Bryan, Ben Folds, TAUK and more, including an album-release show by Borr McFerrin. The photo galleries at Local Spins.
The piano-pounding phenom brought his always-unique, one-of-a-kind spectacle to State Theatre in Kalamazoo on Wednesday. Get the concert recap, photos and set list at Local Spins.
Announcements · Kalamazoo · Upcoming shows
Performers have until Nov. 1 to apply, with the top three ensembles and solo artists taking part in a Jan. 10 play-in contest for two paid slots at the March festival. Get details and a link to the online application at Local Spins.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
Los Straitjackets, J.S. Ondara, Jon Langston, Lazer Lloyd, The Japanese House, Erin Zindle, a Folk Alliance gathering and tons of Halloween parties are also on the agenda this week. The Under-the-Radar Picks also feature a rescheduled Luke Bryan show, an album-release show and the closing event for ArtPrize’s Project 1.
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.
Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
The Oct. 18 edition of Local Spins on WYCE — on the last day of the Fall Fund Drive — was full of new regional music, including John Sanger, Stone Hands, Dean Madonia, Jeremy Ensley and much more. Listen to the podcast at Local Spins.
Album reviews · Audio · Videos
Fall brings with it some frightfully good new regional music, including the latest from Michigan-bred bluegrass hero Billy Strings, a popular hip hop collective, fetching fiddle music and scary-cool Halloween gems. Check out the reviews, sample the new music at Local Spins.
