Artist Spotlights · Audio · Videos
Relocating to West Michigan from Chicago, the Traverse City-bred band plays Founders Brewing on Thursday and Grand Armory Brewing on Oct. 20 while creating new songs for its sophomore album. Check out the Local Spins profile of this emerging band, along with video and audio samples of its unique music.
Album reviews · Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows
The Traverse City singer-songwriter and ‘Voice’ star has released the Steve Berlin-produced ‘The Way Back Home’ and will now play several Michigan dates, including Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo. The Local Spins interview and album review.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
Third Eye Blind, FlyLite Gemini, Jordan Dodson, The War & Treaty, Insane Theatre, The Adams Family, Yuri and more pump up the week. Plus, take advantage of two ticket giveaways: Mastodon and Paula Cole, only at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
West Michigan’s live music week was surprisingly hectic for early October, from outdoor shows to indoor fireworks of the rock ‘n’ roll variety — much of it flaunted in Local Spins photos.
Led by Black Francis, the Pixies’ tour stop at 20 Monroe Live on Saturday night was an epic, rapid-fire affair that didn’t disappoint exuberant devotees. The Local Spins review and photo gallery.
Album reviews · Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows · Videos
The much-respected Earthwork Music artist is releasing her new recording exclusively for Michigan fans first, playing a series of album-release shows in Grand Rapids, Spring Lake, Kalamazoo, Ann Arbor and beyond. Get the back story behind this new project, check out a Local Spins review of the album, listen to the first single.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows · Videos
The influential rock band brings its North American tour to Grand Rapids’ 20 Monroe Live on Saturday. The Local Spins interview with “frustratingly cool” guitarist Joey Santiago.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
Gojira helps get the week started and you can win tickets to the show from Local Spins. And there’s more on the docket: Mushroomhead, Tommy Castro, Mike Gordon, Cousin Avery, Cabildo, Lambo and the Red Flannel Festival. See all of this week’s live music picks on The Big List.
The groundbreaking indie-rock faves made their 20 Monroe Live debut for a sold-out crowd a memorable one, trotting out the unexpected and, eventually, their biggest hit. The Local Spins review by Troy Reimink, with a photo gallery by Anthony Norkus.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Local Spins’ week-in-review photo galleries covered a lot of fan-frenzied ground inspired by national and local stars at venues indoors and outdoors, from Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo.
With performances by Yolonda Lavender, The Bootstrap Boys and Michigander, the second-year festival drew big throngs of ArtPrize visitors to the downtown pedestrian bridge over the Grand River. Check out the images.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Vintage Gigs
This week’s edition of Local Spins on WYCE featured an in-studio performance by Kyle Rasche and Dana Jackson of Chain of Lakes, plus the premiere of new tracks by Bigfoot Buffalo, Deerfield Run, Organissimo and Cameron Blake. Listen to the full podcast and watch the video.
In what was also a homecoming for West Michigan native and bassist Johnny Bradley, Clark electrified an appreciative crowd with his bluesy rock attack at 20 Monroe Live on Tuesday night. See what critic Ricky Olmos had to say in the Local Spins review, with photos by Anthony Norkus.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
Bonamassa, Maria Muldaur and William Elliott Whitmore get a week started that also boasts big shows by Wayland, Lipstick Jodi, Organissimo, Deerfield Run, Mustard Plug, Nick Fradiani and more. Get the full lowdown and Under-the-Radar Picks in the Local Spins Concert Guide.
Concert reviews · Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
Audiotree Music Festival lit up the day and night in Kalamazoo, with national tour stops by hard-rocking stars in Grand Rapids and a harvest festival in Rockford. Browse all of the colorful, action-packed images at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
The teen guitar sensation made an impressive in-studio visit for Local Spins on WYCE, which this week also premiered tracks by Cruelworld, The Autumnatic, Desmond Jones, Hominian, Jukejoint Handmedowns, Gifts or Creatures and more. Listen to the podcast and check out Cruelworld’s new video.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
The Grand Rapids band rocked the studio for Local Spins on WYCE, which also boasted new tracks by Cosmonaut, May Erlewine, Cosmic Knot, The B-Side Growlers and more. The Local Spins Artist Spotlight story, podcast and video.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
Many will say there’s absolutely nothing like it. Anywhere. The summer-ending festival outside Lake City last weekend drew more than 2,500 people for innovative performances, upbeat fellowship and much more. Relive some highlights at Local Spins, along with an extensive photo gallery.
Headliners SuperDuperKyle, King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizzard, Lizzo and Twin Peaks will be joined by local acts hi-ker and Less is More, plus other national touring acts. See and save the full weekend schedule.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
Iconic singer Gordon Lightfoot gets the week started, with LZ Michigan/Freedom Cruise, Rockford Harvest Festival, Luke Winslow King, Jessica Hernandez, Weyes Blood, a Fleetwood Mac tribute and more on tap. Plus, see how you can win tickets to see Pegi Young at the Tip Top or Scott Stapp at 20 Monroe Live (part of the Make America Rock Again tour).
Concert reviews · Kalamazoo · Weekend Photo Gallery
The last blast of summer (officially) arrived in many musical forms and in a slew of different venues across West Michigan. And Local Spins has the photos to prove it.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
More than 2,500 attendees reveled Friday in dozens of performances by Michigan stars on opening day of this weekend festival on Earthwork Farm. Watch the video highlights and check out the photos, only at Local Spins.
Features · Kalamazoo · Photos · Videos
The well-known Kalamazoo musician heads a fund-raising effort to expand the homey space for area and visiting musicians alike, a way to keep music and the arts alive. Explore the back story, watch a video and browse a Walnut House photo gallery.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
This weekend’s summer-ending festival outside Lake City shapes up as the biggest, most heartwarming assemblage of musicians yet. Get the lowdown on the three-day Harvest Gathering with a full list of performers.
Commentary · Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
The 44th annual celebration of folk and roots music outside Remus last weekend was another camaraderie-filled, upbeat festival for the ages. Soak up the recap and photo gallery — only at Local Spins.
Touring behind the album, “Villains,” the California rockers delivered wall-to-wall crowd-pleasers at a sold-out 20 Monroe Live in Grand Rapids on Sunday. The action was captured in a Local Spins review and photo gallery.
Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
This week’s in-studio guest performed during the show, which also featured the on-air debut of songs by Wala Gum, Lipstick Jodi, Paradise Outlaw, The War Between and much more. Check out the back story of this emerging band and listen to the show podcast.
Artist Spotlights · Live at River City · Podcasts · Videos
The rambunctious blues and rockabilly duo brings its fiery music to River City for a blistering in-studio session and interview. Get the back story about the band, listen to the podcast, watch the video and browse the photo gallery.
The Traverse City trio’s new Sony Masterworks album was the most-played regional recording on WYCE last month, with other local faves close behind. Check out the chart, videos of the Top 5 acts and a list of new regional releases.
Teen phenoms Jake Kershaw and Sammy Melchi are among the slate of performers for Heritage Guitar’s party commemorating a century of Gibson in Kalamazoo. See the full lineup and read more about Saturday’s special celebration.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
September gets rolling with Voodoo Glow Skulls, Seth Glier, Lauren Duski, Greg Nagy, Tom Hymn, the Freedom Flag Benefit and anniversary celebrations in Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo and Holland. Check out all of this week’s live music picks on The Big List.
The week leading up to Labor Day gave West Michigan fans funk, country, soul, hip hop, folk-rock and more. Relive the moments in robust Local Spins images.
Local Spins’ annual Labor Day column spotlights the financial plight of local musicians. For many, the unseen time and labor behind a band’s typical road gig means working 10-12 hours for $10 to $15 a day. Most bands will do it happily time and again. But is that fair?
The Grand Rapids singer-songwriter celebrates release of “Tom Hymn’s Tangerine Dream” with an ensemble of musical pals at Fountain Street Church next week. Read the back story, watch the video of his in-studio performance for Local Spins on WYCE.
The award-winning Grand Rapids indie-soul/rock foursome made it official on Wednesday: They’ve broken up but still plan to release an album they recently completed.
Breaking music news · Summer Festivals
Organizer Cameron Strong cites lack of ticket sales and financial considerations for forcing him to scrap the mid-October event. He vows Cold Creek Campout will be back in 2018.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
The week that ends with Labor Day boasts tour stops by international superstars and summer series wrap-ups. Get the lowdown on The Big List, where you can also win tickets to see Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
The late August round-up of live music features concerts and festivals from Grand Rapids to the lakeshore to Brooklyn — from Emma Loo & Sam’s cutting-edge spectacle at The Pyramid Scheme to Michigan music on the farm. Check out all the images in Local Spins’ week-in-review recap.
Billy Strings, Borns, The Accidentals, The Crane Wives and other Michigan acts have found a national spotlight in varying ways as of late. Musician Ralston Bowles and Local Spins publisher John Sinkevics debate the merits and pitfalls of ‘making it’ in music in the second episode of the RSVP Music Chat podcast.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
For the 11th year, this mid-Michigan music festival will unfurl on a working organic vegetable farm with weekend sets by Breathe Owl Breathe, The Whiskey Charmers, Appleseed Collective and many more regional acts. Learn more about how this charming festival has grown and download the full weekend schedule on your smartphone.
The New Jersey newgrass ensemble was joined on its buoyant return to Meijer Gardens by Vermont’s Twiddle, ensuring a night of positive energy and boundless talent. Pore over the Local Spins review and photo gallery from Monday’s show.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
Railroad Earth & Twiddle get things started, with the Shoreline Jazz Fest, Conrad Shock, Emma Loo & Sam, Holler Fest and a new Quinn & Tuite’s concert series in the mix. Check out all the live music selections and Under-the-Radar Picks for the week.
Concert announcements · Summer Festivals
HopCat and WYCE will join forces to present live music on downtown’s Blue Bridge Sept. 29-30 with sets by Michigander, The Great Ones, Watching for Foxes, Bootstrap Boys, Yolonda Lavender and more. See the full schedule at Local Spins and learn what’s changed for this year’s ArtPrize song contest.
Australian guitarist John Butler himself concedes he doesn’t know what kind of music his band plays. On a muggy August night, Butler and his bandmates wowed a sold-out Meijer Gardens crowd with genre-melding, instrumental magic. Read the review and ogle the photo gallery at Local Spins.
Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
On the same day of its much-ballyhooed Sony Masterworks CD-release, the Traverse City trio lit up the Grand Rapids radio studio with new songs. Watch the video, read the story and listen to the radio podcast, which also features new local and regional music.
In their Meijer Gardens appearance on Thursday night, the Canadian twin sisters lived up to their billing as critically acclaimed pop stars and delivered a crowd-pleasing set as rain swept in. Read the Local Spins review and browse the photo gallery.
Michael Franti & Spearhead once again inspired a sold-out Meijer Gardens crowd to dance and sing for the duration of a steamy two-hour set of reggae/rock/rap infusion on Wednesday. Check out the review and photos at Local Spins.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
The 15th anniversary festival boasts sets by Greensky Bluegrass, Billy Strings and Charles Bradley & The Extraordinaires, and features a supporting cast of national and regional acts. Read why bands love this annual celebration so much and see the full performance schedule for the weekend.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Big crowds cheered The Soul Syndicate, Grasshoppah, Jake Kershaw, Jimmie Stagger, The Crane Wives, Michigander and all manner of Celtic bands in a week that embraced summer’s musical magic. Browse the images at Local Spins.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
This weekend’s festival boasts performances by Zoso, Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers, May Erlewine, That 1 Guy, G-Snacks, Brotha James, Andrew Sturtz, Biomassive and more. Get the lowdown on this northern Michigan event at Local Spins.
