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.
Local Spins Live · Podcasts · Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
More than 20 bands and thousands of festival-goers will descend on Shagbark Farm in southern Kent County for an expanded three-day celebration of regional music. See the full weekend schedule and save it on your smartphone to take along.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
Things ramp up the second week of August with Michigander & Benjaman James, JRob & Convotronics, Jake Kershaw, Sawyer Fredericks, Circa Survive and a Westside Weekend of rock. Get the lowdown on all of this week’s live music picks at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
National acts as well as local stars packed venues from Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo over the past week, captured in vibrant images at Local Spins.
Album reviews · Audio · Videos
opping the early August batch of new releases is the Sony Music Masterworks debut for a popular Traverse City trio, plus fresh recordings from an eclectic bunch of West Michigan artists. Check out the reviews, listen to samples of the new music.
Detroit hosted the fifth annual MoPop Music Festival at West Riverfront Park over the weekend, drawing thousands for national and regional stars over a sun-splashed weekend. Browse the images at Local Spins.
The rock bands’ co-headlining summer tour made a stop Monday at a sold-out Meijer Gardens amphitheater. Check out the show recap and photo gallery at Local Spins.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
The Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival, Andrew McMahon, The Accidentals, Kalamazoo Ribfest, Fat Guy Fest and more also grace this week’s live music picks. And check out the Under-the-Radar Picks, along with this week’s ticket giveaway for a show at 20 Monroe Live.
Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
The 150th episode of Local Spins on WYCE featured performances by a popular Grand Rapids songwriter and his band, and plenty of new music from Michigan-bred artists. Get the back story on John Sanger, watch the video of his band’s in-studio performance and listen to the radio podcast.
The longtime indie-rock idols heated up Meijer Gardens on Thursday with a bouncy mix of old and new material in a show that included an opening set by Grand Rapids’ own MERTLE. The review — via a “texting” conversation between the reviewers — and photo gallery at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
Two of Michigan’s most intimate and distinctive music festivals starring regional acts took place last weekend, described as “truly amazing,” picturesque and magical. Check out the photo galleries and weekend reviews at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Features · Upcoming shows · Videos
With beat-up piano Shondra in tow, Adam Weiner and his Philly band return to Tip Top Deluxe this week, riding a reputation as one the best live bands in the country. Read the Local Spins interview; view videos of this emerging rock outfit.
The innovative singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist’s return to Meijer Gardens on a picturesque night was enhanced by an opening set from phenom Esperanza Spalding. Bird also had to overcome “a little commotion” in the crowd, with fans yelling at others to sit down. Get a recap via the Local Spins review and photo gallery.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
The Beach Boys, a “Women Rock” Picnic Pops tribute, Mike Mains, Farm Block Fest and The Menzingers also fire up the week. And check out the splendid Under-the-Radar Picks.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows · Videos
The fifth annual, two-day MoPop music festival held along the Detroit River kicks off Saturday with a mix of national and regional stars. Check out the full schedule and see what Michigan acts have in store for fans.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Sultry July weather didn’t hinder Michigan’s music train, which steamed through country stars in Jackson County, regional stars at Arcadia Ales in Kalamazoo, indie-folk along the water in South Haven and rock ‘n’ roll in Grand Rapids and more. Browse all the images and read the recaps at Local Spins.
Separated by 47 miles, two highly revered rootsy acts — one leaning toward folk and soul, the other toward alt-country and Southern rock — ignited capacity crowds at outdoor West Michigan venues on Friday, amid some wet weather. Read the reviews and browse the photo galleries.
Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
The July 21 episode of the Local Spins on WYCE radio show boasted two in-studio performances and lots of new tracks by Michigan artists. Listen to this week’s podcast and watch the videos.
With an engaging jam-band vibe, the 62-year-old piano whiz and his Noisemakers band made the sweltering Grand Rapids stop on their national tour a memorable one. Check out the review and photos at Local Spins.
The sold-out crowd of fans at Meijer Gardens on Wednesday embraced the heat and their humor-laden Canadian heroes, who even spent time at The Pyramid Scheme after the show. Check out the concert recap and photo gallery at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins Live · Upcoming shows · Videos
Led by guitarist and singer-songwriter Tom Wall, the Grand Rapids-based super-group delivers distinctive music (tuned to 432 Hz), all aimed to ‘make the world a better place.’ Learn the back story about this unusual band and watch the video of its in-studio performance this week.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
This unusual Michigan music festival on Lake Michigan’s biggest island officially kicks off Thursday with a star-studded lineup of regional acts. Get the lowdown at Local Spins.
Costello’s first appearance at Meijer Gardens since 2011 focused heavily on tracks from his 1982 classic “Imperial Bedroom,” but also trotted out some earlier hits and unearthed some rare gems. Browse the photos, read the review.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
A busy week at Meijer Gardens kicks off with Elvis Costello, but there’s plenty more on the docket: A Grand Rapids Symphony tribute to Chicago, The Piano Cottage Rocks, Riversedge Summer Series, Albert Lee, plus other gems. See all of this week’s highlighted concerts, plus the Under-the-Radar Picks and the On the Horizon calendar through July.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Another busy summer week of live music saw everything from blues to rock to folk stretching from Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo to Hastings. Check out the images from the Kalamazoo Blues Festival, Grand Rapids on Tap, Mitski, Steel Panther, The Accidentals, Falling in Reverse, David J, Tim Reynolds, May Erlewine and much more.
This special Local Spins “Sunday Feature” spotlights Kalamazoo recording engineer and producer Ian Gorman’s ‘super comfy’ recording studio that’s attracted a bevy of Michigan’s musical stars. And check out the videos and photos.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
With a back story that involves Saddam Hussein’s piano and gospel roots, this Albion duo and backing band are creating a buzz with passionate performances and a new soulful, upbeat album. Plus, the debut of new music by Cosmic Knot, Gifts or Creatures, The Out of Favor Boys and more. Read the story, listen to the podcast, watch the video of The War & Treaty’s in-studio performance.
The singer and multi-instrumentalist rolled out familiar hits and brand new material for a sold-out amphitheater on a sticky summer night. Read the review and browse the photos from Sheryl Crow’s third appearance at Meijer Gardens.
Concert announcements · Summer Festivals · Videos
The Native Howl, The Gasoline Gypsies, Watching for Foxes, Desmond Jones, Biomassive, The Change and more play this “beautiful” northern Michigan site July 21-23. Get details and ticket links, and watch videos of some of the festival’s featured bands.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
Relive the weekend: Northern Michigan performer and musician Brotha James, aka Jeremy Reisig, provides his take on one of the state’s most beloved music festivals, with photos by Local Spins photographer Anna Sink.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
This week’s national tours are balanced by shows from Michigan-bred acts B-Side Growlers, Michigan Rattlers, Theatre Bizarre Orchestra, KJ & The Good Time Family Band, Comments of Aether, a Picnic Pops Abba tribute and more.
Commentary · Concert reviews · Top 10 Lists · Videos
Local Spins asked its reviewers to choose their favorite shows of the first half of the year, and their picks covered a broad range of bands, genres and venues. Check out the top picks, from The Flaming Lips to Trombone Shorty to Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers, along with some videos.
The band’s tour kickoff at 20 Monroe Live in Grand Rapids on Friday trotted everything from “Blister in the Sun” to new gems like “Memory.” (Review, photos)
The Grand Rapids folk-rockers topped semi-finalists in fan voting, winning $5,000 and a performance slot at JBL Fest in Las Vegas. Read their reaction to winning and check out the video that sent them into first place.
Breaking music news · Hot Top 5 · Videos
The Local Spins compilation boasting live tracks by 12 West Michigan artists racked up the most spins among regional acts at WYCE-FM in June, followed by solo CDs from Mark Lavengood and Dan Rickabus. And see what new regional music has been added on the air.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
Los Lobos, Michael Franti, Donna the Buffalo and a passel of regional stars will light up this sold-out northern Michigan music festival this weekend. See what’s in store for Blissfest 2017 and see the full lineup for this year’s three-day event.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
The Independence Day holiday doesn’t mean taking time off from live music, with Tuesday Evening Music Club kicking off on the Fourth of July, followed by much more to occupy your week. See all of the live music selections for the week, plus some amazing Under-the-Radar Picks.
The holiday weekend brought fireworks of the musical and pyrotechnic variety to Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo and Lowell, from bluegrass to soul to rock ‘n’ roll. Check out the images at Local Spins from special events at The Pyramid Scheme, Bell’s Brewery, Kent County Fairgrounds and Ah-Nab-Awen Park.
Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
The final Local Spins on WYCE radio show for June also featured tracks from Detroit bands Flint Eastwood, Talking Ear and Saajtak, as well as music from West Michigan acts Flushed, The Extra Texture, Ty Beat, Parlor Voice, Mark Lavengood and Hey Marco! Listen to the full podcast.
