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.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows · Videos
The second weekend of Electric Forest kicks off today, which makes this the perfect time to look back at a wondrous Weekend 1 from Rothbury in photos, stories and reports from Local Spins and publications across the country. Check out the photo galleries and see how other media outlets view this Michigan festival.
Artist Spotlights · Traverse City · Upcoming shows
Moving from Nashville back to the Great Lakes State earlier this year after releasing a ‘painful’ and poignant album inspired by the late Pat Carroll of Kalamazoo, the artist inspired by West Michigan’s music scene plays Fountain Point Resort on Thursday evening. Read the profile, watch the video of his single and listen to his music.
Artist Spotlights · Live at River City · Podcasts · Videos
The long-running Grand Rapids band of buddies made a stop at River City Studios for a thought-provoking interview and a compelling, intimate performance. Watch the video, listen to the podcast.
Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
A sun-splashed weekend of festivals wrapped up a lively week of music from Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo. Check out the photo galleries and videos at Local Spins.
Commentary · Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
Local Spins writer Troy Reimink returned to Rothbury for the first time in eight years. And what he saw at Electric Forest both impressed and amused him, a testament to the festival’s “magical legacy” — and “circus of overstimulation.” Check out this columnist’s jocular and insightful take on this Michigan festival and browse more colorful photos from ‘The Forest.’
Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
To gear up for a new EP and July tour, Angela Gail and Jeffrey Jacob of In the Valley Below appeared on this week’s Local Spins on WYCE, which also featured tracks by Michigan Mafia, Alexander Lynch, Fauxgrass and more. Listen to the podcast, watch a video of In the Valley Below’s recent performance at Founders Brewing.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
With 40,000 wildly adorned attendees flooding Double JJ Resort on Thursday, the West Michigan music festival dodged rain for a celebratory explosion of national and regional stars. Read the recap, browse the photo galleries and watch a highlights video from Day 1 at Electric Forest 2017.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows · Videos
With sets by Madcat Midnight Blues Journey, Fauxgrass, May Erlewine and more, this fest has expanded for 2017 with a beer tent, children’s area and lots of info about ‘healing our waters.’ Check out the Saturday schedule at Local Spins.
Concert announcements · Kalamazoo · Summer Festivals
The September event at Arcadia Creek Festival Place in downtown Kalamazoo expands to two days for 2017, leans toward hip hop and math rock acts, plans to add another ‘special headliner.’ Get details about this year’s Audiotree Music Festival and see who else is in the lineup.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows · Videos
Joe Hertler, The Accidentals, Vox Vidorra and Flint Eastwood are ready to join the wondrous party that is Electric Forest. It unfurls over two weekends in West Michigan led by String Cheese Incident, My Morning Jacket and Bassnectar to create an un-Earthly musical vibe. Check out the schedule for Michigan’s contingent, only at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
Two major music festivals unfurled south of Grand Rapids on the same weekend with distinctly different vibes: Country music’s B93 Birthday Bash in Martin and the eclectic Buttermilk Jamboree in Delton. Browse photo galleries from both events that took place just 14 miles apart.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
The sold-out street party drew thousands to downtown Grand Rapids Saturday with regional and national stars playing a super-sized stage. Get the recap, browse the photo gallery and watch video highlights of Founders Fest at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
Hannah Rose & The GravesTones, The Accidentals, Jill Jack, The Change, Peter “Madcat” Ruth, Less Is More, Robin Connell & Kathy Lamar, The Mickeys and more ignited buoyant crowds on Day 1 of the Michigan music festival south of Grand Rapids. Get the recap, photo gallery and video highlights at Local Spins.
Concert announcements · Summer Festivals
With May Erlewine, Oh Brother Big Sister, Olivia Mainville, Watching for Foxes, The Change, Seth Bernard Trio, workshops and much more on tap, the festival east of Gaylord has expanded for 2017. See the band lineup for this unique August event.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
New York’s Slambovian Circus of Dreams leads a lineup of more than four dozen acts playing several stages this weekend in a scenic setting south of Grand Rapids. Get the schedule and details at Local Spins.
Audio · Breaking music news · Hot Top 5 · Videos
The Grand Rapids bluegrass musician’s latest solo album soared to WYCE’s top spot, with the Jim Shaneberger Band appearing on the chart for the third month in a row. Listen to music from all five artists who made May’s Hot Top 5 and check out the list of new local releases.
Breaking music news · Features · Videos
Released last Friday as part of school project, the music video already has garnered 20,000-plus views and support from The Accidentals, who will sing the National Anthem at a Detroit Tigers game Tuesday. Watch the young students’ much-acclaimed new video and read the back story about this project at Local Spins.
Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
Live music that cut across a wide spectrum: That was the M.O. for the week that was across West Michigan. Check out the photo galleries and videos from more than a dozen concerts, only at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
The reggae-fueled band from the Lansing area made its WYCE debut with a summery, in-studio performance during a show that also boasted music by Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers, Blanca Luz and other regional gems.
The Alabama indie-soul ensemble uncorked a “Sea of Noise” — and energetic, horn-fueled funk — for an approving audience on a stellar Friday evening. Read the review and browse the photo gallery.
At 6:30 tonight, the annual benefit for Amnesty International will rock Wealthy Theatre Annex with Lazy Genius, Lipstick Jodi, Blanca Luz, The Extra Texture, KFG Poetry and more. Get the lowdown on the Friday night event at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Podcasts · Upcoming shows · Videos
Now based in Grand Rapids, Angela Gail and Jeffrey Jacob are gearing up for a new EP in July with a three-week residency at Founders Brewing. Read the back story about this intriguing band, listen to the radio podcast and watch a video from In the Valley Below’s first June show in Grand Rapids.
Concert announcements · Upcoming shows
After a hiatus, the Division Avenue Arts Collective will host a series of concerts at 333 Rumsey St. SW in Grand Rapids while continuing to search for a permanent location. Get the lowdown on the DAAC’s future and see how you can aid the cause.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows · Videos
Grand Haven’s first-ever Pride Fest on Sunday will boast sets by Lipstick Jodi, Olivia Mainville, Abigail Stauffer and Jack & The Bear aimed at promoting the idea that “love wins in the end.” Get the lowdown and the schedule at Local Spins.
Summer Concerts · Summer Festivals · Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
From Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo, live music lovers had plenty of options to heat things up. Check out the photo galleries and links to Local Spins reviews.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
Picture-perfect weather greeted The Crane Wives, ConvoTronics, Cabildo, JRob and more as thousands filled the streets Saturday outside Bistro Bella Vita in Grand Rapids. Browse the photo gallery, watch the video highlights.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
The weather couldn’t have been better on opening day of Grand Rapids’ Festival of the Arts and musicians responded with diverse, audience-pleasing sets. Check out the Local Spins photo gallery and video.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
Members of Grand Rapids’ Latin-infused Cabildo turned up their Cumbia-fueled charm for Local Spins on WYCE, which also featured new music from Barbarossa Brothers, Jared Sjoblom, Hollywood Makeout and The Underground Circus. Read the story, listen to the radio podcast.
Concert announcements · Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
Hosted by The Go Rounds’ Graham Parsons, the 10th anniversary “reunion” in late July in the Keweenaw Peninsula boasts performances by Vox Vidorra, Kansas Bible Co., Seth Bernard, Turbo Pup, Mark Lavengood and more. See who else is playing this year’s festival and get details at Local Spins.
In the first of three straight sold-out shows at Bell’s Brewery, the Michigan-bred progressive bluegrass heroes on Thursday proved their roots are still strong in Kalamazoo. Check out the review and photo gallery from this traditional summer kickoff which has starred Greensky Bluegrass for more than a decade.
Commentary · Summer Concerts · Top 10 Lists
As Meijer Gardens gets set to kick off its 15th season of summer concerts this weekend, Local Spins takes a gander at some of the best shows ever held at the amphitheater. See what made the Top 10 roster and read the original concert reviews. What are your favorites?
Commentary · Festivals · Upcoming shows
This weekend’s Grand Rapids festival will have fewer stages and performances, a revamped layout and plenty of eclectic acts from which to choose. We’ll help on the choosing part: Local Spins once again has asked its writers and some West Michigan musicians to pick “The Best of Fest.”
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Rocking stages from Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo to Howell, bands playing venues large and small over the holiday weekend gave Michigan’s music devotees plenty to celebrate. Check out all of the resplendent images at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
Sunday’s fifth anniversary celebration outside HopCat in downtown Grand Rapids drew hundreds of West Michigan devotees — and 5K runners — for a Memorial Day weekend treat. Ogle the Local Spins photo gallery and video highlights.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming Album Releases · Upcoming shows
Hannah Rose & The GravesTones, Big Dudee Roo and Jesse Ray & The Carolina Catfish play outside HopCat Grand Rapids late Sunday afternoon, following the HopCat Extra Time 5K Race. The Local Spins CD featuring tracks by 12 West Michigan artists is available digitally online today, with physical copies available at Sunday’s event.
Festivals · Upcoming shows · Videos
The day-long, all-ages show featuring nearly 70 bands will be headlined by Grand Rapids post-hardcore heroes La Dispute. The nationally acclaimed band will give a special performance of its album, “Wildlife,” in its entirety.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
The cozy Memorial Day weekend festival along Lake Michigan will boast sets by The Giving Tree Band, Melophobix, Fauxgrass, Roosevelt Diggs, Nicholas James & The Bandwagon and many more. See the full schedule at Local Spins and save it on your smartphone to take with you.
Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
From The Intersection’s first ‘Rock the Lot’ show of 2017 to one of the outdoor season’s first Michigan festivals in St. Joseph to an annual Bob Dylan tribute at Founders Brewing Co. in Grand Rapids, live music turned up the volume this weekend. Check out the colorful images and videos at Local Spins.
Concert announcements · Kalamazoo · Summer Concerts
The new outdoor venue will host four one-day outdoor “festivals,” from June to September, on a new stage in Arcadia Ales’ cozy patio space next to the Kalamazoo River. Check out the lineups, with videos of some of the featured bands.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
Yes, the Grand Rapids garage rock band made waves by performing on the Grand Lady Riverboat and on radio for Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuted new tracks by several Michigan acts. Listen to the radio podcast, watch the video of the band’s in-studio performance and browse the photo gallery from its water-borne album-release show.
Concert announcements · Summer Concerts
The Accidentals, SuperDre, The Crane Wives, The Great Ones, Cabildo and more are part of the free Thursday night series. See the full lineup at Local Spins, with videos of the featured artists.
