Playlists · Top 10 Lists · Upcoming shows
The Les Claypool-led Primus plays a sold-out Grand Rapids show on Saturday. Naturally, Local Spins writer and Primus buff Troy Reimink figured it was the perfect time to roll out his Primus Top 10. Check out the videos and Spotify playlist.
In this spotlight on the lakeshore, read how top performers from several open-mic sessions will play a special showcase this weekend — and share in ticket proceeds from the event. Get insights into this popular open mic and watch some video highlights.
Concert announcements · Summer Concerts
In another Local Spins roundup of outdoor summer concerts to brighten your weeknights, see the full lineups and schedules for Garage Bar’s block parties, West Michigan Jazz Society’s Monday Jazz in the Park performances and John Collins Park shows.
Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
From national tour stops by pop, hip-hop and bluegrass acts to jam-packed local showcases, West Michigan’s week of live music kept May hopping. Check out the images and videos at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Kalamazoo · Local Spins on WYCE · Upcoming shows · Videos
The veteran artist releases his CD at Louie’s Back Room Friday night, previewing the show during Local Spins on WYCE, which also featured new tracks by Mid-Life Crisis, Willamena, J. Snell, Jake Kershaw, Mark Lavengood, Tail From the Crypt and more. Read the feature story, listen to the podcast, watch the video of Koenigsknecht’s in-studio performance.
Breaking music news · Guest Column · Top 10 Lists
Michigan’s popular Celtic/world music outfit was the most-played local act on WYCE last month. See what other bands made the list and browse a roundup of some of WYCE’s unique, weekly specialty music programs.
Local Spins presents another roundup of free community concerts being held outdoors across West Michigan this summer, starring regional acts. Get the lowdown on more than a dozen series here.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
The weekend boasted fan-revving concerts in venues from Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo. Check out all the images in Local Spins photo galleries.
Concert announcements · Summer Concerts · Videos
The Moxie Strings, The Moonrays, Michigander, Miss Atomic, Slim Gypsy Baggage, The Muteflutes, The Zannies, Bigfoot Buffalo, Ralston Bowles and more are all part of the July and August concerts. See the full lineup at Local Spins.
Festivals · Upcoming shows · Videos
Starting Thursday, the 10-day event boasts bands from West Michigan, the east side of the state and more, with poetry slams and films also part of the festival that oozes intimacy and an all-ages vibe like Grand Rapids’ The DAAC. Get details in this Local Spins story.
Breaking music news · Concert announcements · Local Spins Exclusives
Local Spins celebrates its 5th birthday in May with an album featuring 12 regional acts, special shows and giveaways, an inaugural street party and a Rockford Brewing IPA brewed especially for Local Spins. Plus, there’s an opportunity for readers to officially join the Local Spins family. Check out the complete schedule of May events.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
The week got rolling with Blues Traveler in Kalamazoo and just kept rocking, from Shorts Brewing’s 13th anniversary party in Bellaire to The Pyramid Scheme’s two-day sixth anniversary bash. Check out all the images at Local Spins.
Concert announcements · Summer Concerts · Videos
The Lake Leelanau hot spot will up the ante this summer with a series of Thursday and Sunday shows that spotlight regional bands such as The Accidentals, The Crane Wives, The Ragbirds and The Go Rounds. Get the full lineup and details at Local Spins.
Summer is right around the corner and communities across West Michigan once again are hosting free weeknight concerts featuring regional acts, from Lindsay Lou & The Flatbellys to The Crane Wives to Union Guns and more. Get out your calendar and scan the lineups for seven of these concert series at Local Spins.
Festivals · Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
It was a week of familiar bands in new locations, familiar events with new faces, and new events with familiar faces. Check out all the concert images — from Hunter Hayes on Thursday to Flint Eastwood on Sunday night — along with the “Grand Rapids: A Musical Day in the Life” video at Local Spins.
Breaking music news · Photos · Videos
No arrests were made, but one Record Store Day celebration was cut off by the authorities in mid-stream. Most of the day across West Michigan, however, shaped up as a vinyl lover’s dream. Check out the video and a Local Spins photo gallery.
After a decade at Grand Rapids’ Wealthy Theatre, this year’s festival will take place Saturday at The Orbit Room, with Papa Vegas headlining a five-band bill that also includes Lipstick Jodi and The JetBeats. See the full schedule at Local Spins.
Flaming Lips frontman Wayne Coyne led the usual assault of balloons, confetti, streamers, a unicorn, psychedelic lights and, of course, a super-sized bubble to engage and energize an audience that was more than ready to revel. Read the Local Spins review and check out the frenetic, colorful action in photos.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows · Videos
The attention-getting rocker raised in Alpena and making waves in Detroit talks with Local Spins about the ’emotional mess’ of songs from her new album and the struggles of touring. She plays The Pyramid Scheme on Saturday. Read about this emerging Michigan artist, listen to her music and watch one of her videos.
Record Store Day 2017 in West Michigan will be chock full of special performances, special releases, special discounts and a special love for indie record shops. Get the lowdown on Saturday’s performances and what’s happening at some of these stores.
Looking for a jam or an open microphone in Kalamazoo? Growing opportunities for musicians, spoken-word artists and stand-up comics abound in Kalamazoo, with an emphasis on community, collaboration and cross-promotion.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Like a basket full of multi-colored eggs, the week leading up to Easter mixed things up impressively on West Michigan’s music scene from Kishi Bashi’s wild display to STS9’s psychedelic electronica to rock’s Crystal Garden led by Boyd Tinsley of the Dave Matthews Band. Plus, Marc Cohn, Sweet Water Warblers, Parachute. Check out all the images at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
Playing a sold-out Wealthy Theatre on Friday night, the Minneapolis band showcased its impeccable songcraft and infectious, harmony-laden approach. Read the review and browse the photo gallery at Local Spins.
Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
The 135th edition of Local Spins on WYCE boasted an in-studio performance by retro pop/rock’s The JetBeats, plus a spotlight on a bevy new local and regional tunes. Listen to the podcast here.
Concert announcements · Summer Festivals
The 14th street party taking place June 3 will also feature sets by Bedrock, Cabildo, Molly from Vox Vidorra and students from Triumph Music Academy. Get the rest of the lowdown in this Local Spins story.
Artist Spotlights · Live at River City · Podcasts · Videos
The side rock ‘n’ roll project of friends from several Grand Rapids bands has produced a fresh, ‘goofy but serious’ debut album. Read the Local Spins story about this unusual group, watch the video and listen to the podcast.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
The week and weekend rocked the Grand Rapids area in a variety of ways with a bevy of national and regional bands, including a feel-good benefit for Access of West Michigan — all captured in images and videos at Local Spins.
Announcements · Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
The fourth edition of this unusual August contest in this lakeshore community boasts thousands of dollars in prizes for winning acts, with this year’s festival limited to 25 bands and 25 solo artists. The deadline for registration is April 28. Get details here.
Concert announcements · Summer Festivals
In what may be Founders’ biggest street party yet, the June 17 festival will tap a mix of regional and national stars, along with plenty of beer. Scroll down for concert videos of the featured bands and check out details about this year’s Founders Fest.
Artist Spotlights · Playlists · Upcoming shows · Videos
The much-respected, Leland-based indie-rocker and painter has added Grand Rapids guitarist-producer Tommy Schichtel to his “very special” band, with two Michigan performances as part of a spring U.S. tour. Read about this much-respected Michigan artist, listen to Sprout’s music and check out his playlist of favorite songs.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
The classic rock guitarist brought his virtuosic talents to 20 Monroe Live on Sunday night, closing out a week that also featured a host of dynamic shows — from EDM to heavy metal — in Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo. Check out the Peter Frampton review and all the images at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Music on Campus · Photos
Concerts, workshops and speeches at the weekend event in Grand Rapids focused on “valuing unconventional expression and promoting community dialogue.” Check out the concert recap and photo gallery at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
The Grand Rapids rock band returned with some special guests to Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuted new tracks by Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers, Chris DuPont, Lazy Genius, Mark Lavengood and more. Watch the video, listen to the radio podcast.
Album Releases · Audio · Videos
With Joe Hertler and band unveiling an album today and kicking off a U.S. tour, Local Spins takes a gander at the new collection and fresh releases from other notable Michigan bands. Check out the reviews and listen to samples of the new music.
Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
The weekend got started early with a piano prodigy and continued with soul, rock, pop, folk, blues and a bevy of young, emerging West Michigan acts. Check out the photos and videos at Local Spins, from Chilly, Blues & Brews at The B.O.B. to bluegrass at Bell’s Brewery in Kalamazoo.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
Spanning the east and west sides of the state, this week’s edition of Local Spins on WYCE spotlighted pop, rock, folk, blues and more. Listen to the podcast, watch the video, read the story.
Concert announcements · Summer Festivals
Hoxeyville’s 15th anniversary celebration heats up mid-August in the Manistee National Forest with an impressive blend of local, regional and national acts. Tickets are on sale now. See the full lineup for this year’s festival.
With 32 bands playing two stages over two nights, this weekend’s festival at West Ottawa High School meshes experienced groups with up-and-coming high school acts. See the full schedule at Local Spins, from Lipstick Jodi to Fried Egg Nebula to Midwest Skies.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
Sunday’s seven-hour showcase of West Michigan talent drew hundreds of people to The Intersection to show support for Ralston and Cindy Bowles and help pay their medical bills. Check out the Local Spins story, video highlights and a photo gallery.
Leaning on its latest album, “Schmilco,” as well as the milestone “Yankee Hotel Foxtrot,” Jeff Tweedy and band’s return to State Theatre proved to be a special night. Check out the Local Spins review and photo gallery.
Concert reviews · Local Spins at SXSW · Photos · Videos
The Go Rounds, Flint Eastwood and other Michigan acts put an exclamation point on Michigan’s House South by Southwest 2017, with Local Spins hosting a musicians’ roundtable, too. Check out the photo gallery and videos.
Features · Upcoming shows · Videos
The Sunday concert raising money for the couple’s medical bills features a who’s who roster of regional artists, including Troll for Trout, Larry McCray, The Soul Syndicate, Drew Nelson, Hannah Rose Graves, Fauxgrass and more. See the full schedule and details about this special event.
Features · Local Spins at SXSW · Photos · Upcoming shows · Videos
Tuesday’s Michigan House lineup at Austin boasts loads of potential. Read about the performances and a special Local Spins roundtable that will stream live. Meanwhile, Traverse City’s The Accidentals continue to live up to the hype at SXSW. Read about their first show for 2017 in Austin and check out the premiere of a new Rick Chyme & Nixon video featuring The Accidentals.
Photos · Weekend Photo Gallery
Musical diversity: West Michigan flaunted it with a prog-pop legend, a Memphis rapper, an L.A. folk-soul duo, a Michigan jazz organ trio, a Kalamazoo hard-rock fave and more, all captured in Local Spins images. Check out the recap.
Features · Local Spins at SXSW · Photos · Videos
With SXSW panels probing Michigan initiatives on creativity, innovation, equity and more, Michigan House turned the gym at an Austin church into a Mitten State mecca with Michigan beer, a visit from Grand Rapids Mayor Rosalynn Bliss and music from Seth Bernard. Check out the videos, story and photos, only at Local Spins.
Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Upcoming shows · Videos
The March 10 edition of the radio show also featured new music from The Accidentals, Alex Mendenall, The Go Rounds, Stef Chura, Michigander and Frontier Ruckus. Check out the podcast, video and story.
Announcements · Audio · Breaking music news · Local Spins at SXSW
To mark their return to South by Southwest, Traverse City’s The Accidentals released the first single from their upcoming new album today. And five other Michigan acts headed for a Michigan House-Austin showcase have recorded fresh songs for SXSW and ArtPrize. All six premiere here at Local Spins. Listen to the songs, read the back story.
Touring behind its latest album, “The Tourist,” the Alec Ounsworth-led Clap Your Hands Say Yeah made folks wonder why they’ve “slept on this band for the past four albums.” At least, that’s the take of Local Spins reviewer Troy Reimink. Check out the review and photo gallery from Thursday night’s concert at The Pyramid Scheme.
Breaking music news · Guest Column · Top 10 Lists
What were the Top 5 most-played local and regional acts for February at WYCE-FM? What new local and regional albums have been added to the on-air rotation? What exactly is a listener-supported community radio station? How can listeners become programmers? Get answers to all these questions and more in this Local Spins guest column by station manager Quinn Mathews.
Features · Festivals · Local Spins at SXSW · Upcoming shows
Creative Many, Michigan House and Local Spins are back in Austin for the giant SXSW conference this weekend, shedding an even brighter spotlight on Great Lakes State artists, products and innovators. See which Michigan acts will be joining them and why.
