Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Thanksgiving weekend gave West Michigan music fans plenty to be grateful for, including some jam-packed homecoming shows in Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo. Check out the show recaps and photo galleries, only at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
The Grand Rapids outlaw country act performed two new songs during Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuted tracks by JRob, A&E, May Erlewine, Blue Soul Express and more. Read the story, listen to the podcast.
In what’s become a Thanksgiving tradition, Local Spins asked some West Michigan musicians to cite what they’re thankful for and the artists who inspire them — and they include Seth Bernard, Rick Chyme and many more.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins Live · Videos
The Grand Rapids singer was joined by guitarist Justin Wierenga and bassist Justin Avdek for this week’s edition of Local Spins Live on radio. Watch a video of the trio’s in-studio performance, a preview of their farewell show Wednesday night at SpeakEZ Lounge.
Artist Spotlights · Breaking music news · Upcoming shows
Chance Jones and Lazy Genius will combine forces at Long Road Distillers to raise money for beloved barber Jazz Johnson, who suffered a serious back injury and faces mounting bills. Read about Burge, his current acting projects and the upcoming reunion show — only at Local Spins.
Announcements · Breaking music news · Upcoming shows
The shows featuring regional stars kicks off in December, with The Crane Wives, Brian Vander Ark and Channing & Quinn also set to perform in the cozy venue. Get the full story and upcoming concert schedule at Local Spins.
Breaking music news · Features · Videos
Local Spins rewind: The top story of the past week profiles Level Up, a sprawling S. Division Avenue studio and rehearsal space that already has Ultraviolet Hippopotamus, Desmond Jones, Watching for Foxes and more laying down tracks for new projects. Watch the video, check out photos of the studio.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
The weather has changed dramatically, so heat up with these hot images from another week of sizzling live music across West Michigan — from local gems to touring titans, from final flourishes to dynamic debuts.
Album reviews · Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE
The Michigan trio stopped at WYCE this week as part of a CD-release tour that touts new songs with Celtic, rock, classical, bluegrass and pop hues. The show also debuted new music from Jesse Ray & The Carolina Catfish, Lapdogs, Conrad Shock & The Noise and more. Listen to the podcast, watch the video, check out the story.
Breaking music news · Features · Videos
The sprawling S. Division Avenue studio and rehearsal space already has Ultraviolet Hippopotamus, Desmond Jones, Watching for Foxes and more working on new projects. Read the Local Spins story, watch the video, browse the photo gallery.
Local Spins Live · Upcoming shows · Videos
The fast-growing international wine, beer and food sampling event starts Thursday in Grand Rapids and boasts three days of local and regional music, with 20,000 expected to attend. Get details and the full entertainment schedule at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows · Videos
With a blend of rock/folk/pop, Langhorne Slim opens a series Thursday that will now also feature Los Lonely Boys, Pokey LaFarge, Margo Price and Marc Cohn. Read the Local Spins interview with Langhorne Slim and get series details.
Announcements · Upcoming shows · Videos
The concert hall next to The B.O.B. opens in February with a wide range of bookings: The Verve Pipe, Lauryn Hill, Pop Evil and more. Tickets go on sale Friday. Check out the first slate of concerts booked for the venue.
The always-energetic Avett Brothers brought their national tour to Grand Rapids, unfurling a 28-song, career-spanning affair for a non-capacity but enthusiastic audience. Check out the review, browse the photo gallery, scan the set list.
Album reviews · Audio · Videos
his November round-up of new local and regional releases covers the retro-rock of The Concussions and The JetBeats, plus fresh music from Diff & Dudley, Plain Jane Glory and Four Lincolns. Check out the reviews and listen to some samples of music from the new albums.
Amid the vitriol of this year’s presidential campaign, Local Spins presents an Election Day playlist for the ages. Go vote, then relieve your stress and immerse yourself in some great songs via video and Spotify. And do some balloting of your own by suggesting additions to this soundtrack.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
An all-star cast of Michigan musicians is paying tribute to icon John Prine in a week that also saw high-profile shows by The Mainstays, The Accidentals, Rusted Root and more. Check out all the colorful, action-filled images from West Michigan’s week of live music.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
The fifth year of a unique Grand Rapids house show festival has unfurled this weekend in four Eastown neighborhood homes, boasting a diverse mix of acts and performances. Check out the Local Spins story and photo gallery.
The uber-popular fall house show fest returns this weekend to “enrich” Eastown in Grand Rapids, but only in living rooms and an attic (not basements). Get the story, artist lineup and the full schedule of intimate shows at Local Spins.
he week and the weekend in music was mostly about Halloween, with bands diving into the macabre madness with vigor. Check out the Local Spins photo galleries of concerts, parties and more.
Breaking music news · Upcoming shows
The award-winning atmospheric folk-rock band from Grand Rapids called it “a difficult announcement,” but says it’s time to “close out this chapter.” Read the story at Local Spins and revisit a video from a recent in-studio performance.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
The Grand Rapids band which unleashes its sophomore album on Sunday at The Pyramid Scheme cranked it up on the radio show, which also debuted new songs by Murder Party, Ars Nova, The Sauce, Cartorson, Trash Hounds, The Boulevard Billies and more. Read the story and listen to the podcast at Local Spins.
Halloween falling on a Monday just gives folks an excuse to extend the weekend and party like zombies four nights in a row. Local Spins has your guide to West Michigan’s haunting musical maelstrom of fun. Make your plans by checking out this mega-roster of Halloween bashes.
The debut of the Cold Creek Campout on property near Fremont featured nine West Michigan bands bringing their “A-game” on Saturday, playing for a small but enthused cadre of fans. Check out the photo gallery from this new autumn music festival.
October’s autumn splendor came in the form of an eclectic blend of West Michigan concerts by touring national acts and much-beloved local stars. Check out all of the images at Local Spins.
Breaking music news · Upcoming shows
Forced to move from Hart earlier this week due to a miscommunication regarding use of the property, the organizer has shifted the first-time festival to eight acres of rural land outside Fremont. Check out details of this free event and a full schedule at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
A songwriting challenge produced many of the tracks that appear on Wicks’ new album, which officially gets released Sunday. He performed with guitarist Eric Boyea for Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuted new tracks by regional artists. Listen to the full radio podcast.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
For this week’s concert roundup, Local Spins chose a mix of regional acts and those performing at Founders Brewing Co.’s 13th annual Harvest Party in Grand Rapids, Spring Lake’s Seven Steps Up and Bell’s Brewery in Kalamazoo. Check out the images in these photo galleries.
Live at River City · Podcasts · Videos
The Grand Rapids indie folk-rock ensemble talks about its growth as a band and performs in-studio for the latest edition of HopCat presents Local Spins Live. Check out the story, listen to the podcast and watch the video from this intimate interview and concert.
In recent months, some of West Michigan’s most promising bands have turned their songs into visually fetching videos. Here are nine to ogle, courtesy of Local Spins, from rock to hip hop to harmony-hued folk.
The week in photos includes a big ArtPrize viewing party, some national tour stops, CD-release shows and rousing sets by regional acts from Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo: Skillet, Beats Antique, Chris Robinson Brotherhood, Suzies, Trash Hounds, Mustard Plug, The Legal Immigrants, The Whigs, The Suffers.
A ‘hell of a party’: Ten music entries won $1,000 each in this year’s separate ArtPrize song contest, including Robin Connell, Rachael Claire Eid-Ries and Jessey Jansen. See the full list of this year’s winners and listen to their songs.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE
The Grand Rapids guitarist for Hannah Rose & The GravesTones is at work on a riveting new solo project. He performed for Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuted some ArtPrize-related songs from Caffein, Four Lincolns, Brian Criner and more.
Acclaimed Americana artist Jason Isbell, touring behind his latest album, “Something More Than Free,” left the DeVos Performance Hall crowd mesmerized on Monday night. Read the review, browse the photo gallery and check out the set list at Local Spins.
Weather conditions weren’t ideal for the debut of this two-day festival on a downtown pedestrian bridge, but those ArtPrize visitors who braved the elements were rewarded. Check out the recap and photo gallery at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins Live · Local Spins on WYCE
One artist is trying to make waves in country music. The other is drawing attention for dreamy, pop-tinged soft rock. Local Spins spotlighted each of them on the radio this week. Listen to both radio podcasts, with plenty of new regional music to soak up.
Local Spins occasionally rounds up festivals and events, interesting people and intriguing musical projects at West Michigan colleges and universities. Today, we spotlight a few of those coming up at Ferris State University, Grand Valley State University and Grand Rapids Community College.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows
Room Full of Elephants has taken its roots-based rock music to the next level, with members pushing comfort levels to create “a new different sound.” The band makes its SpeakEZ Lounge debut in Grand Rapids on Wednesday. Get an inside look at this up-and-coming lakeshore act.
From Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo, Middleville to Grand Haven, weekend — and mid-week — warriors were on the march musically, from rock to hip hop to folk to punk and beyond. The action, of course, was captured in images at Local Spins.
Features · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Upcoming shows
Saturday’s day-long event at Grand Armory Brewing showcases musical talent, poetry and more. Learn more in the Local Spins on WYCE podcast with Ladyfest performers and the debut of new tracks by regional artists. And check out the full Ladyfest schedule at Local Spins.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
Being staged this year at Sesquicentennial Park in Middleville, Saturday’s day-long festival will feature sets by Seth Bernard, Big Dudee Roo, Megan Dooley, Peter Madcat Ruth and more. Local Spins has the full schedule for Saturday’s event.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows
The Michigan indie-rocker has tasted some success while experiencing the joy — and grueling trials — of his trade. His house show tour makes a Grand Rapids stop this week as he eyes returning to a Detroit studio to record a new album. Read the back story behind this engaging songwriter and musician.
Commentary · Festivals · Photos
The 16th Earthwork Harvest Gathering unfurled last weekend outside Lake City with what many call a “magical celebration” of Michigan’s collaborative music scene. Musician/singer Megan Dooley describes why it was so special in this Local Spins column, with images by Anna Sink.
Heaters, Flint Eastwood, The Go Rounds, Kari Lynch, JRob and other regional acts will play the free Sept. 30-Oct. 1 event on the pedestrian bridge over the Grand River. See how it all came together and check out the full performance schedule.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
The week started with legendary performers NRBQ and Los Straitjackets at a packed Tip Top and continued with a bevy of stars and festivals: Julien Baker, Of Montreal, Billy Talent, Over the Rhine, Michael Dause & Band of Bros, plus the Fallasburg Fall Festival and Arcadia Ales’ anniversary. Check out all the images and a video at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
The first volley of the three-day festival was an impressive one, with more than two dozen performances and an unparalleled musical spirit. Check out the story, video highlights and photo gallery. Check out the recap, video highlights and photo gallery from the opening salvo of this beloved northern Michigan music festival.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
With a new album, “Fall Away Blues,” the Kalamazoo musicians are touring the Midwest, stopping by Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuted new tracks by Public Access, Michael Robertson and more. Check out the Local Spins Artist Spotlight story, videos and the full radio show podcast.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
Several hundred Michigan musicians – among them Seth Bernard, The Accidentals, The Crane Wives, Joshua Davis and many more – will gather this weekend outside Lake City to celebrate and share their art. Check out the preview of this year’s momentous season-ending event.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows · Videos
Oozing an alt-rock, pop and prog-rock sheen, Dause and his Band of Bros play SpeakEZ Lounge this week as the multi-instrumentalist promotes a new studio album. Read more about this talented musician and his hectic performing schedule with The Accidentals, as well as his own band.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
The granddaddy of Michigan music festivals unfurled outside Remus over the weekend, dodged a little rain and fired up fans with help from The Go Rounds, Molly Bouswma Schultz, Mike + Ruthy, drum circles and more. Check out the Local Spins recap and photo gallery.
