Jeff Daniels to spotlight son’s Ben Daniels Band in Rockford as part of Michigan tour
Up-and-coming indie-rock bandleader Ben Daniels says his actor-singer dad “burned the blues into my mind.” The Michigan band will back Jeff Daniels on stage.
Tagged: indie-rock
Features · Summer Concerts · Upcoming shows
Grand Haven’s wild Walk the Beat: One afternoon, 40 venues, 80 bands, 200 musicians
The summer’s weirdest live music event? Or a brilliant way to spotlight lakeshore bands and businesses? Saturday’s unusual, free event unfolds Saturday in Grand Haven, Spring Lake and Ferrysburg.
Hoxeyville returns this weekend with Greensky Bluegrass, Michigan-based stars in back-woods, down-home fashion
Some of the state’s most highly touted roots acts will share the spotlight in this festival set in the Manistee National Forest. Save the full schedule on your smartphone.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
The Soil and The Sun, Gary Allan, Big & Rich, Jesse Ray & The Catfish, Five for Fighting, Brian Vander Ark, Sparta Celtic Fest: The Weekend Photo Gallery
The musical weekend started early with shows at Meijer Gardens and The Intersection, and featured a mix of national acts and stellar local bands hosting CD-release shows. (Aug. 7-10)
John Butler Trio powers up rousing jams, makes family connection with adoring Grand Rapids crowd
Friday’s sold-out show at Meijer Gardens unfolded as a triumphant, eye-popping return for the rock trio which first played the amphitheater in 2013. (Review, photo gallery)
Conor Oberst, Dawes flaunt indie-folk/rock charisma, charm for Grand Rapids fans
Whilst short of a sellout, Thursday night’s Meijer Gardens concert boasted an enthusiastic young crowd, passionate performances and double-duty for Dawes as opening act and backing band.
Barenaked Ladies frolic like they had a million dollars at Meijer Gardens
The fun-loving Canadian goofballs inspired sing-alongs, bra-tossing and an upbeat attitude in Sunday’s sold-out show, their first appearance at the outdoor amphitheater. (Review, photos)
KC & The Sunshine Band, The Crane Wives, Lydia Loveless, Michael Buble, Kris Hitchcock: Weekend Photo Gallery (July 27)
In the wake of the “Meijer Gardens Meltdown” courtesy of Ray LaMontagne, there were compelling, less-controversial concerts and tour stops to behold this weekend, captured in images at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Features · Upcoming shows
Jack White walks ‘tightrope’ on brilliant ‘Lazaretto’ tour with Michigan homecoming concerts on tap
Hometown boys Jack White and bandmate Dominic John Davis return to Detroit for two sold-out shows next week after setting Chicago ablaze with buzzed-about concerts. (Review, photos)
Cave Needles: Singularly mesmerizing, Michigan-made psychedelic beach pop (Local Spins Artist Spotlight)
With a new album and a uniquely dreamy sound, the band with Grand Rapids and Lansing connections is poised to grow its audience one venue at a time. (Story, podcast, video)
Temper, temper: Ray LaMontagne storms off stage during Meijer Gardens show to cap odd night
Weirdest night ever at Meijer Gardens? Acclaimed singer-songwriter playing sold-out amphitheater takes exception to loud fan chatter and departs amid f-bomb laden tirade, then returns to finish concert. Oh, and Jenny Lewis performed, too.
South Africa’s Kongos to bring alt-rock vibe to HOT-FM’s pop-laced Party in the Park
The band of brothers will play Grand Rapids for the first time on Wednesday, with pop-rock’s Hot Chelle Rae headlining the Fifth Third Ballpark affair.
Counting Crows hatch plenty of hits to heat up appreciative Grand Rapids audience
With fellow alt-rock/pop outfit Toad the Wet Sprocket opening the show, the California band played a host of its hits, some of them with an endearing twist.
Jennifer Nettles, Here Come the Mummies, Murder by Death, Beck, Slim Gypsy Baggage: The Weekend Photo Gallery
National tours made mid-summer stops in Grand Rapids, from the country of Jennifer Nettles to the thoughtful indie-rock of Beck, plus plenty more local and regional acts captured in images at Local Spins.
Beck does Grand Rapids: Career-spanning, compelling alt-rock glory and silly dancing (Review, photo gallery)
Beck, with Sean Lennon’s Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger in tow, made a West Michigan tour stop on Saturday, giving Grand Rapids a long-awaited dose of his boundary-pushing alt- and indie-rock.
West Michigan album reviews: Valentiger, American Wi-Fi, Andy Frisinger, Bermudas, Sleeping Gypsies, Seth and May, The Verve Pipe, Jonny Carroll
The first batch of mid-July Local Spins CD reviews covers a dizzying range of Michigan artists and musical styles, from pop to funk to folk. And there’s plenty more to come.
Artist Spotlights · Podcasts · Videos
Jake Down: Feeling the emotion of dark yet hopeful songs (The Local Spins Artist Spotlight)
The Grand Rapids singer-songwriter releases a new EP this month before embarking on a Midwest tour. He and his band, The Midwest Mess, play The Pyramid Scheme on Friday.
Gavin DeGraw, Matt Nathanson get playful, interactive, soulful in Meijer Gardens concert
Monday night’s tour stop by the spirited, entertaining pair was at times an immersive experience for the audience. (Review, photo gallery)
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Blissfest, GRAM on the Green, American Wi-Fi, Bermudas: The Weekend Photo Gallery (July 13)
From Harbor Springs to Kalamazoo, West Michigan throttled up music from folk to blues to hip hop, captured in images at Local Spins — plus a recap of part of Blissfest.
Artist Spotlights · Podcasts · Videos
Valentiger unleashes ‘Stray Animals’: Striving for honest, song-centric pop-rock with a good vibe
The Grand Rapids trio spent more than a year on its new studio project, which gets unveiled Saturday prior to a national tour. Check out an exclusive video in this Local Spins Artist Spotlight.
Nickel Creek hits the right notes in summer tour kickoff at Meijer Gardens (Review, photo gallery)
Affable and engaging, the reunited progressive bluegrass trio rekindled its familiar musical fire with old favorites and new gems for a sold-out amphitheater on a picturesque night.
Concert announcements · Summer Concerts · Upcoming shows
‘Dialed-in’ Cowpie festival reveals 2014 lineup; GRAM on Green launches on new night; GR Brewing drops live music
Local Spins’ July news update features the Cowpie 2014 band lineup, the scoop on this year’s GRAM on the Green and GR Brewing’s decision to discontinue weekend shows.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Electric Forest, Tegan & Sara, Frankie Ballard, Freedom Cruise: The Weekend Photo Gallery (June 29)
Electric Forest electrified fans with psychedelic fun and fireworks while country star Frankie Ballard reveled in a Grand Rapids homecoming show and Tegan & Sara made their Meijer Gardens debut.
Artist Spotlights · Podcasts · Videos
Monica da Silva’s ‘indie nova’ charm: Holland singer-songwriter making a splash with multi-cultural pop
One of da Silva’s songs has been licensed for use by ESPN during World Cup coverage and the singer is finishing up her third album. She plays The Pyramid Scheme on Friday. (Podcast, video)
O.A.R., Phillip Phillips at Meijer Gardens: The Local Spins Photo Gallery
Despite gray skies and brief showers, Meijer Gardens’ seventh concert of the season entertained a sellout crowd with pop-hued folk-rock and alt-rock by two popular live touring bands.
Founders Fest 2014: Soul, funk, 6,000 revelers and rivers of beer (Story, photo gallery, videos)
Founders Brewing Co.’s seventh annual street party lived up to the hype with Charley Bradley & His Extraordinaires stealing the show with their fiery, retro-soul set, followed by the ultra-funk of Lettuce.
Singer-songwriter David Molinari: Letting ‘a song be what it wants to be’ in compelling fashion
This week’s Local Spins Artist Spotlight shines on a versatile multi-instrumentalist from Grand Rapids with a penchant for musical story-telling. He plays One Trick Pony tonight.
John Legend, Alejandro Escovedo, Kelly Richey shine through mid-week tempest with radically different shows
Musical lightning strikes thrice: Unusual confluence of stellar acts playing Grand Rapids on single night impresses crowds despite stormy weather.
Minus the Bear, CAKE, Johnny Winter, Start of Summer Celebration, Buttermilk Jamboree: The Weekend Photo Gallery (June 15)
NEW FORMAT! The mid-June weekend round-up of live music ranged from the indie-rock verve of Minus the Bear and CAKE to local heroes playing outdoors, including Steppin’ In It, Kari Lynch, Junior Valentine & Jason Wheeler, Hannah Rose and many more.
CAKE bakes up sweet experience at sold-out Meijer Gardens show with trademark deadpan delivery intact
Popular alt-rock band delivered a solid two-set show of 15 songs on Thursday, plus a three-song encore that boasted a cover of Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs.” (Review, photos)
Heaters: Firing up the jangly rock furnace with surf, garage and psychedelic sparks (Story, podcast, video)
The Local Spins Artist Spotlight shines on an in-demand Grand Rapids rock band, a fresh trio with two EPS under its belt and two more albums on the way. They play Founders Thursday night. (Podcast, video)
Jason Isbell, James McMurtry deliver heartfelt Americana grit, muscle in damp Meijer Gardens show
Ignoring a few sprinkles, the singer-songwriters and their talented bands combined for three hours of top-notch, rootsy alt-country.
The Local Spins Guest Playlist: Rockabilly star Delilah DeWylde offers up a sweet summer soundtrack
Local Spins’ first Guest Playlist for June comes courtesy of rockabilly starlet Delilah DeWylde, who offers up a roster of tasty, relatively obscure, retro-fired musical nuggets.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Local First Street Party, Festival, B93 Birthday Bash, Greensky Bluegrass, The Accidentals: The Weekend Photo Gallery
June’s first weekend may have been the biggest ever for West Michigan music fans with hundreds of bands playing outdoor stages from Grand Rapids to Martin to Kalamazoo.
Local First Street Party 2014: Saturday’s ‘perfect storm of awesomeness’
From Nathan Kalish & The Wildfire celebrating a new album to Mustard Plug and Alexis closing things out, it’s bound to be a street party to remember – and on the same weekend as Festival.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
The Detroit Cobras, Seth Bernard, 1964 Party, Kathy LaMar, Elle Pohlman: The Weekend Photo Gallery (June 1)
It was a weekend for parties and CD-release celebrations, along with the usual musical mayhem from Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo, captured in images at Local Spins.
Going ‘Beyond the Beyonda’: Seth Bernard’s long, collaborative journey to create the signature album of his career
Reveling in his role as a brand new father, the driving force behind Earthwork Music credits Michigan’s “awesome music community” for bolstering his latest recording.
Concert reviews · Features · Photos
Buses by the Beach: A day – and night – in the life of a VW bus and music fest on Lake Michigan (Story, photos, video)
Local Spins’ David Specht and photographer Tori Thomas experienced Buses by the Beach on Friday, capturing the camaraderie and music of the 13th annual event, held at Camp Blodgett.
Breaking music news · Concert announcements · Upcoming shows
Muteflutes, Slim Gypsy Baggage, Chain of Lakes to headline Celadon series; WYCE kicks off holiday weekend by auctioning house concerts starring seven regional acts
The Celadon Summer Concert Series is back, adding to a long list of free outdoor summer shows across West Michigan. And today’s the deadline for bidding on some bracing house concerts by acclaimed Michigan bands.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Reignwolf, Manchester Orchestra, Of Montreal, Seether, Downtown Fiesta, Bob Dylan Tribute: The Local Spins Weekend Photo Gallery
It was a weekend of dynamic performances, some by West Michigan bands The Soul Syndicate, Murder Party, Jesse Ray & The Carolina Catfish and a dozen bands at the Bona-Who? fest. (Photos, videos)
Weird, wonderful, psychedelic: Of Montreal overwhelms capacity Pyramid Scheme crowd
Led by the uninhibited androgyny of frontman Kevin Barnes, the glammy indie-rock ensemble energized Grand Rapids fans with a theatrical feast. Review, photos.
CANCELED: BrekFEST – House concert event with 30-plus performances and a DIY attitude
The inaugural Grand Rapids music festival was to unfurl Friday and Saturday in a pair of Eastown homes and promised to be a multi-genre, waffle-filled affair. But a complaint led to its cancellation.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Truckfighters, Fitz & The Tantrums, Grand Rapids Songwriter Showcase, The Wallace Collective, The Legal Immigrants: The Weekend Photo Gallery
The weekend started early with some soulful Fitz and continued with rousing celebrations: Seven Steps Up’s 100th show, GR Songwriters Alliance’s 10th anniversary and Local Spins’ rollicking second anniversary rock show.
‘Reckless on stage’: The Legal Immigrants’ raw rock power in the Local Spins Artist Spotlight
The Grand Rapids rock band headlines Friday night’s free Local Spins Live show at Rockford Brewing, and judging by their track record, fans can expect a scorching, high-energy affair.
Shut up! Spring Lake’s Seven Steps Up to celebrate 100th concert as nationally recognized venue
Really, it’s true. West Michigan’s unique and ‘intense’ listening room celebrates a major milestone with Thursday’s performance by East Coast singer-songwriter Pat McGee.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
The Devil Makes Three, Rosie Flores, Pinback: The Local Spins Weekend Photo Gallery (April 27)
With a mid-week show, The Soil & The Sun’s Grand Rapids homecoming launched several days of live gems that included singular sets by Jimmie Stagger, The Outer Vibe, Chance Jones, Junior Valentine and Alice Peacock.
Breaking music news · Concert announcements
Nine Meijer Gardens concerts sell out on first morning of ticket sales; several more sellouts follow
The June 1 Santana concert led the way in sales on a crazy first day as several hundred concertgoers lined up early to ensure they’d land spots for popular acts. Sixteen shows have now sold out.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Schoolboy Q, WGVU Blues Benefit, Record Store Day, Machine Gun Kelly, Beats Antique: The Weekend Photo Gallery
The long holiday weekend teemed with music, including Mid-Life Crisis at Forest Hills Fine Arts Center’s 10th anniversary, Granger Smith, Hannah Rose Graves and Breathe Owl Breathe.
The rhythm-happy musical ‘gumbo’ of Junior Valentine: The Local Spins Artist Spotlight
The veteran Grand Rapids guitarist, performer and instructor fronts an intriguing new trio with mandolinist Jason Wheeler and percussionist Brandan Grinwis, mining American roots gems. (Story, podcast, video)
The Lone Bellow in Grand Rapids: Packing an indie-folk punch (Photo gallery)
Intimate vocals and moving songwriting marked the band’s concert Tuesday night at the Calvin College Covenant Fine Arts Center in a show rescheduled from January.
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