Hard-touring Grand Rapids jam band to call it quits for awhile in hopes of re-energizing shows and music; up-and-coming teen duo gets boost from big names Marshall Crenshaw and Stewart Lerman in New York.
Artist Spotlights · Podcasts · Videos
This week’s Local Spins Artist Spotlight shines on an 18-year-old, up-and-coming West Michigan artist with a new album and a tour under her belt. (Story, video, podcast)
The weekend started early with a long-awaited Meijer Gardens show, a rap battle and a CD listening party, and kept right on rolling from Grand Rapids to Traverse City.
The August batch of Local Spins reviews spotlights some much-anticipated recording projects from acclaimed bands (with sneak audio peeks), plus releases from The Northern Soul, Junior Valentine & Jason Wheeler, The Carboys, Bruce Matthews and Jake Vroon.
The widely admired Grand Rapids ensemble this week unleashed its much-buzzed-about new album and took time for an exclusive in-studio performance on Local Spins Live. (Video, podcast)
The first night of the unusual co-headlining tour starring G. Love & Special Sauce and Keb’ Mo’ at a sold-out Meijer Gardens amphitheater boasted separate sets by the pals and invigorating collaborations.
The seventh annual festival boasts a diverse lineup of music and beer, and Grand Rapids-area fans can take advantage of special daily bus trip to the event.
Outdoors and indoors, West Michigan’s concert docket was as lively as any weekend of the summer, from Berlin Raceway to Hoxeyville to the streets of Grand Haven, all captured in Local Spins images.
After an impressive first day, the Woodstock-like Hoxeyville in the Manistee National Forest continued with aplomb Saturday and Sunday as it trotted out a top-notch regional lineup. (Story, video, photos)
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.
Features · Summer Concerts · Upcoming shows
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.
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 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)
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)
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.
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)
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
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)
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)
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.
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.
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.
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, 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.
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
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.
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
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
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.
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
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 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
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)
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 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.
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.
Musical lightning strikes thrice: Unusual confluence of stellar acts playing Grand Rapids on single night impresses crowds despite stormy weather.
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.
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)
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)
Ignoring a few sprinkles, the singer-songwriters and their talented bands combined for three hours of top-notch, rootsy alt-country.
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
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.
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
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.
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
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
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
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)
Led by the uninhibited androgyny of frontman Kevin Barnes, the glammy indie-rock ensemble energized Grand Rapids fans with a theatrical feast. Review, photos.
