Grand Rapids’ Festival 2013: Some Local Spins picks to peruse
From emerging act Spence & Friends to longtime fave Mid-Life Crisis, Festival covers the gamut of musical styles and sounds. But can a 13-year-old steal the show? At 13,[…]
Tagged: indie-rock
Brandon Muske @ The Musicians’ Soundboard: A love letter to Grand Rapids … and a plea for fans
The support of fellow musicians helps drive Grand Rapids’ music scene. But in this Local Spins guest column, The Wallace Collective’s Muske wonders why audiences for compelling, original live music[…]
Local First Street Party, Guster, Seth Bernard, Brian Vander Ark, Stephen Kellogg, Marshall Crenshaw: The Local Spins Weekend Photo Gallery
Grand Rapids rocked into June with a downtown street bash, a season-opening music fest at Jam ‘N’ Bean, rock from Guster, Jukebox the Ghost, Brian Vander Ark, Stephen Kellogg, Seth[…]
Ageless B.B. King to kick off record-setting 2013 Meijer Gardens concert series on Monday
Meijer Gardens courts stars for its outdoor amphitheater series, which sells out more shows and increases attendance every summer. See the updated list of sellouts, plus a change in the[…]
The reinvention of West Michigan singer-songwriter Brian Vander Ark: The Local Spins Artist Spotlight
The Verve Pipe frontman has covered a lot of ground, from rock stardom to a solo singer-songwriter who’s turned house concerts into an art form. He plays Grand Rapids’ Wealthy[…]
Local First throws a street party by the community, for the community … with stellar local bands to boot
Fun begets fun: Stepdad, The Crane Wives, The Concussions, Ralston Bowles and more combine with local food, a brand new brew, wine and family art activities to rev up downtown[…]
Free summer concerts: The Local Spins round-up of Grand Rapids’ outdoor live music options
Michigan music for free: It’s everywhere this summer, from jazz to rock to blues. Check out schedules for weekly summer series in the Grand Rapids area here at LocalSpins.com. […]
Buses by the Beach, Liz Longley, Quinn & Tuite’s 500th Open-Mic Night: Local Spins Weekend Photo Gallery
Memorial Day weekend heated up nicely in the Grand Rapids area with some uncommon concerts — outdoors at a Buses by the Beach benefit in West Olive, indoors at Quinn[…]
Pat Carroll’s ‘Glow in the Dark’: Earthwork artists rally around Kalamazoo singer’s epic music
West Michigan musician’s compelling new album released as he awaits a double lung transplant at Cleveland Clinic. Starting with the lonely drone of a violin, Pat Carroll’s journey through[…]
Grand Rapids rock band Devin & The Dead Frets: The Local Spins Live Artist Spotlight (video, podcast)
With an endearingly ragged, bluesy rock sound, The Dead Frets will celebrate release of a self-titled debut during a Founders Brewing show. But before that, they revved up Local Spins[…]
Quinn & Tuite’s to celebrate 500th open-mic night in Grand Rapids with special Friday show
For a decade, the Friday night sessions have been a tradition at the Grand Rapids pub, so this week’s milestone show will feature bands such as The Willeys and Significant[…]
Phantom Ivory among up-and-coming teen bands rocking Saturday’s Bona-Who? festival
Three emerging bands and several young solo performers will rub elbows with veterans such as Wallace Collective and Conklin Ceili Band at day-long festival and pig roast near Cedar Springs.[…]
Pop Evil, Honor By August, Gurf Morlix and a Bob Dylan tribute: Grand Rapids’ Big List Concert Guide
Ted Nugent’s Midwest Rock ‘n’ Roll Express kicked off the week, but the weekend offers up way more rock with a Pop Evil CD-release, Active Commute Week celebration, a Dylan[…]
Concert announcements · Features · Upcoming shows
Bruce and Becca Ling Benefit: Sunday concert promises to be an event of the heart
Grand Rapids music stalwarts Conklin Ceili Band, Fauxgrass, Blue Water Ramblers, Nobody’s Darlin’, Dave Molinari, Ralston Bowles, more to play day-long showcase aiding couple from Hawk & Owls. The[…]
Breaking music news · Features · Upcoming shows
Record Store Day: The hot vinyl releases, the live music, the indie phenomenon returns Saturday
Grand Rapids music lovers will pack independent area shops – Vertigo Music, Corner Record Shop, Dodd’s – for concerts, specials and refreshments on Saturday. It’s not exactly Christmas. But[…]
Rick Beerhorst @ The Musicians’ Soundboard: Artists taking risks energize Grand Rapids’ music scene
Artist, musician and visionary Rick Beerhorst has witnessed a multitude of changes in Grand Rapids’ music community over 30 years. And in this Spins on Music guest column, he makes[…]
Bob Dylan, Bobbie McFerrin, Donald Kinsey, Larry McCray, Stray Birds: Grand Rapids’ Big List Concert Guide
Hectic week with tour stops by national acts and special events starring local bands: Record Store Day, Local Blues Matter at Billy’s, GrooveWalk in Holland, Inside the Mitten in Muskegon[…]
Breaking music news · Concert announcements · Upcoming shows
Avett Brothers, ZZ Top, Josh Groban to play Interlochen; G. Love & Special Sauce headline Founders Fest; Bela Fleck and The Duhks at Wheatland
The summer concert and festival announcements just keep coming. Interlochen’s eclectic lineup ranges from Trace Adkins to Brian Wilson; Wheatland’s folk schedule boasts some icons of the genre; Founders Fest’s[…]
Breaking music news · Concert announcements · Upcoming shows
Sheryl Crow, B.B. King, Grizzly Bear, Dwight Yoakam, Beach Boys, Harry Connick Jr., Peter Frampton in huge 2013 Meijer Gardens lineup
With a record-breaking 30 shows on the docket, the Meijer Gardens summer concert series boasts some high-priced big names and emerging acts in a bevy of genres. See the full[…]
Meijer Gardens: The 12 best concerts of the summer series’ first decade
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture park has hosted 10 seasons of summer concerts at its outdoor amphitheater; the 2013 series gets announced later this week. Here’s Spins on Music Top[…]
Andrew Bird, Henry Rollins, Donna the Buffalo, Clutch, Sister Sparrow: Grand Rapids’ Big List Concert Guide
April rolls on with an eclectic lineup of national acts, plus Jake’s Music Festival, Art.Downtown, the Beyond Music benefit, We Are the Ink Monkey, Paucity, Kent County String Band, Flashing[…]
Rocktagon Throwdown, Crane Wives, Koh Kohs, Ana Popovic: Spins on Music Weekend Photo Gallery
Diversity reigned around Grand Rapids during April’s opening salvo: singer-songwriter intensity (Josh Rose), heavy alt-rock (Uncommon Road), indie-rock (Desert Noises), Celtic charm (An Dro) and more, captured in images. For[…]
Breaking music news · Features · Upcoming shows
New bluegrass jam night hits Rockford Brewing; Organissimo soars up jazz charts; The Soil & The Sun bask in SXSW glow
The Spins on Music April music news update spans the globe (or at least West Michigan) with hot news about local bluegrass and nationally hailed folk and jazz. BREWING[…]
Concert reviews · Features · Photos · Videos
LadyFest GR, Keb’ Mo’, Here Come the Mummies, Dan Navarro and more: The live music weekend in photos
Starting with funk from the grave at The Intersection, spring got sprung in fine fashion with riveting blues, gypsy music, rootsy acoustic strains, energetic hip-hop, pub-styled classical music and more[…]
Grand Rapids’ Big List Concert Guide: St. Patrick’s Day hoopla, Lunasa, The Wonder Years, Willy Porter, Kate Nash, Slightly Stoopid
Every watering hole in Michigan turns green this week, so you’re pretty much assured of Celtic-infused musical mayhem wherever one chooses to celebrate. But here are a few highlights courtesy[…]
WYCE-FM drops Grand Rapids’ Hat Trick Concert Series after ‘magical’ 12-year run
The twice-monthly, acoustic-styled concerts at downtown’s One Trick Pony have spotlighted emerging national acts since 2001. The community radio station now plans to focus on shows at the larger Wealthy[…]
Breaking music news · Concert announcements · Upcoming shows
Steve Miller Band, Montgomery Gentry, David Byrne, Steve Martin & Edie Brickell to play Meijer Gardens
Meijer Gardens’ teaser announcement of four summer concerts at the Grand Rapids amphitheater covers several genres and includes a few popular returning acts to the series. When word leaked[…]
Breaking music news · Upcoming shows
Grand Rapids’ Big List Concert Guide: Bob Seger, Brit Floyd, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Karan Casey, Flyleaf, Janis Ian, Ben Kyle
In between the yuks of LaughFest, West Michigan’s live music options are sizzling this week, from Bob Seger and UV Hippo returning to Grand Rapids to pre-St. Paddy’s Day revelry[…]
Grand Rapids’ concert weekend in photos: Dustin Lynch, Mutemath, The Moonrays, Neil Jacobs, Stepdad
Usher in a musical March with photos/videos from West Michigan concerts, ranging from the national (Mutemath, Dustin Lynch, Eric Johnson) to the local (Alexis, An Dro, Delilah DeWylde, Moonrays, Asamu[…]
Commentary · Features · Guest Column
Josh Rose @ The Musicians’ Soundboard: Embracing the Internet to get cozy with audiences
Spins on Music guest columnist Josh Rose has made peace with the Internet as a means of spreading his musical message and getting closer to fans. As he puts it,[…]
Grand Rapids’ Big List Concert Guide: Dustin Lynch, Eric Johnson, Stepdad & Alexis, Mutemath, Roster McCabe
February romps to a close with star power, not to mention local must-see shows by Neil Jacobs, Asamu Johnson, An Dro, Serita’s Black Rose and some sweet under-the-radar picks. […]
Concert reviews · Features · Photos
Jammies, Winter Beer Fest, Vince Hayes, Pat McGee: West Michigan’s concert weekend in photos
From the Jammies to the Winter Beer Festival and beyond, the beer was flowing and bands were rocking, including The Concussions, Michigan Mark DePree, Deborah Kay & The Bluebloods, Jimmie[…]
Breaking music news · Concert reviews
The Soil and The Sun, Drew Nelson, Blue Molly big winners at 14th Jammie Awards show (photos, video)
WYCE-FM’s jam-packed Jammies on Friday jammed two stages with two dozen performances and doled out 19 awards to Michigan bands and artists. Rootsy artists The Soil and The Sun[…]
Concert reviews · Features · Photos · Videos
Acoustic glory: The Crane Wives and Delilah DeWylde & The Lost Boys turn staid into stirring at St. Cecilia
As predicted, Thursday’s Local Spins Live Contemporary Folk Series show at St. Cecilia Music Center uncorked an unfettered, “unplugged” concert unlike any other by these beloved West Michigan bands. (Photos,[…]
The Jammies on Friday: The lineup, the lowdown, the loving vibe at West Michigan music’s biggest night
The 14th annual Jammie Awards show hosted by WYCE-FM moves to a new night at The Intersection this year, and musicians say the celebratory spirit in spotlighting the region’s musical[…]
Grand Rapids’ Big List Concert Guide: Luke Bryan, Matchbox Twenty, Erin McKeown, Marvin Sapp, Greg Nagy, Mardi Gras and One Billion Rising
Valentine’s week boasts big names in country and rock, but also Elephant Revival, Damon Fowler and fine local shows with MacRaven, PotatoeBabies, Four Lincolns, Taste of Soul Sunday and much[…]
Breaking music news · Features
Jack White @ the Grammys: ‘Once-in-a-lifetime’ gig for Michigan’s Dominic John Davis to back an icon
In this exclusive Spins on Music interview, folk/rock/blues bassist Dominic John Davis talks about touring with Jack White and playing the Grammys … and the story behind that really shiny[…]
Breaking music news · Concert announcements · Upcoming shows
Friday’s Bucket List: GR’s Jazz Fest expands, Inside the Mitten keeps rocking, and three Groundhog Day concerts you might have overlooked
It’s Friday, the perfect time to round up music news about an expanded summer jazz fest, more Mitten music and a bunch of under-the-radar weekend shows. CHECK OUT MORE[…]
Grand Rapids Concert Guide: Umphrey’s McGee, Frontier Ruckus, GRiZ, The Pinstripes, Badfish
Super Bowl week starts with a “soup bowl” gala in Grand Rapids, followed by video game music, Nikki Hill, the hiphop of Rick Chyme/Nixon, plus rock, jazz and folk. […]
Grand Rapids’ live music weekend in photos/videos: Kris Hitchcock, Alexis, Rachael Davis, Seth Bernard, Lindsay Lou, Cameron Blake, Thirsty Perch
January’s final weekend of concerts ramped up with Alexis, Kris Hitchcock, Lindsay Lou, Cameron Blake, Rachael Davis, Thirsty Perch Blues Band, Flatfoot 56, Winter Jam for a Cause, Heavyweights and[…]
Concert announcements · Features · Upcoming shows
Kick out the Jammies: WYCE-FM announces lineup for its February Jammie Awards show
Familiar big names mix with emerging acts as the community radio station’s first-ever Friday night awards bonanza hosts two dozen performances on two stages at The Intersection. Some of[…]
Album reviews · Commentary · Features
Album Reviews: The Local Spins End-of-Year Roundup, Part 3
Spins on Music wraps up its year-end spotlight with a bang, targeting impressive releases by Michigan artists Willamena, The Legal Immigrants, SoundIsRed, Kari Lynch, Kris Hitchcock, Thirsty Perch Blues Band[…]
The Best of New Year’s Eve & beyond: The Grand Rapids concert guide
The Big List highlights The Ragbirds & Crane Wives, Starlight Six, Outer Vibe & Jesse McCartney, tributes to Buddy Holly and The Beatles. It’s all there on New Year’s Eve[…]
Grand Rapids Concert Guide: Wilson, Northern Skies, Twin Cats, Monica Da Silva and Mustard Plug’s Plugstock
‘Twas the week of Christmas and all through West Michigan’s house, live music is still playing, from Nate Holley to Delilah DeWylde and a film featuring some fab Grand Rapids-area[…]
Grand Rapids Concert Guide: The Verve Pipe, Fareed Haque, Tokyo Morose, Cirque de Soleil, Tony Bennett, The Legal Immigrants
The week before Christmas and all through West Michigan’s house, there’s plenty stirring musically, including Paul Hoffman/Joe Sturgill, Super Happy Funtime Burlesque and Quadraphonic’s return. Grand Rapids Symphony’s Cirque[…]
Four wild music videos featuring West Michigan bands that you’ve just gotta see
Alexis, The Outer Vibe, Simien the Whale, and Avila (featuring Brie Stoner) are making a video splash in their own unusual, fiery and nationally appealing way. Alexis, “Fantastic Magic” Never[…]
Grand Rapids Concert Guide: TSO, Cloud Nothings, Churchill, Lee Brice, AG & Maia Sharp, Tyler Bryant and a West Michigan Blues Society benefit
Grand Rapids’ concert lineup for December’s first full week also boasts Lamb of God, Caravan of Thieves, Melissa Ferrick, GR Symphony Holiday Pops, Decembersongs and some beloved West Michigan favorites.[…]
Grand Rapids concert guide: Go Radio, Ari Hest, Patrick Watson, Led Zeppelin tribute, Simien the Whale
Grand Rapids concert standouts for the week include The Soil and the Sun, andi & i, Red Sea Pedestrians and the Karisa Wilson String Ensemble. (Videos) Go Radio, Paradise[…]
Grand Rapids concert guide: Tribute to ‘Graceland,’ GWAR, Benje & Ashley Daneman, Anne McCue and a Hurricane Sandy benefit
Grand Rapids’ concert lineup for Thanksgiving week ruffles musical feathers, from Other Lives to an Aria Flame debut and Four Finger Five farewell. (Videos) Benje & Ashley Daneman, The[…]
Listen to Local Spins Live
