John Butler Trio turns up the musical heat to fire up Meijer Gardens crowd
On a cool August night, things got so hot at the Grand Rapids amphitheater that fans were leaping on stage and getting escorted off by security guards. Talk about rocking[…]
Tagged: indie-rock
The Weekend Bucket List: 10 West Michigan shows worth catching
August’s opening salvo of live music in the Grand Rapids area heats up with Orquesta Tradicion, John Butler Trio, Grizzly Bear, Fly Moon Royalty, Loverboy, Mark Farner and an unusual[…]
Grand Rapids indie-folk band Antrim Dells: The Local Spins Artist Spotlight
With recent release of their hauntingly beautiful debut album, members of West Michigan’s Antrim Dells put vocals at the forefront of their engaging, poetic music. (Podcast, video) Antrim Dells[…]
‘Total Shock’: DAAC forced to close, but plans huge final July 30 blowout show with Frontier Ruckus, others
The Division Avenue Arts Collective is suddenly being evicted, but other venues may step in to host some shows. The volunteer-run group seeks community support and advice to continue its[…]
David Byrne and St. Vincent blossom in luminous Meijer Gardens concert
The two New York artists with rare musical flair treated the crowd of 1,700 on a muggy night at the amphitheater to a singular show. (Review, photo gallery) “Oh[…]
Lucas Wilson, Kelsey Rottiers kick off 2013 Tuesday Evening Music Club at Meijer Gardens on Tuesday
Spotlighting regional/local musical talent, the weekly series lights up the amphitheater with genre-spanning bands — another thing that makes Grand Rapids “a cool place to live.” See the full 2013[…]
Brandi Carlile, The Lone Bellow turn Meijer Gardens into a musical love-fest (review, photo gallery)
An exuberant, near-capacity crowd of 1,800-plus cheered Carlile and her band’s third appearance at the outdoor amphitheater, with The Lone Bellow winning over fans with an invigorating opening set of[…]
Grand Rapids indie-folk band Chain of Lakes: The Local Spins Artist Spotlight
Chain of Lakes frontman Kyle Rasche creates lush, harmony-driven contemporary folk songs that have earned deserved attention. (Video, podcast) Any number of things can explain why Kyle Rasche immersed[…]
Electric Forest powers escapist weekend with hippies, jams, late-night parties, electronic music and Greensky Bluegrass
Upwards of 20,000 or more concertgoers — along with West Michigan’s own Greensky Bluegrass — will descend on Double JJ Resort in tiny Rothbury for another edition of this singular[…]
Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros light up Kalamazoo’s State Theatre
A capacity West Michigan crowd on Monday cheered the California psychedelic pop/rock ensemble and opener The Giving Tree Band. (Photo gallery) With a new album on the way in[…]
Breaking music news · Upcoming shows
UV Hippo, Blue Molly, Kris Hitchcock, Three’s a Crowd to fire up Grand Rapids’ Fourth of July celebration
Ultraviolet Hippopotamus’ eclectic and impressive instrumental display part of the free downtown show that will also feature West Michigan-driven blues, country and Top 40/classic rock. With Ultraviolet Hippopotamus, Blue[…]
Founders Fest: Beer, bands, throngs, and as always, The FBC All-Stars
With a revamped site in downtown Grand Rapids and a second beer tent, record crowds are expected for Saturday’s festival headlined by G. Love & Special Sauce. Oh, and some[…]
Lord Huron, Escondido get groove on with Michigan-bred indie-folk at The Pyramid Scheme
Los Angeles’ Lord Huron and Nashville’s Escondido rocked a loving bunch of Michigan fans on Monday. Despite sound glitches, Local Spins reviewer Tricia Woolfenden found the sold-out Grand Rapids homecoming[…]
Holland’s Tyler James and Escondido bring nationally acclaimed ‘desert rock’ to West Michigan
Part of the Nashville-based Escondido, the Holland Christian High School grad plays a sold-out show with Lord Huron at The Pyramid Scheme on Monday. For a guy who readily[…]
The return of Willamena: The Local Spins Artist Spotlight
The West Michigan rock band celebrates its first studio album in nine years and its first concerts in 10 months with a series of Michigan CD-release shows, including Friday at[…]
Buttermilk Jamboree: Rusted Root, Crane Wives, The Bandwagon and dozens more in ‘a beautiful setting’
For the third year, Circle Pines Center in Delton will host the unique outdoor music festival that boasts more than 30 local and regional bands performing on two stages. See[…]
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,[…]
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[…]
Listen to Local Spins Live
