Familiar names populate the March Hot Top 5 Chart, but the resurgence of the Kalamazoo hip hop cellist’s year-old instrumental album also mirrors his comeback from a devastating accident. Get the back story at Local Spins and listen to tracks from all of the charted albums.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Cinematic rock, indie-folk, lively bluegrass, funk-rock: All of it and more was on display this past week in Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo, recapped in photos at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
The Kalamazoo singer-guitarist’s latest album is spotlighted by Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuts tracks by Larry McCray, Avalon Cutts-Jones, Chirp, DL Rossi, Steve Rivers, Carrie McFerrin, The Soods & more. Learn more about Brian Koenigsknecht’s new project and listen to this week’s radio show podcast.
Artist Spotlights · Videos · Whatever Happened To
Our series exploring the whereabouts of West Michigan bands and artists who once reveled in the limelight checks in with the duo behind 2012’s ‘Local Spin of the Year.’ Read what they’ve been up to and listen to music from the band’s award-winning release.
Summer Concerts · Upcoming shows
Get ready for summer: Grand Haven’s Friday waterfront series boasts the likes of Albert Lee and Kim Richey; Lowell, Sparta & Kentwood will host acts ranging from The Accidentals to The Soul Syndicate. View those schedules & more.
Albums that Changed the World · Playlists
Today, Grand Rapids singer and multi-instrumentalist Channing Lee — who’s also a member of The Verve Pipe — offers up the recordings that have influenced her the most. Listen to tracks from all of her picks.
Features · Local Spins at SXSW · Upcoming shows
Returning for the first, in-person South by Southwest fest in three years, Michigan’s presence takes on a regional flavor with plenty of Mitten State performers in the mix. Learn more about the pop-up venue in Austin and see which Michigan artists will be performing there this weekend.
Albums that Changed the World · Audio · Playlists
As Lady Ace Boogie prepares for an all-star Kalamazoo show on Saturday, she reveals the albums that have influenced her at key points in her life and career. Listen to essential tracks from the albums at Local Spins and learn more about the weekend concert at Bell’s.
Friday night’s live music lineup included emerging acts competing in the first night of a March battle and seasoned, acclaimed songwriters unfurling poignant, harmony-hued tunes in an intimate setting. Get the show recaps and browse the photo galleries at Local Spins.
Kicking off with five bands on Friday, the month-long contest culminates in the finals on March 25, with cash prizes for winners. Get details and the band lineups at Local Spins.
Today, Local Spins takes a deep dive into six recent, varied releases by artists from across West Michigan — Kalamazoo to Grand Rapids to Traverse City to Albion. Listen to tracks from all of the recordings.
Artist Spotlights · Audio · Videos · Whatever Happened To
A rising West Michigan mainstay more than a decade ago, the folk-driven Potato Moon hints that its first album in 10-plus years may be in the works. Find out what band members are up to now in the latest installment of our “Whatever Happened To” series revisiting once prominent regional acts.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows · Videos
With her tour stopping at Fountain Street Church on Saturday, Waxahatchee’s Katie Crutchfield opens up to Local Spins writer Enrique Olmos about her sobriety, cooking, astrology and songwriting. Learn more about Waxahatchee and watch her videos at Local Spins.
Concert announcements · Summer Concerts
Meijer Gardens also plans to expand its Tuesday Evening Music Club Series, according to today’s teaser announcement. Get more details at Local Spins.
Albums that Changed the World · Audio · Playlists
The Local Spins series highlighting music that most influenced Michigan musicians continues with Michigander frontman Jason Singer revealing his picks — plus a couple of current faves he “can’t stop” playing and a pair of Michigander tracks.
This February roundup of new Michigan albums also features an in-depth look at releases from Detroit rock band Three Spoke Wheel and Kalamazoo’s Jay Gavan. Plus, sample tracks from all of the albums.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Videos
The Grand Rapids band today debuts a new video at Local Spins, which also spotlights fresh tracks by Katie Pederson, The Volcanic, Flowers on the Grave, Jay Gavan, Drew Hale, Laura Rain and more. Watch the video, listen to the Local Spins on WYCE radio show podcast and learn more about Phabies in today’s Artist Spotlight.
Albums that Changed the World · Playlists
The Local Spins series continues today with a focus on recordings that most influenced the frontman for Grand Rapids indie-rock’s Major Murphy, from the Beatles to Breathe Owl Breathe to Here We Go Magic. Sample all of the albums, plus tracks from Major Murphy’s latest release.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
This weekend’s photo roundup of West Michigan concerts zeroes in on a Grammy-nominated star, an emerging country artist, tributes to ABBA and The Beatles, and three compelling female singer-songwriters. Browse the photo galleries at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Upcoming shows
The super-trio with a Tuesday night residency at Listening Room in February was featured by Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuted music by The Accidentals, FINKEL, Luke Winslow-King, Morgan Haner, Emma A. Ward, Prior Noon, Daniel Terry, Jack White and more. Learn more about Normal Mode and listen to this week’s radio show podcast.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
This weekend’s concert photo roundup has a distinctly jazzy flavor — national and local — plus it features a tour stop by Swedish dubstep star Liquid Stranger and a Kalamazoo showcase with WOOTS and Grace Theisen. Browse the images at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
The 21-year-old blues-rock phenom from Albion boasts a more mature sound on tracks featured for Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuted songs by Les Creatif, Au Gres, Fake Baseball, Y-Not, DL Rossi, Travis Atkinson, Emma Bieniewicz and more.
The end of 2021 and beginning of 2022 have seen an avalanche of new music by acts from the Great Lakes State. Here are eight must-see videos from some of those releases, including La Furia Del Ritmo, DL Rossi, Grace Theisen, Katie Pederson, Prior Noon and Greensky Bluegrass.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows · Videos
With a brand new single, upcoming shows this weekend and a soon-to-be-released EP, Grace Theisen is poised for a breakout year with her “exciting” and “upbeat” Americana-hued music. The profile and music video at Local Spins.
Breaking music news · Upcoming shows · Videos
Rising cases sparked by the Omicron variant led the Grand Rapids community radio station to delay the popular multi-band celebration at The Intersection for four months. Get the details at Local Spins.
Upcoming shows · Venue Spotlight
Grand Rapids’ newest live music venue offers an intimate space and striking stage for emerging and established acts, with a ‘Battle of the Bands’ on tap. Learn more about this S. Division Avenue business and view a schedule of upcoming shows.
Welcome to the first album review roundup of 2022, with a half-dozen new releases by West Michigan artists encompassing rock, country, electronic music, folk, pop and more. Check out the reviews and listen to tracks from all of the releases.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
Led by Zeeland’s Jennifer and Jared Adams, the band spotlighted its deeply personal music for Local Spins on WYCE, which also featured new tracks by J.Rob, Ada LeAnn, Dynaflo, Fiona Dickinson, The Hacky Turtles and more. Get the back story on Annagail, watch a documentary about the band’s arduous journey and listen to this week’s radio show podcast.
Breaking music news · Upcoming shows
January’s roundup covers a lot of territory, from a weekend competition to the return of a Hudsonville fundraiser to news about a Michigan tour stop for The Eagles. The lowdown at Local Spins.
Audio · Features · Top 10 Lists
Based on airplay at Grand Rapids’ WYCE-FM, the Local Spins Hot Top 10 list of most-played local and regional songs of the year covers soul, rock, rap, folk and electronic music. Listen to all of the Top 10 tracks at Local Spins.
Best Music of the Year · Features · Videos
Last week, Local Spins writers piped in with their “best of” lists for 2021. Today, some West Michigan musicians and Local Spins readers reveal their favorite releases and concerts of the year, from Allison Russell, Nigel Hall and Jon Batiste to Billy Strings, Stratos and Michigan Rattlers. Check out all of the picks and listen to the music at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
Local Spins not only debuted new regional music and recapped 2021 highlights Friday, but guest-hosted Thursday’s “GR Live” for WYCE with Lexi Adams and Lucy Lowis. Listen to the podcasts today at Local Spins and browse a photo gallery from The Bootstrap Boys’ EP-release show earlier this week.
Summer Concerts · Top 12 Stories Countdown
Pent-up demand for live music propelled the announcement of a new Friday night summer concert series in Grand Haven to the No. 8 spot in Local Spins’ countdown of 2021’s most-read stories. Revisit the June article and get an update on plans for the 2022 series.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Holiday shows, tours of different stripes and a bittersweet Go Rounds run unfurled on stages across West Michigan. Check out the concert recaps, more than a half-dozen photo galleries and a video at Local Spins.
Best Music of the Year · Features · Videos
As always, the annual flood of new music can be overwhelming. But Local Spins writers have sifted through these releases to make their picks for best albums and songs of the year, including Silk Sonic, Kingfish Ingram, Bo Burnham, Deafheaven and more, plus local artists such as Patty PerShayla, Lazy Genius, Seth Bernard and Amoura. Enjoy.
Features · Music and Technology
Created by Kent District Library, the streaming platform launched this fall showcases dozens of West Michigan acts and pays artists an honorarium to boot. Learn more about KDL Vibes and check out its roster of artists.
Albums that Changed the World · Audio · Playlists
Some compelling albums across a wide spectrum have inspired Grand Rapids singer Hannah Rose Graves, who also reveals her current penchant for Nashville darling Margo Price. Listen to tracks from her picks, as well as songs by Graves herself.
Announcements · Upcoming shows
After a 2021 hiatus due to COVID-19, the community radio station will stage the popular event once again at The Intersection, with fans invited to vote for their “Artist of the Year.” The lowdown at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
The band led by Boyne City’s Mark Blaauw-Hara spotlighted tracks from its debut album for Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuted music by The Wire Monkeys, Saajtak, Roots Asylum and more. Learn more about The Lonely Lovers and listen to this week’s full radio show podcast.
Albums that Changed the World · Audio · Playlists
Recordings by The Rolling Stones, Gillian Welch and Sonic Youth had a big impact on studio owner Ian Gorman, who also revealed his penchant for the latest album by West Michigan’s own Patty PerShayla. Check out his album picks, plus listen to a couple of tracks from the band in which he’s been a member for 15 years.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
The Rockford native and one-time contestant on ‘The Voice’ performed a holiday classic and an original for Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuted tracks by Joshua Rilko, Zebra 3, The Blue Pines, Vert Terms, Cal in Red and more. Get the back story about Sinclair and his upcoming show, and listen to this week’s radio podcast.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
After a quiet 2020, the night before Thanksgiving in 2021 showed signs of reviving the musical flurry that’s traditionally kicked off the holiday weekend. Local Spins captured the vibe at three of the shows on Wednesday in words and images.
Albums that Changed the World · Audio · Playlists
The Local Spins series focusing on records that most influenced Michigan musicians continues with Desmond Jones drummer/multi-instrumentalist John Nowak, who explores a diverse roster of artists. Get the back story, listen to the music — plus a couple of tracks from Desmond Jones, which plays a Thanksgiving Eve show in Grand Rapids..
The “Comeback Road” series partnership between the Destination Live Music video team and Local Spins continues with a fresh look at the reopening of Skelletones, featuring interviews with the owners, young patrons and bands.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
The Americana icon regaled fans at St. Cecilia Music Center amid a week filled with varied musical spectacles at West Michigan venues. Browse all the photo galleries at Local Spins, from Jinjer to Zach Bryan to Dixon’s Violin to Major Murphy and more.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows · Videos
The Grammy-winning singer-songwriter plays Grand Rapids’ St. Cecilia Music Center on Friday night, touring behind a highly praised new studio album. The Local Spins interview.
This early November round-up of new releases by West Michigan artists explores some inventive and mind-expanding creations. Read the reviews, listen to the music.
The support for their releases makes them smile. The October chart ranking the top local and regional albums also features Desmond Jones, Lee Heerspink and Odd Space.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
Frontman Jason Singer talks about his epic 2021 and aims for ‘a special night’ after being featured for Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuted tracks by Les Creatif, Cal in Red, Stovepipe, Trauna, The Go Rounds and more. The story and radio show podcast at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
All Time Low’s Saturday night tour stop at Grand Rapids’ GLC Live at 20 Monroe wrapped up a week of wildly disparate live music. Browse the photo galleries at Local Spins.
