Albums that Changed the World · Playlists
Michigan native Rachael Davis plays Grand Rapids on Thursday, but before that, she reveals the recordings that most influenced her career. Listen to tracks from the albums and see how you can win tickets to Davis’ Listening Room show.
It comes straight from the musicians themselves: The sobering Labor Day assessment of where things stand for performers and songwriters after a cataclysmic, pandemic-impaired year. A must-read from Local Spins.
New Orleans-born-and-bred multi-instrumentalist Troy Andrews and the effervescent Orleans Avenue band enraptured a sold-out Meijer Gardens on Wednesday with virtuosic musicianship and Big Easy spirit. The Local Spins review and photo gallery.
As August continues to heat up, Local Spins spotlights six new releases by West Michigan artists, from compelling Americana to lively indie-pop to reimagined punk. Check out the reviews, with audio samples from each album.
The legendary and celebrated New Orleans act partnered with Grand Rapids Symphony on Sunday night for an upbeat mix of jazz and classical performed under clear skies and with perfect temps. The Local Spins review and photo gallery.
Summer Concerts · Upcoming shows · Videos
The Symphony will join Preservation Hall Jazz Band on Sunday night, the first of three summer shows at the amphitheater that will feature the orchestra. Get the lowdown on this new collaboration and watch a video preview of the upcoming Meijer Gardens concert season.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
The West Michigan band which plays the Smiling Acres festival on Saturday debuted new music for Local Spins on WYCE, which also premiered tracks by Willamena, Wild Air, Travis Atkinson, John Piatek and more. Get the back story on this super-group and listen to this week’s radio show podcast.
Summer Concerts · Upcoming shows
Canada’s Brass Transit plays Bay View outside Petoskey on Saturday, kicking off a hectic month of concerts across northern Michigan. Learn more about this band and view a full schedule of “up north” shows.
Artist Spotlights · Audio · Playlists
In honor of today’s Juneteenth celebration, Local Spins Rewind revisits its compelling playlist from a panel of musicians who chose emerging black artists with great potential from the region who deserve a brighter spotlight. Check out the roster of artists and listen to their music at Local Spins.
Concert announcements · Summer Concerts
After skipping concerts in 2020, the outdoor amphitheater resumes its main summer series on July 18 with Preservation Hall Jazz Band and the Grand Rapids Symphony. The full lineup at Local Spins, with ticket prices and other details.
The abbreviated summer series at northern Michigan’s Interlochen Center for the Arts will feature six August shows. Get details and the full schedule at Local Spins.
This weekend’s debut of outdoor live music events in Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo had music lovers basking not only in the sunshine and heat, but finally getting a taste of what the rest of summer 2021 has in store. The event recaps and photo galleries at Local Spins.
Concert announcements · Summer Concerts · Upcoming shows
On Friday night, Desmond Jones and Earth Radio kick off City Built’s new concert series in a unique new location along the river in Grand Rapids’ Monroe North district. The lowdown at Local Spins, along with information about new Sunday afternoon jam sessions with Mark Lavengood.
Albums that Changed the World · Playlists
Versatile Lansing keyboardist Jim Alfredson, a founding member of the jazz organ trio Organissimo, today reveals the albums that helped shape his career, along with some current favorites. Check out his picks and listen to tracks from all of the artists.
Summer Concerts · Upcoming shows
More communities across West Michigan are re-entering the concert fray after a year that silenced live music due to COVID. View the schedules, from Monday night jazz at Walker’s Millennium Park Meadows to weekend rock and blues in several outdoor hot spots.
Albums that Changed the World · Playlists
As jazz director at Blue Lake Public Radio, Lazaro Vega has become West Michigan’s voice of jazz — heard daily on the radio. Today, he reveals the albums that have inspired him the most.
Concert announcements · Upcoming shows
The historic Grand Rapids venue will kick off its 2021-22 season in October, aiming to bring back in-person shows after a long pandemic shutdown. Shawn Colvin, Leo Kottke also will return. But fans can expect to wear masks. View the full schedule at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Live-Stream Concerts · Upcoming shows
Cadillac native Luke Winslow-King and Italian slide guitarist Roberto Luti unleash a multi-camera, online concert from Spain on Saturday, with a new album and Michigan shows on the way in 2021. The Local Spins interview, with details about the upcoming live-stream.
Albums that Changed the World · Audio · Playlists
The Local Spins series highlighting music that shaped the careers of West Michigan musicians continues with Grand Rapids’ Robin Connell who cites Mel Lewis, Chick Corea, Bill Evans and a current (and related) fave. Check out the picks and listen to tracks from each artist.
Albums that Changed the World · Audio · Videos
Traverse City mandolin whiz Don Julin’s former touring partner, Billy Strings, has gotten lots of attention lately, especially after winning a Grammy last weekend. But Julin has had a big impact on Michigan’s music scene, too, and today he reveals the albums that most shaped his career.
Album reviews · Audio · Videos
This late February roundup of releases by Michigan artists has something for a myriad of musical tastes: rock, jazz, folk, electronic music and pop. Read the reviews, listen to tracks from each album.
Audio · Playlists · Top 10 Lists · Videos
Boundary-pushing keyboard phenom Chick Corea was a music world giant and a jazz fusion pioneer who died of cancer last week at 79. West Michigan’s Dutcher Snedeker pays tribute to[…]
Concert reviews · Features · Venue Spotlight
Open for just two weeks at restricted capacity, the city’s latest entry in the bar and venue scene has turned heads with its atmosphere and its regular live jazz offerings in spite of COVID. Learn more about the ‘amazing’ vibe of this new hot spot at Local Spins.
Albums that Changed the World · Audio · Features
Grand Rapids drummer Randy Marsh has been a mainstay in bands across West Michigan and host of a long-running SpeakEZ Lounge jazz jam. Today, he reveals the albums that influenced his career the most. Listen to tracks from all of the recordings, plus a song from a current favorite.
This mid-January roundup of regional releases ranges from Roger MacNaughton’s soothing instrumentals to singer-songwriter Jeff Socia’s debut album to some robust Americana gems. Read the reviews, listen to the music at Local Spins.
Albums that Changed the World · Audio
Local Spins continues its series showcasing recordings that most influenced Michigan musicians. Today, we asked in-demand Rockford horn player Paul Keen — a veteran orchestra and big band musician — for his picks of albums that shaped his career.
Artist Spotlights · Audio · Playlists
Over the last couple of months, Local Spins has debuted impressive music by new or little-known Michigan artists who deserve more attention. Here are 12 tracks by them that you shouldn’t miss, from Mark Huizenga to L. Supreme to Colt Snuffer & The Dead Horsemen.
Led by an ambitious tribute to David Bowie, Local Spins has culled some of the best music videos created by West Michigan artists over the past few months for this January roundup, including videos featuring Jordan VanHemert, Rick Chyme, Wuzee and others. Watch all of the videos and get the back story on Mike Dodge’s impressive video homage to Bowie.
Concert announcements · Live-Stream Concerts · Upcoming shows
The historic Grand Rapids venue will ‘keep music alive’ in 2021 by hosting a wide array of virtual shows starring Ralston Bowles, Michael Crittenden, Roger MacNaughton, Rachael & Dominic Davis and many others. Check out the lineup of upcoming concerts at Local Spins.
Album reviews · Audio · Videos
The first regional albums roundup of 2020 spotlights artists from Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo to Traverse City, and covers a broad spectrum of genres. Get the lowdown on these recordings and sample tracks from all of the releases.
Features · Top 10 Lists · Videos
Part II of Local Spins’ spotlight on the year’s best releases — from Lianne La Havas to Fontaines D.C. to Tame Impala to Fiona Apple to Earth Radio — focuses on music selected by West Michigan musicians and Local Spins readers. Check out their picks; listen to the songs.
Playlists · Top 10 Lists · Videos
Today, we spotlight the local and regional albums that most dominated the Local Spins Hot Top 5 charts at WYCE-FM during the year of the pandemic, from Medicinal Groove to The War and Treaty, with plenty of gems in between. See which Michigan artists made a splash and listen to tracks from all of the recordings as part of this week’s playlist.
For this Election Day playlist, Local Spins asked a panel of musicians to cast their ballots for emerging black artists with great potential from the region who deserve a brighter spotlight. Browse their picks, listen to the music.
From Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo to Port Huron, this week’s batch of album reviews covers a half-dozen new releases from Michigan artists covering a wide spectrum of genres. Learn more about these recordings and listen to tracks from each of the featured artists at Local Spins.
Features · Live-Stream Concerts · Upcoming shows · Videos
The renowned, international touring ensemble will play to a socially distanced audience in Manistee this weekend, with the show — sponsored by West Shore Community College — also live-streamed across the country. Learn more at Local Spins.
Playlists · Top 10 Lists · Videos
Grammy Award-winning stars from folk, country, jazz and classical music light up this special Tuesday playlist compiled by Cathy Holbrook, director of the historic Grand Rapids concert venue. Check out the songs, watch the videos.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
Outdoor shows are beginning to wane as West Michigan moves into mid-October, but live music continues to pop up in a few spots across the region. As always, get the lowdown on the Big List.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
PerShayla opens up about her new power trio for Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuted tracks by Barrel Bones, Trifocal, Blushing Monk, The Messenger Birds and more. Read Artist Spotlight feature, listen to the full radio show podcast.
Artist Spotlights · Audio · Hot Top 5
The Grand Rapids ensemble’s latest project joins releases by Earth Radio, Crispin Campbell and Cameron Blake as new entries on the September chart. View the chart and listen to tracks from each featured album at Local Spins.
Album reviews · Audio · Videos
A half-dozen new releases by Michigan artists — from Detroit’s The Messenger Birds to the U.P.’s John Davey — are showcased via reviews, audio samples and more at Local Spins. It’s an eclectic bunch of albums, from jazz to prog-pop to soulful Americana to vintage country.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Glorious late-September weather provided the perfect setting for several high-profile outdoor shows in Grand Rapids, from Earth Radio to Melophobix. The recaps, photos and video highlights at Local Spins.
Album Releases · Album reviews · Audio
A busy year for new Michigan releases amid a pandemic gives music fans a lot to savor, including impressive albums by four Grand Rapids artists as well as northern Michigan’s Biomassive and the trio of Pico, Chown & Sears. Read the reviews, listen to music from each of the spotlighted artists.
Album reviews · Audio · Videos
Amid a flood of new regional releases, Local Spins delves into albums and EPs by an eclectic bunch of artists for this roundup of reviews. Find out more about the recordings and listen to tracks from each album.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Live music in the great outdoors took several different forms across the region — from Benton Harbor to Grand Rapids to a farm east of Gaylord, with performances by Mark Lavengood, Jenna Mammina and many more. Local Spins traveled hundreds of miles for images of what’s become a rarity this summer due to COVID-19: Live music.
Grand Rapids’ Nicholas James Thomasma and Ian Thompson return to the chart for the second month in a row, too. Listen to tracks from all of the featured albums at Local Spins.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
The great outdoors still dominates concert listings as the most popular and safest places to enjoy live music in late July. Check out this week’s guide to live shows at Local Spins.
Breaking music news · Concert announcements · Summer Festivals
Two more August music festivals in Michigan have decided to skip 2020 due to the pandemic, with September’s jazz festival in Detroit turning to an elaborate live-stream and televised event. Get the details at Local Spins.
Audio · Playlists · Top 10 Lists · Videos
The keyboardist for West Michigan’s Earth Radio and frontman for Blushing Monk unfurls a Top 10 soundtrack featuring Khruangbin, Anderson .Paak, Cory Henry, Brother Gabe and other timely, ‘feel-good grooves’ — some inspired by recent events. Check out his picks, watch the videos and listen to the full playlist on Spotify.
Plan your week with a sampling of live music events at bars, breweries and eateries across West Michigan — including the return of Grand Rapids’ Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill, with new health precautions amid the COVID-19 pandemic. There’s even a parking lot jazz performance to check out. Details at Local Spins.
Audio · Playlists · Top 10 Lists · Videos
Popular Grand Rapids jam band Desmond Jones whipped up a Top 10 roster of group members’ favorite songs during the current coronavirus pandemic, from D’Angelo to Thundercat. Watch the videos, listen to the Local Spins playlist on Spotify.
