Announcements · Breaking music news · Upcoming shows
The “family reunion” Farm Block festival held in July in the far reaches of the U.P. boasts familiar Michigan acts and supports a good cause. Meanwhile, Cedar Springs Brewing will stage a one-day “beer tent” fest on April 2. Get details and the lineup for both in this Local Spins story.
Breaking music news · Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
The Kent County festival on Shagbark Farm returns in August with roots music, funky jams, soul, bluegrass and blues. Check out the full lineup and details, with links to photos and a video from last year’s festival.
Features · Local Spins at SXSW · Upcoming shows
The Accidentals, Heaters, Flint Eastwood, Rick Chyme, LOUIS, The Outer Vibe and many more Michigan bands travel to Texas this week in hopes of making waves at the music industry’s biggest conference and festival. Check out who’s headed South and return to Local Spins throughout the week for SXSW updates.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
The sixth annual three-day festival at Circle Pines Center south of Grand Rapids returns June 10-12 with a who’s who lineup of Michigan stars and a family-friendly vibe. Check out the full lineup of bands and solo artists that Buttermilk Jamboree has booked.
Announcements · Breaking music news
Hundreds of bands, dance groups and other performers fill stages downtown every year at Festival. But the application deadline is fast approaching. Get details here, with a link to the online application form.
For Local Spins readers, 13 is a lucky number. With the harrowing holiday falling on a weekend, we’ve picked a baker’s dozen of Halloween bashes to haunt your Saturday night. Check out the full list, then pull out your craziest costume.
The Eddy music festival wrapped up with Bradley and his soulful band on Saturday, a day which also saw compelling performances from An Dro and bands playing the Hasting Roots Music Festival. Check out the images and a video at Local Spins, plus photos from Dopapod in Kalamazoo.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
ArtPrize dominated the entertainment landscape in its final week, but there was some boffo music to be found in the Grand Rapids area if you knew where to find it. Local Spins did. Check out the photo gallery from this week’s live music spectacles.
Lagging, disappointing turnouts and low ticket sales for concerts force Traverse City promoter to scale back lineups for remaining shows at the outdoor venue. Sunday’s Beatles tribute concert has been canceled, but the Charles Bradley concert on Saturday is still a go.
Concert announcements · Upcoming shows
The Ragbirds, Big Dudee Roo, Fauxgrass, Peter Madcat Ruth, Nicholas James & The Bandwagon, Chuck Whiting and more will pump up downtown Hastings for the free celebration. Read the story and check out the full Saturday schedule.
Breaking music news · Features · Videos
A Michigan country jamboree and The Avett Brothers kick things off this weekend, with Porterhouse Presents also offering up Charles Bradley, Ozomatli, Billy Strings, silent discos, food and beer on the site. Get the scoop on this new outdoor venue, and view (and save) the opening weekend schedule.
Breaking music news · Upcoming shows
It launches tonight (Wednesday) at SpeakEZ Lounge with ArtPrize song entrants and continues with a new outdoor venue, Michigan House’s indoor space and 150-plus busking performances around Grand Rapids. Get the lowdown on all of the ArtPrize-related music options.
Concert announcements · Summer Concerts · Upcoming shows
This weekend’s inaugural music festival on the water boasts sets by more than 20 Michigan acts with unique amenities, including wine and music cruises. And more music events are planned for the northern Michigan site in 2016. Read the story and check out the schedule.
Three Grand Rapids-area events dominated the landscape musically, but there was much more across West Michigan: Taking Back Sunday, Mustard Plug, Megan Dooley, Delilah DeWylde, Blake Elliott and Full Cord. Check out all the colorful photo galleries at Local Spins.
New ArtPrize musical offerings range from The Eddy outdoor venue to Michigan House’s intimate indoor performance space, plus more than 150 busking performances in five locations around the city. Check out the robust lineup of live music offerings during ArtPrize in this Local Spins roundup.
For the 42nd year, Wheatland’s special vibe was on display last weekend, propelled by performances from Dervish, Bill Kirchen, Joshua Davis, Blind Boy Paxton and many more. Check out the colorful photo gallery from a special weekend.
Guest Column · Playlists · Upcoming shows · Videos
Guest columnist Mark Lavengood, better known as the resonator guitar whiz in Lindsay Lou & The Flatbellys, waxes eloquent about this weekend’s musician-rich Earthwork Harvest Gathering and why it’s a world-class affair. And listen to a Local Spins playlist of songs by Michigan artists playing this year’s festival.
It’s a one-two punch of regional music in Grand Rapids. On Saturday, Eastown Street Fair boasts sets by 15 bands on two stages. Meanwhile, Tip Top Deluxe hosts a Sunday showcase of hip hop, funk and R&B. Get the full schedules here at Local Spins.
Features · Playlists · Summer Concerts · Upcoming shows
This weekend’s folk festival amid rural splendor boasts international roots music stars, but also showcases top-notch Michigan acts such as Joshua Davis, Lindsay Lou and Gifts or Creatures. Read the story and save the performance schedule on your smartphone to take along to Wheatland. And if you’re unfamiliar with some of the artists, check out the Local Spins playlist of songs by featured acts.
Commentary · Concert reviews · Summer Concerts · Weekend Photo Gallery
CD-release shows and late summer festivals dominated a wet and cool August week, along with a first-time country show in Ionia and a packed Wealthy Theatre tour stop by May Erlewine and The Moonlighters. Check out all the photos at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Concerts · Videos
With thousands of attendees reveling in sets by some of Michigan’s biggest stars, last weekend’s Hoxeyville was a true celebration of ‘the good stuff’ — most of it by regional acts. Read the story and check out the photos and video.
Concert reviews · Features · Photos · Videos
The Detroit area’s Third Degree Burns and Grand Rapids’ Roosevelt Diggs win the grand prizes in the unusual competition and music showcase. Read the story and check out the photo gallery and video from an event described as “music’s ArtPrize.”
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Concert reviews · Features · Photos · Summer Concerts
Stars such as Mike Frost Project 2.0, Grupo Aye, Grand Rapids Jazz Orchestra, Brian Simpson & Jackiem Joyner and Paul Brown & Nate Harasim heated things up in Grand Rapids on Saturday. See the full Sunday schedule here. Read the story and ogle the complete photo gallery.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Concerts
The charming music festival in the Manistee National Forest kicked off the weekend with one of its biggest crowds yet, and another ‘grass-idelic’ display by faves Greensky Bluegrass. Read the round-up of opening night and check out the photo gallery in a Local Spins exclusive.
Features · Summer Concerts · Upcoming shows
With 60 bands vying to win a grand prize worth $10,000-plus, the Saturday afternoon bonanza of music takes over the lakeshore town. Get details and see how the second annual event has upped the ante.
Features · Summer Concerts · Upcoming shows
“We love us some Hoxey!” One of Michigan musicians’ favorite summer festivals heats up Manistee National Forest this weekend on two stages for three days and 30-plus performances. Starting small all those years ago, Hoxeyville has grown up but remains a “special place” for bands such as Greensky Bluegrass. Check out the full daily lineup.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Concerts
Despite overcast skies and stray sprinkles, Shagbark Farm’s celebration of regional music launched Friday with a joyful vibe and stellar music, with more to come Saturday. Read the recap of Friday’s opening volley and check out the photos from this unique festival.
Summer Concerts · Upcoming shows
We’ve already told you about Cowpie Music Festival, but there are way more music fests on tap this weekend, from Kalamazoo to Sparta to Gaylord to New Buffalo. And they cover every genre imaginable, from blues to country to punk to folk to Celtic. Check out the lineups and downloadable schedules at Local Spins.
Features · Summer Concerts · Upcoming shows
National act Bill Kirchen and local faves Luke Warm & The Not So Hots, Rochelle & The Spoilers, Tony LaJoye Trio, Macpodz, Rootstand, Legal Immigrants, Big Dudee Roo, Afro Zuma and more will light up this weekend’s farm bash. Get the full schedule and details here.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Whether your tastes ran from the droll Garrison Keillor to the soul of The Temptations and The Soul Syndicate to the rap of ConvoTronics, summer’s music machine kept whirring this week — captured in images at Local Spins.
Breaking music news · Concert announcements · Top 10 Lists
Tickets for The Avett Brothers’ Oct. 3 concert go on sale next week; the unique, tented ‘Eddy’ venue off Monroe Avenue NW can hold 4,000 and will be part festival, part art project, part food and beer event. The ambitious 11-day affair aims to announce more acts in coming weeks. Read more about it at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Summer Concerts · Videos
AOK’s signing with Hot Capicola Records opens door to a slew of projects, including music video debut for “The Life,” with a vinyl EP to be released and new album in the works. Read the story, check out the video and find out more about this weekend’s expanded Broomhead Art & Music Festival.
Concert reviews · Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
Summer heated up this week on the live music front, with national and local acts pumping up West Michigan audiences. And some big names rolled into Meijer Gardens, too, including Pat Benatar, The New Pornographers and Steve Miller. It’s all part of this week’s roundup in the Local Spins Weekend Photo Gallery.
National and regional stars graced several stages at the 35th annual festival southeast of Cross Village, attracting thousands for a weekend of music and art. Check out the Local Spins photo gallery.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
From Kalamazoo to Lansing to Grand Rapids, live music took center stage this week with the Tuesday Evening Music Club kickoff, Billy Strings & Don Julin, Nobody’s Darlin’, the season’s first GRAM on the Green show and much more in the mix. Check out the resplendent photo gallery with links to images from concerts by Mat Kearney, Patty Griffin, Mavis Staples and Joshua Davis.
Summer Concerts · Upcoming shows
It’s a big weekend for music festivals across Michigan. From Cross Village to Traverse City to Kalamazoo to Detroit, an eclectic blend of national and regional acts are spotlighted to bolster options for those traveling the Great Lakes State. Check out the lineups and details here, with links to schedules.
Features · Summer Concerts · Upcoming shows
Well-known regional acts Heartsick, Flint Eastwood, Joshua Davis, Steve Rivers, B. Sykes and more boost the six-day festival that kick off Tuesday. See who else is playing and check out the full Common Ground schedule.
On the fourth day in the woods of Rothbury, about 45,000 gleeful, radiant and tired hippie-hued music fans continued to celebrate with the likes of Yonder Mountain String Band, The Accidentals, String Cheese Incident and Gramatik before packing up. Check out the final photo gallery and roundup of this spectacle in Rothbury.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
No shortage of live music options across West Michigan now that summer is in full swing, captured here in images, from return of West Michigan Freedom Cruise and the Celadon series to Time & Luck in Spring Lake. Check out the mini-reviews and full photo gallery at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Features · Photos
Descending once again upon the tiny community of Rothbury, north of Muskegon, 40,000 wild and exuberant fans from across the globe created a special vibe on Thursday as the four-day festival kicked off in glorious fashion. Check out the amazing photo gallery by Anthony Norkus of Local Spins and come back all weekend for more coverage.
Features · Summer Concerts · Upcoming shows · Videos
It’s an exceptional collection of acts on tap Sunday for the festival at Riverside Park: Peter “Madcat” Ruth, Fauxgrass, Drew Nelson, K. Jones & The Benzie Playboys, Seth and May and much more. Read the story and see the complete schedule, which you can save on your smartphone.
Breaking music news · Summer Concerts · Upcoming shows
Benefiting two charities, the jam at the Ionia Free Fair also will feature Steve Azar, Gunnar & The Grizzly Boys, Kari Lynch, Steve Rivers and Shelby Ann-Marie. Tickets go on sale today. Read more about the inaugural event at Local Spins.
Features · Summer Concerts · Upcoming shows
‘Mind-blowing’ West Michigan festival led by String Cheese Incident and Bassnectar creates ‘strange wonderland’ starring select regional acts, with Grand Rapids’ Rick Chyme set to join The Accidentals on stage. Read the story and check out the weekend performance schedule for The Accidentals, The Ragbirds and Flint Eastwood.
Concert reviews · Summer Concerts · Weekend Photo Gallery
Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue’s debut at Meijer Gardens was just the capper on a music-filled week in the Grand Rapids area, captured in images at Local Spins. Check out the review of Sunday’s show, along with photos of concerts from the past week, including the Battle of the Bands finals at The Intersection.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
Several thousand music and beer fans once again jammed streets outside Founders Brewing on Saturday for sets by Nahko, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Gringo Star, Elephant Revival, Billy Strings & Don Julin, Devin & The Dead Frets, Organissimo and those lovable FBC All-Stars. Read the round-up and check out the photo gallery and video.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Despite some rainy weather, the shows must go on. And they did, with country’s Jake Owens and more in Martin, regional stars at Circle Pines Center, rock and blues in Rockford, and indoor gems in Grand Rapids. Check out three full photo galleries from all the events and a roundup of the week’s musical action at Local Spins.
Features · Upcoming shows · Videos
Set in an out-of-the-way camp between Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo, the three-day fest boasts sets by Billy Strings & Don Julin, The Crane Wives, The Accidentals, Alexis, Maraj, Brown Rice Family, That 1 Guy, Sparky & Rhonda Rucker and more. See the full schedule and save it on your smartphone.
Concert reviews · Summer Concerts
This year’s move from the zoo to Ah-Nab-Awen Park gets some mixed reviews but mostly a thumbs up from most fans who applauded the picturesque spot and sets from the West Ottawa High School Jazz Band on Monday night. Check out the story and photo gallery.
Concert reviews · Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
Grand Rapids overflowed with outdoor stages and nearly non-stop live music this weekend from a mind-bending array of artists. Check out the Local Spins photo gallery and some video highlights from Festival and what was likely the biggest Local First Street Party ever.
Features · Summer Concerts · Upcoming shows
With hundreds of West Michigan performers jamming stages in downtown Grand Rapids this weekend, Local Spins spotlights some must-see acts in this guide to “the best of Fest,” courtesy of Local Spins writers and some well-known local musicians. See who’ve they’ve picked.
