Concert announcements · Summer Festivals · Videos
The lineup announced for the late June music festival in Trufant also features Michigan favorites Act Casual, Jordan Hamilton, Lady Ace Boogie, Roosevelt Diggs, Melophobix and more. Get details and the full Smiling Acres lineup at Local Spins.
Top 10 Lists · Top Stories of the Year Countdown
The stunning news came in February, ending an era that began in 1970 as the city’s first celebration of the arts. Performers, attendees and volunteers reacted overwhelmingly with sadness and disappointment. Revisit the announcement as part of our ‘Top Stories of 2025’ countdown.
Photos · Summer Festivals · Top Stories of the Year Countdown
The guitar phenom in June headlined Day 1 of the Charlotte Bluegrass Festival, the first festival he ever attended as a boy. Later that night, sadly, his mother died. The recap in our top stories countdown.
Announcements · Festivals · Photos · Special Offers
They’re back and for 2026, they’re more resplendent than ever. The Local Spins 2026 Calendars are photo-laden Michigan-centric keepsakes that make stellar holiday gifts. Order yours today because supplies are limited.
Announcements · Contests · Photos · Summer Festivals
In early June, we asked music fans attending summer festivals across Michigan to submit their favorite photos from their musical jaunts. Today, we crown the winner. Plus, browse photos of all of the contest entries and select galleries from Local Spins photographers from the 2025 summer festival season.
Features · Summer Concerts · Summer Festivals
Staff and fans offered a long list of summer 2025’s most impressive shows, including Billy Strings, Blissfest, The Revivalists, Alison Krauss, Wheatland, The Accidentals and more. View their picks; add your own.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
Reflecting the milieu of the entire seven-day music festival, Sunday’s closing salvo at Bronson Park boasted a wide swath of styles amid stellar weather. The recap and photos at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
West Michigan’s live music weekend boasted no shortage of stars — national and regional, from a fast-rising country singer with a multi-talented Michigander in tow to summer’s final blast at Bell’s Beer Garden and more. View the photos and videos, exclusively at Local Spins.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows · Videos
The fourth-year, week-long Sounds of the Zoo music festival will unfold on eight stages over seven days starting Monday with more than four dozen bands and solo artists. Get the preview and schedule at Local Spins.
Summer Festivals · Weekend Photo Gallery
Music lovers couldn’t have asked for much more: Regional bands at Vibes Fest, Celtic strains in Muskegon, an M-45 Celebration, two album-release shows in Kalamazoo and a tour stop by Soccer Mommy. The photos at Local Spins.
Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
One of Michigan’s longest-running music festivals embraced everything from traditional music to rock, funk and more on several stages and amid the woods in Remus last weekend. The Local Spins recap, photos and video.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
The early September flurry of concerts and festivals across West Michigan included a long-running Grand Rapids street fair and celebrations in Kalamazoo, plus concerts featuring Jauz, The Nuance, Sunny War and more. Browse the photo galleries and come back to Local Spins on Tuesday for full coverage of the Wheatland Music Festival.
Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
Next week’s celebration in Muskegon boasts international stars as well as regional Celtic favorites. Get the preview and listen to this week’s Michigan Music Showcase featuring performers at several September festivals and concerts.
Summer Festivals · Top 10 Lists · Upcoming shows · Videos
While festival season has started to wind down, Michigan’s September lineup still boasts several big events as well as concerts by national touring acts. View our ‘Big List,’ with links to more information and tickets.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
The 52nd Wheatland Music Festival unfurls in Remus this weekend with big names such as Solas and Steve Poltz, plus Michigan faves The Go Rounds, Benzie Playboys and more. The Local Spins preview, with a full performance schedule.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Upcoming shows
Local Spins spotlights Graham Parsons and the Kalamazoo rock/pop band that plays Wheatland Music Festival next week. Plus, we debut tracks from Chloe Kimes, i.am.james., Spuddies, The Nuance and more.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
Local Spins’ ‘Looking for the Perfect Beat’ columnist Todd Ernst previews next weekend’s electronic music fest in Chicago, just a short drive away for Michigan fans of major electronic music stars. Get the details, must-see picks and a user guide at Local Spins.
Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
Two festivals in different parts of the city attracted fans for a wide variety of music unleashed by Michigan bands amid splendid summer weather. Photos, videos and recaps at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
The soulful Americana stars didn’t let rain and a power outage prevent them from delighting fans Saturday with an acoustic performance following the city’s 20-band Walk the Beat fest — with Lowell’s The Nuance winning this year’s competition. Recap, photos, video
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
Local Spins previews the return of Downtown Grand Rapids Inc.’s free, two-day festival in the Monroe North district, with sets by bands and DJs, as well as traveling art installations. View the performance schedule.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
The ‘hyper-local’ celebration at Sullivan Field will feature sets by Ficus, Common Molly, Squatch, Clipboards and four other bands, with art vendors, food trucks and more on tap. Details, schedule at Local Spins.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
This weekend’s celebrations in Free Soil and in the farthest reaches of the Upper Peninsula both boast all-star casts. Get the lowdown, schedules, ticket links and more at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
The California rockers returned Sunday to Meijer Gardens, closing out a weekend of electronic mayhem at Breakaway, a goodbye for a GR favorite and Lettuce in Paw Paw. Check out the CAKE review and browse photos from all of the shows at Local Spins.
The opening day of the 2025 music festival in Grand Rapids on Friday sizzled with sets from up-and-coming stars as well as established acts such as Zedd, Gryffin, Disco Lines and more. The recap and photos at Local Spins, along with Saturday’s festival schedule.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
Local Spins’ Looking for the Perfect Beat columnist Todd Ernst digs into the offerings and artists of the electronic music celebration unfolding this weekend at Grand Rapids’ Belknap Park. Get the lowdown and the schedule.
Concert reviews · Summer Festivals · Weekend Photo Gallery
Ignoring another heat wave, crowds came to cheer Christian music stars in Muskegon, a mummified funk fave in Kalamazoo, jam bands in Paw Paw, a festival debut in northern Michigan and more. The photo and event recaps at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
Saturday’s festival on the city’s East Side featured performances by more than four dozen Michigan bands and solo artists in sunny, super-hot weather.
Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Summer Festivals
Local Spins chats with Shagbark fest honcho Farmer John Crissman about taking 2025 off and the challenges facing many festivals. On the flip side, our podcast features artists playing a host of August festivals.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
Saturday’s return of the popular Michigan festival and band competition will rev up two dozen venues on Grand Haven’s East Side. The lowdown and schedule at Local Spins.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
The new festival taking place on the same site as the former Hoxeyville Music Festival in Wellston turns the ignition on musical fun starting Friday. Get the details and lineup at Local Spins.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
The four-day festival filled with Christian music stars returns to Muskegon’s Heritage Landing starting on Wednesday. The preview, Chapman interview and schedule at Local Spins.
The cozy music festival staged last weekend in Morley boasted sets by two dozen bands and solo acts, including New York reggae outfit Aqua Cherry, who closed it out with a gleeful bang. Recap, photo gallery.
Announcements · Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
The week-long festival taking place at various Kalamazoo venues in late September has revealed its 2025 lineup, which includes premiere of the ‘Kalamazoo Gals’ documentary. View the schedule at Local[…]
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows · Videos
Dunesville rolls out again this weekend on a picturesque northern Michigan site near Interlochen with Organ Fairchild, Dixon’s Violin, Third Coast Swing, Galactic Sherpas and more. The guide and schedule.[…]
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
The six-day festival at Smiling Acres this week will feature performances by Elisabeth Pixley-Fink, Be Steadwell, Crys Matthews and more, along with workshops and vendors. Details at Local Spins.
The annual musical celebration on a picturesque island in northern Lake Michigan rolled out last weekend with its unique and remote flair. A recap and photos at Local Spins.
Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
The hard-driving Upheaval Festival returned to Belknap Park on Friday amid sunny skies that drew throngs of hyper-energetic metal fans who cheered bands on three stages. The recap, photos and video.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
Unfolding for the 43rd time on a picturesque site north of Harbor Springs, last weekend’s Blissfest brought it all: international touring acts, Michigan favorites, family entertainment and more. Browse the photos, check out some Blissfest highlights.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
It takes some work to get there, but this annual, remote Michigan festival is always worth the trip and unique in its character. And this year’s festival even survived winter storm damage. Get the back story, the festival lineup and more at Local Spins.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows · Videos
Unfolding this weekend north of Harbor Springs, the star-studded festival features Trevor Hall, Ozomatli, Steve Poltz, Michigan native Lindsay Lou, Rachael Davis and many more. Lindsay Lou says it changed her life; Rachael Davis performed at her first Bliss at age 2. The Local Spins preview.
Summer Concerts · Summer Festivals
July is heating up with live music across the state at indoor and outdoor venues, and at a bevy of festivals, big and small. Here are our picks for can’t-miss events.
Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
The three-day festival outside Trufant kicked off on Friday with a bevy of popular Michigan acts, and continues through the weekend. The recap, photos and video at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
Another rousing Electric Forest is in the books, with Michigan’s biggest music festival wrapping up in the wee hours Monday morning. Check out the highlights and our resplendent photo galleries.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
The last weekend in June marks the return of Smiling Acres Music Festival in Trufant with sets by May Erlewine, Jason Singer of Michigander, The Go Rounds and many more. The preview, schedule and ticket links at Local Spins.
Playing solo, the guitar phenom headlined the opening night of the Charlotte Bluegrass Festival, the first festival he ever attended as a young lad. The recap, fan quips and photos at Local Spins.
Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
The state’s largest and most celebrated music festival rolled out Thursday in Rothbury with a host of internationally renowned electronic music stars and a couple of Michigan acts. The recap, photos and video at Local Spins.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
The intimate, long-running festival at Eaton County Fairgrounds boasts a ‘surprise’ Thursday headlining set by Billy Strings, but also features a host of national bluegrass acts.
Looking for the Perfect Beat · Summer Festivals · Videos
‘Looking for the Perfect Beat’ columnist Todd Ernst not only gives readers a heads-up on can’t-miss sets at this weekend’s extravaganza — including those with a Michigan slant — but some visitor tips as well. Our guide also features the four-day performer lineup, a festival map and ticket links.
Concert reviews · Summer Festivals · Weekend Photo Gallery
It was another action-packed weekend of live music, the mid-June array of shows and festival romps recapped in words and photos at Local Spins.
The first night of the three-day music festival at Circle Pines Center south of Grand Rapids embraced regional artists and more. The recap, photos and the rest of the weekend lineup, exclusively at Local Spins.
