Commentary · Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
Musicians and prospective festival organizers have “sold out” a Tuesday networking/roundtable session at Grand Rapids’ Listening Room probing the mysteries – and basics – of music festivals. Learn more about the session and get some tips from a veteran festival organizer and musician.
Concert announcements · Summer Festivals
Mainstay and ‘house band’ The String Cheese Incident, not surprisingly, is also part of the lineup announced today for the 10th anniversary celebration of the Electric Forest festival in Rothbury, Michigan. See the full roster of acts playing next June. Advance sales of wristbands begin Wednesday.
Breaking music news · Summer Festivals
The Electric Forest announcements top news items about several 2020 Michigan music festivals. Get the lowdown on new Electric Forest features, changes in other Michigan festivals and links at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
Last weekend’s Earthwork Harvest Gathering endured rainy weather to roll out a host of memorable performances by Michigan artists for a record crowd, not to mention a wedding and more. The recap, photo gallery and video highlights at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
The season-ending Lake City-area music festival drew hundreds of musicians and thousands of revelers for an opening salvo of magical experiences. Check out the first-day highlights and a photo gallery at Local Spins.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
The season-ending music festival outside Lake City will unfurl next weekend with more than 130 performances by regional stars on four stages. See why musicians think this event is so special and check out the weekend schedule at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
The 46th edition of this much-admired Michigan music festival rolled out last weekend with a hefty slate of national and regional roots music stars. The recap by Local Spins’ Ricky Olmos, with photos by Anna Sink.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
The week also features Reverend Raven, Sebastian Bach, Patty PerShayla, Laith Al-Saadi, Langhorne Slim, Deerfield Run and Project 1’s first-ever Blue Bridge Amplified. Get the complete concert lowdown in this week’s Big List Concert Guide at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
The Way Down Wanderers and Arkansauce also performed Saturday at the Earth’s Edge/Courtyard Concerts event in Mill Point Park. Get the recap and browse a photo gallery at Local Spins.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows · Videos
The “adventurous” event at Mill Point Park also stars The Way Down Wanderers and Arkansauce. Get the lowdown about this first-time event at Local Spins and watch videos of the featured performers.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
Among the national and international folk/roots music stars at next weekend’s 46th Wheatland will be several Michigan acts who will treasure their time in the spotlight. See why it’s special for them and check out the full Main and Centennial stage schedules.
Ontonagon resident Cheryl Sundberg has directed the Porcupine Mountains Music Festival for several years and watched it grow. She chatted with Local Spins about what makes this fest in the wilderness so special and how it helps nurture music in the Upper Peninsula — a follow-up to our report on the event.
Venturing more than eight hours from Grand Rapids, Local Spins editor John Sinkevics recently immersed himself in the unique, magical charm of a remote U.P. musical celebration. Here’s his report on this relatively unknown Michigan gem, with a photo gallery and video.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
The third year of the regional music fest unfurled last weekend in Sidney north of Grand Rapids. Local Spins asked some of the performers to pick their favorite experiences, with a photo gallery by Anna Sink.
The popular multi-city music festival returned Friday for the third time to show some love to the city of Grand Rapids, and the city — or at least, those packing Belknap Park — gave it right back. The Local Spins review of opening day.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
The two-day festival kicking off Friday at Grand Rapids’ Belknap Park has a bevy of must-see acts says Local Spins columnist Todd Ernst. Read his preview, check out the schedule at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
The Hoxeyville Music Festival in the Manistee National Forest near Wellston wrapped up Sunday with two memorable sets by bluegrass star Billy Strings. But Local Spins’ Ricky Olmos found plenty more to like about Hoxey 2019, with photos by Anna Sink.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
The festival in Sidney, north of Grand Rapids, fires up this weekend — moving this year from late September to August — with performances by 16 regional acts. Get and save the schedule, along with more details at Local Spins.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
A busy late-summer festival week also features Reignwolf, Desmond Jones, That Beatles Thing, Seth Bernard, 28th Street Metro Cruise, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Polish Festival, Wax Motif and more. Alabama’s Friday concert, however, has been postponed.
Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
The first day of GRandJazzFest 2019 at Rosa Parks Circle brought brilliant summer weather and brilliant musicianship with crowds growing into the evening to celebrate the final sets of the day. The recap, photo gallery and a video at Local Spins. The festival continues Sunday.
Hoxeyville Music Festival unfurls this weekend in northern Michigan with a who’s who lineup and lots of groovy activities. Local Spins and some festival performers preview the three-day affair. Check out the Hoxeyville schedule which you can save on your smartphone to take along and listen to a playlist of festival performers.
Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
The Bootstrap Boys, Fauxgrass, Mark Lavengood, Desmond Jones, Trifocal, Melophobix and more were just some of the highlights from a Cowpie fest that may have been the best yet. Browse the photos, watch the videos, read the recap of the weekend on Shagbark Farm.
With 46 bands playing 23 venues on Saturday, the unusual Walk the Beat event returned to this lakeshore community after a one-year hiaturs and boasted another first: a tie for second place. Get the complete lowdown with a photo gallery at Local Spins.
Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
The music festival on Shagbark Farm near Caledonia reveled in perfect summer weather on Thursday while firing up stages with music by Sophistafunk, Jesse Ray & The Carolina Catfish, Cabildo, Megan Dooley, SlimGypsyBaggage, Mungion, The Legal Immigrants, The Gasoline Gypsies and more. Check out the recap, photo gallery and video only at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Audio · Summer Festivals · Videos
This weekend’s festival near Johannesburg, east of Gaylord, unfurls with a huge roster of Michigan acts, including Traverse City’s Chris Michels, who’s fast building a fan base for his funky, jazzy music. Read more about the festival and MIchels, and listen to his music
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
The second week of August also boasts Beach House, JD McPherson, Bass Country, Low Cut Connie, Grasshoppah, Tommy Tutone, Farmfest, I Prevail, likemelikeyou, a John Prine Tribute, Sparta Celtic Fest and more. Plus, win tix to Tutone and Cowpie.
Summer Festivals · Weekend Photo Gallery
West Michigan’s week of live music boasted an assortment of touring stars — from pop to country to ska-punk/reggae to bluegrass — captured in images at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Kalamazoo · Photos · Summer Festivals
The three-day event in downtown Kalamazoo boasted standout performances from national stars, a Michigan blues-rock phenom and local faves. Get the recap and photo gallery at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
The annual Upper Peninsula festival hosted by Graham Parsons of The Go Rounds once again attracted a loving bunch of regional bands and solo artists. Local Spins asked them for their festival highlights. Check out their picks and browse the photo gallery.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
The Detroit music festival wrapped up Sunday night after two days of fun in the sun for thousands of concertgoers. Revisit the action in this Local Spins recap and photo gallery.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
The opening day of the 2019 festival in West Riverfront Park blessed thousands of attendees with sunny weather and a cavalcade of pop, hip hop and indie-rock. Get the highlights, browse the photo gallery at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
Local Spins asked several performers from last weekend’s Beaver Island Music Festival to choose three highlights that stood out. Read their picks and browse a photo gallery, only at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
Local Spins asked several performers from last weekend’s 39th edition of Blissfest in northern Michigan to choose three highlights that stood out. Check out their picks and browse a photo gallery by Anna Sink.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
The 2019 edition of the festival staged on an island in northern Lake Michigan unfurls Thursday for three days of live music by national and regional acts. See and save the main stage schedule and get festival details at Local Spins.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
Kicking off with Amos Lee, the live music week in West Michigan also boasts Static X, Lady Ace Boogie’s hip hop showcase, Chuck Mead & Jim Lauderdale, South Haven’s Rhythm on the River, The Gipsy Kings, Gunnar & The Grizzly Boys, Cabildo and more. Plus, win tickets to see Poco, Firefall and Pure Prairie League in Grand Haven.
Concert reviews · Summer Festivals · Weekend Photo Gallery
Gorgeous summer weather greeted attendees at the Kalamazoo Blues Festival this weekend, but there were indoor shows of merit in West Michigan, too. Check out the photo galleries from another busy summer week of live music at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Kalamazoo · Photos · Summer Festivals
The first day of the 2019 festival in downtown Kalamazoo drew blues devotees for everything from local faves Out of Favor Boys to Nikki Hill, Duwayne Burnside and Gatorboys. Browse the Local Spins photo gallery.
Artist Spotlights · Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
Michigan acts ranging from Joe Hertler to Galactic Sherpas will join national stars Amy Helm, Canned Heat and Sam Bush at the 39th annual edition of “Bliss” this weekend. Get details and the full schedule at Local Spins — and find out why musicians love this festival so much.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
Johnnyswim starts a week that also boasts the GR Symphony Picnic Pops, Muskegon’s birthday bash, Winnow, GRAM on the Green, Gringo Star, Between the Buried and Me, Tuesday Evening Music Club and more. Plus, win tickets to the upcoming Poco/Nightfall/Pure Prairie League concert in Grand Haven.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals · Top 10 Lists
Local Spins writer Ryan Boldrey made the most of his first Electric Forest experience and came up with his Top 10 impressions from a wondrous weekend in the woods of Rothbury. Check out his picks and browse the photo gallery by Anna Sink.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
The Fourth of July holiday week also delivers musical fireworks from Beths, Delta Rae, Kyle Jennings, Go Rounds, the return of Pedro’s Pig Roast and much more. Plus, see how you can win tickets to see the uber-energetic rock ‘n’ roll of Nikki Hill.
Commentary · Photos · Summer Festivals
Three days at the wondrous and sprawling festival in Rothbury can feel like a year anywhere else. Local Spins writer Ryan Boldrey immersed himself in Electric Forest for the first time and found surprises throughout, as well as a supportive, caring ‘Forest Family’ that extends to a drug-free faction of the community. Check out his column, browse the photo gallery.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
The four-day festival in Lansing reveled in summer weather and a rock vibe, with hip hop, country and electronic music still to come. Check out the opening-day recap and Local Spins photo gallery featuring Brandi Carlile, Robert Randolph and City and Colour.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
More than 45,000 strong flooded the sprawling site in Rothbury on Thursday, with a Michigan favorite getting the music train rolling. Get the first-day recap and browse the robust photo gallery at Local Spins.
Breaking music news · Summer Festivals
After taking a hiatus in 2018, the popular and unusual festival featuring local and regional acts playing nearly two dozen venues is back in this lakeshore community. See the lineup, get details at Local Spins.
Features · Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
For the ninth year, the much-ballyhooed Electric Forest music festival ramps up this weekend with electronic music, jams, psychedelic art installations and a hippie vibe. Get the lowdown, Forest rules and a preview at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
With a jump in attendance from last year, Founders Fest 2019 drew thousands for a beer-propelled Grand Rapids street party with no shortage of dynamic sets by national and regional acts. Check out the review and recap at Local Spins, along with two photo galleries and three videos.
With a chill, laid-back atmosphere, the 10th edition of the Grand River Water Festival spilled out along the Grand River in Grand Rapids on Saturday. Get the recap and browse the photo gallery at Local Spins.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
Saturday’s day-long affair in Riverside Park will once again blend music with water education. See the full schedule for Grand River Water Festival 2019 and a festival playlist at Local Spins, and find out why this is such a beloved event for many Michiganders.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
Dodging some rain, Saturday’s festival on Calder Plaza boasted live music from MAX, Sizzy Rocket, Mya and local musicians, drag displays and food, with an inspirational vibe for the LGBTQ community. Recap and photos at Local Spins.
