The first Buttermilk Jamboree since 2019 came off without a hitch with fan-friendly performances and a family-friendly atmosphere. Check out a recap and photo galleries.
Summer Festivals · Weekend Photo Gallery
Saturday’s brilliant weather offered an ideal backdrop for three diverse festivals: country’s B93 Bash at LMCU Ballpark, GR Pride Festival downtown and the second day of music at Circle Pines Center. Browse the photos at Local Spins.
On a picture-perfect Friday evening, a sold-out crowd packed the outdoor amphitheater for entertaining sets by both touring artists. The review and photos at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
The week’s intense heat lowered turnout for two popular concert series on Tuesday, but those that flocked to Rockford and to Meijer Gardens were treated to some sizzling performances. Photos, videos at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Concerts
Legendary Southern gospel act enjoyed a warm welcome, perfect weather at the popular outdoor amphitheater, while show opener Marc Cohn charmed the crowd with rich vocals, effusive humor. The review and photos at Local Spins.
West Michigan’s weekend kicked off with a musical bang, thanks to a much-anticipated Chvrches tour stop, not to mention Trixy Tang, Desmond Jones, Bronk Bros. & Roosevelt Diggs revving up Rockford and a Listening Lawn tribute to Tom Petty.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Concerts
The first concert in Meijer Gardens’ largest ever Tuesday Evening Music Club series unfurled under cloudless skies for a big crowd on Tuesday. The recap and photo gallery at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
The first weekend of June unleashed a musical torrent from Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo, with a rainbow of colors and diverse genres. Get the recaps and browse the photos at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
Attendance surged significantly on Days 2 and 3 for the return of Camp Greensky, which showcased the legendary Little Feat as well as numerous on-stage collaboration amid a camaraderie-filled weekend. Get the recap, browse the photo galleries and check out some video highlights.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
Thursday’s opening salvo of the music festival being held at southern Kent County’s Shagbark Farm boasted happy fans, rousing sets and perfect weather. Get the recap, browse the photo gallery and watch video highlights at Local Spins.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
Set to be staged for the first time since 2019 and for the first time in southern Kent County, the Camp Greensky festival is set to unfurl this weekend with Greensky Bluegrass, Little Feat, Steppin’ In It and more. Get the back story on what it takes to create a festival on a working cattle farm and view the schedule at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
A host of bands at varied locations got West Michigan’s summer started over the holiday weekend, from Bus Benefit on the lakeshore to shows at The Pyramid Scheme, The DAAC, The Stray and The Deck. Browse the photo galleries at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
A cool but welcoming atmosphere returned to Camp Blodgett for Buses by the Beach’s first Memorial Weekend festival since 2019. The recap and photos at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
A weekend of milestones: the first Bell’s Beer Garden show, the finals of B93’s Battle to the Bash, the State on the Street opener, Judy Collins at St. Cecilia Music Center’s final folk concert and a rare Rush tribute show. Browse the photo galleries at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
The six-act festival outside Studio Park started in the rain Saturday but ended with sun-splashed, audience-inspiring sets by Full Cord, Public Access and The Accidentals to put an upbeat cap on a week-long commemoration of Local Spins’ 10th anniversary. The recap of festival highlights, with photos and video.
Enthused, happy crowds cheered Friday’s Local Spins 10th anniversary double-header: Jake Kershaw and Hank Mowery at a packed Tip Top Deluxe, Desmond Jones with The Legal Immigrants at Elevation. Get the recaps and browse photo galleries at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
Thursday’s installment of Local Spins’ week-long anniversary bash boasted an unprecedented Beatles tribute on a rooftop in downtown Grand Rapids and a three-act hip-hop affair at The Pyramid Scheme. The recaps, photo galleries and a video at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
The first two concerts celebrating Local Spins Week at Listening Room attracted an all-ears attitude from fans enamored of the performers’ story-telling charm and top-shelf musicianship. Check out the recaps, photos and videos from Monday and Tuesday’s 10th anniversary kickoff.
Packed with fans, the downtown Grand Rapids church offered up a unique setting for NEEDTOBREATHE’s Tuesday tour stop. The concert review and photos at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
From an all-star Michigan band led by Eric O’Daly and Max Lockwood to tour stops by iconic artists such as The Wailers, Shawn Colvin and Dave Bruzza, Local Spins captured more than a half-dozen Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo concerts in striking images.
Artist Spotlights · Features · Videos
In its series profiling musicians and projects in Detroit and Southeast Michigan, Local Spins writer Enrique Olmos today spotlights the work of Great Alexander’s Alexander Vlachos and his ambitious Greater Impact House.
Concert reviews · Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
Fan fervor took many forms over the past week at concerts across West Michigan, from fist-pumping glee to pin-drop-quiet intensity. Revisit the concerts in vibrant images at Local Spins.
Saturday night’s Grand Rapids tour stop had the former Sting frontman unfurling more than 20 career-spanning songs, backed by a top-flight band. The review, photos and set list at Local Spins.
From ‘Don’t Stop Believin” to ‘Any Way You Want It,’ Journey on Wednesday gave West Michigan fans at Van Andel Arena a two-hour dose of classics, with Toto offering up a ‘crisp’ opening set. The Local Spins review and photos, with set lists for both bands.
Audio · Concert reviews · Hot Top 5 · Photos
The Saginaw blues guitarist played Listening Room on Tuesday, the same week that Local Spins revealed that his latest album had hit No. 1 at WYCE. See what other albums made the chart; listen to tracks at Local Spins and view a photo gallery from McCray’s Grand Rapids concert.
Concert reviews · Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
With a disparate batch of bands and solo artists touring behind new material, West Michigan got an earful over the weekend, including a B93 battle featuring regional country acts. See who’s moving on, get the show recaps and browse eight photo galleries at Local Spins.
With a new single and video on the way, the death metal trio Rip VanRipper revels in a DIY spirit and determination to ‘learn and expand’ while unleashing its crushing music. The Local Spins Artist Spotlight, with a track from the band’s most recent EP.
Concert reviews · Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
A dozen shows from Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo are recapped today in Local Spins photo galleries, including Megadeth, Elijah Russ, Echoes of Pink Floyd, Tambourina, Fake Baseball, Grace Theisen & a tribute to Motown. Browse all of the photos — and video highlights of Jesse Ray & The Carolina Catfish’s return to the stage — at Local Spins.
From Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo to the lakeshore, Saturday’s Record Store Day — after a stifling pandemic — brought throngs, live music, a parade and more to indie record stores. The report and photos.
Led by metal’s elder statesman, Dave Mustaine, Megadeth headlined Tuesday’s ‘Metal Tour of the Year’ stop in Grand Rapids, with Lamb of God offering up a ‘novelty’ set featuring a replacement lead singer. The Local Spins review by John Serba with photos by Anthony Norkus.
Artist Spotlights · Photos · Videos
Local Spins revisits the Michigan native and bluegrass star, as writer Enrique Olmos and photographer Loren Johnson join Lindsay Lou for a sunny afternoon of thrift shopping and songwriter talk in Nashville. The Artist Spotlight and photo gallery.
Firing up Van Andel Arena Sunday on the third night of his national tour, Jack White and company delivered another rock show for the ages. The review and photos at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
This week’s concert photo roundup covers the gamut from Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo: Haley Heynderickx, Low, Tre Burt, Carly Pearce, Electric Six, Full Cord, Dizzybird Records’ anniversary, Nathan Kalish & a benefit for Ukraine. Browse all of the photo galleries at Local Spins.
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.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
West Michigan’s concert week also heated up with Fit for a King, Rip VanRipper, SubDocta, Jesse James Dupree, Pretoria, Lipstick Jodi and more, all captured in Local Spins images. Browse the recaps and photo galleries.
With the Frankenmuth-bred stars playing five Michigan shows in a single week, the homecoming run began with a pyrotechnic flourish at Wings Event Center Thursday. Concert recap, photos and set list at Local Spins.
Singer-songwriter and Saline native Katie Pederson discusses moving to Nashville, building a community and the joys of running in a Local Spins interview conducted by Enrique Olmos in the Music City. The artist profile, photo gallery and video.
Led by one-time Grand Rapidian Maynard James Keenan, Tool’s Tuesday spectacle at Van Andel Arena proved to be a wildly creative mix of rock and multimedia magic. The review by John Serba with photos by Anthony Norkus.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
The venerable band jammed out Saturday to memorable songs from ‘Waiting for Columbus’ for a gleeful, near-capacity crowd that reveled in its revisiting of genre-spanning gems. Review, plus photos from several West Michigan concerts, including Mitchell Tenpenny, Martin Sexton, May Erlewine, Kanola Band and more.
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.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows · Videos
With an upcoming performance at Grand Rapids’ Listening Room, Local Spins writer Enrique Olmos profiles Kalamazoo singer-songwriter Kaitlin Rose and her ‘honest, healing’ music. Learn more about Rose and listen to her songs.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
From the EDM mania of Virtual Riot to the jazz of Christian McBride to the blues of James Reeser and prog-rock of CBDB, it was a resplendent weekend of live music from Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo, captured in Local Spins images and show recaps.
Launching a St. Patrick’s Day celebration a few weeks early, Gaelic Storm kicked up its heels Tuesday, followed by jam band Proxima Parada and Kalamazoo’s own Fake Baseball on Wednesday. Get the show recaps and view the photos at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
Saturday’s concert at Fountain Street Church highlighted a robust weekend of live music and events from Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo to Hudsonville: Caroline Jones, Beach House, Marc E. Bassy, Mungion, 1964 The Tribute & more in Local Spins photos and recaps.
Concert reviews · Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
Emerging hip hop star Steven Malcolm wrapped up his ‘Long Live the Hype Tour’ at a jam-packed Muse GR Saturday, wrapping up a weekend of diverse live music — country, hip hop, funk, rock, folk — captured in Local Spins photos and videos. Revisit shows by Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, Niko Moon, Scotty McCreery, The Legal Immigrants, King Possum, Conrad Shock + The Noise, Lisa Can’t Sing and Erin Enderlin.
Local Spins Rewind · Photos · Videos
This was to be the weekend when WYCE’s Jammie Awards finally returned to The Intersection. The pandemic, however, has pushed that back to June. So today, Local Spins revisits the jubilant 2020 awards show in words, photos and video highlights.
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.
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.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
A chilly West Michigan Saturday warmed up with a unique talent contest and a Grand Rapids tour stop by Philadelphia indie-rock/post-hardcore band mewithoutYou. The photos at Local Spins.
Features · Venue Spotlight · Weekend Photo Gallery
After finally reopening in a new Grand Rapids location this fall, The DAAC staged a New Year’s Eve show that was an all-ages celebration of community and the arts. Get the back story, plus photos of the new space, Kalamazoo’s New Year’s Fest and Motion City Soundtrack at The Intersection.
