Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
The first Tuesday Evening Music Club show in nearly two years filled the amphitheater for sets by The Accidentals and Roosevelt Digs. Get the recap, view the photos and video exclusively at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
The state’s outdoor concert and festival flurry took an unexpected turn with the week’s unceasing rain and even tornado warnings, but indoor shows flourished at Listening Room and Tip Top Deluxe, along with a few outdoor sets across the region. Browse the photo galleries at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
With release of the band’s third full-length album, “Dad Rock,” Droppers opens up about getting in trouble while growing up in Florida, being a new father and crafting a record during a pandemic. Learn more about the project, view the videos and browse a photo gallery from the band’s recent record-release show.
Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
Local Spins celebrates the first day of summer and Father’s Day with a photo gallery of live music that heated up outdoor stages in Lowell, Grand Rapids, Three Rivers, Jackson and Rockford. Browse the images and a video from these concerts.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
It was the first big week of live music in the great outdoors across West Michigan with nightly offerings of regional stars from Kalamazoo to Allegan to Grand Rapids to Rockford. Relive the performances in images and a highlights video 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.
A happy crowd of mask-less concertgoers gathered in the courtyard of Studio Park in downtown Grand Rapids to cheer a diverse trio of Grand Rapids acts thrilled to be back on stage. The recap and photo gallery at Local Spins.
Photos · Upcoming shows · Venue Spotlight
One of Grand Rapids’ newest music venues emerges from the pandemic with four nights of shows each week, including open-mics hosted by Melophobix and Raven Griffin. The venue spotlight at Local Spins, with a photo gallery and listing of upcoming shows.
Concert reviews · Local Spins Rewind · Photos · Videos
Today’s Local Spins Rewind feature looks back to May 2019 when classic rock icons The Who opened their North American tour with help from Grand Rapids Symphony musicians. Fans are still arguing over this one. Revisit the review and an interview with The Who’s creative director, browse the photo galleries, video and set list.
Five years ago, long before COVID, mid-April rocked West Michigan as musicians and fans packed record shops, Wealthy Theatre, Pyramid Scheme, Intersection and Billy’s Lounge. Revisit the special weekend in words and photos in this Local Spins Rewind feature.
Nine months after a band last played the stage at Grand Rapids’ Tip Top Deluxe with a live audience on hand, The Moonrays brought their surf-rock charm to the West Side venue Friday. Local Spins has the photos from a milestone evening after a ‘year of COVID,’ with Myron Elkins set to fire up the stage on Saturday night.
Concert reviews · Live-Stream Concerts
The opening-day salvo of Michigan artists performing for the live-streamed Spread the Music Festival attracted thousands of viewers for compelling sets. Check out some first-day highlights and photos, along with picks for other must-see acts at the festival which runs through Sunday.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
After a mostly silent winter, two popular West Michigan bands revved up tunes new and old for live audiences in Grand Rapids and Holland on Friday. Find recaps of both shows in words and images at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · In Memoriam · Local Spins Rewind · Photos
One year ago — before the pandemic erupted — West Michigan not only cheered a tour stop by mandolin whiz Chris Thile but mourned the unexpected death of beloved local musician Eric Soules. Local Spins revisits both events in today’s ‘Rewind’ feature.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Over the past week, three West Michigan establishments hosted live music in different ways — with and without audiences, and with pandemic restrictions in place. Local Spins captured it all in photo galleries featuring King Biscuit Trio, Rufus Ferguson and other local musicians.
Concert reviews · Features · Photos
After a year of COVID, the Portage brewery’s second anniversary party boasted performances by Lexi Adams, St. Joe Jack and more — with limited capacity, regular sanitization and new brews. Check out the recap and photos at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
Ralston Bowles and Michael Crittenden kicked off St. Cecilia Music Center’s virtual folk-and-blues series on Thursday. Local Spins was there to capture the unusual vibe in an empty auditorium with two veteran West Michigan musicians.
Local Spins Rewind · Photos · Videos
Held at The Intersection exactly one year ago today, the 11th annual benefit for the Wheatland Music Organization boasted more than a dozen performances on two stages in spite of wintry weather. Revisit the event in words, photos and video.
Artist Spotlights · Photos · Videos
The Grand Rapids collective has stayed safely active during COVID-19 with socially distanced shows and virtual performances while promoting a new EP and workshopping new material for the next one. Delve into the creative world of August in this in-depth Artist Spotlight and watch the video of a performance of a song from the band’s latest EP.
Concert announcements · Concert reviews · Photos
Halloween weekend amid 2020’s coronavirus crisis is not what West Michigan has come to expect, with closed venues and canceled shows. But Grand Rapids hip hop artists still fired a final musical salvo at Studio Park on Friday. Get the holiday weekend update, see what shows are still happening and browse the photo gallery at Local Spins.
A year ago this week, country, pop, jam band, rock and folk fans were in the thick of memorable West Michigan performances and events — oblivious to the approaching COVID pandemic. Relive the week in words and photos courtesy of Local Spins Rewind.
Buoyed by splendid October weather, Tamarack Camp hosted a mini-festival of sorts on Saturday, featuring sets by several popular West Michigan acts. Browse the photo gallery, watch the video at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Local Spins Rewind · Photos
When live music was still at the entertainment forefront (pre-Covid) October 2019 boasted memorable highlights of the local and national variety, from sold-out tour stops to big announcements. A look back at a busy week in words and photos.
The ‘Year of COVID’ has wiped out months of performances in a 2020 that started with such promise. But before all that, October 2019 rolled out concerts and big events on a nightly basis. Local Spins looks back on a robust week of shows in words, photos and videos.
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.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Musicians have made the most of a pleasant September after a COVID-impaired summer of live music. Sadie Bass, Jake Kershaw, Edison Kitt, Hayes Griffin, Josh Rose, Kyle Rasche, FlyLiteGemini, Out of Favor Boys, Jack Leaver and more light up our weekend photo galleries.
Concert reviews · Summer Concerts · Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
Bands and fans had to dodge raindrops at times, but the the busiest live music week of the season had lots to offer, from Grand Rapids to the lakeshore. Ogle the images and photo recaps at Local Spins.
Because audiences haven’t been able to come to Civic Theatre due to the COVID shutdown, Civic Theatre has been going to its audiences, with traveling troupes playing driveway and backyard shows. Learn more about this unique entertainment series and browse a photo gallery at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
A busy September lineup of concerts after a mostly quarantined summer kicked off over Labor Day weekend with small but vibrant shows from Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo. Browse the photo galleries at Local Spins.
Labor Day weekend’s last blast of summer gave hip hop fans plenty to applaud in downtown Grand Rapids, with the Studio Park piazza show heating up the city’s month-long “The Bridge” celebration. Get the recap at Local Spins and browse the photo gallery from Saturday’s concert.
Concert reviews · Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
Local Spins’ search for live music amid a pandemic took it to ‘new’ venues in Rockford and Paw Paw, plus some familiar concert spots in Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids. Browse the photo galleries in this exclusive show roundup at Local Spins.
Local Spins Rewind · Summer Festivals
They’re eight hours and worlds apart, but both of these Michigan festivals boast uber-loyal fans. So with COVID scuttling their 2020 events this weekend, Local Spins gives devotees a look back at last year’s celebrations in words and images.
Concert reviews · Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
If nothing else, the COVID summer of 2020 has created opportunities for unique outdoor live music experiences. Today, Local Spins recaps a smattering of outdoor August concerts across West Michigan in images and videos.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
The Grand Rapids hip hop artist lit up the stage outside Studio Park on Thursday for her final concert on a resplendent August night, with Lokella and SuperDre also on board. The review of the sold-out show, plus a photo gallery and some video highlights at Local Spins.
Local Spins Rewind · Photos · Summer Festivals
If not for COVID-19, Hoxey would have been reveling today amid northern Michigan splendor. So, Local Spins looks back at the 2019 celebration that boasted plenty of “beautiful” musical highlights – in words and photos.
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.
Local Spins Rewind · Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
The good-time vibe of last year’s festival may have made it the best in Cowpie history, thanks to The Bootstrap Boys, Fauxgrass, Mark Lavengood, Desmond Jones, Trifocal, Melophobix and more. COVID-19 wiped out the 2020 festival that would have taken place this weekend, but you can relive the highlights from last year’s celebration in words, photos and videos at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
On a near-perfect July night, Asamu Johnson & The Associates of the Blues and Hannah Rose Graves regaled a happy crowd for a rare display of live music outside Grand Rapids’ Studio Park. Get the recap, photos and video highlights from Thursday’s show at Local Spins.
COVID-19 silenced live music downtown until Thursday when the first “Listening Lawn” show regaled a sold-out crowd outdoors on the piazza at Studio Park. Check out the review and photo gallery exclusively at Local Spins.
With 2020’s festival canceled due to COVID-19, Local Spins looks back at a 2019 country music celebration in Jackson County that drew more than 40,000 fans for sets by Keith Urban, Toby Keith, Zac Brown and more. Check out the photo galleries and recaps of last year’s performances.
West Michigan’s second-ever drive-in concert during the pandemic was a sellout on Saturday, with Nashville-based Beatles tribute band The English Rain playing amid bright sunshine. Get the recap and browse a photo gallery at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
It may have ranked as one of “the weirdest concerts ever,” but in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Saturday’s first foray into drive-in performances got high marks from those who attended the Grand Haven show. Get the recap, photos and video at Local Spins.
Local Spins Rewind · Photos · Summer Festivals
A tradition over Memorial Day weekend, the Bus Benefit south of Grand Haven always signaled the start of Michigan’s festival season. COVID-19 wiped out the 2020 event, so Local Spins decided to revisit last year’s celebration in words, photos and some video highlights. Amid the current pandemic, they’re magical, bittersweet memories.
Features · Weekend Photo Gallery
Today’s entry in our series spotlighting Local Spins photographers focuses on Nathan Purchase, with his favorite concert photos of artists such as Umphrey’s McGee, Tame Impala, Billy Strings, My Morning Jacket, Greensky Bluegrass and, of course, Desmond Jones. View the photos and get the stories behind his classic shots.
Features · Weekend Photo Gallery
Starting her concert photo career with Local Spins several years ago, photographer Anna Sink shares some of her favorite images — her unique take on bands, fans and festivals, and the stories behind those shots. And check out a photo gallery with more images of festivals, Michigan stars and more.
Features · Weekend Photo Gallery
Local Spins continues its “concert photo rewind” series spotlighting the stellar work of its photographers, this time focusing on our Kalamazoo live music honcho: Derek Ketchum. Here are his favorite photos and the stories behind these colorful, action-packed shots.
Over the past eight years, Local Spins has published some spectacular concert photography. And some of the best photos have been taken by Tony Norkus, who today shares some of his favorites, along with stories about each image — from ebullient Bassnectar fans to singer Charles Bradley’s passionate Grand Rapids debut.
Concert reviews · Features · Photos
The Crane Wives’ Emilee Petersmark hosted a “Stay in Your House Show” with a handful of W. Michigan acts on Friday — all streaming sets from home. Local Spins was there to capture the vibe of the ‘new normal’ when it comes to the live music that we’ve got these days. Browse a photo gallery from the live-stream setup.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
A coronavirus-shortened week of live shows still gave some West Michigan fans a mix of magical music: blues, metalcore, neo-psychedelia, Celtic music, contemporary Christian pop, country and South African vocal glory. View all of the images at Local Spins.
In the first of two nights at Grand Rapids’ Listening Room, the much-heralded South African male vocal group delivered engaging vocals and a stage presence to match. The review and photo gallery at Local Spins.
