The globe-trotting “little orchestra” enchanted an upbeat Meijer Gardens crowd with impeccable instrumentation and vocalists who included renowned radio journalist Ari Shapiro. Review, photos.
Concert Recaps · Photos · Summer Festivals
Days 2 and 3 of the music festival that unfolded last weekend at Circle Pines Center south of Grand Rapids had plenty of highlights. Get the recap and photos at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
This weekend roundup covers a lot of territory: Tash Sultana, GR Pride Festival, Spafford, Hank Mowery, Rachel Brooke — all captured in images at Local Spins.
Festivals · Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
Summer Festivals like Buttermilk Jamboree have become annual traditions for families, friend groups and more over the years by creating a strong sense of community through music, workshops and collaborative jam sessions. Opening day, photos, video and review at Local Spins.
The multi-instrumentalist and Meijer Gardens mainstay delivered familiar favorites and a few surprises Monday to an appreciative amphitheater of fans, with Tank & The Bangas getting things started. The review and photos at Local Spins.
The stars were out Monday in Grand Rapids, with Santana and The Doobie Brothers heating up a gorgeous night at Acrisure Amphitheater for a near-capacity crowd. The review and photos at Local Spins.
The three-hour show on Friday night came amid ideal, sunny weather, with the diverse Chicago band playing more than 30 songs over two sets — from 1995’s “Box Full of Letters” to 2024’s
Annihilation.”. The review and photos at Local Spins.
The New Zealand indie-rockers made a tour stop Wednesday at The Big Room, part of an early week flurry of concerts from Paw Paw to Kalamazoo to Rockford. Browse the photo galleries.
The Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter enchanted a sold-out crowd at Meijer Gardens on Monday. The review and photo gallery at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Weekend Photo Gallery
The country star revved up Grand Rapids’ Acrisure Amphitheater on Saturday. We also sport photos from shows by Dan Rickabus, The Mekons, Kalamazoo Pride Festival and more.
Concert Recaps · Weekend Photo Gallery
With summer-like weather settling in, national tour stops and regional stars heated up West Michigan venues to close out the month — including Jon Hayes, Saturdays at Your Place and more. Browse all of the photos at Local Spins.
Wednesday’s double-header of major Grand Rapids shows included the opening night of the Meijer Gardens season and the second big concert at Acrisure Amphitheater. Get the reviews and browse the photos exclusively at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
Local Spins’ Looking for the Perfect Beat columnist Todd Ernst recaps last weekend’s mammoth electronic music festival in Detroit, with photos by Michael Mastre.
Festivals · Weekend Photo Gallery
As we plunge deeper into Memorial Day weekend, Local Spins recaps festivals and concerts that gave music lovers a taste of the (warmer) summer ahead. Browse the photos from Movement, Bus Benefit and Hollypalooza, and concerts featuring Anberlin, The Incantations, Daniel Staggs, Silver Creek Revival and more.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Local Spins photographers ventured across downtown Grand Rapids and the greater West Michigan area last week to cover everything from an All-American Rejects pop-up show, to sold out shows from Corrosion of Conformity and Plain White T’s, along with Silversun Pickups, Nate Smith and more. Check out eight photo galleries at Local Spins.
Concert Recaps · Photos · Venue Spotlight
Continuing its opening weekend festivities, Acrisure Amphitheater opened up its doors to the Grand Rapids community for a free open house with a variety of local music acts and opportunities to tour the venue. Photos and recap at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Venue Spotlight
Acrisure Amphitheater invites contractors involved in the construction of the venue and their families to a private ‘Contractor Appreciation Night’ full of live, regional music and a fireworks show to end the night. Photos and more at Local Spins.
The singer and her bandmates regaled a rapt St. Cecilia Music Center audience on Thursday with ‘Dylanology’ as well as her own memorable songs. Concert review, photos.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Local Spins’ photo team rounds up another robust week of live music across West Michigan that included Chirp, Octave Cat, The Pyramid Scheme’s 15th anniversary party, Carmen Bradford Quartet and more.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Mid-April always brings vinyl-inspired hoopla, along with a torrent of local and national stars performing at venues across the region, including Lily Rose, Vespa, Tony Halchak, J.H. Patton & The Good Companions, Colby Acuff, Kalamazoo Academy of Rock and more. Browse the photos at Local Spins.
Breaking music news · Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
The Easter weekend concert roundup boasts a mix of national tour stops and impressive performances by local and regional acts — several of them performing at two different battles of the bands. View the photo galleries at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
Mandolinist Sam Bush brought unannounced special guest Billy Strings on stage Thursday at the intimate, historic auditorium to the delight of stunned Grand Rapids fans, with the superstar guitarist joining Bush’s band for several songs. The review, photos and video.
The California rapper’s tour stop at The Intersection’s Stache on Wednesday gave a host of regional hip-hop acts a chance to strut their stuff for an enthused crowd. And in the main showroom, metalcore’s ERRA and Currents rattled the house. Review and photo galleries at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Electric violinist Mia Asano spotlighted Kentwood’s ABC Orchestra in a week that also featured West Michigan tour stops by an eclectic mix of national and regional artists. Browse photos from all of these shows in Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo and Holland.
Concert reviews · Festivals · Photos · Videos
Saturday’s day-long festival at Kalamazoo Valley Museum boasted sets by more than a dozen acts (with some unusual twists), a bevy of instrument vendors and several workshops. Check out the recap, photos and video highlights.
Concert reviews · Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
Saturday was dominated by early toasts to St. Patrick’s Day with Irish Off Ionia, Irish Remedy and more, with a few other concerts thrown into the mix over the past week, including Wheatus, Yellowhouse, King Garbage and more. The photos and a video at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows · Videos
Committed to mastering a cohesive sound that captures iconic popular music from across the decades, the students in ABC Orchestra will play The Intersection’s Stache on March 18, opening for acclaimed electric violinist Mia Asano. Led by Ryan Wallace, learn more about this unique ensemble.
Within a radius of several blocks in downtown Grand Rapids, Sunday night boasted tour stops by a flock of national artists at Van Andel Arena, GLC Live at 20 Monroe and St. Cecilia Music Center. Get the concert recaps and browse the photos at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
Folk-rock, country, post-hardcore, singer-songwriter, Americana, math rock. Venues from Kalamazoo to Grand Rapids boasted that and more over the past week, captured in images at Local Spins.
awards · Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
With throngs of fans on board, Friday’s 2026 WYCE Jammie Awards celebration at The Intersection boasted plenty of highlights from 20 acts on three stages. The recap, photos and video at Local Spins.
awards · Breaking music news · Concert reviews · Photos
Established and emerging Michigan artists took home hardware for the best Michigan music of 2025 at Friday night’s Jammie Awards, held at a jam-packed Intersection in Grand Rapids. View the full winners’ list and photos.
Amid a historic setting, four West Michigan bands created a buzz Sunday and raised thousands at ‘Melt the ICE’ for immigrant families through three organizations. Later, Riot Punch electrified The Pyramid Scheme. View the images and a video at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
The Offspring and Descendents brought hard-rocking tours to Grand Rapids, plus the week saw a mix of national and regional stars at various venues, including Mersiv, Melophobix and Echoes of Pink Floyd. Browse the photos exclusively at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
It was a week of live music dominated by Michigan-based artists — from Matthew Borr to Vespa — at several venues from Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo, including a new performance space. Get the recaps and view the photo galleries, including images of EDM star Kompany’s Intersection tour stop.
Concert reviews · Festivals · Photos
The second day of the 49th festival at Ann Arbor’s Hill Auditorium melded Michigan charm with national esprit after Greensky Bluegrass kicked things off the night before. The review and photos at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
The region’s first-ever Punk Rock Lottery featuring three new bands revved up Dormouse Theatre in Kalamazoo, closing out a week of rousing West Michigan shows by The Jet Stone Conspiracy, Supo and more. Get the recaps and browse seven photo galleries at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Festivals · Photos
The beloved Kalamazoo bluegrass powerhouse kicked off the Ann Arbor Folk Festival on Friday with a fan-inspiring set that followed an opening salvo by guitar icon Junior Brown. The review and photos at Local Spins. The festival continues today with Amos Lee, Dawes and The Crane Wives.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Frigid wintry weather couldn’t halt the flurry of live music heating up stages from Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo over the weekend, from rock and metal to bass music and acoustic glory. Browse all of the photos at Local Spins.
Breaking music news · Concert Recaps · Photos
Friday night’s fifth annual Rockford’s Got Talent Competition packed the high school’s Fine Arts Auditorium, with several performers sharing nearly $7,000 in prize money. The recap, with photos and a video.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
In spite of near-constant snowfall, several West Michigan concerts featuring national as well as regional acts powered through over the weekend. The Local Spins recaps and photos.
As we enter our 14th year, we recap 2025 at Local Spins by looking back at the numbers — our flurry of stories, photo galleries, reviews, podcasts and more that embrace Michigan’s music scene. We haven’t been able to do it without your support.
Concert reviews · Festivals · Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
Saturday’s Winter Wheat festival in Grand Rapids highlighted a weekend of tantalizing live music across the region, from Ghost Bunnies to Hannah Laine to Full Cord Trio. Get the recaps and browse the photos at Local Spins.
Concert Recaps · Weekend Photo Gallery
Local Spins’ first weekend-concert-photo roundup of the year showcases audience-igniting shows at The Pyramid Scheme and Four Star Theatre. Browse all of the images.
Festivals · Local Spins on WYCE · Photos · Podcasts
Today, Local Spins not only recaps New Year’s Eve celebrations across West Michigan in words and photos, but spotlights a memorable Michigan Music Showcase podcast filled with tracks by regional artists.
Concert reviews · Photos · Top Stories of the Year Countdown · Videos
Michigan’s bluegrass hero returned to Grand Rapids in late May for two jam-packed, epic nights at Van Andel Arena, sparking pre-parties, a marketplace and more. Revisit the hubbub in words and images.
Concert reviews · Photos · Top Stories of the Year Countdown
It proved to be The Mavericks’ final Michigan show. Country icon Dwight Yoakam headlined the late March concert at Wings Event Center. Revisit the review and photo gallery as part of our year-end countdown.
Concert reviews · Photos · Top Stories of the Year Countdown
The Detroit-bred guitarist blazed a loud, shapeshifting trail through his career catalog in mid-April for 2,600 rabid fans at GLC Live at 20 Monroe. We revisit the Local Spins review, with photos, as part of our countdown of the Top 10 stories of the year.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
From Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo to Caledonia, Michigan bands celebrated the holidays in their own, inimitable ways. The recaps and photo galleries at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
The Traverse City-bred alt-folk trio The Accidentals brought the Michigan tour behind its new Christmas album to Grand Rapids’ Big Room on Friday, impressing fans with enhancement from an ensemble of young Ohio musicians. Review, photos.
Concert reviews · Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
Local Spins’ week-in-review roundup of concerts as the weather turned frigid features sizzling hot shows from national stars and regional favorites. Browse the photos and a video, including Sunday’s tour-ending Grand Rapids concert by Soul Coughing.
