Jimmie Stagger, Drew Nelson and Jen Sygit lead song-driven night of ‘glorious’ music
St. Cecilia Music Center’s singer-songwriter night also spotlighted the music of Josh Rose, Hannah Rose Graves and Mark Sala.
Tagged: photos
Greensky Bluegrass, Starlight Six rock into New Year’s in rootsy way for huge Grand Rapids crowds
While thousands braved brisk temps at downtown’s outdoor Hot New Year’s Eve party, others packed Wealthy Theatre and The Intersection for lively, creative shows by the Starlight Six, Greensky Bluegrass and The Crane Wives. (Photos, video)
Mustard Plug ‘Can’t Contain’ excitement in holiday CD-release show for Grand Rapids fans
A happy, hefty and enthused Intersection throng greeted the Grand Rapids ska maestros who kicked out fan faves and new songs from the band’s “Can Contain It” album.
Pop Evil, Gunnar & The Grizzly Boys, Tyler Farr, Brian Lorente, Lazy Blue Tunas: The Local Spins Weekend Photo Gallery
‘Twas the weekend before Christmas and the house was rocking around Grand Rapids, as evidenced by the photo and video roundup at Local Spins.
Nikki Hill, Decembersongs, Impact Band, Hildegard Singers, Mr. Gnome: The Local Spins Weekend Photo Gallery
Check out images from a rocking weekend in West Michigan: From twists on Christmas music to retro strains that made folks forget about the bluster outdoors
Charles Bradley’s soulful flame burns bright at The Pyramid Scheme (Review, photo gallery)
The Brooklyn-based R&B singer delivered a heartfelt performance on Sunday with The Extraordinaires, igniting a sold-out Grand Rapids crowd.
John Mayer, Grandmaster Flash and the busiest bar night of 2013: Local Spins photos, review
The “Wednesday-before-Thanksgiving Day spirit” was evident everywhere across Grand Rapids on Wednesday night.
Sean Peay Hip-Hop Benefit, Testament, Chris Lawrence, Big Daddy Love: The Local Spins Weekend Photo Gallery
The Wine, Beer and Food Festival at DeVos Place drew thousands for taste-testing and tunes by a half-dozen West Michigan acts, but elsewhere fans also reveled in hip-hop.
UV Hippo, Asking Alexandria, Bowery, Barrence Whitfield: The Local Spins Weekend Photo Gallery
Sun, rain, snow, falling leaves, wind, thunder, sleet. It’s that wacky time of year, and the same sort of wildly varying live music descended on West Michigan.
Living Colour, Steve Vai, Knock on Wood, Fresh Folk: The Local Spins Weekend Photo Gallery
A guitar god, a groundbreaking alt-metal band, some Michigan roots heroes, a bracing modern percussion trio, a garage rock legend and monstrous metal: All part of Local Spins’ image-laden roundup[…]
Troll for Trout, Rachael Davis, Dominic John get folky in a new way at St. Cecilia Music Center
Frustrating sound glitches aside, the opening night of St. Cecilia Music Center’s Fresh Folk series turned the tables on folk-rock and put a Nashville couple in the spotlight.
Ragbirds, Sue Foley & Peter Karp, Ken Yates, Lamp Light Music Fest: The Local Spins Weekend Photo Gallery
From nightclubs to a fine arts center to a listening room to Eastown basements, West Michigan bid adieu to October and hello to November in rocking fashion, captured in photos[…]
‘Nothing average about this’: Lamp Light Music Festival kicks off cozy concerts in Eastown homes
Friday night’s opening house concerts in three locations jammed living rooms and basements for sets by The Soil & The Sun, Lasso, Kellen & Me and more. (Photos, video) […]
The ‘dark folk’ and ‘psyched-out punk’ of Kalamazoo’s Fiona Dickinson: The Local Spins Artist Spotlight (Podcast, video)
Playing at this weekend’s Lamp Light Music Festival in Grand Rapids with Cobalt Mexican Wolves, the well-traveled British-born singer-songwriter finds camaraderie, inspiration in the Double Phelix collective of musicians. […]
‘Natural Forces’ unite: Lyle Lovett, John Hiatt deliver songwriting charm at Forest Hills Fine Arts Center
The seasoned, award-winning troubadours’ duo tour made a Grand Rapids tour stop on Wednesday, filling the evening with anecdotes and acoustic artistry. (Photo gallery, review) One dynamic roots duo[…]
EDM mania in West Michigan: The local story behind the music craze sweeping the nation
Once the bane of musicians, DJs/house music producers have dubstepped, trance’d and techno’d their way into the limelight, selling out shows coast to coast and regularly lighting up venues in[…]
Halloween on Ionia and at The B.O.B., Coheed & Cambria, Chordis Bell: The Local Spins Weekend Photo Gallery
Halloween descended several days early, with wild and woolly costume- and EDM-driven events in downtown Grand Rapids, plus tour stops by diverse acts from here to the lakeshore. (Photos, video)[…]
Steve Aoki’s homecoming dance party revs up the GVSU student body (Local Spins Photo Gallery)
DJ Steve Aoki’s return to West Michigan as part of his “Aokify America Tour” turned Allendale into an EDM party of fieldhouse proportions. Grand Valley State University got an[…]
The BoDeans launch Wealthy Concert Series in lively fashion in return to Grand Rapids
Led by frontman Kurt Neumann, the roots-rock band’s Wealthy Theatre debut made for a triumphant series-opening show. (Review, photos) Take your pick of lines from BoDeans’ songs to describe[…]
Zappa Plays Zappa, Harvest Party, Fauxgrass, Mary Chapin Carpenter: Local Spins Weekend Photo Gallery
From a poignant tribute to a beloved concert promoter to a Springsteen tribute in Casnovia to a Zappa tribute at The Intersection to a tribute to a new fall beer,[…]
Mary Chapin Carpenter, Shawn Colvin bring their ‘living room’ vibe to Forest Hills Fine Arts Center
The Grammy-winning singer-songwriters played a relaxed Grand Rapids show on Thursday, one filled with entertaining tales about their songs, travels and 30-year friendship. (Review, photo gallery) Two acoustic guitars.[…]
Bassnectar, Domestic Problems, Lucas Wilson: The Local Spins Weekend Photo Gallery
ArtPrize doled out its 2013 awards amid TV hoopla, but the weekend also boasted a dazzling and sweaty Bassnectar show, Domestic Problems at Rosa Parks Circle and more — captured[…]
The Crane Wives, Aaron Carter, Simien the Whale, Grand Haven Indie-Rock Fest: The Local Spins Weekend Photo Gallery
Things rocked this weekend — from ArtPrize’s music series at Rosa Parks Circle to pop and folk stars at The Intersection to an indie-rock festival and singer-songwriter charm along the[…]
The real psychedelic rock of Grand Rapids’ Lazy Genius: The Local Spins Artist Spotlight (video, podcast)
Lazy Genius frontman Patrick Wieland adores vinyl, cites The Beatles and Neil Young as influences, tends to mutate musically and thinks of his band as the “Steve Buscemis of rock.”[…]
UV Hippo creating giant buzz with new album, Andrew W.K. revs up West Michigan fans, Halloween on Ionia debuts EDM street party
September’s Local Spins music news roundup peeks at UV Hippo’s upcoming new masterwork, reveals DJs for the first Halloween on Ionia, says goodbye to a jazz night, and posts exclusive[…]
ArtPrize gets its groove on: A day in the life of the Musicians’ Showcase
For the third year, St. Cecilia Music Center is hosting a weekend ArtPrize Musicians’ Showcase in downtown Grand Rapids with 50 acts on two stages. Here are highlights from Friday’s[…]
Founders marches to beat of a different drum: New taproom’s grand reopening lively, eclectic affair
Cabildo, Punksuhate, AOK and more contributed to a diverse musical assault amid an expanded, refurbished Founders Brewing environment that sports a new sound system and an eye-pleasing outdoor beer garden.[…]
Fallasburg Fest, Eastown Street Fair, Youth Lagoon, Drew Nelson: The Local Spins Weekend Photo Gallery
Football was in the air, but so was music across West Michigan, with performances at outdoor festivals as well as at the usual watering holes, plus the kickoff to Hope[…]
Wheatland 2013: Roots music stars, devotees spark ‘so much energy’ at ‘amazing festival’ in a Michigan field
Banjo virtuoso Bela Fleck’s first-ever appearance at the historic event was just the icing on the cake for the 40th Wheatland fest, drawing 10,000-plus people to rural Mecosta County for[…]
Wheatland, Gramatik, Celebration on the Grand, Indigo Girls, Big Sandy: Local Spins Weekend Photo Gallery
It started early with The Indigo Girls at Meijer Gardens and continued through the weekend, with throngs revved up by the EDM music of Gramatik at The Intersection and acoustic[…]
Indigo Girls preach to their choir in lively folk-rock finale to Meijer Gardens series (Review, photos)
Thursday night’s season-ending concert brought Georgia’s Indigo Girls back to one of their favorite Grand Rapids haunts, with devotees helping pack the sold-out amphitheater. In the annals of Frederik[…]
ZZ Top brings Texas blues-rock sizzle, flair and, yes, those beards, to ignite Rock the Rapids throng
The little ol’ band from Texas, joined by Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Grand Rapids’ own Junior Valentine, closed out the three-day festival at Fifth Third Ballpark with a truckload of[…]
Thompson Square puts spurs to Rock the Rapids on opening night for cowboy boot-sporting crowd
A hot August night at Fifth Third Ballpark greeted Thompson Square, Drake White and Brett Eldredge as Rock the Rapids launched its three-day festival. On tap Wednesday: Daughtry. Thursday: ZZ[…]
GRandJazzFest, Jackyl, Wayland, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Michigan Mafia String Band: The Local Spins Weekend Photo Gallery
GRandJazzFest with regional and national acts took over downtown Grand Rapids, but there was plenty more live music to embrace, too. (Photos, video) Q: How does a jazz musician[…]
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy really do that swing voodoo that they do so well in Meijer Gardens show
The zoot-suited California swing-meisters returned to the outdoor amphitheater with impressive opener Andy Frasco for a sold-out show that had many tripping the light fantastic. (Review, photo gallery) If[…]
Sparta Celtic Festival, Lo Mobb, Randy Newman, 13th Hour: The Local Spins Weekend Photo Gallery
If August Michigan weather gets any better than this, Local Spins hasn’t seen it. Bracing musical performances just added to the picturesque glory as evidenced by the Weekend Photo Gallery.[…]
John Butler Trio, Grizzly Bear, The Soil & The Sun, GR Soul Club: The Local Spins Weekend Photo Gallery
Unseasonably cool for early August, conditions were nearly perfect to soak up live music outdoors — and even indoors — in the Grand Rapids area, ending with WLAV-FM’s big 40th[…]
Grizzly Bear roars in prog-folk fashion for small-but-enthused Meijer Gardens audience
The New York indie-rockers flashed alluring three-part harmonies and top-drawer instrumental virtuosity for the concert series’ smallest crowd of the summer. (Review, photo gallery) There were moments Saturday night[…]
Beach Boys ‘Do It Again’ at Meijer Gardens, covering a half-century of summer strains
The temperature wasn’t exactly California hot, but the sun was out and Mike Love yet again led this New Millennium version of The Beach Boys through a passel of surfin’[…]
Grace Potter & the Nocturnals turn Meijer Gardens into an inspiring, rock ‘n’ roll revival show
The singer and multi-instrumentalist’s second show at the outdoor amphitheater proved to be as triumphant as her first appearance there in 2012. (Review, photo gallery) I’ve often endeavored to[…]
City Lights, The Crane Wives, Peter Bradley Adams, Rick Chyme, AOK: The Local Spins Weekend Photo Gallery
Steaming hot music added to the steamy hot weather at City Lights Music Festival, Taste of Grand Rapids and Meijer Gardens, with a few hot indoor shows such as GRAM[…]
Steve Miller Band, Lucas Wilson bring rock luster to Meijer Gardens amphitheater
Steve Miller’s return to Meijer Gardens found a receptive, sold-out crowd for his big hits and gave a Grand Rapids singer-songwriter some welcome exposure. (Photo gallery) Perennial sellouts at[…]
Harry Connick Jr. turns up the jazz heat at steamy Meijer Gardens concert
With help from a 13-piece band, the jazz singer and pianist brought boatloads of New Orleans sunshine, charm and musical virtuosity for his first-ever show at the outdoor Grand Rapids[…]
Moxie Strings, Mastodon, Old Crow Medicine Show, Joe Hertler: The Local Spins Weekend Photo Gallery
This weekend’s Local Spins Weekend Photo Gallery covers the gamut of live music from Lansing to Grand Rapids to the lakeshore. The summer string thing can take many forms:[…]
Old Crow Medicine Show finds the bluegrass cure in rousing Meijer Gardens show
The Nashville string band’s first-ever concert at the outdoor amphitheater had the sell-out crowd of 1,900 kicking up its heels. (Review, photos) Old Crow Medicine Show unfurls tale after[…]
Kent County String Band: The Local Spins Live Artist Spotlight (podcast, video)
With a repertoire of acoustic standards from the 1890s to the 1950s, the Grand Rapids quintet oozes a vintage feel in every performance. Next week, the band plays the Tuesday[…]
David Byrne and St. Vincent blossom in luminous Meijer Gardens concert
The two New York artists with rare musical flair treated the crowd of 1,700 on a muggy night at the amphitheater to a singular show. (Review, photo gallery) “Oh[…]
Montgomery Gentry, Buddy Guy, Vincent Hayes, Wilson, July 4th: The Local Spins Weekend Photo Gallery
Thursday’s Fourth of July bashes kicked off the weekend in explosive style, with performances at Meijer Gardens, Coast West Music Festival, The Intersection, Zellie’s Opry House, The Pyramid Scheme and[…]
Umphrey’s McGee celebrates musical independence for exuberant fans in Meijer Gardens show
The virtuosic jam band’s second-ever appearance at the outdoor amphitheater drew a sell-out crowd of mostly 20-somethings who jammed the lower bowl with red, white and blue garb. (Review, photo[…]
UV Hippo’s diverse musical fireworks: The Local Spins Artist Spotlight (video, podcast)
With a new album coming soon, Grand Rapids’ own Ultraviolet Hippopotamus will light up Ah-Nab-Awen Park on the Grand River in downtown Grand Rapids Thursday, just before the Amway Fourth[…]
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