Breaking music news · Upcoming shows
WYCE has chosen two dozen regional acts — indie-rock to blues to jazz and way more — to play the 15th annual Jammie Awards show at The Intersection on Feb. 21.
‘Twas the weekend before Christmas and the house was rocking around Grand Rapids, as evidenced by the photo and video roundup at Local Spins.
Breaking music news · Commentary
Fans can decide for themselves whether it’s a magna cum laude class, but Cat Stevens, Hall & Oates, Nirvana, KISS, Linda Ronstadt and Peter Gabriel make an intriguing mix of stars.
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
The Outer Vibe rolls and gets rocked with “Princess of Sin,” while Mowery earns International Blues Challenge nod for “Account to Me.”
Exactly 50 years ago, an assassin gunned down President John F. Kennedy, the same day that The Beatles released their second album. The world would never be the same again.
With its effervescent, pop-tinged indie-rock, Bowery has hit the re-set button with a new lead singer and a new EP that gets released this week. (Podcast, video) Happenstance. Fate.[…]
The dynamic Grand Rapids singer won the pop/electronic category in this year’s ArtPrize song contest hosted by St. Cecilia Music Center while promoting her fifth album and crisscrossing the country[…]
The reaction of 2013’s $2,000 winners, all from West Michigan? “Stoked,” “elated” and “somewhat surprised.” Listen to the winning songs. The Top 10 vote-getters in ArtPrize are still stumping[…]
The fifth-year festival boasts bands from New York to Grand Rapids, playing indoors at the Dee-Lite and outdoors on Washington Street, with beer, wine, food and art to boot. […]
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[…]
Calvin Johnson isn’t the only key to success for the Detroit Lions this season: Having the wrong celebrity pop stars make ballyhooed appearances at Ford Field could spell doom for[…]
After a crowd-pleasing opening set by Grand Rapids’ own Serita’s Black Rose, the legendary soul singer and his nine-piece band retraced some of Motown’s greatest hits. (Review, photo gallery) […]
Touring behind a new EP, the synthpop outfit led by Minnesota singer-songwriter Adam Young attracted a large, young and exuberant crowd in its Meijer Gardens debut. (Review, photo gallery) […]
The Grammy- and Academy Award-winning songwriter made his Meijer Gardens debut on Thursday, playfully skewering politicians, Hollywood, himself and well, music, at a Steinway grand piano. (Review, photo gallery) […]
Grand Rapids music news for early August sees the relocation of a popular indie-folk band’s founders to Hawaii and a promising pop debut for a former Potato Moon-ite who’s also[…]
August’s opening salvo of live music in the Grand Rapids area heats up with Orquesta Tradicion, John Butler Trio, Grizzly Bear, Fly Moon Royalty, Loverboy, Mark Farner and an unusual[…]
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’[…]
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[…]
A capacity West Michigan crowd on Monday cheered the California psychedelic pop/rock ensemble and opener The Giving Tree Band. (Photo gallery) With a new album on the way in[…]
Things got steamy this weekend as summer kicked into gear with bracing shows at Meijer Gardens, the giant Founders Fest street party and more. (Photos, videos) Not sure what[…]
Los Angeles’ Lord Huron and Nashville’s Escondido rocked a loving bunch of Michigan fans on Monday. Despite sound glitches, Local Spins reviewer Tricia Woolfenden found the sold-out Grand Rapids homecoming[…]
Sheryl Crow’s first-ever appearance at the outdoor amphitheater featured a wide-ranging set of hits and new country material, plus a pre-show confab with guitarist Peter Frampton. (Review, photo gallery) […]
The West Michigan rock band celebrates its first studio album in nine years and its first concerts in 10 months with a series of Michigan CD-release shows, including Friday at[…]
After hundreds of successful rock ‘n’ roll gigs, the Grand Rapids trumpet and keyboard player offers some words of advice to local bands: Work hard, and respect your fans and[…]
Marshall Crenshaw brings his Midwest tour to Grand Rapids’ Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill on Sunday. Read the exclusive LocalSpins.com interview. Marshall Crenshaw wonders why we don’t see[…]
Fun begets fun: Stepdad, The Crane Wives, The Concussions, Ralston Bowles and more combine with local food, a brand new brew, wine and family art activities to rev up downtown[…]
Singer-songwriter Ben Scott-Brandt’s unusual new Ribbons of Song project, “Waterbugs,” gets previewed in some inspiring ways: in-studio on Local Spins Live and in an outdoor pre-release performance Sunday. (Podcast, video)[…]
For the second year in a row, cash prizes will be offered to song contest winners in five categories during ArtPrize; new “busking stations” will spotlight live music. Hailing[…]
Thursday’s groovy benefit for Well House features six one-time bands led by Eric Kehoe, Molly Bouwsma-Schultz, Jason Roy and others covering The Beatles, The Supremes, David Bowie, Sly Stone and[…]
West Michigan’s lively week of live music boasts Michigan’s biggest Cinco de Mayo Bash, a dual CD-release show by The Wallace Collective and Chain of Lakes, a chiptune celebration and[…]
Hip-hop, rock, Americana, rockabilly, bluegrass, folk and a Prince/MJ dance party: With spring weather springing, West Michigan heated up with an eclectic blend of live music, shared in images at[…]
Commentary · Features · Top 10 Lists
At long last, the ‘ice is slowly melting,’ which makes this the perfect time to dream of summer and those days of lazing around a cottage and dangling your feet[…]
Breaking music news · Concert announcements · Upcoming shows
Meijer Gardens’ teaser announcement of four summer concerts at the Grand Rapids amphitheater covers several genres and includes a few popular returning acts to the series. When word leaked[…]
February romps to a close with star power, not to mention local must-see shows by Neil Jacobs, Asamu Johnson, An Dro, Serita’s Black Rose and some sweet under-the-radar picks. […]
The 14th annual Jammie Awards show hosted by WYCE-FM moves to a new night at The Intersection this year, and musicians say the celebratory spirit in spotlighting the region’s musical[…]
Check out this roster of best and worst love songs of all time, then enter the “Spins on Music is My Valentine” contest to win tickets to 12 concerts. […]
Commentary · Features · Guest Column
Singer-songwriter Ken Bierschbach has embraced the value of connecting — in small and big ways — with musicians, producers, fans, venues and more in navigating a career in music. It’s[…]
National touring acts mesh with CD-release shows by Kris Hitchcock & Small Town Son, Thirsty Perch Blues Band and more, from Michigan folk icons to jazz gurus to heavy metal[…]
The outdoors Hot New Year’s Eve Party in downtown Grand Rapids, Founders’ three-band jam and Wealthy Theatre’s shining Starlight Six, recapped in photos, video at Spins on Music. Musically speaking,[…]
The Big List highlights The Ragbirds & Crane Wives, Starlight Six, Outer Vibe & Jesse McCartney, tributes to Buddy Holly and The Beatles. It’s all there on New Year’s Eve[…]
Alexis, The Outer Vibe, Simien the Whale, and Avila (featuring Brie Stoner) are making a video splash in their own unusual, fiery and nationally appealing way. Alexis, “Fantastic Magic” Never[…]
Breaking music news · Commentary
At long last, prog-rock’s Rush and blues icon Albert King get their due. Does it matter that they’re finally getting inducted into rock royalty alongside a disco queen and a[…]
West Michigan’s holiday mood brightens with live music by Kari Lynch, The Last Vegas, Frankie Ballard, Rick Chyme, Organissimo and plenty more. A Very Merry Jingle Jam with Kari[…]
Breaking music news · Concert announcements
For a photo recap of Grand Rapids’ outdoor New Year’s Eve bash and more, click here. The Hot FM party returned Monday to Monroe Avenue near Rosa Parks Circle downtown[…]
Commentary · Features · Photos
Welcome to West Michigan’s weekend … in photos. Scintillating live music and early Halloween revelry scared up in photos sent to Spins on Music. Keller Williams fired up an Intersection[…]
Grand Rapids’ hot concert picks of the week range from the historic partnership of Dr. John and the Blind Boys of Alabama to the indie-rock of The Mountain Goats, Pomegranates[…]
Breaking music news · Features · Videos
St. Cecilia Music Center, Mackinaw Harvest Music and financial sponsors doled out cash awards Thursday to first-time ArtPrize song contest winners. And that had them whistling a happy tune. “Show[…]
Breaking music news · Features
Check out the top vote-getters in the separate ArtPrize music competition, with winners sharing $10,000 in prizes. ArtPrize has finally paid off for artists of the musical variety. None[…]
Concert announcements · Upcoming shows
ArtPrize and all those live music options have you flustered? Here are three intriguing shows to catch this weekend, including the recording of a live album. It happens. I[…]
