Features · Photos · Upcoming shows · Videos
Get a sneak peek into 20 Monroe Live by taking a video tour of the new downtown venue that unleashes its first concert Wednesday with Trombone Shorty and Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers. Then browse the photo gallery and opening-week lineup of shows.
Festivals · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
The first-ever winter festival takes place Saturday with five bands performing. One of those, punk rock’s I Believe in Julio, was the featured artist during this week’s edition of Local Spins on WYCE. Listen to the podcast which features the debut of new songs by Michigan bands and check out the festival schedule.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
This week’s edition of Local Spins on WYCE boasted an in-studio performance by the emerging duo, plus the debut of new songs by Seth Bernard, Truth In Fiction, The Turnips and other Michigan artists. Read the story, listen to the podcast, watch the video.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins Live · Videos
The up-and-coming Grand Rapids band stages a CD-release show Thursday at The Pyramid Scheme after its frontman spent two ‘grueling’ years recording the album. Check out the story and a pair of videos from this week’s in-studio radio appearance.
Not all parties are created equal. If you’re looking for an excuse to get out this New Year’s Eve, Local Spins has the perfect guide to get your party started. Check out some of the biggest — and grooviest — parties in West Michigan.
Commentary · Top 10 Lists · Videos
It’s time to tune in to what Michigan musicians were listening to in 2016. Local Spins asked a bunch of ’em from the Great Lakes State to choose the best music and concerts of the year. Their choices are intriguing to say the least. Check out the lists and listen to the music.
Commentary · Top 10 Lists · Videos
Beyonce, Bon Iver, The Crane Wives, David Bowie, Angel Olsen, Of Montreal, Angel Olsen and Childish Gambino made the grade with Local Spins writers in 2016. See who else impressed our critics this year and listen to the music that turned their heads.
Breaking music news · Concert announcements · Upcoming shows
The tented event outside Perrin’s Comstock Park taproom will serve as a preview to WYCE Jammie Awards show and raise money for Kids’ Food Basket. Read more about this inaugural one-day music festival and get the links to pre-sales.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
The week was packed with national tour stops and local showcases. Check out the colorful photo gallery that also features The Sauce, Chris Andrus, Jim Lauderdale, Ramblin’ Rose’s Grateful Dead tribute, Devil Elvis, Dede Alder and more, from Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo to the lakeshore.
Album reviews · Artist Spotlights · Local Spins Live · Videos
The six-piece Grand Rapids band is spreading its wings as it builds upon a new EP with a catchy mix of soulful originals and unique covers. Read more about The Sauce and check out a video from the group’s performance this week for Local Spins Wednesday at SpeakEZ Lounge.
Album reviews · Artist Spotlights · Videos
The musician known by many as frontman for Old Mission Collective officially releases his first solo recording in Traverse City this weekend, but his musical reach extends to Grand Rapids, Ludington and East Lansing. Read the Local Spins Artist Spotlight, check out the album review and video.
Album reviews · Artist Spotlights · Audio
With her new EP and Michigan tour, the singer-songwriter wants to create a welcoming community during the holidays for those facing “loss or struggles in their lives.” Read the story about this unique recording project and check out the Local Spins review.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins Live · Videos
The Grand Rapids singer was joined by guitarist Justin Wierenga and bassist Justin Avdek for this week’s edition of Local Spins Live on radio. Watch a video of the trio’s in-studio performance, a preview of their farewell show Wednesday night at SpeakEZ Lounge.
Announcements · Upcoming shows · Videos
The concert hall next to The B.O.B. opens in February with a wide range of bookings: The Verve Pipe, Lauryn Hill, Pop Evil and more. Tickets go on sale Friday. Check out the first slate of concerts booked for the venue.
Amid the vitriol of this year’s presidential campaign, Local Spins presents an Election Day playlist for the ages. Go vote, then relieve your stress and immerse yourself in some great songs via video and Spotify. And do some balloting of your own by suggesting additions to this soundtrack.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
The fifth year of a unique Grand Rapids house show festival has unfurled this weekend in four Eastown neighborhood homes, boasting a diverse mix of acts and performances. Check out the Local Spins story and photo gallery.
Artist Spotlights · Audio · Local Spins on WYCE
The Mainstays’ sophomore album, “Another Way,” reflects three years of growth as a band. The popular funksters host CD-release shows this weekend in Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo. Read more about the group’s journey.
Local Spins Live · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
The Oct. 21 edition of Local Spins on WYCE boasted an in-studio performance by vintage country’s Diff & Dudley, plus new music by Nashon Holloway, Benjaman James and Friends With the Weather. And this week’s episode of Local Spins Live on WJRW got creepy for the holidays with some Halloween-hued rock. Read the story and check out both radio podcasts at Local Spins.
The debut of the Cold Creek Campout on property near Fremont featured nine West Michigan bands bringing their “A-game” on Saturday, playing for a small but enthused cadre of fans. Check out the photo gallery from this new autumn music festival.
October’s autumn splendor came in the form of an eclectic blend of West Michigan concerts by touring national acts and much-beloved local stars. Check out all of the images at Local Spins.
Breaking music news · Upcoming shows
Forced to move from Hart earlier this week due to a miscommunication regarding use of the property, the organizer has shifted the first-time festival to eight acres of rural land outside Fremont. Check out details of this free event and a full schedule at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
For this week’s concert roundup, Local Spins chose a mix of regional acts and those performing at Founders Brewing Co.’s 13th annual Harvest Party in Grand Rapids, Spring Lake’s Seven Steps Up and Bell’s Brewery in Kalamazoo. Check out the images in these photo galleries.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows
The Grand Rapids dancer and former Big Dudee Roo member has relocated to Flint, but returns home for Friday’s Tunde Olaniran show at The Pyramid Scheme. Read the story about this artist’s stage journey.
The week in photos includes a big ArtPrize viewing party, some national tour stops, CD-release shows and rousing sets by regional acts from Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo: Skillet, Beats Antique, Chris Robinson Brotherhood, Suzies, Trash Hounds, Mustard Plug, The Legal Immigrants, The Whigs, The Suffers.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
This week’s live music hoopla ranged from a tribute to blues icon William Clarke to support the Killer Blues Headstone Project — featuring Nick Moss, Dennis Gruenling and Hank Mowery — to musical magic from AJJ, Brother Adams, Frank Turner and Nashon Holloway. Check out all the images in the Local Spins Weekend Photo Galleries.
Heaters, Flint Eastwood, The Go Rounds, Kari Lynch, JRob and other regional acts will play the free Sept. 30-Oct. 1 event on the pedestrian bridge over the Grand River. See how it all came together and check out the full performance schedule.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
The Labor Day weekend and the week leading up to it rolled out an eclectic mix of national and regional acts — captured in images at Local Spins, from Red Tail Ring, Keller Williams and UV Hippo in Kalamazoo to Gringo Star, Hannah Rose Graves, The Suzies and more in Grand Rapids.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Concerts · Videos
Ralston Bowles orchestrated a rousing Grand Rapids variety show of talent for the summer-ending show, including Maurice Townsend, Channing & Quinn, Eric Engblade and more. Peruse the recap and photo gallery from Tuesday night’s show.
The English singer had one exuberant fan “over-excited” from the get-go at Meijer Gardens on Friday, with the entire sold-out crowd embracing his engaging set. Grand Rapids’ Karisa Wilson opened the show. Peruse the review and photo gallery.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
Despite early afternoon rain that wiped out some performances, dozens of regional acts played dozens of Grand Haven venues as fans strolled the streets and voted for their favorites. And a raffle raised upwards of $40,000 to support musical ventures for those in need. Check out the story, photo gallery and video highlights.
The legendary Philly vocal group delivered some hot hits on a hot night with some help from the Grand Rapids Symphony. Check out the Local Spins review and photo gallery from Thursday’s show.
Concert reviews · Summer Concerts
A sold-out amphitheater greeted the legendary soul and pop star with exuberance on Monday, and Ross returned the favor by performing a cavalcade of hits. Read the review of Monday night’s concert at Meijer Gardens.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
Crowds grew during the day for Saturday sets by Haim, G-Eazy and West Michigan’s own Borns, who helped deliver ‘electric music solid walls of sound’ along the river. Browse the photo galleries from Mo Pop’s Day 1 at Local Spins.
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park for the first time ever hosted an all-star West Michigan lineup of hip hop artists for the Tuesday night music series, part of La Famiglia frontman Mike G’s mission to show off the diversity of hip hop. Read the story, browse the photo gallery, only at Local Spins.
The weekly Meijer Gardens series showcasing regional music kicked off on a beautiful summer night with a resplendent “Tracing the Roots” theme. The series continues on Tuesdays through August. (Photos)
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Concerts
The Los Angeles band delivered familiar hits and fresh tracks from its brand new album during a Grand Rapids tour stop on Sunday night, demanding to see fans’ “dance skills.” Read the Local Spins review by Adrianna Walker and browse the photo gallery by Anthony Norkus.
Artist Spotlights · Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
The Grand Rapids soul-rock band kicks off the first-ever Sound of the City festival in Grand Rapids on Saturday, followed by regular touring across the Midwest. Read about Vox Vidorra’s growth as a popular West Michigan band and see Saturday’s full festival schedule of performances by regional acts.
Concert reviews · Features · Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
Attendance was down a bit, but the music was as hot as the weather with The Go Rounds and FBC All-Stars representing Michigan during the ninth annual day-long street party that also featured People’s Blues of Richmond, The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band, The Main Squeeze and Dos Santos: Anti-Beat Orquesta. Check out the story, photo gallery and video.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
The sixth annual festival in a remote area of Barry County reveled Friday in rousing regional music and a family-friendly atmosphere with much more to come. Read the roundup, scan the photo gallery and watch some video highlights from opening day.
The latest in Local Spins’ series of summery soundtracks boasts tracks by Alabama Shakes, Kali Uchis, Blood Orange, Frankie Cosmos and Jonti, who’s seen in a pink furry suit strolling through a dreamy video. Check out all the intriguing picks, along with a Spotify version of the playlist.
Summer Festivals · Top 10 Lists
Summer festival season officially is here, so we’ve rounded up the most captivating musical celebrations in the Great Lakes State – some well-known, some off the beaten path, all worth exploring. And check out the under-the-radar picks, too.
Announcements · Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
The first-time festival at the Harris Building on June 25 will feature Vox Vidorra, The Legal Immigrants, Lady Ace Boogie, Ty Beat, Valentiger and more. Radi8er plans similar events in other cities, too. Read the details and see the full lineup for the Grand Rapids event.
Longtime Local Spins contributor, reviewer and WYCE ‘New Standards’ co-host Tricia Woolfenden offers up Joy Formidable, INXS, Santigold, Youth Lagoon, Tunde Olaniran and more to heat up the spring. Check out this eclectic roster and videos, along with a Spotify version of the playlist.
Announcements · Upcoming shows
Although 24 of 30 Meijer Gardens concerts sold out by noon Monday, Interlochen, Freedom Hill, Ann Arbor’s Michigan Theater and other nearby venues have booked some of the same artists this summer. Find out where these acts are playing and get links to ticket sales.
Breaking music news · Summer Concerts
The June 27 Jackson Browne concert sold out in mere minutes Saturday morning, with Diana Ross, O.A.R., Bonnie Raitt, Gavin DeGraw, Goo Goo Dolls, Of Monsters & Men, America and Ben Folds quickly following suit. By noon Monday, 24 of the 30 concerts had sold out to members. See the entire list of sellouts.
Playlists · Top 10 Lists · Videos
From Bob Marley to Macklemore to Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers, Local Spins writer Ricky Olmos fashions a playlist to get folks dreaming of summer and sunny skies. Watch the videos, listen to the full Spotify playlist.
The Minneapolis superstar’s influence was wide-ranging and his music inspiring. West Michigan artists react to the sad news and list their favorite Prince tracks.
Audio · Features · Local Spins Exclusives
Grand Rapids soul-rock band Vox Vidorra will release a limited-edition 7-inch EP on Record Store Day. Get a sneak-peek listen to one of the tracks only at Local Spins.
Announcements · Breaking music news · Commentary
Ziggy Marley, Bonnie Raitt, Gavin DeGraw, O.A.R., Toto, Lake Street Dive, Grace Potter, America, even Jay Leno are part of the 30-show series, with tickets on sale to Meijer Gardens members on April 30. See the entire 2016 lineup and find out how ticket prices have changed from last year.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
Sunday’s 22nd anniversary Feedback benefit heated up Founders Brewing Co. with performances by The Accidentals, The Soul Syndicate and The Honeytones, and raised thousands for Access of West Michigan. Check out the recap and photo gallery.
