Features · Local Spins on WYCE · Upcoming shows · Videos
Industry honchos descended on the Grammy Awards in L.A. this week, but the really big show for West Michigan music takes place Friday at The Intersection in Grand Rapids. And it’s no contest which is better. Check out the full schedule and a list of ‘acts to watch’ at the 2016 Jammies hosted by WYCE.
Announcements · Breaking music news · Videos
Local Spins’ February music news update reveals a star-studded lineup for the upcoming Jake’s Music Festival at Wealthy Theatre, new life for what was once McFadden’s Restaurant in downtown Grand Rapids and another robust Feedback benefit planned for Founders Brewing this spring.
Getting folks “watching and talking about new music.” That’s the goal of Michigan artists — from Valentiger to The Bootstrap Boys to the Appleseed Collective — who’ve submitted video entries into this year’s Tiny Desk Concert contest sponsored by NPR. Read the back story and check out the video entries here.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
Guitarist, Dobro-meister and mandolinist Mark Lavengood brought his solo version of the Bluegrass Bonanza to Local Spins on WYCE, with Scott and Molly Schultz of Vox Vidorra adding soul to the radio show. Listen to the full radio podcast and check out the video at Local Spins.
Announcements · Breaking music news · Upcoming shows
Community radio station WYCE-FM’s 2016 mega-party at The Intersection on Feb. 19 will feature 23 bands on two stages, with Bigfoot Buffalo, The Waxies, Rick Chyme and many more in the mix. And singer-songwriter Ralston Bowles will be honored with a Legacy Award. See the entire lineup.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
The emerging electro-pop artist who recently moved to Grand Rapids from the Upper Peninsula visited Local Spins on WYCE this week along with psych-rock’s Heaters, who talked about their upcoming European tour. And listen to new tracks by Deep Greens & Blues, The Soul Syndicate and more.
Concert reviews · Features · Photos · Videos
East met west when Grand Rapids soul-rock band Vox Vidorra made its Detroit debut at the pop-up venue that closes Friday night with a dance party. Local Spins writer Ricky Olmos traveled with the band to the Motor City to document the whole experience. Check out the story, photo gallery and video.
Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
Episode No. 70 of Local Spins on WYCE featured from Kalamazoo singer-songwriter Megan Dooley with bassist Jason Walker, plus Rick Chyme chatting about a new project and the debut of fresh regional album tracks. Listen to the complete podcast at Local Spins.
Breaking music news · Features · Upcoming shows
Grand Rapids’ Vox Vidorra, Detroit’s Pierre Anthony and more will take the spotlight and boost “creative energy” this week at temporary quarters in downtown Detroit. Read more about this instrastate project in this Local Spins story.
Breaking music news · Concert reviews · Features · Photos
In a close vote, the acts vying to play the Kalamazoo Fretboard Festival topped nine other diverse West Michigan bands and solo artists during a jam-packed Friday event at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum. Read a recap of the evening and view a full photo gallery from the competition.
Artist Spotlights · Breaking music news · Features · Videos
Vox Vidorra’s “Promise Land” and Hardin’s “Magnolia” showcase different genres, but both boast brilliant songwriting, performances and production to top a banner year for West Michigan music. Read the story behind these recordings, then check out videos and audio samples from the award-winning albums.
Celebrating the arrival of another year requires musical revelry, so Local Spins has rounded up some of the best and biggest New Year’s Eve bashes unfolding across West Michigan on Friday.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE
Check out the in-studio performance by this new super-group of musicians from three different bands, plus new tracks from Kris Hitchcock, Loren Johnson, The Soul Syndicate, Dalinian and more.
This week’s Local Spins photo gallery also boasts images from performances by regional acts Channing & Quinn, Nobody’s Darlin’, Heartsick, Megan Dooley and a Mitten Kitten Christmas, plus video highlights from Hazy Past’s tribute to the Allman Brothers Band.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Indoors and out, West Michigan celebrated Halloween with a lively mix of music, from The Crane Wives at Founders Brewing to the Red Sea Pedestrians at Bell’s Brewery in Kalamazoo to Genetics with Desmond Jones at The Stache. See the resplendent Local Spins photo gallery.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
The week in live music leading up to Halloween covered funk, jazz, bluegrass, R&B, hip hop and folk. And that eclectic mix was captured in images at Local Spins. Check out the photo gallery, with more to come from Halloween night.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Upcoming shows
The fast-rising Flint phenom headlines a Grand Rapids show at The Pyramid Scheme for the first time on Friday and promises a ‘beat-driven’ night with a special guest. Read the Local Spins Q & A by Jonathan Beatty and listen to this week’s Local Spins on WYCE podcast featuring an in-studio performance by Olaniran.
In a ceremony Thursday at St. Cecilia Music Center, 10 Michigan songwriters and bands were honored in five categories of the competition, which included dozens of “busking” performances by contestants. And check out the photo gallery of some of ArtPrize 2015’s musical moments.
The Eddy music festival wrapped up with Bradley and his soulful band on Saturday, a day which also saw compelling performances from An Dro and bands playing the Hasting Roots Music Festival. Check out the images and a video at Local Spins, plus photos from Dopapod in Kalamazoo.
Artist Spotlights · Podcasts · Upcoming shows
The Grand Rapids singer who left Sweet Japonic several years ago has a new rock band, The Bad Disciples, which plans to release its debut album later this year. Wilson also plans to record a solo EP. Read the story, listen to the podcast and check out the video of a new Wilson song.
For professional musicians, the obstacles to surviving and thriving can include public misperceptions, lack of connections and the proliferation of weekend warriors willing to play for fun and beer. Singer Diego Morales of The Soul Syndicate offers up his take in this candid Local Spins guest column.
With Michigan House running a pop-up ArtPrize venue to tout local music, art and products, Local Spins asked organizer Ted Velie for his Top 10 list of songs. Not surprisingly, they’re all Michigan acts, from Flint Eastwood to The White Stripes.
Breaking music news · Upcoming shows
It launches tonight (Wednesday) at SpeakEZ Lounge with ArtPrize song entrants and continues with a new outdoor venue, Michigan House’s indoor space and 150-plus busking performances around Grand Rapids. Get the lowdown on all of the ArtPrize-related music options.
New ArtPrize musical offerings range from The Eddy outdoor venue to Michigan House’s intimate indoor performance space, plus more than 150 busking performances in five locations around the city. Check out the robust lineup of live music offerings during ArtPrize in this Local Spins roundup.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Janet Jackson and Of Montreal brought their touring spectacles to Grand Rapids on Friday, but there were plenty of other fascinating shows this week to ogle as well, from Saturday’s Eastown Street Fair to Thursday’s Grand Rapids Harmonica Summit to Chase Rice — all captured in photos at Local Spins.
It’s a one-two punch of regional music in Grand Rapids. On Saturday, Eastown Street Fair boasts sets by 15 bands on two stages. Meanwhile, Tip Top Deluxe hosts a Sunday showcase of hip hop, funk and R&B. Get the full schedules here at Local Spins.
Summer Concerts · Weekend Photo Gallery
Summer hasn’t started winding down just yet: Music is firing on all cylinders from Grand Rapids to Holland to Jackson County. Check out the images at Local Spins in The Weekend Photo Gallery.
Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
With summer festival season raging, the Aug. 7 edition featured performers from Cowpie Music Fest, plus jazz trumpeter Chris Lawrence with L.A.’s Linosphere and music from new local CDs. Listen to the full podcast and check out the video of Linosphere’s in-studio performance.
Features · Live at River City · Podcasts · Videos
One of West Michigan’s fastest-rising vocal talents and her band spent an electrifying hour at a Grand Rapids studio earlier this summer, playing songs new and old while revealing their special chemistry. Read the story, listen to the interview and watch the riveting video. Only at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Whether your tastes ran from the droll Garrison Keillor to the soul of The Temptations and The Soul Syndicate to the rap of ConvoTronics, summer’s music machine kept whirring this week — captured in images at Local Spins.
The Beach Boys brought The Temptations along on their return to Meijer Gardens on Friday, with both legendary bands — each led by one original member — churning out familiar summer favorites. Read the recap of the show and check out the photo gallery from a sun-splashed night.
Features · Upcoming shows · Videos
Check out the latest visual treats from a diverse bunch of West Michigan bands, all of whom are firing up stages this summer from Grand Rapids to Traverse City to Los Angeles. It’s Local Spins’ version of MTV, only better.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
Local Spins’ latest radio episode spotlighting regional music got soulfully skanky in-studio with Grand Rapids’ Skankadank and boasted a sneak peek into several new local albums. Listen to the entire podcast here.
Features · Summer Concerts · Upcoming shows · Videos
The Ragbirds, Josh Garrels and Bill Kirchen might have escaped your notice but they shouldn’t. Local Spins takes a closer look at three shows flying below the radar this week in the Grand Rapids area, with links to their music and videos.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
From Kalamazoo to Lansing to Grand Rapids, live music took center stage this week with the Tuesday Evening Music Club kickoff, Billy Strings & Don Julin, Nobody’s Darlin’, the season’s first GRAM on the Green show and much more in the mix. Check out the resplendent photo gallery with links to images from concerts by Mat Kearney, Patty Griffin, Mavis Staples and Joshua Davis.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Concerts
Although the Grammy-winning singers never took the stage together, their inspiring sets on a gorgeous Thursday night in Grand Rapids oozed “positive vibration.” Check out the Local Spins review and photo gallery.
Features · Summer Concerts · Upcoming shows
Tuesday’s “Family Night” kickoff will feature interactive performances of music and dance by An Dro, Michigan Hiryu Daiko, Leah Ivory & the Rhym Life Collective, Igor Houwat and more. See the full series schedule for 2015.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Concerts
The gracious Austin-based guitarist and his band reflected a “beautiful, amazing” vibe at the outdoor amphitheater on Wednesday, uncorking a show to remember. Read the review and check out the photo gallery at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Features · Upcoming shows · Videos
Playing with West Michigan’s Junior Valentine and Hank Mowery in the ’90s helped set the stage for the Austin-based musician’s fortuitous relationship with Clark, who stops at Meijer Gardens Wednesday. Read the exclusive Local Spins interview with Bradley, who’s spent the past five years in Clark’s band.
Concert reviews · Summer Concerts · Weekend Photo Gallery
Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue’s debut at Meijer Gardens was just the capper on a music-filled week in the Grand Rapids area, captured in images at Local Spins. Check out the review of Sunday’s show, along with photos of concerts from the past week, including the Battle of the Bands finals at The Intersection.
Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
The super-deluxe, star-studded edition of Local Spins on WYCE (Episode No. 42) boasted in-studio appearances and performances by acts offering up house concerts in a WYCE auction, plus brand new music from Scott Pellegrom and The Tosspints. Check out the podcast and watch the video of the first-ever live collaboration between Big Dudee Roo and Rick Chyme.
This live music week in West Michigan also boasted shows by The Accidentals, Fauxgrass, Hey Marco!, Full Catastrophe, Hall & Oates and, yes, a Traverse City homecoming bash for “The Voice’s” Joshua Davis. Check out the full photo gallery at Local Spins.
The duo brought a boatload of catchy ’70s and ’80s pop hits to stoke the embers of a Saturday night dance party for an audience of about 7,500 at Van Andel Arena. Read Local Spins review by Tricia Woolfenden and view the photo gallery by Anthony Norkus.
Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
Episode 37 of the show also featured the debut of songs by Jesse Ray & The Carolina Catfish and Thunderbolt & Lightfoot, with a cover of May Erlewine by Sawyer Fredericks on the “The Voice.” Listen to the entire show podcast.
May’s batch of Local Spins album reviews covers the gamut from soul to folk, a round-up that also includes new releases from Plain Jane Glory, Watching for Foxes and Complicated Animals. Check out the reviews, with links to audio samples and upcoming gig schedules for the featured bands.
Breaking music news · Concert announcements · Videos
Local Spins’ third anniversary celebration in May will feature shows by some of our readers’ favorite bands, all of whom have much-anticipated new albums on the way. See which other Michigan acts ranked high among reader favorites and find out who won our Local Spins gift packages.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Beyond sellouts by Todd Rundgren, Rhiannon Giddens and Andrew W.K., the week was a musical marvel: Jam-packed shows for Vox Vidorra, the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion and Joe Louis Walker, with Mayer Hawthorne, Big K.R.I.T. and more playing Ferris Fest in BIg Rapids. Check out all the photos.
Concert announcements · Summer Concerts
Interlochen’s summer of music opens with Michael McDonald in mid-June and wraps up with O.A.R on Sept. 1. Tickets go on sale April 24. See the full lineup.
Concert announcements · Summer Concerts · Upcoming shows
The June 20 street party also features Elephant Revival, Gringo Star, Billy Strings & Don Julin, Devin & The Dead Frets, Organissimo and FBC All-Stars. Advance tickets go on sale April 17. Check out the details for one of Grand Rapids’ biggest summer street fests.
Breaking music news · Concert announcements
The April Fool’s Day edition of the music news roundup is no joke: A much-beloved Michigan blues artist is making big waves nationally and the Hoxeyville festival in the middle of the Manistee National Forest is back for a 12th year. Read details and see the full lineup.
