The seventh annual festival boasts a diverse lineup of music and beer, and Grand Rapids-area fans can take advantage of special daily bus trip to the event.
Two years in the making, the new retro-flavored R&B/funk album from the well-traveled musician boasts a who’s who lineup of Michigan talent. Frisinger’s band plays shows Thursday and Friday in Grand Haven.
The singer may feel ‘anonymous’ in The Music City but he’s still a star in West Michigan, performing Saturday in Kalamazoo’s District Square concert series.
The first batch of mid-July Local Spins CD reviews covers a dizzying range of Michigan artists and musical styles, from pop to funk to folk. And there’s plenty more to come.
The first Guest Playlist of July comes courtesy of an iconic West Michigan guitarist with a brand new album and an ear toward a perfectly retro soundtrack for summer.
Founders Brewing Co.’s seventh annual street party lived up to the hype with Charley Bradley & His Extraordinaires stealing the show with their fiery, retro-soul set, followed by the ultra-funk of Lettuce.
Musical lightning strikes thrice: Unusual confluence of stellar acts playing Grand Rapids on single night impresses crowds despite stormy weather.
The seventh annual street party will boast performances on Saturday by Charles Bradley, Lettuce and six other bands on two stages, with more 6,000 people expected. (See full band schedule)
Artist Spotlights · Podcasts · Videos
Flying under the radar in West Michigan, the 21-year-old singer already has racked up hits on the pop charts and worked with Grammy-winning producers. She’ll debut her live show this summer. Check out the exclusive in-studio video.
Breaking music news · Concert announcements · Upcoming shows
The Celadon Summer Concert Series is back, adding to a long list of free outdoor summer shows across West Michigan. And today’s the deadline for bidding on some bracing house concerts by acclaimed Michigan bands.
The seven-piece Grand Rapids soul band with an inspiring lead singer makes its public debut at the Tip Top on Saturday. Check out the Local Spins Artist Spotlight preview and an exclusive premiere of a new Soul Syndicate song.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
The weekend started early with some soulful Fitz and continued with rousing celebrations: Seven Steps Up’s 100th show, GR Songwriters Alliance’s 10th anniversary and Local Spins’ rollicking second anniversary rock show.
The veteran Grand Rapids guitarist, performer and instructor fronts an intriguing new trio with mandolinist Jason Wheeler and percussionist Brandan Grinwis, mining American roots gems. (Story, podcast, video)
National tours of note made West Michigan stops, but there was plenty more with a big lineup of regional acts at Jake’s Music Festival plus shows by The Bangups, Seabird, Scott Pellegrom & Kevin Kozel, Nathan Kalish and Teddy Geiger.
Breaking music news · Concert announcements
The unique Interlochen venue in northern Michigan hosts more than two dozen stars – from Lynyrd Skynyrd to Buddy Guy – with tickets on sale April 18. And Hoxeyville returns in mid-August to the Manistee National Forest.
Breaking music news · Concert announcements
Returning will be CAKE, Lyle Lovett, The Beach Boys, O.A.R., Five for Fighting and Sheryl Crow, but most acts are new to Meijer Gardens. See the full schedule; ticket presale for members begins April 26.
Breaking music news · Concert announcements
The mammoth, summer-starting street party expects to draw 6,000-plus folks for beer and sets by Lettuce, Charles Bradley, Break Science, Budos Band, The Giving Tree Band, Fauxgrass and Valentiger. Advance tickets on sale April 18.
Features · Top 10 Lists · Videos
The time to warm up is now: Topped by the No. 1 hit from West Michigan’s own Frankie Ballard, the 2014 edition of best songs for cottage and lakefront relaxation spotlights summery songs of the past decade.
Friday night’s Jammie Awards hosted by WYCE-FM (88.1) at The Intersection will boast two dozen bands on two stages and a packed house. It’s come a long way since its humble beginnings. Local Spins asked three key Jammie-ites to recount its growth and importance.
The Grand Rapids duo in this week’s Local Spins Artist Spotlight draws rockabilly-styled inspiration from Elvis but adds a fresh punk growl. (Story, video, podcast)
Breaking music news · Upcoming shows
The Waxies, Tosspints and more to rock an even bigger Irish on Ionia on Saturday; after years of regaling West Michigan audiences, the award-winning Blue Molly has played its final show.
Michigan writers, musicians and readers offer their picks for the best albums and best songs of the past year, from Bradley to Beyonce to Bipolar Sunshine.
The Brooklyn-based R&B singer delivered a heartfelt performance on Sunday with The Extraordinaires, igniting a sold-out Grand Rapids crowd.
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[…]
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) […]
A splendid mid-week summer evening offered up two completely different musical vibes — with vastly different audiences — at separate outdoor shows in the Grand Rapids area. Call it[…]
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[…]
A throng of 20,000-plus at Ah-Nab-Awen Park, including 80 new U.S. citizens, got an eyeful and earful in a vibrant pre-fireworks show by four bands and the Daredevil Circus. (Video,[…]
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[…]
Celebrate Cinco de Mayo a day early in downtown Grand Rapids at Michigan’s biggest celebration of its kind, plus a dual CD-release show by The Wallace Collective and Chain of[…]
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[…]
Diversity reigned yet again — from local to national, from metal to blues to alt-rock — as evidenced by photos shared at Spins on Music. (Photos, videos) Winter refused[…]
Breaking music news · Concert announcements · Upcoming shows
With a record-breaking 30 shows on the docket, the Meijer Gardens summer concert series boasts some high-priced big names and emerging acts in a bevy of genres. See the full[…]
Concert announcements · Upcoming shows
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park’s “other” concert series stars some of West Michigan’s top talent starting in July. Check out the full lineup. Every spring, the big guns[…]
The post-St. Patrick’s Day musical lineup gets bluesy, funky and folky this week, with national acts and a bunch of West Michigan stars: The Go Rounds, Steve Hilger, Vincent Hayes[…]
Concert reviews · Features · Photos
From the Jammies to the Winter Beer Festival and beyond, the beer was flowing and bands were rocking, including The Concussions, Michigan Mark DePree, Deborah Kay & The Bluebloods, Jimmie[…]
Breaking music news · Concert reviews
WYCE-FM’s jam-packed Jammies on Friday jammed two stages with two dozen performances and doled out 19 awards to Michigan bands and artists. Rootsy artists The Soil and The Sun[…]
Concert announcements · Features · Upcoming shows
Familiar big names mix with emerging acts as the community radio station’s first-ever Friday night awards bonanza hosts two dozen performances on two stages at The Intersection. Some of[…]
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[…]
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[…]
Grand Rapids’ concert lineup for Thanksgiving week ruffles musical feathers, from Other Lives to an Aria Flame debut and Four Finger Five farewell. (Videos) Benje & Ashley Daneman, The[…]
Dr. John and the Blind Boys of Alabama played to a less-than-hefty crowd at DeVos Performance Hall on Tuesday, but still delivered “Spirituals to Funk” in often rousing, upbeat fashion.[…]
Concert announcements · Upcoming shows · Videos
West Michigan concert hoopla continues in earnest as Labor Day approaches with Grand Rapids’ Soul of the City, Wynton Marsalis, Ralston and more. Ralston & Friends, Peter Mulvey: Tuesday Evening[…]
Breaking music news · Concert announcements · Upcoming shows
Rock the Rapids in late August will bring six days of concerts and some unusual street entertainment to downtown Grand Rapids. Alice Cooper, one of Rock the Rapids’ 2011 headliners,[…]
Concert announcements · Upcoming shows · Videos
Huey Lewis & The News, Katie Todd 7 p.m. Monday $75 ($73 Meijer Gardens members) Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park It’s so hot, chickens are laying hard-boiled eggs. Sorry,[…]
It’s nowhere near his biggest hit, but when Al Green sings “Tired of Being Alone,” he fuses all of the elements that have made him a Grammy-winning superstar of soul:[…]
Al Green 7 p.m. Monday The concert is sold out. Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, Grand Rapids Township I fondly recall many things about soul singer Al Green’s much-ballyhooed[…]
Concert announcements · Upcoming shows · Videos
Roger Waters’ “The Wall” 8 p.m. Wednesday $66.50-$214.35 Van Andel Arena, Grand Rapids Let’s hope the sun keeps smiling as it did on Festival Sunday, because outdoor summer music hoopla[…]
Breaking music news · Upcoming shows · Videos
Billed as the “youngest blues band in America,” the Homemade Jamz Blues Band will launch the 2012 edition of the LAV Budweiser Blues on the Mall series on June 13.[…]
Concert announcements · Upcoming shows · Videos
Boasting 17 of Michigan’s most dynamic bands and performers, 2012’s edition of the Tuesday Evening Music Club series at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park is sure to pack the[…]
