Album reviews · Audio · Videos
opping the early August batch of new releases is the Sony Music Masterworks debut for a popular Traverse City trio, plus fresh recordings from an eclectic bunch of West Michigan artists. Check out the reviews, listen to samples of the new music.
Separated by 47 miles, two highly revered rootsy acts — one leaning toward folk and soul, the other toward alt-country and Southern rock — ignited capacity crowds at outdoor West Michigan venues on Friday, amid some wet weather. Read the reviews and browse the photo galleries.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
With a back story that involves Saddam Hussein’s piano and gospel roots, this Albion duo and backing band are creating a buzz with passionate performances and a new soulful, upbeat album. Plus, the debut of new music by Cosmic Knot, Gifts or Creatures, The Out of Favor Boys and more. Read the story, listen to the podcast, watch the video of The War & Treaty’s in-studio performance.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
This week’s national tours are balanced by shows from Michigan-bred acts B-Side Growlers, Michigan Rattlers, Theatre Bizarre Orchestra, KJ & The Good Time Family Band, Comments of Aether, a Picnic Pops Abba tribute and more.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
Michigan faves The Legal Immigrants, Lisa Mary, Tugga the Rapper and more are in the lineup for the four-day Lansing music festival that kicks off Thursday. See and download the full schedule.
Features · Upcoming shows · Videos
In what ranks as one of Park Theatre’s biggest shows yet, keyboard icon Booker T. Jones will make a tour stop there on Friday night with Kalamazoo soul/funk band The Mainstays opening. Read about the upcoming concert at watch Booker T videos at Local Spins.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
The Independence Day holiday doesn’t mean taking time off from live music, with Tuesday Evening Music Club kicking off on the Fourth of July, followed by much more to occupy your week. See all of the live music selections for the week, plus some amazing Under-the-Radar Picks.
The holiday weekend brought fireworks of the musical and pyrotechnic variety to Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo and Lowell, from bluegrass to soul to rock ‘n’ roll. Check out the images at Local Spins from special events at The Pyramid Scheme, Bell’s Brewery, Kent County Fairgrounds and Ah-Nab-Awen Park.
Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
The final Local Spins on WYCE radio show for June also featured tracks from Detroit bands Flint Eastwood, Talking Ear and Saajtak, as well as music from West Michigan acts Flushed, The Extra Texture, Ty Beat, Parlor Voice, Mark Lavengood and Hey Marco! Listen to the full podcast.
Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
A sun-splashed weekend of festivals wrapped up a lively week of music from Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo. Check out the photo galleries and videos at Local Spins.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows · Videos
Joe Hertler, The Accidentals, Vox Vidorra and Flint Eastwood are ready to join the wondrous party that is Electric Forest. It unfurls over two weekends in West Michigan led by String Cheese Incident, My Morning Jacket and Bassnectar to create an un-Earthly musical vibe. Check out the schedule for Michigan’s contingent, only at Local Spins.
Electric Forest performer Vox Vidorra of Grand Rapids chimes in with the first of three Local Spins playlists geared to get folks ready for the two-weekend music festival coming up in Rothbury, Michigan. From Kendrick Lamar to Nina Simone, listen to the songs and watch the videos; check out the full playlist on Spotify.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
Two members of the Kalamazoo-area indie-folk band performed on air for Local Spins on WYCE, which also featured new music from The Accidentals, Kevin B. Klein and Steve Leaf & The Ex-Pats. Learn more about Cousin Avery, watch the in-studio video and listen to the entire radio podcast.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
New York’s Slambovian Circus of Dreams leads a lineup of more than four dozen acts playing several stages this weekend in a scenic setting south of Grand Rapids. Get the schedule and details at Local Spins.
Audio · Breaking music news · Hot Top 5 · Videos
The Grand Rapids bluegrass musician’s latest solo album soared to WYCE’s top spot, with the Jim Shaneberger Band appearing on the chart for the third month in a row. Listen to music from all five artists who made May’s Hot Top 5 and check out the list of new local releases.
The Alabama indie-soul ensemble uncorked a “Sea of Noise” — and energetic, horn-fueled funk — for an approving audience on a stellar Friday evening. Read the review and browse the photo gallery.
The popular summer series kicked off Sunday with plenty of elbow room for fans as “Replay America” unfurled retro hits on its Grand Rapids tour stop. Read the review of the 2017 season’s opening night and browse the photo gallery.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
The weather couldn’t have been better on opening day of Grand Rapids’ Festival of the Arts and musicians responded with diverse, audience-pleasing sets. Check out the Local Spins photo gallery and video.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming Album Releases · Upcoming shows
Hannah Rose & The GravesTones, Big Dudee Roo and Jesse Ray & The Carolina Catfish play outside HopCat Grand Rapids late Sunday afternoon, following the HopCat Extra Time 5K Race. The Local Spins CD featuring tracks by 12 West Michigan artists is available digitally online today, with physical copies available at Sunday’s event.
Concert announcements · Kalamazoo · Summer Concerts
The new outdoor venue will host four one-day outdoor “festivals,” from June to September, on a new stage in Arcadia Ales’ cozy patio space next to the Kalamazoo River. Check out the lineups, with videos of some of the featured bands.
Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
From national tour stops by pop, hip-hop and bluegrass acts to jam-packed local showcases, West Michigan’s week of live music kept May hopping. Check out the images and videos at Local Spins.
Breaking music news · Concert announcements · Local Spins Exclusives
Local Spins celebrates its 5th birthday in May with an album featuring 12 regional acts, special shows and giveaways, an inaugural street party and a Rockford Brewing IPA brewed especially for Local Spins. Plus, there’s an opportunity for readers to officially join the Local Spins family. Check out the complete schedule of May events.
Summer is right around the corner and communities across West Michigan once again are hosting free weeknight concerts featuring regional acts, from Lindsay Lou & The Flatbellys to The Crane Wives to Union Guns and more. Get out your calendar and scan the lineups for seven of these concert series at Local Spins.
Record Store Day 2017 in West Michigan will be chock full of special performances, special releases, special discounts and a special love for indie record shops. Get the lowdown on Saturday’s performances and what’s happening at some of these stores.
Concert announcements · Summer Concerts
The summer concert series announced today by Interlochen Center for the Arts also boasts appearances by Michael McDonald, Boz Scaggs, Paul Shaffer, Amos Lee and Ian Anderson. See the full lineup and details in this Local Spins story.
At 75, the Detroit legend proved Thursday she’s still “The Queen of Soul” in a DeVos Performance Hall show that featured some of her biggest hits, including “Respect,” “Chain of Fools” and “Baby I Love You.” Read the Local Spins review, browse the photo gallery.
Concert announcements · Summer Festivals
The 14th street party taking place June 3 will also feature sets by Bedrock, Cabildo, Molly from Vox Vidorra and students from Triumph Music Academy. Get the rest of the lowdown in this Local Spins story.
Concert announcements · Festivals
About 3,000 revelers are expected to once again attend the northern Michigan brewery’s anniversary bash on April 29, with Short’s Brewing also announcing the winner of its first battle of the bands contest. Get details and ticket links in this Local Spins story.
Features · Upcoming shows · Videos
This year’s Fashion & Music for Film Showcase will boast fashion lines inspired by music videos and created by Kendall College of Art and Design students. Watch the videos by Grand Rapids’ AB, Los Angeles’ Matt Rose and others.
Concert reviews · Music on Campus · Photos
Concerts, workshops and speeches at the weekend event in Grand Rapids focused on “valuing unconventional expression and promoting community dialogue.” Check out the concert recap and photo gallery at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
The colorful mid-Michigan ensemble celebrated its new album and kicked off a U.S. tour Saturday with a big boost from Grand Rapids’ The Legal Immigrants and Kalamazoo’s Less is More. Read the Local Spins review, ogle the photos, watch the videos.
Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
The weekend got started early with a piano prodigy and continued with soul, rock, pop, folk, blues and a bevy of young, emerging West Michigan acts. Check out the photos and videos at Local Spins, from Chilly, Blues & Brews at The B.O.B. to bluegrass at Bell’s Brewery in Kalamazoo.
Concert announcements · Summer Festivals
Hoxeyville’s 15th anniversary celebration heats up mid-August in the Manistee National Forest with an impressive blend of local, regional and national acts. Tickets are on sale now. See the full lineup for this year’s festival.
Features · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Upcoming shows · Videos
Get ready to “Moondance.” Grand Rapids singer Mark VandenBerge will unleash his most ambitious tribute to the legendary Van Morrison on Friday at 20 Monroe Live. Check out a video and get a preview in the Local Spins on WYCE podcast.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
Sunday’s seven-hour showcase of West Michigan talent drew hundreds of people to The Intersection to show support for Ralston and Cindy Bowles and help pay their medical bills. Check out the Local Spins story, video highlights and a photo gallery.
Features · Upcoming shows · Videos
The Sunday concert raising money for the couple’s medical bills features a who’s who roster of regional artists, including Troll for Trout, Larry McCray, The Soul Syndicate, Drew Nelson, Hannah Rose Graves, Fauxgrass and more. See the full schedule and details about this special event.
Features · Local Spins at SXSW · Photos · Upcoming shows · Videos
Tuesday’s Michigan House lineup at Austin boasts loads of potential. Read about the performances and a special Local Spins roundtable that will stream live. Meanwhile, Traverse City’s The Accidentals continue to live up to the hype at SXSW. Read about their first show for 2017 in Austin and check out the premiere of a new Rick Chyme & Nixon video featuring The Accidentals.
Announcements · Audio · Breaking music news · Local Spins at SXSW
To mark their return to South by Southwest, Traverse City’s The Accidentals released the first single from their upcoming new album today. And five other Michigan acts headed for a Michigan House-Austin showcase have recorded fresh songs for SXSW and ArtPrize. All six premiere here at Local Spins. Listen to the songs, read the back story.
Features · Festivals · Local Spins at SXSW · Upcoming shows
Creative Many, Michigan House and Local Spins are back in Austin for the giant SXSW conference this weekend, shedding an even brighter spotlight on Great Lakes State artists, products and innovators. See which Michigan acts will be joining them and why.
Concert reviews · Festivals · Kalamazoo · Photos · Videos
They came, they saw, they strummed guitars and they watched regional acts on four stages at Kalamazoo Valley Museum this weekend. Check out the Local Spins roundup, photo gallery and videos from the 2017 Kalamazoo festival, which attracted thousands of visitors and boasted sets by more than a dozen acts.
Guest Column · Kalamazoo · Upcoming shows
Kalamazoo’s 2017 Fretboard Festival unfolds once again this weekend at Kalamazoo Valley Museum. Musician Megan Dooley has been a regular attendee. Read her Local Spins column about this special event and check out the complete schedule of performances by top-drawer regional acts and workshops.
Concert announcements · Summer Concerts · Videos
Today’s announcement of three amphitheater shows serves as an early teaser for concertgoers, with tickets going on sale to Meijer Gardens members in late April. Get all the details at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
The week in music was diversity embodied: a globally acclaimed choral group, a fist-pumping Chicago rock band, an uber-popular California alt-rock band, a revamped Kalamazoo buzz band, a Detroit-area folk-rock outfit kicking off its world tour and much, much more in Local Spins images. Check out the photo galleries and show recaps.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Upcoming shows · Videos
This week’s edition of Local Spins on WYCE spotlighted a Grand Rapids ensemble with a fresh, lively and eclectic musical attack, plus airing new tracks by Tail from the Crypt, Ashley McGrath, Beach Thief, Afro Zuma and Brother Adams & Emma Loo. (Podcast, video, story)
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows · Videos
The Southwest Michigan band opens for The Marcus King band at Grand Rapids’ Wealthy Theatre on Sunday, one of several high-profile gigs planned for Slim Gypsy Baggage in 2017. Read about the band and its upcoming new album in this Local Spins Artist Spotlight.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
One of the busiest weeks of 2017 thus far also boasted some killer under-the-radar shows, capturing in images at Local Spins. Check out the week-in-review photo galleries.
Breaking music news · Concert reviews · Photos
Friday night’s crowded awards show at The Intersection honored Michigan’s best albums and songs of the year, with 25 performances on two stages. See the complete winners’ list, photos and more from West Michigan music’s “biggest night of the year” at Local Spins.
Commentary · Guest Column · Top 10 Lists · Upcoming shows
Community radio station WYCE-FM (88.1) is partnering with Local Spins for a monthly column highlighting West Michigan’s music scene, including a listing of the Top 5 Local Spins of the Month. This week, it’s all about the Jammie Awards. See the full schedule of performances for Friday’s big awards show at The Intersection.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
Downtown Grand Rapids’ newest concert venue earned high marks from a teeming and happy crowd on Wednesday night. Check out the Local Spins review and two photo galleries from the milestone show.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Check out images and videos of concerts from Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo, including the fifth anniversary of Grand Rapids Soul Club, in Local Spins’ latest week-in-review roundup.
