The delta variant has created uncertainty for venues again, but concerts such as the recent Domestic Problems show in Grand Rapids have left folks uplifted. The “Destination: Live Music” video.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
The Muskegon band with a new album on the way was this week’s guest for Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuted tracks by Desmond Jones, Dani Darling, marsfade & more. The Artist Spotlight feature and the full radio show podcast.
The ’80s rock band’s first-ever show at the amphitheater felt like a race to reviewer Lorilee Craker, but the capacity crowd did get to hear some fan favorites. The Local Spins review and photo gallery.
Wednesday’s sold-out show amid hot and muggy conditions brought a doubleheader of fan favorites to the outdoor amphitheater. The recap and photo gallery at Local Spins.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
This weekend’s festival outside Empire will feature Joshua Davis, Laura Rain, Dana Falconberry, Jordan Hamilton, Mark Lavengood and more. Learn more about this boutique festival and view the full weekend schedule.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
Not surprisingly, multiple performances by Michigan-bred bluegrass hero Billy Strings topped the roster of memorable moments at a northern Michigan festival that returned after a one-year hiatus. Browse the weekend highlights, pore over the photos and view videos from an action-packed Hoxey.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
Memories of Farmfest 2021 – the final edition of the northern Michigan festival – will linger for a long time after a utopian weekend of music. Relive some of the festival highlights in words and images at Local Spins.
Umphrey’s McGree uncorked a jam-band spectacle the same night Luke Winslow-King fired up Studio Park & Laura Rain played the final GRAM on the Green. Revisit all three shows in recaps and photo galleries at Local Spins.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows · Videos
It’s back for 2021 in the Manistee National Forest this weekend with national headliners and regional favorites, including a bluegrass singer who adores Hoxey and all it entails. An interview with Lindsay Lou, along with the festival schedule.
Albums that Changed the World · Playlists
Michigan native Luke Winslow-King plays Grand Rapids on Thursday and two northern Michigan music festivals this weekend. Today, he reveals the recordings that helped shape his own career. Listen to tracks from all of the albums at Local Spins and see how you can win tickets to see his ‘Listening Lawn’ show at Studio Park this week.
The final night of the legendary acts’ August joint touring run enchanted a sold-out crowd Sunday at Meijer Gardens. The review and photo gallery at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
On the heels of releasing two new singles, the band was this week’s guest for Local Spins on WYCE, which also featured new tracks by Phabies, Mannhattan, Superfluiid,Michigan Rattlers and more. Get the back story on Paradise Outlaw and listen to this week’s radio show podcast at Local Spins.
The soulful, award-winning Detroit act led July’s roster of regional artists earning the most airplay at WYCE, just ahead of Michigan Rattlers, Patty PerShayla, Seth Bernard and Lipstick Jodi. Read more about Laura Rain, who plays Grand Rapids later this month, and listen to tracks from all of the new releases at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Features · Weekend Photo Gallery
For artists such as Joshua Davis and Troll for Trout, the return to stages in Grand Rapids this summer after more than 16 months of COVID silence has created a peculiar but welcome feeling. Get the back story of their experiences and recaps of their shows, along with photo galleries that also include images of Djangophonique at Grand Rapids Art Museum and Pink Martini with Grand Rapids Symphony at Meijer Gardens.
Jesse Ray & The Carolina Catfish and Via Mardot pumped up a capacity crowd for this week’s edition of the Tuesday series at Meijer Gardens, demonstrating the power of local and regional music. The recap and photos from this week’s concert.
Albums that Changed the World · Audio · Playlists
The Local Spins series focusing on recordings that most influenced Michigan artists continues with Grand Rapids studio owner Tommy Schichtel, who’s also frontman for The Concussions. View his list, listen to tracks from all of the albums.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Live music matched the weather this week: Sizzling and sweaty, from The Go Rounds at Studio Park to Collective Soul at Meijer Gardens to Bill Kirchen, The Concussions and more at Jerry Palooza — plus, Grand Rapids Symphony, Melophobix and Brian Koenigknecht played shows across West Michigan. We’ve got the photo recaps.
The Michigan alt-rock band played a summer homecoming show on Saturday that checked a lot of boxes and featured the return of Brad Vander Ark. The review and photo gallery at Local Spins.
As we move into the final week of July, Local Spins spotlights new releases from some familiar Michigan artists representing a wide swath of styles, from Seth Bernard to Lauren Pearson. Browse the reviews, listen to tracks from all of the albums at Local Spins.
Behind the glamour: In today’s essay, musician and Local Spins writer Enrique Olmos reveals his struggles with mental health and explores this important, oft-neglected subject with other musicians and experts in the field. Plus, find links to mental health resources.
Albums that Changed the World · Audio · Playlists · Videos
Grand Rapids singer and multi-instrumentalist Patty PerShayla today reveals the albums that most influenced her, along with a current favorite on her playlist. Listen to tracks from all of the albums, plus a song from the new release by Patty PerShayla & The Mayhaps.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
“Rock music is back!” Despite some early rain, throngs of head-bangers cheered their hard-rocking heroes as festival performances — featuring several Michigan acts — returned to Grand Rapids. Read the review, browse the photo gallery and watch video highlights from the first day of Upheaval Festival.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
The new festival’s two-day rock ‘n’ roll assault at the Grand Rapids park shapes up as ‘surreal and unbelievably exciting.’ Get the back story and the full festival schedule at Local Spins.
Albums that Changed the World · Playlists · Videos
Female artists, not surprisingly, have had a big impact on the music of country singer Kari Lynch. Today, she reveals the albums that influenced her most, along with a current favorite band on her playlist. Plus, listen to a track from her band’s latest release.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows · Videos
The remote, cozy festival in northern Lake Michigan will feature a host of Michigan stars this weekend, including The Gasoline Gypsies, Hacky Turtles, Patty PerShayla & The Mayhaps, The Founding and more. Learn more about this year’s event and watch videos of some of the featured bands at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
From Grand Rapids to the lakeshore, bands and fans celebrated the return of live music to packed venues, many hosting their first concerts in more than a year. Browse the images from The Intersection, The Pyramid Scheme, Burl & Sprig, Listening Room/Studio Park and Grand Haven’s Waterfront Stadium at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Audio · Hot Top 5 · Videos
The rock ’n’ roll collection tops an all-new Local Spins Hot Top 5 Chart for June that also features Jack Droppers, Lipstick Jodi and other brand new chart entries . Plus, view a new video from the Mayhaps and see what else is in store for PerShayla in 2021 and listen to tracks from all of the featured albums.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
The first Tuesday Evening Music Club show in nearly two years filled the amphitheater for sets by The Accidentals and Roosevelt Digs. Get the recap, view the photos and video exclusively at Local Spins.
Albums that Changed the World · Playlists · Videos
The frontman for West Michigan’s popular Gunnar & The Grizzly Boys reveals the rootsy, blue-collar gems that have influenced him the most, from Johnny Cash to Bruce Springsteen. Check out his picks and listen to tracks from all of the artists.
Features · Upcoming shows · Venue Spotlight
The charming and unique ‘right-on-the-water’ club in Douglas bids farewell at the end of the season after hosting regional bands and national touring acts for more than two decades. Discover the back story and browse a photo gallery at Local Spins.
Albums that Changed the World · Audio · Playlists
Grand Haven sound engineer Bill Chrysler has toured the world with some of the biggest names in the business. Today, he reveals the albums that inspired him to pursue his music industry career.
Album reviews · Audio · Upcoming shows
Local Spins wraps up June with a look at six intriguing and diverse new releases by West Michigan artists. Plus, listen to tracks from all of the albums.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
The state’s outdoor concert and festival flurry took an unexpected turn with the week’s unceasing rain and even tornado warnings, but indoor shows flourished at Listening Room and Tip Top Deluxe, along with a few outdoor sets across the region. Browse the photo galleries at Local Spins.
Features · Upcoming shows · Venue Spotlight
After barely surviving the pandemic, the ever-groovy and intimate Tip Top Deluxe celebrates a major milestone this weekend. The back story and Saturday’s schedule at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
With release of the band’s third full-length album, “Dad Rock,” Droppers opens up about getting in trouble while growing up in Florida, being a new father and crafting a record during a pandemic. Learn more about the project, view the videos and browse a photo gallery from the band’s recent record-release show.
Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
Local Spins celebrates the first day of summer and Father’s Day with a photo gallery of live music that heated up outdoor stages in Lowell, Grand Rapids, Three Rivers, Jackson and Rockford. Browse the images and a video from these concerts.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
It was the first big week of live music in the great outdoors across West Michigan with nightly offerings of regional stars from Kalamazoo to Allegan to Grand Rapids to Rockford. Relive the performances in images and a highlights video at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Audio · Videos
With a brand new self-produced record, “Twelve Songs,” the guitarist sat down with Local Spins to talk recording, West Michigan’s inspiring music scene and the sad late-night food offerings in Grand Rapids. Plus, listen to tracks from the new album.
Summer Concerts · Upcoming shows
We’ve got 10 more summer series starring regional acts unfolding in communities from Buchanan to Canadian Lakes, with several of these kicking off this coming week. The lineup at Local Spins.
Photos · Upcoming shows · Venue Spotlight
The Alpine Township farm hosts regular shows, including band performances on a stage built to deliver a unique concert experience for musicians and fans. The back story about this unusual concert venue, with photos.
Summer Concerts · Upcoming shows
As summer kicks into full gear, so do outdoor concerts hosted by communities across West Michigan. Learn more about the return of these shows and get the latest update to Local Spins’ comprehensive listings of music in the great outdoors.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
The Grand Rapids band debuted music from a new studio album for Local Spins on WYCE, which also premiered tracks by Desmond Jones, FlyLite Gemini, Snacks & Five and much more. Learn more about EPCYA and its new recording, plus listen to the June 4 radio show podcast.
The two Traverse City bands released new EPs this spring that earned them lots of attention and lots of radio airplay at WYCE-FM. Check out their reaction to the news, discover what other albums made the May chart and listen to songs from the featured artists.
Pete Bardolph and John Gelderloos will ease into retirement next week after selling the Grand Rapids instrument and gear store that’s long been a go-to for many players. Get the back story about this West Side institution that’s fading into the sunset later this month.
Photos · Upcoming shows · Venue Spotlight
One of Grand Rapids’ newest music venues emerges from the pandemic with four nights of shows each week, including open-mics hosted by Melophobix and Raven Griffin. The venue spotlight at Local Spins, with a photo gallery and listing of upcoming shows.
Playlists · Top 10 Lists · Videos
With the American music icon hitting a major milestone today, Local Spins asked West Michigan singer-songwriter and Dylan devotee Nicholas James Thomasma to offer up a playlist for the ages. Listen to the tracks and see why these songs are on his Top 10 list, plus watch a brand new video of Thomasma & his band covering a Dylan classic.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
The Grand Rapids band premiered a new single for Local Spins on WYCE, which also premiered tracks by DJ Blaze, Medicinal Groove, Dawning, Emma A. Ward, WOOTS, Biomassive and more. Get an update on The Bootstrap Boys and listen to this week’s full radio show podcast.
Summer Concerts · Upcoming shows
More than 200 free concerts have been added to the lineups of Michigan communities hosting shows by local and regional artists. View all of the schedules at Local Spins.
Features · Live-Stream Concerts · Videos
From hip hop’s Mikeyy Austin to rock’s Patty PerShayla, the Grand Rapids recording studio has helped fill the pandemic void of live music by providing constant, creatively produced live-stream shows and videos starring Michigan acts. Learn more about Dogtown, watch recent videos and browse a photo gallery at Local Spins.
Album Releases · Album reviews · Audio
This early May roundup of new regional releases spotlights rock, hip hop, jazz, folk and more. Check out the reviews, listen to samples of music from all of the featured albums.
