Players are urged to “bring their axes and jam” during the Jan. 12 celebration at Grand Rapids’ Eastern Avenue Hall, paying tribute to the frontman for The Beveridge Brothers who died unexpectedly on Dec. 6. Get more details at Local Spins.
Seven acts — from Roxy Music to Stevie Nicks to The Zombies — will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame next year. Here’s a recap of the inductees and some videos of the Class of 2019.
This Local Spins roundup of albums recorded in Michigan has a cross-state, inter-state and international flavor – and covers a lot of territory musically, too. Read the reviews, listen to music from the featured artists.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
The approaching holidays heat things up on the music scene this week with Red Legs, The Crane Wives, Junior Valentine & Hank Mowery, Dalmatian Stone, Jake Kershaw, ‘The Nutcracker,’ Schubert Male Chorus, a ‘Roaring ’20s Holiday Ball’ and much more. Plus win concert tickets to see The Devil Wears Prada or Morgan Wallen via The Big List.
Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
Beyond a host of national acts, the week boasted crowd-pleasing local shows by The Concussions, Kaitlin Rose, The Moxie Strings, Nathan Walton and more. Browse photos and video snippets exclusively at Local Spins.
Announcements · Breaking music news · Videos
The quick-rising young rockers from Frankenmuth who cut their teeth at places like The Intersection in Grand Rapids will join big stars in bids for best new artist, rock song, rock performance and rock album. Get details at Local Spins and see what The Intersection thinks of the band’s meteoric rise.
Playlists · Top 10 Lists · Videos
Grand Rapids’ masked champions of surf rock, The Concussions, play Tip Top Deluxe on Saturday. So, Local Spins asked The Concussions’ Dick Chiclet, aka Tommy Schichtel, for an off-the-beaten-path holiday playlist with a retro twist. Check out the videos and listen to some classic Christmas tunes you may have never heard before.
As the holidays approach, this month’s Local Spins segment on Michigan Radio’s ‘Stateside’ uncorked a diverse trio of new releases by Grand Rapids-area bands. Read about the artists, listen to their songs and the ‘Stateside’ podcast.
Heavy Color retained the top spot on the regional music chart for November, but Heaters and Roosevelt Diggs were right behind with their impressive new releases. View the latest chart, listen to music from all of the featured artists and browse the list of new local additions to the WYCE airplay rotation.
Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band kicked off their “final tour” at Grand Rapids’ Van Andel Arena on Wednesday, once again regaling fans with his classic tunes on Thanksgiving Eve. And they’ll be back in January for what’s billed as a final, final Grand Rapids show. Michigan’s own The War and Treaty opened Wednesday’s concert. The review and photo gallery, exclusively at Local Spins.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
It’s a busy holiday stretch with a host of rock icons playing West Michigan this week, plus lively appearances by Desmond Jones, Hannah Rose Graves, The Soul Syndicate, The North 41 and much more. And see how you can win tickets to see Billy Strings.
The Grammy-winning British rocker returned to Grand Rapids Saturday for a show at 20 Monroe Live that was heavy on songs from the first and latter part of his career. Check out the review, photo gallery and set list, exclusively at Local Spins. And browse photo galleries from other West Michigan tour stops by The Tallest Man on Earth and Danity Kane, plus Pillar to Post and a Folklife Organization benefit in Kalamazoo.
The legendary British singer-songwriter and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer hits Grand Rapids’ 20 Monroe Live on Saturday, the perfect time to unleash this career-spanning soundtrack.
This mid-November roundup of Michigan releases boasts a Petoskey-bred band’s full-length debut, plus gems from Conrad Shock, Roosevelt Diggs, Elizabeth Landry and Brotha James, who plays SpeakEZ Lounge tonight (Wednesday). Check out the Local Spins reviews, listen to music from the featured artists.
This mid-November roundup of regional music videos boasts lots of poignant imagery and messages — and some head-turning music. Check out more than a half-dozen new videos at Local Spins.
Festivals · Upcoming shows · Videos
The 12th edition of the festival will light up Bell’s Brewery in Kalamazoo on Saturday with an eight-band lineup that includes Ringo Deathstarr and Springhouse with Jack Rabid. Get the lowdown on this unusual one-day festival and see the full schedule at Local Spins.
Album reviews · Audio · Podcasts
November elections dominated the news, but this month’s Local Spins segment on “Stateside” was all about groovy new music from Grand Rapids’ Conrad Shock + The Noise and Brother Elsey, and Kalamazoo’s Jake Simmons & The Little Ghosts. Read about the bands, listen to the podcast and check out full versions of the group’s new songs.
Hard to believe, but there may be more duplicity and rancor today than there was during the 2016 presidential campaign. But we’ve got some new songs on a Top 10 Local Spins playlist to make you smile at the polls.
Concert reviews · Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
Blues, rock, folk, Americana, funk, pop, ‘crabgrass’ and more: Local Spins’ week-in-review photo galleries cover the gamut of live music from Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo to Spring Lake. And you’ll only find these images at Local Spins.
Commentary · Photos · Videos
Ahead of the 50th anniversary of the Fab Four’s biggest album, Local Spins publisher John Sinkevics took a nostalgic journey to Liverpool and London to evaluate The Beatles’ place in history. Check out this special column, photo gallery and videos.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
After relocating from Detroit to Grand Rapids, this band of brothers released a new single the same day Brother Elsey made its debut for Local Spins on WYCE, which also premiered new tracks by Saltbreaker, Jake Simmons, Alyssa Wettlaufer and more. Listen to the podcast, watch Brother Elsey’s official new video.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows · Videos
The guitarist who’s set to release a ‘more rocking’ new album brings his tour to State Theatre in Kalamazoo on Saturday, with Michigan’s own guitar sensation, Jake Kershaw, opening. Check out the Local Spins interview with Kenny Wayne Shepherd, along with recent videos of Shepherd and Kershaw.
Album Releases · Album reviews · Videos
With Greta Van Fleet’s first full-length album soaring straight to No. 3 on the charts, Local Spins reviews — and defends — the release, plus takes a closer look at three other new regional recordings. Read the reviews, sample the new music.
Two nights before Halloween, the 70-year-old shock-rock pioneer brought his ever-entertaining, creepy rock show to DeVos Performance Hall. Check out the review by Troy Reimink and photo gallery by Anthony Norkus of Monday’s musical mayhem, along with a set list from the show.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
Alice Cooper gets Halloween week started on a scary foot but there’s more: Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers, MewithoutYou, Kenny Barron, Sister Sparrow, Nobody’s Girl, Black Jake and much more. And see how you can win tickets to see Kenny Barron at St. Cecilia Music Center.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
The Goo Goo Dolls have canceled their Grand Rapids show, but the week leading up to Halloween hoopla also boasts the Folk Alliance Region Midwest conference & showcases, plus Ashley McBryde, Conrad Shock, Earth Radio, The Drifters, Julien Labro and more. Check out all of Local Spins’ spotlighted shows, plus the Under-the-Radar Picks and see how you can win tickets to see Ashley McBryde.
Concert reviews · Local Spins Rewind · Photos
In late December 2017, three downtown venues hosted capacity crowds for a Saturday night of fan-pleasing spectacles, each with its own story line and passionate vibe. In the first of a series recapping the biggest Local Spins stories of 2018, relive the evening in words, photos and videos at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
The country superstar’s crowd-pleasing show at Van Andel Arena was part of a music week that also featured the likes of Clutch, Dave Bruzza, Insiders, Big Something and much more. The images and recaps at Local Spins.
Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
This week’s edition of Local Spins on WYCE wrapped up the radio station’s Fall Fund Drive with new music from a host of artists, plus some classics by veteran players. Listen to the new tracks and the full podcast.
The sold-out “Farewell Yellow Brick Road” concert at Van Andel Arena on Monday delivered what the piano-pounding rocker does best: dazzling keyboard work, terrific production and enduring songs. The review, photo gallery and set list from this historic show at Local Spins
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
With a Grand Rapids tour stop at Wealthy Theatre tonight, the guitarist performed in-studio on this week’s radio show, which also debuted new tracks by several Michigan artists, including The Blueflowers, Lexi Schaub, Charlie Walmsley, Carrie McFerrin and more.
The October edition of Local Spins on Michigan Radio’s ‘Stateside’ showcased new music from a diverse set of Grand Rapids artists: Big Dudee Roo, Steven Malcolm and Ford Turrell. Listen to their music, read their back story.
Kendall College of Art & Design student D. Cavinder won a contest to create a striking new lavish costume for the Rocket Man, who brings his “Farewell Yellow Brick Road” tour to Van Andel Arena on Oct. 15. Check out all of the entries produced by 10 student designers.
Concert reviews · Festivals · Photos
Day 2 of Kalamazoo’s Audiotree Music Festival drew even bigger crowds who cheered the likes of Grand Rapids’ Major Murphy plus Chicano Batman, Real Estate, Slow Mass, Blitzen Trapper, REZN, Lume and headliner Father John Misty. Read the Local Spins review, ogle the photo galleries from Sunday’s finale.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
SYML kicks things off at Calvin College in a week that also boasts concerts by Joshua Powell, Amanda Brown, Aaron Neville, The Ragbirds, Lil’ Smokies and Bullet for My Valentine. Check out all of this week’s live music picks at Local Spins.
The MC5 anniversary tour stop at Grand Rapids’ 20 Monroe Live drew a curiously, half-full house Saturday but the powerhouse band led by Wayne Kramer still proved its influential, rock ‘n’ roll mettle. Check out the exclusive review and photo gallery at Local Spins.
Based in Saranac, the alt-rock/pop band is working on its first full-length album while rocking venues like Mulligan’s Pub. Get the back story on this emerging West Michigan group.
After extensive construction, the world-class Grand Haven recording studio is impressing those who bring projects through its doors. Get the back story on Third Coast Recording, browse a Local Spins photo gallery and take a video tour of the facility operated by Chrysler and Joe Sturgill.
Gary Clark Jr.’s musical conversation proved to be a powerful, dynamic dialogue of groaning blues, searing rock ’n’ roll and riveting soul Monday night at 20 Monroe Live.
The Albion duo of Michael and Tanya Trotter — The War and Treaty — has impressed critics with its new album, which led the way on a chart that also featured four more new entries, including Peace to Mateo and Joshua Davis. Listen to tracks from all five releases.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
Labor Day stars the West Michigan Labor Fest, Johnnyswim and LIVE, with plenty to follow the rest of the week: Perrin’s Backyard Bash, Fareed Haque, SALES, Kyle Cook, JMM Jazz, a Grateful Dead tribute and much more. Check out all the featured shows and Under-the-Radar Picks.
This annual Local Spins Labor Day column spotlights the financial quandary of working musicians, many of whom work long hours, often for little pay. And it’s spiced up with new comments from many of them. Be part of the discussion.
Playlists · Upcoming shows · Videos
With piano rock legend Elton John kicking off a farewell tour that includes an October stop in Grand Rapids — and SpeakEZ hosting an Elton John tribute show — Local Spins picks 20 underplayed EJ gems. Listen to the playlist, watch the videos from a robust career.
Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
The West Michigan week in live music ended Sunday with another sold-out O.A.R. show at Meijer Gardens, but there were local showcases, a Doors tribute and more, from Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo. Browse the images at Local Spins.
Big List Concert Guide · Upcoming shows
We Banjo 3, Cole Swindell, Shoreline Jazz Fest, Holler Fest, Pink Sky, Benjaman James, The Rockit King, The Accidentals, Hop Along, Insane Theatre, Earth Radio and more fill out the week. Get the complete concert lowdown at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
It was another lively week of concerts across West Michigan, with country courtesy of Kip Moore and others, hard and soft rock, electro-pop and the music of tomorrow’s stars just part of the story. Ogle the photo galleries at Local Spins.
The iconic rock band’s return to The Pyramid Scheme on Thursday unleashed noise-ridden, Black Sabbath-meets-Capt. Beefheart charm with Spencer’s own brand of minimalist rock opening the show. The Local Spins review by John Serba, with photos by Katy Batdorff and Derek Ketchum.
Live at River City · Photos · Videos
The latest live-streamed performance at River City oozed artful, original blues-edged music from the Grand Rapids band which is getting ready to release its next studio album later this year. Watch the video of Conrad Shock + The Noise’s in-studio session and check out the photos at Local Spins.
On a night when the rain held off at Meijer Gardens, the iconic rock/pop artist uncorked familiar faves and new classics for an approving audience. Get the Joe Jackson review and photo gallery, exclusively at Local Spins. And browse a set list from Friday night’s concert, too.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
The 38th annual Blissfest captivated capacity crowds in northern Michigan over the weekend. Local Spins was there to capture the action in words and photos. Relive highlights from the festival, courtesy of writer Devin Anderson and photographer Anna Sink.
