Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
A bevy of folk/roots acts played the day-long Wheatland benefit at The Intersection, plus images from Fresh Folk and shows by Heavier Than Air Flying Machines, The Front Bottoms and more.
Breaking music news · Top 10 Lists
The hard-touring Grand Rapids’ jam band’s masterfully produced 2013 album was recorded at two different West Michigan studios. It snags the first big award of the year. And check out the Local Spins Top 10.
As we rock into 2014, Local Spins takes a look at the top music stories on the website from the past year: the posts and features that drew the most interest from readers.
While thousands braved brisk temps at downtown’s outdoor Hot New Year’s Eve party, others packed Wealthy Theatre and The Intersection for lively, creative shows by the Starlight Six, Greensky Bluegrass and The Crane Wives. (Photos, video)
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.
A happy, hefty and enthused Intersection throng greeted the Grand Rapids ska maestros who kicked out fan faves and new songs from the band’s “Can Contain It” album.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Ah, that magical time between Christmas and New Year’s was filled with, well, rock ‘n’ roll, captured in images at Local Spins.
This Local Spins column originally ran on Labor Day and generated more comments than any other story in 2013. So, do you know how little your favorite local musician or band is probably being paid?
The rootsy singer-songwriter is back in Michigan and back with The Wildfire, playing Rockford Brewing Friday. A European tour and new studio album lie ahead.
Just in the St. Nick of time for 11th-hour Christmas shopping, another batch of Local Spins reviews of albums by Michigan artists.
‘Twas the weekend before Christmas and the house was rocking around Grand Rapids, as evidenced by the photo and video roundup at Local Spins.
Submit your picks for 2013’s best albums and get a chance to win a gift card to a local brew pub — and the admiration of friends and Local Spins readers. And check out WYCE’s Jammie nominees for best local music.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows
More than a dozen years in the making, “the glendanles brand” album gets unveiled for the first time in Thursday night shows at Louie’s Bar & Rocket Lounge. (Podcast, video)
Breaking music news · Features
After scoring two No. 1 active rock singles from “Onyx,” the hard-rocking, hard-touring West Michigan band plays a homecoming show at The Intersection Friday with guest Michael Crittenden.
Breaking music news · Commentary
Fans can decide for themselves whether it’s a magna cum laude class, but Cat Stevens, Hall & Oates, Nirvana, KISS, Linda Ronstadt and Peter Gabriel make an intriguing mix of stars.
Check out images from a rocking weekend in West Michigan: From twists on Christmas music to retro strains that made folks forget about the bluster outdoors
The Outer Vibe rolls and gets rocked with “Princess of Sin,” while Mowery earns International Blues Challenge nod for “Account to Me.”
The Grand Rapids trio channels The Cavern Club-era Beatles and early ’60s British beat bands with one rule of thumb: If it came after 1965, it doesn’t get played. (Podcast, video)
Breaking music news · Features
West Michigan acts continue to make a splash beyond the region, from Nashville to Europe. Get the lowdown in this Local Spins December music news update.
The mercury plummeted outside but things heated up indoors on the live music front with hard rock, bluegrass, vintage rock, country and indie-dance music.
Starting with saxophonist Phil Denny’s holiday jazz gem, Local Spins’ Christmas shopping list of new releases includes Gifts or Creatures, Knight and Guild, Maybe Next Time and Lazy Genius.
Grand Haven’s School Zone hopes its series might expand to broadcast TV. Vander Ark debuts songs from the show next Wednesday at Grand Rapids’ Wealthy Theatre.
Nine bands duked it out at Sunday’s finals at The Intersection. But another battle of the bands on Saturday at Billy’s Lounge was scrapped after four acts were no-shows.
Bassist Mike Smith’s battle with melanoma has inspired creation of The Free and Clear Foundation, which will benefit from tonight’s ‘Black Friday’ reunion show at The Intersection.
The “Wednesday-before-Thanksgiving Day spirit” was evident everywhere across Grand Rapids on Wednesday night.
The Thanksgiving edition of the Local Spins music news roundup is a real feast, with tasty nuggets about The Appleseed Collective, The Soil & The Sun and Star Darts.
Exactly 50 years ago, an assassin gunned down President John F. Kennedy, the same day that The Beatles released their second album. The world would never be the same again.
New releases by Uncommon Road, Roger MacNaughton, Breathe Owl Breathe, Love Fossil, Don Middlebrook, Lazy Genius and Make No Heroes in this batch of fall Local Spins reviews.
CD releases by West Michigan artists Kelsey Rottiers, Karisa Wilson, UV Hippo, The Impact Band, Roger Brown, Bowery, Steve Talaga
Sun, rain, snow, falling leaves, wind, thunder, sleet. It’s that wacky time of year, and the same sort of wildly varying live music descended on West Michigan.
With its effervescent, pop-tinged indie-rock, Bowery has hit the re-set button with a new lead singer and a new EP that gets released this week. (Podcast, video) Happenstance. Fate.[…]
Local Spins’ November news update: Kalamazoo’s Hitchcock signs with Nashville booking agent, Crane Wives and Appleseed Collective get Ann Arbor Folk Fest love, and Local Spins’ Sleigh Bells concert photo[…]
Want your music preserved for posterity? West Michigan artists can submit CDs to the district library so patrons can literally check out their music. By Elizabeth Slowik LocalSpins.com The[…]
A guitar god, a groundbreaking alt-metal band, some Michigan roots heroes, a bracing modern percussion trio, a garage rock legend and monstrous metal: All part of Local Spins’ image-laden roundup[…]
The award-winning Grand Rapids band unveils its debut EP recording with a full-blown rock concert production at Allegan’s Griswold Auditorium on Saturday. (Podcast, video) Uncommon Road guitarist Sean Louis[…]
From nightclubs to a fine arts center to a listening room to Eastown basements, West Michigan bid adieu to October and hello to November in rocking fashion, captured in photos[…]
Friday night’s opening house concerts in three locations jammed living rooms and basements for sets by The Soil & The Sun, Lasso, Kellen & Me and more. (Photos, video) […]
Halloween descended several days early, with wild and woolly costume- and EDM-driven events in downtown Grand Rapids, plus tour stops by diverse acts from here to the lakeshore. (Photos, video)[…]
The rigors, and smells, of life on the road as a rock band can make touring, uh, less than glamorous. But Grand Rapids guitarist/writer Troy Reimink’s tale of the travails[…]
Starting with award presentations to the five winners of the ArtPrize/St. Cecilia song contest, West Michigan’s musical weekend ranged from EDM revelry to acoustic alt-rock to a Feedback spectacular, captured[…]
Led by frontman Kurt Neumann, the roots-rock band’s Wealthy Theatre debut made for a triumphant series-opening show. (Review, photos) Take your pick of lines from BoDeans’ songs to describe[…]
From a poignant tribute to a beloved concert promoter to a Springsteen tribute in Casnovia to a Zappa tribute at The Intersection to a tribute to a new fall beer,[…]
Breaking music news · Features
Hundreds bid adieu to longtime concert promoter and Orbit Room owner Don Dorshimer in a casual-yet-poignant affair early Friday evening at the music venue he cherished. Don Dorshimer rocked[…]
Breaking music news · Commentary
Services will be 5 p.m. Friday at The Orbit Room for Don Dorshimer, who helped build West Michigan’s rock concert scene, leaving behind a legacy as one of the Grand[…]
The reaction of 2013’s $2,000 winners, all from West Michigan? “Stoked,” “elated” and “somewhat surprised.” Listen to the winning songs. The Top 10 vote-getters in ArtPrize are still stumping[…]
Lazy Genius frontman Patrick Wieland adores vinyl, cites The Beatles and Neil Young as influences, tends to mutate musically and thinks of his band as the “Steve Buscemis of rock.”[…]
The fifth-year festival boasts bands from New York to Grand Rapids, playing indoors at the Dee-Lite and outdoors on Washington Street, with beer, wine, food and art to boot. […]
ArtPrize’s first weekend, Founders Brewing’s grand reopening, Earthwork Harvest’s annual gathering and a historic marathon rap: All of it brought a bracing bevy of live music to Grand Rapids and[…]
For the third year, St. Cecilia Music Center is hosting a weekend ArtPrize Musicians’ Showcase in downtown Grand Rapids with 50 acts on two stages. Here are highlights from Friday’s[…]
Cabildo, Punksuhate, AOK and more contributed to a diverse musical assault amid an expanded, refurbished Founders Brewing environment that sports a new sound system and an eye-pleasing outdoor beer garden.[…]
