Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows · Videos
Playing only seven such shows this summer, the celebrated guitarist will perform a wide range of rock classics with the Grand Rapids Symphony. The Local Spins interview with the Grammy Award-winning guitarist who brings his band to Grand Rapids for this unique show on Monday.
On a holiday weekend, Local Spins took to the road to catch the first Free Fridays show in Grand Haven and a legendary band at The Acorn in Three Oaks. Browse the photo galleries.
It was an eardrum-shattering, face-melting evening of psychedelic/Southern/alt rock from the Kentucky-born quintet, led by charismatic frontman and vocal powerhouse Jim James. The review and photos at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Summer Festivals · Weekend Photo Gallery
Summer concerts continued to heat up West Michigan over the past week, with national touring acts stopping in Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo. Local Spins has the photos, recaps, set lists, including a gallery from the final day of Smiling Acres 2024.
Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
A bit of scattered light rain fell on festivalgoers outside Trufant on opening day, but performers rocked stages in diverse ways anyway. The recap at Local Spins.
Features · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
A Local Spins on WYCE interview with Rich MacKeigan, a key player in a new GR amphitheater, raised names of potential venue performers, from Grand Rapids Symphony to The War & Treaty. Listen to the chat, read more about the amphitheater and check out new music from Michigan artists — Phabies, Kait Rose, Overdrive Orchestra and more. Plus, make your picks for artists you’d like to see play the 12,000-seat outdoor venue.
Photos · Summer Concerts · Upcoming shows
The latest update to Local Spins’ “Free Outdoor Community Concerts Guide” boasts a wide array of regional acts playing cities across the region. Browse the show schedules and view photo galleries from recent weekday shows in Wyoming, Grand Rapids Township and Rockford.
Despite a delay caused by a fan’s medical emergency, the Austin-bred duo, plus backing band, heated up Meijer Gardens on Sunday with their signature blend of psychedelic soul and rock, The concert review and photos at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Isbell and his band delivered a fan-rousing set at State Theatre on Saturday, part of an active week of live shows from Kalamazoo to Grand Rapids to Electric Forest. The photos and more at Local Spins.
The two, jam-happy rock bands with more than a half-century of music to unleash had folks dancing in the humidity and sunshine at Meijer Gardens on Friday. The review, photos and a Little Feat set list at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Uncategorized · Upcoming shows · Videos
The rock band brings its tour to Michigan Saturday. Frontman Ben Bridwell took time for an in-depth chat with writer Enrique Olmos about the band, touring and making the transition years ago from pizza delivery guy to musician.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
This mid-June festival kicks off south of Grand Rapids on Friday, with dozens of Michigan acts on the three-day bills. Get the details, ticket links, daily schedules and performer picks at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
From one end of Michigan to the other, the weekend kicked off with a celebratory flair, featuring a star-studded christening of an iconic building and the return of a GR institution. Get the recaps, photo galleries and a video at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
Featured for this week’s Local Spins on WYCE show, get the back story on this Festival of the Arts performer and listen to new music from a host of Michigan artists, including Prior Noon, Potionseller, Pablo Eskobear, MaRynn Taylor, Jessica Wolfbird, The Wild Honey Collective and more.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
Grand Rapids’ annual Festival revs up again for three days on Friday afternoon, with dozens of regional acts performing and the usual, tasty food-vending smorgasboard. Get the lowdown at Local Spins, along with maps of stages and food vendors.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
The venues stretched from Kalamazoo to Grand Rapids to the Manistee National Forest for fan-engaging performances that closed out May and welcomed June. The Local Spins photo galleries, including Sebastian Bach at The Intersection and a Jordan Hamilton listening party at The Clover Room.
Album reviews · Audio · Upcoming shows
This late May round-up of Local Spins’ takes on new releases by a half-dozen Michigan artists also includes The Heiden Underground and The Soods. Listen to tracks from each release and find out where some of these bands are performing in coming weeks and months.
The season-starting version of Hoxeyville unfurls for the first time this weekend, with Infamous Stringdusters, Leftover Salmon and regional favorites Luke Winslow-King, Sweet Water Warblers & more. Get the preview, schedule and videos at Local Spins.
The band’s Michigan homecoming show on Sunday — and first headlining affair at Van Andel Arena — brought the ‘Heat Above’ for a hard-hitting yet sentimental performance. Review, photos, set list.
Two highly touted touring phenoms from different parts of the musical spectrum lit up venues in Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo this past week. Browse the photo galleries at Local Spins.
Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
Local Spins’ 12th anniversary celebration in downtown Grand Rapids on Saturday boasted sets by five Michigan bands who pumped up a gleeful crowd at Studio Park. Get the recap, browse photo galleries and check out video highlights at Local Spins.
Features · Local Spins Fest · Summer Festivals
Leading up to Local Spins Fest later today (Saturday), we offer another profile of area academies and schools of rock that tutor the next generation of musicians. Learn more about Kalamazoo Academy of Rock, with advice about how to best encourage youthful talent.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins Fest
The Local Spins countdown to Saturday’s celebration of its 12th anniversary at Studio Park in Grand Rapids continues with a Q&A featuring Local Spins Fest headliner Nathan Walton & The Remedy.
Features · Local Spins Fest · Summer Festivals
To help preview Grand Rapids’ Local Spins Fest 2024 on Saturday, Local Spins continues to examine the importance of mentoring young musicians. Today, we focus on Girls Rock! Grand Rapids.
Summer Concerts · Upcoming shows · Venue Spotlight
With everything from The Verve Pipe, Larry McCray and Afroman on the bill to Myron Elkins and other local heroes, the Allegan County site will host more than five dozen acts on Friday and Saturday nights, starting May 24. Get the full schedule and details at Local Spins.
Albums that Changed the World · Audio
Today, the popular Local Spins series showcases recordings that influenced respected Grand Rapids producer and engineer Al McAvoy, from Asia to Depeche Mode. Listen to tracks from all of the albums.
West Michigan’s concert week boasted opening nights for two outdoor summer concert series, tour stops by metal, blues & EDM faves, and some regional stars, including Pocket Watch and The Marsupials. Browse the photo galleries at Local Spins.
Emerging Artists to Watch · Upcoming shows · Videos
The multi-talented band led by drummer Zach Dubay lights up SpeakEZ Lounge tonight for the Local Spins Wednesdays series along with Traverse City’s The Marsupials. Learn more about the band, Dubay and the group’s upcoming shows.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins Fest · Videos
The Local Spins countdown to the May 18 celebration of its 12th anniversary at Studio Park in Grand Rapids continues with a Q&A showcase of the young, fast-emerging Short Panic, along with a performance video.
This early May round-up of Michigan releases features new projects from DuPont Phillips and Elroy Meltzer, along with fresh recordings by some up-and-coming West Michigan bands. Read the reviews, listen to tracks from these releases.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
This week’s guest for Local Spins on WYCE talked about the West Michigan band’s latest project. The show also debuted tracks by Eric Engblade, Tunde Olaniran, Levitator, The Heiden Underground, Tommy Schichtel, Elroy Meltzer and more. Get Kyle Brown’s back story and listen to this week’s radio show podcast.
The latest round-up of free community concerts staged across Michigan this summer boasts a bevy of regional stars and swells our Local Spins guide to more than 120 series — from Allegan to Traverse City.
In-Depth Report · Summer Festivals
Today, Local Spins not only unveils the official poster for the May 18 festival at Studio Park, but kicks off its series exploring how area ‘schools of rock’ aim to inspire the next generation of musicians.
Summer Concerts · Venue Spotlight
The Paw Paw vineyard’s sixth-year concert series kicks off in early May and boasts more than 45 concerts. Get details at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins Fest
As Local Spins counts down to the May 18 celebration of its 12th anniversary at Studio Park in Grand Rapids, we’re profiling the festival’s featured artists in Q&As. First up, learn more about Elijah Russ and check out his music via video.
Breaking music news · Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Beyond musical action featuring everything from a Canadian rock mainstay to The Accidentals, the weekend boasted the first Music Econ Summit and a Latvian Song & Dance Festival announcement. The scoop and photo galleries at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
Our weekend concert photo recap not only commemorates Earth Day, but Record Store Day, 4/20 and West Michigan’s live music hubbub, from Frontier Ruckus to Alejandro Escovedo to Trifocal, The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band and more. Browse images in 10 photo galleries, plus a video at Local Spins.
With the summer concert and festival season fast approaching, Local Spins asked readers and writers to recount their most outrageous show experiences. Some of the tales are shocking.
Emerging Artists to Watch · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
This week’s all-new-Michigan-music edition of Local Spins on WYCE featured new, emerging artists: Anaia Lachelle, Metzfire, Future Things, Ryan Cassidy and 56 Tornadoes, along with tracks by established acts such as The Accidentals, Earth Radio and Lipstick Jodi. Learn more and listen to this week’s radio show podcast.
The alt-rock/pop band took home three awards at Marshall’s Franke Center on Saturday, including video of the year, but a half-dozen other bands and filmmakers won honors, too, including Kalamazoo’s Basic Comfort and Detroit’s Nadim Azzam and Louie Lee among others. View the full list of winners.
Much of the country will be mesmerized by Monday’s solar eclipse, so we’ve created a sun-splashed soundtrack for the occasion. Plus, check out the celestial picks from Local Spins readers.
Albums that Changed the World · Audio · Playlists
With the much-anticipated announcement of the Meijer Gardens summer concert series just a week away, communications director John VanderHaagen reveals recordings that have shaped him.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
From Kalamazoo to Grand Rapids, the concert train was rolling over the past week. Check out photos from Samantha Fish, Less Than Jake, Pajamas, Oberon Day and more.
The progressive rock band topped The Cosmoknights, who took second, along with fellow competitors Farewell Come April and Quilter on Saturday night in another sold-out show as part of the month-long contest. The recap and photos at Local Spins.
When Al-Saadi and Kingfisher rock Milliken Auditorium on April 13, they’ll do so with a big assist from Northwestern Michigan College students handling every aspect of the concert experience. The back story at Local Spins.
Tuesday’s impressive, fan-pleasing stage show at Van Andel Arena also featured sets by Jimmy Eat World, Hot Mulligan and Games We Play. The Local Spins review, photos and set list.
Breaking music news · Weekend Photo Gallery
The arrival of spring brought more than unseasonable snow to the region: It also featured tour stops by international favorites, local bands battling for finals in two different contests, an intimate concert by a beloved Michigan songbird and more — all recapped in photos by Local Spins.
The New York-based singer-songwriter came home to Michigan with his band on Friday, delivering a performance featuring fan favorites from his acclaimed debut album along with music spanning his career. The Local Spins review and photo gallery.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows · Videos
The legendary guitarist brings his “Genesis Revisited: Foxtrot at Fifty + Hackett Highlights” tour to West Michigan on Saturday. The Local Spins interview and show preview.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
It wasn’t ALL about St. Patrick’s Day when it comes to live music this past week (though there was plenty of that). The Stray’s Battle of the Bands continued, plus West Michigan saw tour stops by several national fan-wowing acts — including Circles Around the Sun — as well as shows by some regional favorites. And it was all recapped in photos at Local Spins.
