Albums that Changed the World · Audio · Playlists · Upcoming shows
The Gaylord alt-rock artist and looping wizard plays SpeakEZ Lounge in Grand Rapids for the first time on Wednesday, set to showcase virtuosic talent that’s impressed audiences across the globe. Learn more about Jake Allen and check out the albums that have inspired his own music.
This weekend’s second Music Econ Summit in Grand Rapids drew attentive musicians and songwriters for guidance in career development from industry experts across Michigan. It continues to today with ‘Vendor Day’ featuring merchandiser and information from a variety of music-related organizations.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
The Saginaw-area singer and songwriter talks about her ‘surprise record’ with Local Spins, which also debuts music by The Hacky Turtles, Silent Spirit, Billy Strings, Ribbons of Song, Death By Lions and more. Learn more about Rachel Brooke and her new music, and listen to this week’s radio show podcast.
Concert reviews · Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
As Michigan’s spring finally began to emerge, national and local heroes raised the temperature musically from Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo, featuring everything from national acts such as Killswitch Engage to local heroes such as Molly and Kait Rose. The recaps and photos at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Late March heated up with homecoming shows, national touring acts and local favorites on multiple stages across West Michigan, including Ty Myers, Brandon Fitzpatrick, Bayker Blankenship and more. The recaps and photo galleries at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
West Michigan’s live music array also featured The Missing Generation, Basic Comfort, Sin Theorem and fourth-round Battle of the Band winner Ethereal performing at venues from Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo. Browse all of the images at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Audio · Upcoming shows
Grand Rapids singer Melissa Dylan plays a songwriters’ night at SpeakEZ Lounge on Friday with Ralston Bowles and Dan Terry. Local Spins digs into more about this tunesmith who just started a new band.
The free Saturday festival with live performances and instrument vendors at Kalamazoo Valley Museum also boasts a Friday kickoff event starring Brian Oberlin of Full Cord. Get the full schedule and a preview of this year’s event at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
From Traverse City to Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo, the unseasonable heat wave sparked sizzling concerts by veterans and emerging artists alike. The recaps and images at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows · Videos
The folk legend with a new book of poetry and another Grammy-nominated album returns this week to play St. Cecilia Music Center, one of her absolute favorite concert halls. The Local Spins interview.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Upcoming shows · Videos
The Petoskey-based band nominated for Jammie Awards plays its home state next month. The Local Spins interview, plus bend an ear to new tracks from The Accidentals, Spencer LaJoye, Verlaine, Sean Anthony Sullivan, Josie Hall and more.
Friday night’s mammoth show on all three stages at The Intersection in Grand Rapids will feature 18 bands and numerous award presentations. View and save the full schedule at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
The first-ever musical benefit for Grand Rapids’ Guiding Light rolled out as a compelling and touching showcase of songwriting and performing by a who’s who roster of Michigan artists. The review, photos and video at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
The soulful folk artist has a powerful new single, showcased for Local Spins, which also debuted tracks by May Erlewine, Mar in Color, JR Band, Hannah Laine and more.
The unusual Feb. 23 event at The Village at Grand Traverse Commons will feature performances by more than 75 Michigan musicians and singers. The lowdown on the 15th festival at Local Spins.
Announcements · Upcoming shows
Starting in late February, two annual showcases of local and regional bands will give fans a chance to celebrate dozens of Michigan artists representing varied musical styles. View a list of nominees for Jammie Awards and competitors in The Stray’s Battle of the Bands at Local Spins.
Top 10 Lists · Upcoming shows · Videos
Shake off the winter doldrums, blues and cabin-fever days with regional concerts and events that will electrify fans of every genre — and get some video previews at Local Spins to boot.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Upcoming shows
Launching a ‘personal’ 2025 album with its first single, the West Michigan singer-songwriter opens up to Local Spins, which also debuts tracks by Melophobix, Dante Cope, DJ Holographic and more.
Album reviews · Audio · Upcoming shows
This week’s regional album roundup also includes Local Spins’ takes on releases by Finding Amelia and Jacob McLeod. Check out the reviews, listen to the music.
Concert reviews · Festivals · Photos
The 48th annual two-day festival at Ann Arbor’s Hill Auditorium kept ‘the dream alive’ with sets by acclaimed headliners, plus Josh Ritter, Bruce Cockburn, Joy Clark and more. The review and photos at Local Spins.
A Rockford sixth-grader and a father-son juggling duo took home the top prizes in the fourth-annual competition and fundraiser. The story and photo gallery at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows · Videos
Preparing to play SpeakEZ Lounge on Friday with two other Michigan artists, Spencer LaJoye opens up about songwriting, performing and the region’s welcoming music community.
Album reviews · Audio · Upcoming shows
Our mid-January roundup of new releases by Michigan artists features everything from the alternative, guitar-driven new collection from Adam Main to folk’s Mad Hat Mojo. Check out the reviews and listen to tracks from each release.
Albums that Changed the World · Playlists · Upcoming shows
The Local Spins series revealing albums and artists that have influenced Michigan musicians continues with Deep Greens & Blues founder Travis Atkinson, who plays The Stray on Saturday.
Concert announcements · Upcoming shows
Today, Local Spins announces the winter/spring concert series at the downtown club and restaurant, showcasing Michigan acts and tribute bands. View the full schedule.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
Bands and revelers ushering in 2025 celebrated amid a wide swath of musical styles unfurling from Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo. The recaps, photos and a video at Local Spins.
Podcasts · Top Stories of the Year Countdown · Videos
In a revealing interview, the renowned rock frontman reflected on his new music and Grand Funk Railroad’s past triumphs. The story and radio show podcast was one of the year’s top Local Spins posts.
Audio · Best Music of the Year · Videos
Our year-end picks for the best releases and concerts of 2024 covers a lot of musical ground. Check out the selections, listen to the music.
Artist Spotlights · Breaking music news · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
The throwback country outfit from GR topped all other Mitten State artists based on radio airplay, ahead of Billy Strings and The War & Treaty. View the Top 10 roster and listen to this week’s Local Spins on WYCE radio show podcast, which also features the debut of tracks by Mystique, Aaron James Wright and Laura Rain.
Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
This week’s Michigan music showcase for Local Spins on WYCE spotlighted Yuletide tracks by Mitten State stars, from Alice Cooper to Smokey Robinson to The Accidentals. Plus, the show debuts new music by several other Michigan artists.
Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
This week’s special Thanksgiving weekend edition of Local Spins on WYCE lays out a banquet of tracks by Michigan artists. Plus, we celebrate the holiday with special performances by three Michigan stars.
Artist Spotlights · Audio · Upcoming shows · Videos
The Nashville-based singer-songwriter who launched his career in the Grand Rapids area has a new studio EP and plays SpeakEZ Lounge on Wednesday with tunesmith Jessica Pounds. Get his back story and listen to music by Kalish and Pounds.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows · Videos
The ‘quirky,’ veteran folk singer plays Midtown in Grand Rapids with West Michigan’s own Kyle Joe on Sunday night. The Local Spins interview and a music video.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows · Videos
The acclaimed teen singer-songwriter fires up Grand Rapids’ SpeakEZ Lounge on Wednesday night with a special show for Swifties and fans of her own pop-laced singles as she prepares to release her debut album and launch a “Boots & Bracelets Tour.” Get the back story and show details at Local Spins.
Concert announcements · Festivals · Upcoming shows
The lineup for the two-day festival taking place at Ann Arbor’s Hill Auditorium features big name indie artists, including Josh Ritter, The Milk Carton Kids, Jobi Riccio and Joy Clark, with Old Crow’s Ketch Secor emceeing. Get all of the details at Local Spins.
From a Detroit rock icon to a rising Grand Rapids indie-pop duo to a veteran bluesman, this Local Spins roundup of Michigan releases digs into some enticing 2024 releases by regional artists. Check out the reviews, listen to tracks from each release.
Album Releases · Album reviews · Audio
As fall settles in, Local Spins turns its attention to new releases by Michigan artists. Check out reviews of six recordings, including The Brothers Crunch and Quilter, and listen to tracks from each release.
Artist Spotlights · Kalamazoo · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
Local Spins spotlights Kalamazoo’s diverse and robust musical artists, with movers and shakers naming acts more people should know. Plus, our radio show podcast debuts new tracks by a host of Michigan bands. Learn more about these artists and listen to this week’s show.
Concert reviews · Festivals · Photos
The opening night of the seven-day festival featured five eclectic singer-songwriters performing varied tunes in an intimate setting. The recap, photos, video highlights and more at Local Spins, along with the performance schedule for the rest of the week.
Playlists · Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
With 55 bands playing eight venues over seven days, the festival showcasing Michigan bands covers a lot of ground and a lot of musical styles. The schedule, festival essentials and a Top 20 playlist at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Upcoming shows
The Ann Arbor singer-songwriter chats about her latest studio album with Local Spins, which also debuts tracks by several other Michigan artists, including The Go Rounds, Sage Castleberry, Kylee Phillips, Billy Strings and The Brothers Crunch. Check out the feature story and listen to this week’s radio show podcast.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
One of Michigan’s most treasured festivals rolls out for the final time next weekend. Organizer Seth Bernard reflects on its special beauty, with Local Spins offering up a users’ guide to the Lake City spectacle.
Upcoming shows · Venue Spotlight
The Fremont venue boasts upcoming shows by Myron Elkins, The Mad Angler & The Mad Cellist, Braunschweiger Blues Band and more. The Local Spins venue spotlight and concert schedule.
Friday’s Grand Rapids lineup boasted two sold-out shows: Indie-folk/bluegrass/jazz artist Sierra Ferrell made her Meijer Gardens debut while Michigan’s Crave Wives lit up The Intersection. The recaps and photos exclusively at Local Spins.
Musicians’ financial and labor struggles have continued in 2024. So here in their own words, Local Spins provides its annual Labor Day column exploring the plight of Michigan artists and performers.
Today’s Local Spins on WYCE broadcast marks a full decade of the show that spotlights local and regional music — a program that’s showcased more than 6,000 songs by Michigan artists. Listen to this week’s special radio show podcast.
Albums that Changed the World · Audio
The West Michigan tunesmith of Chain of Lakes who also leads a songwriters’ group reveals the recordings that have influenced him the most over the years.
Artist Spotlights · Emerging Artists to Watch · Upcoming shows · Videos
The Americana singer-songwriter — another ‘Emerging Artist to Watch’ — chats about his new EP, ‘Poison Ivy,’ for Local Spins ahead of this week’s release shows in Eagle and Dimondale. The Artist Spotlight feature and video.
‘Can’t Stop the Beat’: The singer and multi-instrumentalist closed out the weekend with an engaging, energetic return to Meijer Gardens, a show boosted by opener May Erlewine. The review and photos at Local Spins.
From Kalamazoo to Grand Rapids and beyond it was another simmering summer week of concerts, including Celeste Allison, Chris Canas, Luke Winslow-King, a songwriters’ fest and more.
