Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
The 135th edition of Local Spins on WYCE boasted an in-studio performance by retro pop/rock’s The JetBeats, plus a spotlight on a bevy new local and regional tunes. Listen to the podcast here.
Announcements · Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
The fourth edition of this unusual August contest in this lakeshore community boasts thousands of dollars in prizes for winning acts, with this year’s festival limited to 25 bands and 25 solo artists. The deadline for registration is April 28. Get details here.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
The Grand Rapids rock band returned with some special guests to Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuted new tracks by Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers, Chris DuPont, Lazy Genius, Mark Lavengood and more. Watch the video, listen to the radio podcast.
WMU’s Multimedia Arts Technology program is not only innovative but popular: Three times as many students have applied for the studio recording classes as there are spaces in the program. Get the lowdown in this week’s “Music on Campus” feature.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
Spanning the east and west sides of the state, this week’s edition of Local Spins on WYCE spotlighted pop, rock, folk, blues and more. Listen to the podcast, watch the video, read the story.
Concert announcements · Summer Festivals
Hoxeyville’s 15th anniversary celebration heats up mid-August in the Manistee National Forest with an impressive blend of local, regional and national acts. Tickets are on sale now. See the full lineup for this year’s festival.
Features · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Upcoming shows · Videos
Get ready to “Moondance.” Grand Rapids singer Mark VandenBerge will unleash his most ambitious tribute to the legendary Van Morrison on Friday at 20 Monroe Live. Check out a video and get a preview in the Local Spins on WYCE podcast.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
Sunday’s seven-hour showcase of West Michigan talent drew hundreds of people to The Intersection to show support for Ralston and Cindy Bowles and help pay their medical bills. Check out the Local Spins story, video highlights and a photo gallery.
Concert reviews · Local Spins at SXSW · Photos · Videos
The Go Rounds, Flint Eastwood and other Michigan acts put an exclamation point on Michigan’s House South by Southwest 2017, with Local Spins hosting a musicians’ roundtable, too. Check out the photo gallery and videos.
Features · Upcoming shows · Videos
The Sunday concert raising money for the couple’s medical bills features a who’s who roster of regional artists, including Troll for Trout, Larry McCray, The Soul Syndicate, Drew Nelson, Hannah Rose Graves, Fauxgrass and more. See the full schedule and details about this special event.
Features · Local Spins at SXSW · Photos · Upcoming shows · Videos
Tuesday’s Michigan House lineup at Austin boasts loads of potential. Read about the performances and a special Local Spins roundtable that will stream live. Meanwhile, Traverse City’s The Accidentals continue to live up to the hype at SXSW. Read about their first show for 2017 in Austin and check out the premiere of a new Rick Chyme & Nixon video featuring The Accidentals.
Breaking music news · Guest Column · Top 10 Lists
What were the Top 5 most-played local and regional acts for February at WYCE-FM? What new local and regional albums have been added to the on-air rotation? What exactly is a listener-supported community radio station? How can listeners become programmers? Get answers to all these questions and more in this Local Spins guest column by station manager Quinn Mathews.
Features · Festivals · Local Spins at SXSW · Upcoming shows
Creative Many, Michigan House and Local Spins are back in Austin for the giant SXSW conference this weekend, shedding an even brighter spotlight on Great Lakes State artists, products and innovators. See which Michigan acts will be joining them and why.
Artist Spotlights · Features · Upcoming shows · Videos
Touring behind its fifth album, “City Lights,” Driftwood plays four Michigan shows this week, including a Friday concert at Spring Lake’s Seven Steps Up. Read the band’s back story and watch a video from its new album.
Guest Column · Kalamazoo · Upcoming shows
Kalamazoo’s 2017 Fretboard Festival unfolds once again this weekend at Kalamazoo Valley Museum. Musician Megan Dooley has been a regular attendee. Read her Local Spins column about this special event and check out the complete schedule of performances by top-drawer regional acts and workshops.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
The Grand Rapids-turned-Indy artist has put a life-altering medical crisis behind him with ‘full-gear’ touring and a new EP on the horizon. Plus, hear new tracks by Chasing the Sky, Jim Shaneberger, The Film Stars, Weezil Malone, Andrew Gulledge and much more.
Festivals · Traverse City · Upcoming shows
The festival creates a ‘unique experience’ for musicians and attendees in a historic building, with E Minor, Oh Brother Big Sister, Blair Miller, New 3rd Coast and many more playing the ninth annual event. See the full schedule for the Great Indoor Folk Festival.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins Live · Podcasts · Videos
Grand Rapids singer-songwriter Red Rio, aka Alexis Brooke, performed two new songs for this week’s edition of Local Spins Live and chatted about her edgy music. Listen to the radio podcast, watch the videos.
Concert announcements · Summer Festivals · Videos
The Aug. 10-12 festival on Kent County’s Shagbark Farm boasts a wealth of regional acts, from jam bands Earphorik and Ekoostik Hookah to local faves Fauxgrass and Jesse Ray & The Carolina Catfish and many more. See the full lineup and links to early-bird ticket sales.
Concert reviews · Features · Photos · Videos
The 2017 edition of WYCE’s Jammie Awards drew more than 1,500 people to The Intersection in Grand Rapids for dynamic performances by Michigan bands, with plenty of musicians “lovin’ the hell out of each other.” Brows the resplendent photo gallery, watch the video and read the reaction of musicians to the West Michigan music scene’s biggest night of the year.
Breaking music news · Concert reviews · Photos
Friday night’s crowded awards show at The Intersection honored Michigan’s best albums and songs of the year, with 25 performances on two stages. See the complete winners’ list, photos and more from West Michigan music’s “biggest night of the year” at Local Spins.
Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
On the day of the 2017 Jammie Awards, Local Spins on WYCE not only spotlighted some nominees but also debuted a couple of new tracks from Michigan bands and hosted singer-songwriter Joe Shields for an in-studio performance. Listen to the podcast, watch the video.
Announcements · Breaking music news · Features · Videos
Local Spins’ choice for best local album of 2016 salutes a Kalamazoo old-timey folk duo’s masterpiece. And rock’s Conrad Shock & The Noise earns honors as Emerging Artist of the Year. Check out videos of both bands and get the lowdown on Red Tail Ring’s award-winning recording at Local Spins.
The vintage-sounding singer and his band kicked off a Midwest tour at St. Cecilia Music Center on Thursday, playing rock-hued tunes from an upcoming studio album live for the first time. Check out the Local Spins review and photo gallery of Pokey LaFarge’s Grand Rapids show.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins Live · Upcoming shows
You’d think it was the 1990s all over again: The Verve Pipe is back and regaling fans with new music, its first live album and a concert at the hottest new venue in Grand Rapids. Read the Local Spins interview with frontman Brian Vander Ark and listen to a song from the band’s new live album.
Commentary · Guest Column · Top 10 Lists · Upcoming shows
Community radio station WYCE-FM (88.1) is partnering with Local Spins for a monthly column highlighting West Michigan’s music scene, including a listing of the Top 5 Local Spins of the Month. This week, it’s all about the Jammie Awards. See the full schedule of performances for Friday’s big awards show at The Intersection.
With an exploratory new album on the way, the roots music musician and his band play Thursday’s Acoustic Café Folk Series concert at St. Cecilia Music Center. Read the Local Spins interview with Pokey LaFarge.
The fun and diverse National Public Radio competition has drawn even more attention from Mitten State artists this year. Check out some of the video entries here, from popular West Michigan acts to obscure emerging artists.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Check out images and videos of concerts from Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo, including the fifth anniversary of Grand Rapids Soul Club, in Local Spins’ latest week-in-review roundup.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
It was spring-like outside, but things warmed up indoors, too. Check out the photo galleries and show recaps from a week that featured national touring acts and local gems firing up venues from Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo to the lakeshore.
Concert announcements · Summer Festivals · Videos
The roster for the seventh annual regional music festival at Circle Pines Center mixes national acts with local stars, and expands one of its stages. Check out the full lineups, get links to early-bird ticket sales and watch videos of some featured Buttermilk bands.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Call it coming-out-party week: The arrival of Conrad Shock & The Noise, a Winspear Records showcase of electronic-hued artists, a ‘Plan B’ benefit and much more captured in Local Spins photo galleries.
Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
Episode No. 122 of Local Spins on WYCE boasted on-air performances by artists playing big benefit shows on Saturday, and also featured songs from Diff & Dudley, Jeremy Ensley, Carolyn Keobel, Lady Ace Boogie and Public Access. Listen to the podcast, watch the video.
Artist Spotlights · Audio · Videos
With deep roots in West Michigan, Midnight Pilot band members are finding key connections in ‘the center of the music universe’ as they create some engaging indie-rock/Americana music. Read the story, listen to the new EP, watch a video.
Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
Songwriters Nathan Kalish and Michael Riley were the in-studio guests during the most recent edition of Local Spins on WYCE, with the premiere of new regional tracks and a look back at some Jammie-nominated music from 2016. Listen to the full podcast.
Saturday’s 12-hour musical marathon at The Intersection in Grand Rapids boasts sets by K. Jones & The Benzie Playboys, Drew Nelson, Fauxgrass, Stella, Madcat Midnight Blues Journey and other regional roots music stars. See the full lineup.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
From Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo, West Michigan bands and touring acts – including Nathan Kalish, Delilah DeWylde, Mark Lavengood, Analogue Earth and Gina Sicilia – kicked off the first week of January with hot, audience-pleasing shows at The Pyramid Scheme, Bell’s Brewery, Founders Brewing and Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows · Videos
The Grayling brother-and-sister duo brings its fetching approach to Grand Rapids on Thursday after releasing an album of originals in 2016, with plans for extensive touring this year. Read the Local Spins Artist Spotlight feature and watch a video, then catch them this week at their West Michigan show.
Breaking music news · Concert announcements · Upcoming shows
Veteran acts will join first-time performers at West Michigan’s ‘biggest night for music’ in February at The Intersection. See the initial lineup of acts playing the event, with links to their music, only at Local Spins. And check out a link to see the long roster of 2017 Jammie nominees.
Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
Happy New Year from Local Spins! Listen to this holiday troika of podcasts, featuring two Local Spins on WYCE broadcasts and this week’s edition of “GR Live” to wrap up 2016 on an upbeat musical note. Featured artists include Vox Vidorra, Eric Engblade, Phil Stancil and many more.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins Live · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
Matt Plessner, this week’s in-studio radio guest for Local Spins Live, performed two songs as his band prepares to perform for Local Spins Wednesday at SpeakEZ Lounge. Check out the podcasts and videos.
Commentary · Top 10 Lists · Videos
It’s time to tune in to what Michigan musicians were listening to in 2016. Local Spins asked a bunch of ’em from the Great Lakes State to choose the best music and concerts of the year. Their choices are intriguing to say the least. Check out the lists and listen to the music.
Commentary · Top 10 Lists · Videos
Beyonce, Bon Iver, The Crane Wives, David Bowie, Angel Olsen, Of Montreal, Angel Olsen and Childish Gambino made the grade with Local Spins writers in 2016. See who else impressed our critics this year and listen to the music that turned their heads.
Audio · Features · Local Spins Live · Podcasts · Upcoming shows
The Outer Vibe releases a new EP this week at a Grand Rapids homecoming show. The band reflects on its recent move to Nashville where the rock/pop band stands out from the country pack. Learn about the band’s experiences in Nashville thus far and listen to a new single.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
The Grand Rapids guitarist and singer chatted and performed during this week’s Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuted new tracks by The Turnips, Everyday Junior, Monte Pride and more. Check out the Local Spins Artist Spotlight story, podcast and video.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins Live · Podcasts
With roots in Michigan’s folk community and Washington D.C.’s punk scene, the Nashville-based duo creates a unique musical buzz. Adrian+Meredith’s tour stops at Grand Rapids’ SpeakEZ Lounge tonight (Wednesday) and in Kalamazoo Thursday. Check out the podcast and video of their radio appearance for Local Spins Live.
Album reviews · Artist Spotlights · Audio · Upcoming shows
Frontman Gunnar Nyblad promises ‘more goosebumps’ for West Michigan country fans with this week’s homecoming and CD-release shows. Read the story and album review, and listen to a new song by Gunnar & The Grizzly Boys as they strive to become a ‘Great American Band.’
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
The week was packed with national tour stops and local showcases. Check out the colorful photo gallery that also features The Sauce, Chris Andrus, Jim Lauderdale, Ramblin’ Rose’s Grateful Dead tribute, Devil Elvis, Dede Alder and more, from Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo to the lakeshore.
Metal-turned-country artist Aaron Lewis brought his “Sinner” tour to The Orbit Room to warm up a sold-out crowd on Saturday, playing songs from his latest country albums plus some familiar hard rock tunes. Read the review, browse the photo gallery — only at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows · Videos
The Ann Arbor guitarist’s national exposure on NBC was ‘wonderful thing’ that boosted his profile. He plays Grand Rapids on Feb. 3, opening for Lynyrd Skynyrd at the new 20 Monroe Live venue downtown. Check out this “Local Spins Rewind” feature on a dynamic Michigan artist who’s featured in the Local Spins 2017 wall calendars.
