The early March edition of Local Spins reviews probes regional albums with a pop sheen along with a few that boast truly inventive folk textures. Check out this month’s lineup, along with links for listening to the featured albums.
Concert reviews · Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
Thousands braved bitter cold to drink beer and listen to music outdoors — some dressed in wild costumes — while others stayed indoors to revel in EDM, soul, hip hop, blues and rock. Check out the full photo gallery and some video snippets of the past week’s musical action.
Local Spins on WYCE · Playlists · Podcasts
As a bonus to his in-studio appearance Friday on WYCE, Grand Rapids hip hop artist Rick Chyme supplied Local Spins with a playlist of 12 songs that are near and dear to his heart, from The Roots to John Lennon. He plays Founders Brewing on Saturday night.
Features · Playlists · Upcoming shows
Mark Lavengood, Seth Bernard, Dan Rickabus, Michael Beauchamp and Max Lockwood will bring their tribute to four cities in four days: Kalamazoo, Traverse City, Bellaire and Fennville. Read the back story of this first-time tour and check out a playlist of John Prine gems.
Breaking music news · Features · Videos
The 37-year-old Traverse City singer-songwriter talks to Local Spins about Monday’s “blind audition,” his national TV debut and moving on to the next round of the competition. And he has lots of good things to say about his L.A. experience. Watch a video of his performance.
Another weekend of riveting live music photos at Local Spins. This one took the bitter chill off with some big names and hot shows by the likes of Mike Mains & The Branches, Brad Fritcher + trois, Kevin Devine, Flint Eastwood, hi-ker and more.
The seventh annual indoor festival aims to “beat the doldrums” of winter with performances on seven stages by New Third Coast, Drive South, Ralston Bowles, Olivia Mainville, Missy Zenker, Miriam Pico, Sour Mash and more. Read about the popular indoor event, with links to directions and a full schedule.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Flanking the mammoth Jammie Awards show on Friday which boasted dozens of West Michigan bands were other compelling live shows, from folk to rockabilly to country to bluegrass — all captured in photos at Local Spins.
Breaking music news · Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
Ghost Heart, Seth Bernard, Hannah Rose Graves & Justin Wierenga, Dante Cope, Alexis and Jesse Ray & The Carolina Catfish shared the award spotlight during a jam-packed Intersection show on Friday. See the full list of winners, photo gallery and videos.
Legacy Award winners Mustard Plug and The Verve Pipe will lead an impressive lineup of performers and nominees at WYCE’s 16th annual awards show on Friday at The Intersection. Hear what they have to say about West Michigan’s version of the Grammy Awards and see the full performance schedule.
Breaking music news · Concert announcements · Videos
GVSU students create a short and impressive documentary celebrating the players, venues and studios which boost the region’s burgeoning music scene. Watch the video here. And Rhiannon Giddens is launching a tour behind her new solo album and will play Grand Rapids April 24 with singer Bhi Bhiman.
Features · Photos · Podcasts · Upcoming shows
Saturday’s annual concert at Fremont’s Dogwood Center offers a rare opportunity to celebrate the artistry of local musicians who build stunning acoustic instruments.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows
The Red House Records artist plays Muskegon, Lansing and Traverse City this week. After a three-decade-long career, he says he enjoys performing ‘as much if not more’ than ever. See ticket, show details.
Concert reviews · Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
There’s the touching Mary Free Bed tale of Bob Bernard, and a special performance by Seth & May, plus so much more in images and video at Local Spins. From Spring Lake to Grand Rapids to Ann Arbor, and from EDM to pop-rock to folk, West Michigan musicians made a joyful noise this week.
Features · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
Buoyed by writing and playing his new songs, the Michigan guitarist and singer is now ready to unleash his CD. He appears on WYCE this morning and plays the Tip Top Deluxe in Grand Rapids tonight.
Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
From hip hop to atmospheric rock to jazz, West Michigan rolled out shows big and small, including Beast in the Field, The Soul Syndicate, Downie, Fly Paper, Mid-Life Crisis and more. (Photos, videos)
Local Spins on WYCE · Photos · Podcasts · Videos
Edition No. 22 of Local Spins on WYCE featured an in-studio performance by folk-rock’s Watching for Foxes, with song debuts by SoundIsRed, Willamena, Downie, The Soul Syndicate and more. And an update on the condition of musician Olivia Mainville, who was injured in a car crash later the same day.
January’s first batch of Local Spins reviews rounds up riveting releases from the past few months, including CDs by Mat Churchill, Downie, Madcat Midnight Blues Journey and Max Lockwood.
Artist Spotlights · Podcasts · Videos
Downie’s CD-release show on Friday at Grand Rapids’ Wealthy Theatre will celebrate iconic female songwriters as well as original material from her third album. (Podcast, video)
Features · Playlists · Upcoming shows
Mark VandenBerge’s lush ‘Ken Burns meets Trans-Siberian Orchestra’ production on Saturday will boast an all-star band, orchestra, choir and striking visuals. And check out his playlist of Top 5 Van Morrison songs.
Rousing performances in familiar and not-so-familiar locales from Holland to GR were the rule, including sets by Hank Mowery & The Hawktones, Eric Engblade, Billy Strings & Don Julin, Jonny Caroll, Roosevelt Diggs and more.
Features · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
Show No. 21 of Local Spins on WYCE features in-studio performances by Thirsty Perch Blues Band, a conversation with Hot Capicola Records co-owner Luke Schmidt, and song debuts from Lady Ace Boogie, THEO and more.
Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
The Jan. 9 edition of Local Spins on WYCE features in-studio performances by old-timey folk band Hawks & Owls who performed later in the weekend at the Winter Wheat benefit in Grand Rapids. Also, we debut brand new tracks from Thirsty Perch Blues Band, Lindsay Lou & the Flatbellys, Ben Scott-Brandt, Pete Bass & the Odds Elite and Westrin & Mowry.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
More than two dozen acclaimed Michigan acts played two venues — The Intersection and Founders Brewing — within a block of each other Saturday, sparking huge crowds and memorable performances. And Billy’s Lounge hosted a bluesy CD-release show.
Breaking music news · Commentary · Features · Photos
Local Spins’ final look back at the year that was, reliving the excitement, controversy, emotions and pageantry that West Michigan’s music scene sparked in 2014
Spring Lake listening room’s first ‘Standing Room Only’ show revs up crowd with fiery bluegrass while The Pyramid Scheme hosts JOE’s CD-release party to draw attention to the DAAC. (Photos, review)
Artist Spotlights · Features · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Upcoming shows
Tonight’s four-band show at The Pyramid Scheme will also be a CD-release party for indie-rock’s JOE led by frontman and event organizer Joe Rodriguez. Brother Adams, Dead Eye Zack and Emma Loo & Sam are also on the bill.
Commentary · Features · Top 10 Lists
Once again, Local Spins asked music writers and West Michigan musicians to submit picks for the year’s best albums and songs – and they came through with a truly diverse mix, from Future Islands and New Pornographers to Snarky Puppy and Against Me! to The Go Rounds and Heaters. Submit yours and you could win a special gift package
Artist Spotlights · Podcasts · Videos
Mentored by veteran musician and producer Mark Lamm, the teen already has opened for a national act and is working on songs for a follow-up album. (Story, podcast, video)
Breaking music news · Features · Podcasts · Videos
After playing 230 shows in 2014, the teenage indie-folk phenoms from Traverse City continue to tour and record ceaselessly as a break-through act. They return to One Trick Pony tonight. (Videos, podcast)
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
The acclaimed, Cadillac-bred singer-guitarist returns to Michigan where he cut his teeth. Read the back story about this celebrated artist and his journey.
Breaking music news · Upcoming shows
Grand Rapids radio station WYCE-FM (88.1) reveals the roster of local and regional acts nominated for top honors during February awards show at The Intersection; 88-plus acts will vie for album of the year.
The second concert in the Acoustic Café Folk Series had the singer-songwriter regaling an audience of 400 with tales and laid-back, old-timey-hued musical travails.
Artist Spotlights · Podcasts · Videos
The guitarist and singer has focused primarily on his solo career while performing across Michigan, but he’s eyeing a full-band project, too. (Story, video, podcast)
Breaking music news · Upcoming shows
WYCE has revealed its final performance lineup with Legacy Award winner The Verve Pipe, Micah Ling, Nicholas James Thomasma, Tom Hymn and more now part of the evening-long entertainment on two stages. Dozens will be honored with awards in several categories. See the full list of performers.
Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
Winter roared in a month early, but that didn’t stop some popular local acts from roaring on stage at CD-release shows and elsewhere, including the International Wine, Beer & Food Festival at DeVos Place. All captured in images at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
From Wealthy Theatre to the Tip Top to SpeakEZ Lounge, Grand Rapids’ Wednesday night was firing on all cylinders: The Local Spins roundup and photo gallery.
Musician and Local Spins columnist Brian J. Bowe immerses himself in the recent Lamp Light Music Festival in Eastown homes and becomes part of a new community of music. Here’s his commentary.
Breaking music news · Features · Upcoming shows
The November music news round-up at Local Spins focuses on area concert venues: an old one on the auction block, a new one firing up and a fresh local music series.
Michigan’s Shara Worden mixes primal musical energy, punk, classical training, and even marching bands, into cerebral, visceral whole note. She’s touring behind her new album, “This Is My Hand.”
Also in this week’s images of West Michigan concerts: The Campanellis, Mac McAnally, Jonathan Edwards, Whitechapel, Sacred Strays, Mat Churchill, The Go Rounds, Lady Ace Boogie and a host of others.
On Wednesday, the Nashville artist won CMA’s musician of the year for the seventh straight time. The ‘exclamation point’ comes Saturday when he plays a Pinnacle Center benefit for music education.
This year’s weekend festival takes place in six Eastown neighborhood homes with a dizzying blend of acts playing living rooms and basements, from Lindsay Lou & The Flatbellys to Ghost Heart to AOK.
The wild and woolly week started with hip-pop’s Aaron Carter, continued with the Acoustic Cafe Folk Series debut, some jazz and ended with true rock ‘n’ roll mania. All captured in images at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
Taped for national broadcast, the evening of music lined up by Ralston Bowles boasted up-and-coming Michigan artists as well as national touring acts. (Review, photo gallery, video)
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Starting with Joan Osborne at Wealthy Theatre, the weekend also boasted Gringo Star and Heaters heating up a record label launch at The Pyramid Scheme, with a legend playing the Civic Theatre.
The acclaimed singer plays Grand Rapids Thursday for the first time in years, performing as a duo while touring behind her new album, “Love and Hate.” And check out what[…]
Pop’s American Wi-Fi, classical composer Matthew Fisher and folk’s Channing and Quinn also snag $2,000 awards as determined by ArtPrize 2014 voters. Listen to the winning songs here.
Artist Spotlights · Podcasts · Videos
The award-winning Grand Rapids band recently added singer and instrumentalist Olivia Mainville to its lineup. The group plays The Pyramid Scheme Friday, opening for Larry & His Flask.
Lend an ear to some brand new music – and unusual projects – from some of West Michigan’s most compelling artists, exclusively at Local Spins.
