Playlists · Top 10 Lists · Videos
The Sweet Water Warblers, Joshua Davis, Hoots & Hellmouth, Billy Strings & Don Julin, Luke Winslow-King and other favorites pump up the intimate Fennville venue’s Local Spins playlist. Ogle the videos, listen to the featured songs on Spotify.
Album reviews · Audio · Videos
A half-dozen new releases by Michigan artists — from Detroit’s The Messenger Birds to the U.P.’s John Davey — are showcased via reviews, audio samples and more at Local Spins. It’s an eclectic bunch of albums, from jazz to prog-pop to soulful Americana to vintage country.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming Album Releases · Videos
The Americana-propelled, Albion-bred and Nashville-based band releases a new Rounder Records album this week after a turbulent, pandemic-filled year that postponed a major tour with John Legend. The Local Spins interview with Michael Trotter, plus a video of their recent national network TV performance and a track from the new album.
Playlists · Venue Spotlight · Videos
In honor of this week’s #SaveMIStages campaign, Local Spins offers up tracks from the best past performances at 15 West Michigan concert venues which have been silenced due to COVID-19. See which artists were chosen, watch the videos and listen to the songs at Local Spins — then email lawmakers to show your support for these businesses.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
The Petoskey-area artist who plays ‘Harvest at Home’ this weekend was featured for Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuted fresh tracks by Cameron Blake, Kingmaker, Madelyn Grant and more. Learn more about Miller and his various projects promoting northern Michigan artists, and listen to the full radio show podcast at Local Spins.
Playlists · Top 10 Lists · Upcoming shows
Ladysmith Black Mambazo, The Verve Pipe, Waldo, The Bad Plus and more impressive, eclectic acts played Grand Rapids’ Listening Room before the COVID shutdown. Here’s a sampling of the venue’s favorites. Check out the videos and the Spotify playlist at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Summer Concerts · Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
Bands and fans had to dodge raindrops at times, but the the busiest live music week of the season had lots to offer, from Grand Rapids to the lakeshore. Ogle the images and photo recaps at Local Spins.
Playlists · Top 10 Lists · Videos
This week’s venue playlist comes courtesy of Brian Hoekstra and the folks at Rockford Brewing — a mix of gems from Pink Floyd and Grateful Dead to Weezer, Heaters and Afro Zuma. Listen to the music they brewed up, watch the videos.
Concert reviews · Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
Local Spins’ search for live music amid a pandemic took it to ‘new’ venues in Rockford and Paw Paw, plus some familiar concert spots in Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids. Browse the photo galleries in this exclusive show roundup at Local Spins.
Local Spins Rewind · Summer Festivals
They’re eight hours and worlds apart, but both of these Michigan festivals boast uber-loyal fans. So with COVID scuttling their 2020 events this weekend, Local Spins gives devotees a look back at last year’s celebrations in words and images.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
On another pleasant summer evening, The Verve Pipe frontman regaled fans Thursday with songs new and old as part of Listening Room’s ‘Listening Lawn’ series in downtown Grand Rapids. The review, photo gallery and video highlights at Local Spins.
Live-Stream Concerts · Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
With the usual, much-beloved Wheatland festival canceled this year due to COVID-19, organizers have assembled three days of performance videos by a slew of familiar artists — from Jill Jack and Seth Bernard to Blue Highway and Lunasa. Get details and a full schedule for the September event at Local Spins.
Playlists · Top 10 Lists · Videos
As part of our series focused on West Michigan concert venues, Local Spins asked Pyramid Scheme co-owner Tami VandenBerg to compile a soundtrack of her favorite performers at the club. She came up with a diverse roster of robust acts. Check out the videos and Spotify playlist at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
The Grand Rapids hip hop artist lit up the stage outside Studio Park on Thursday for her final concert on a resplendent August night, with Lokella and SuperDre also on board. The review of the sold-out show, plus a photo gallery and some video highlights at Local Spins.
Album reviews · Audio · Videos
Amid a flood of new regional releases, Local Spins delves into albums and EPs by an eclectic bunch of artists for this roundup of reviews. Find out more about the recordings and listen to tracks from each album.
The West Michigan native who moved back home two years ago has scored nationwide success for the second time in five years, with proceeds from the new single going to a good cause. Get the back story and listen to the new single at Local Spins
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
The guitarist was the featured guest for this week’s expanded Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuted music by Earth Radio, Dalmatian Stone, Brothers Crunch, Stone Soup & the Broken Teeth and more. Read the Local Spins Artist Spotlight feature and listen to this week’s radio show.
A new film — available for streaming online — explores the heyday of ‘America’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll Magazine’ and the colorful characters who created the popular, gritty publication. Local Spins asked a former Detroit News reporter who wrote about Creem in the mid-1970s for his take on the documentary.
Playlists · Top 10 Lists · Videos
Mid-August marks birthdays for members of some iconic rock bands — from Jethro Tull to The Guess Who to Dire Straits and more. Local Spins publisher John Sinkevics celebrates with his Top 10 faves from these acts. Watch the videos, listen to the tracks on Spotify.
Local Spins Rewind · Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
The good-time vibe of last year’s festival may have made it the best in Cowpie history, thanks to The Bootstrap Boys, Fauxgrass, Mark Lavengood, Desmond Jones, Trifocal, Melophobix and more. COVID-19 wiped out the 2020 festival that would have taken place this weekend, but you can relive the highlights from last year’s celebration in words, photos and videos at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Features · In Memoriam · Videos
In the 1990s, Daryl Q. Nathan made a splash on GRTV unlike any other musician or performer before or since. Fans are paying homage to the unusual Grand Rapids singer who died last month at age 54. Read about Nathan and watch several of his classic videos at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Audio · Videos
The Grand Rapids rapper, who combines traditional hip-hop with a new-school vibe, is working on a new EP while creating a collaborative team of local artists. Listen to his music, watch a music video and get his back story at Local Spins.
Features · Local Spins Rewind · Playlists · Top 10 Lists · Videos
It’s been a frightening, topsy-turvy year, with live music mostly shut down. But quarantined Local Spins readers embraced our inventive COVID playlists and videos in record fashion. Here are the two most-read posts of 2020.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
The Kalamazoo singer-songwriter’s new album was featured for this week’s Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuted tracks by Distant Stars, From Big Sur, Joel Comstock, The American Hotel System and more. Get Koenigsknecht’s back story and watch one of his music videos; listen to this week’s radio show podcast at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
On a near-perfect July night, Asamu Johnson & The Associates of the Blues and Hannah Rose Graves regaled a happy crowd for a rare display of live music outside Grand Rapids’ Studio Park. Get the recap, photos and video highlights from Thursday’s show at Local Spins.
Album Releases · Artist Spotlights · Audio · Videos
Forced to shelve a new studio recording due to COVID-19, the West Michigan electronic rock band and festival favorite has instead leaned on its live-show prowess to satiate fans. Read more about the band, listen to a track from the new live album and watch a video of a recent live set at Third Coast Recording.
Playlists · Top 10 Lists · Videos
This week’s guest contributor, Calin Skidmore of Grand Rapids’ SpeakEZ Lounge, tapped a keg filled with drinking songs that fondly recall pre-pandemic days of sharing good times with friends. Watch the videos, listen to the tracks on Spotify.
Concert reviews · Photos · Upcoming shows · Videos
Tuesday’s kickoff to a driveway concert series is just one way West Michigan has returned to live music, with shows unfurling at parks, parking lots and farms. Check out photos and a recap of Tuesday’s concert, and see what other outdoor shows are on the horizon at Local Spins.
Asking viewers to support the National Independent Venue Association in its plea to Congress for help amid the pandemic, Michigan’s favorite bluegrass son and his band performed Monday for “Jimmy Kimmel Live.” Watch videos from the performances at Local Spins and listen to this week’s Top 10 playlist: The Best of Billy Strings.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Concerts · Weekend Photo Gallery
Performing sets Saturday on a wheeled flatbed trailer, the Grand Rapids band hit different West Michigan sites for an unusual “Traveling Road Show.” Check out this week’s live music photo galleries, including photos from Thursday’s performances by the Oat Bran Boys in Cutlerville and Megan Dooley in Kalamazoo.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
Michigan’s songbird shared thoughts on her fun new studio album and finding peace in a pandemic while debuting a new single for Local Spins on WYCE. The show also showcased new music from Earth Radio, xRBG, Shadow Forest, Barrel Bones, Tom Hymn and more. Learn more about Erlewine’s new album project and listen to the full radio show podcast at Local Spins.
Local Spins Rewind · Playlists · Podcasts · Videos
In mid-July 2017, a little-known, soulful group from Albion stuffed its gear into a radio studio for Local Spins on WYCE and blew everyone away. Not surprisingly, they’ve since soared to prominence and become national stars. Relive their debut via words, video and radio show podcast. Plus check out the Tuesday Local Spins Playlist of Top 10 War and Treaty songs.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
One of the first acts to appear on the broadcast, Channing & Quinn, helped commemorate the milestone 300th edition of the radio show, which also looked back at regional music from 2014 and debuted tracks by May Erlewine, Laddermatch, Ttypes + PAWL, Amy Love and more. Check out the interview with Channing & Quinn, watch a video of their performances and listen to the special anniversary show.
Breaking music news · Concert announcements · Summer Concerts · Upcoming shows
Performances by Luke Winslow-King and Asamu Johnson & The Associates of the Blues — along with the screening of several movies — will take place later this month on the piazza lawn of Studio Park in downtown Grand Rapids. Get the schedule and the details about this unique series of events at Local Spins.
Playlists · Top 10 Lists · Videos
Today’s special edition of the Local Spins Tuesday Playlist pays tribute to the irrepressible Beatles drummer with a classic soundtrack of his solo work and some Fab Four gems worth revisiting. Get details about these songs and listen to the full playlist on Spotify.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
The Grand Haven-area country artist was this week’s guest for Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuted music by Public Access, BoneHawk, Woody Mac and more. Learn more about Rivers, watch a video of his performance for the show and listen to the full radio show podcast at Local Spins.
Freedom has never seemed more important than it does today: July 4, 2020. Local Spins has compiled an Independence Day soundtrack that will uplift you and make you think, from Common and John Legend to Neil Young and Jimi Hendrix.
Audio · Playlists · Top 10 Lists · Videos
The keyboardist for West Michigan’s Earth Radio and frontman for Blushing Monk unfurls a Top 10 soundtrack featuring Khruangbin, Anderson .Paak, Cory Henry, Brother Gabe and other timely, ‘feel-good grooves’ — some inspired by recent events. Check out his picks, watch the videos and listen to the full playlist on Spotify.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
It may have ranked as one of “the weirdest concerts ever,” but in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Saturday’s first foray into drive-in performances got high marks from those who attended the Grand Haven show. Get the recap, photos and video at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
The northern Michigan musician and activist opened up about his DIY project and more for Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuted tracks by Molly, Callab, August, Birdie Country, The Bronk Bros., Jake Kershaw, The American Hotel System and other Michigan artists. Read the Local Spins Artist Spotlight story, watch a video Bernard’s performance and listen to the full radio show podcast.
The Rolling Stones were supposed to be in the middle of a 2020 U.S. tour right now, until COVID-19 upended things. To make up for it, Local Spins has assembled some of the iconic band’s most under-appreciated classics for this week’s playlist. Watch the videos, listen to the playlist on Spotify.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
The longtime member of The Corn Fed Girls talked about her solo debut for Local Spins on WYCE and performed a couple of new songs for the radio show, which also premiered tracks by Seth Bernard, .shi (John Conrad Schaak), Glen Danles, Aaron James Wright, Brian Lybrandt, Barrel Bones and other Michigan artists. Learn more about Wilkin and listen to the radio show podcast.
Commentary · Features · Videos
As leader of Grand Rapids’ Vintage Parlor Orchestra, Thomas Pike faces unique challenges in gathering his large ensemble for practices and performances while following new social-distancing rules. He explores the issues facing music groups in this Local Spins essay and provides some guidance in how bands can make it work.
Playlists · Top 10 Lists · Videos
The frontman for Kalamazoo’s The Go Rounds rolls out a compelling — and fun — soundtrack for our times featuring D’Angelo, Sly & The Family Stone, Fiona Apple, Last Gasp Collective, Run the Jewels, Emily King and more. Find out why these are his Top 10 tracks and listen to them all at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
The Ionia-bred group showcased its music during this week’s Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuted new music from The War & Treaty, Bedroom Ceilings and more. Learn more about Drinking Mercury, watch a video of a band performance and listen to the full radio show at Local Spins.
This video roundup also features northern Michigan students performing an Andy Grammer classic and a peek at the first live concert in the Grand Rapids area in three months. Watch the videos, along with background information about the projects.
Audio · Playlists · Top 10 Lists · Videos
With summer temps rising, this week’s Local Spins soundtrack brings a heat wave of diverse tracks courtesy of writer, musician and music maven Nick Moran of GVSU. Check out the videos and listen to the full playlist on Spotify.
Concert reviews · Features · Photos · Videos
The Iron Town duo played outdoors Monday in the sunshine to a nearly full patio of diners and drinkers who seemed unfazed by COVID-19 concerns. Remarked one patron: “It’s time to get back to life.” The story, video and photos at Local Spins.
Festivals · Live-Stream Concerts · Upcoming shows
Friday and Saturday’s online presentation at WOODTV.com will feature 100 videos by various Michigan performers, from orchestras to rock bands to dance groups. Learn more about this new venture by Festival of the Arts and find a link to the full schedule at Local Spins.
The second video in the Elevator a GoGo series features a Nashville Americana act. And Grand Rapids’ Vintage Parlor Orchestra used a garage as the setting for a unique performance video during the stay-at-home pandemic. Watch both distinctive videos at Local Spins.
