The 15th annual edition of the Fretboard Festival brought a couple thousand people to Kalamazoo Valley Museum on Saturday for performances by 19 regional artists, plus workshops and instrument vendors. The recap, photo gallery and video highlights, exclusively at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
This week’s concert recap focuses on three shows in particular that celebrated the talents — new as well as experienced — of West Michigan artists. But there are images of Raul Midon, Fatoumata Diawara, We Were Promised Jetpacks, Dave Bruzza and more, too.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
Based in Grass Lake, Mich., the Australian native and his band fired up Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuted tracks by The War & Treaty, Nicholas James Thomasma, Slumlord Radio, ttypes, Biiko, James Lewis, Drinking Mercury and more. Learn more about Harper, watch the in-studio video and listen to this week’s radio show podcast at Local Spins.
The Wheatland Music Organization’s 11th annual soiree will pack Grand Rapids’ Intersection this weekend with performances by more than a dozen roots music and folk artists on two stages. Details, schedule at Local Spins.
Breaking music news · Summer Concerts · Summer Festivals
The popular downtown jazz festival will be replaced by a concert series next year. Some Grand Rapids celebrations — including the Asian-Pacific Festival and Polish Festival — will move to Calder Plaza due to scheduled renovations at Rosa Parks Circle. The story at Local Spins.
With decades of robust music under their belts, the two iconic bands brought a dance party to the amphitheater on a blessedly perfect summer night. The review and photo gallery, exclusively at Local Spins.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows · Videos
With the iconic band bringing its anniversary tour to Meijer Gardens this week, West Michigan musician and Local Spins writer Jack Leaver chatted with drummer Paul Deakin about The Mavericks’ illustrious career. The interview and videos at Local Spins.
The weekend-ending soiree featured the amphitheater debut of the legendary French ensemble which had hundreds fans gyrating in front of the stage. The review and photo gallery, exclusively at Local Spins.
Concert announcements · Summer Festivals
The August festival in southern Kent County has added 10 acts to the three-day lineup, with many performing Woodstock-inspired sets. And several Michigan bands are still competing for a slot at Cowpie, with Round 3 taking place Saturday at Arcadia Brewing in Kalamazoo.
The Kalamazoo-bred, progressive bluegrass powerhouse shot straight to No. 1 at WYCE with its new studio album, and some familiar faces round out the January chart of most-played releases. Check out the chart and listen to tracks from all the featured artists, plus see what new local albums have been added to the radio station’s library.
The day-long affair hosted by the Wheatland Music Organization at The Intersection on Saturday will feature more than a dozen Michigan bands playing two stages. Get the back story and browse the full schedule at Local Spins.
Announcements · Upcoming shows
Lady Ace Boogie, Tunde Olaniran and Seth Bernard will be joined by 23 first-timers at the February event being held in all four venues inside Grand Rapids’ The Intersection. Check out the list of all the performers at Local Spins, along with details about the upcoming awards show.
Artist Spotlights · Features · Upcoming shows
The erudite foursome with an eclectic approach that regaled audiences in the 1980s is back together, set to play One Trick Pony and Winter Wheat. Get the back story about this acoustic group’s journey return to the stage at Local Spins.
The Earthwork Music artists based in Toledo generated a buzz and lots of WYCE radio airplay for their latest collaborative project. See who else made the Local Spins Hot Top 5 for October and listen to music from all of the charted artists.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
This week’s edition of Local Spins on WYCE shed light on a New Jersey-bred, Grand Rapids percussionist with a robust career and a diverse selection of music by Michigan artists. Get the back story about Kevin Jones; listen to the full radio show podcast.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
A somewhat lower turnout at Founders Fest amid steamy weather didn’t Dead-en the enthusiasm for Saturday’s headliner not to mention five other acts who jammed and powered up sets on a relocated stage for the annual street party. Browse the photo galleryand watch video highlights from Saturday’s big party at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
The beloved band featuring Joshua Davis and Dominic John Davis revved up enthused sold-out crowds in the first two nights at the legendary Green Door with several more shows across the state still to come this week. Read the Local Spins review by Ryan Boldrey, browse the photo gallery by Jon Rosenberger, check out some video highlights.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows · Videos
The Colorado band with a distinctive sound and strong Michigan following plays Bell’s Brewery in Kalamazoo this week. Read the Local Spins interview with mandolinist Drew Emmitt and check out a couple of Leftover Salmon videos.
Concert announcements · Summer Festivals
The 11th annual street party on June 16 boasts a Grateful Dead cover band and emerging indie acts with Desmond Jones and FBC All-Stars adding local flavor. Get the lowdown and ticket links — plus check out videos of the featured bands — at Local Spins.
Concert announcements · Summer Concerts · Summer Festivals · Videos
A new Michigan street fair fires up Lansing June 23 with national and local rock bands; piano whiz Folds is part of a 2018 Picnic Pops series which also boasts Tito Puente Jr. and an “’80s Rewind” show. Get the lineups for both at Local Spins.
The Jackson pop-rock band and one-time Grand Rapids-based singer-songwriter made a splash on WYCE with their latest recordings. See who else made the chart and listen to music from all five Michigan artists.
The Grand Rapids blues-soul band is joined by several other new entries on 2018’s first monthly chart of local and regional airplay at WYCE-FM (88.1). Listen to songs from the featured albums, check out the videos. See who else made the chart.
Artist Spotlights · Features · Podcasts
Local Spins’ February segment on Michigan Radio’s “Stateside” showcased fresh releases by Grand Rapids artists covering a broad range of styles. Check out the podcast, along with profiles of the featured artists.
Album reviews · Audio · Videos
With Børns playing a homecoming show tonight, Local Spins probes his new studio album, along with new releases by Eminem, Cabildo, The Devil’s Cut, Ttypes and Jack Droppers & The Best Intentions. Read the reviews, listen to audio samples.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Videos
Releasing its first album in 12 years, the Latin-fueled Grand Rapids band performed for Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuted new tracks by Barn on Fire, Ian Link, The Aquaerials, Borns, EPCYA, Jack & the Bear and more. Listen to the full podcast, read the story, watch the video.
Artist Spotlights · Features · Upcoming shows
The ‘Mozart of the guitar’ kicks off a U.S. tour in West Michigan this week, unfurling uncategorizable music and subtle virtuosity along the way. Read the Local Spins interview with Pierre Bensusan and get details about this week’s concerts.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
The 2017 season of weekly regional music at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park had more than 1,500 people smiling and dancing to sets by Green on Blue and The Red Sea Pedestrians. View the video highlights.
Electric Forest performer Vox Vidorra of Grand Rapids chimes in with the first of three Local Spins playlists geared to get folks ready for the two-weekend music festival coming up in Rothbury, Michigan. From Kendrick Lamar to Nina Simone, listen to the songs and watch the videos; check out the full playlist on Spotify.
Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
Live music that cut across a wide spectrum: That was the M.O. for the week that was across West Michigan. Check out the photo galleries and videos from more than a dozen concerts, only at Local Spins.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
Picture-perfect weather greeted The Crane Wives, ConvoTronics, Cabildo, JRob and more as thousands filled the streets Saturday outside Bistro Bella Vita in Grand Rapids. Browse the photo gallery, watch the video highlights.
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
Members of Grand Rapids’ Latin-infused Cabildo turned up their Cumbia-fueled charm for Local Spins on WYCE, which also featured new music from Barbarossa Brothers, Jared Sjoblom, Hollywood Makeout and The Underground Circus. Read the story, listen to the radio podcast.
Concert announcements · Summer Concerts
The Accidentals, SuperDre, The Crane Wives, The Great Ones, Cabildo and more are part of the free Thursday night series. See the full lineup at Local Spins, with videos of the featured artists.
Breaking music news · Guest Column · Top 10 Lists
Michigan’s popular Celtic/world music outfit was the most-played local act on WYCE last month. See what other bands made the list and browse a roundup of some of WYCE’s unique, weekly specialty music programs.
Concert announcements · Summer Concerts · Videos
The Moxie Strings, The Moonrays, Michigander, Miss Atomic, Slim Gypsy Baggage, The Muteflutes, The Zannies, Bigfoot Buffalo, Ralston Bowles and more are all part of the July and August concerts. See the full lineup at Local Spins.
Album Releases · Audio · Videos
With Joe Hertler and band unveiling an album today and kicking off a U.S. tour, Local Spins takes a gander at the new collection and fresh releases from other notable Michigan bands. Check out the reviews and listen to samples of the new music.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows
The Ann Arbor-based legend plays Traverse City’s Microbrew & Music Festival with Grand Rapids’ The Change this weekend, but juggles plenty more projects – from his own Madcat Midnight Blues Journey to touring internationally with Chris Brubeck. Read all about this Michigan music icon.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
The all-day benefit for the Wheatland Music Organization drew fewer people than usual to The Intersection on Saturday, but the performances by more than dozen bands were inspiring. Ogle the photos, check out the videos in this Local Spins wrap-up.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows
The world music-infused Ann Arbor indie-folk band continues to tour behind “The Threshold and The Hearth,” with upcoming stops in Petoskey, Traverse City and Rockford. Learn more about The Ragbirds in this “Local Spins Rewind” feature and check out a brand new video for “Breakdown.”
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
Several hundred Michigan musicians – among them Seth Bernard, The Accidentals, The Crane Wives, Joshua Davis and many more – will gather this weekend outside Lake City to celebrate and share their art. Check out the preview of this year’s momentous season-ending event.
Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
This weekend’s Wheatland Music Festival boasts Asleep at the Wheel, Charlie Musselwhite and scores of Michigan musicians — from May Erlewine to The Go Rounds — for the ‘precious’ 43rd anniversary event outside Remus. Peruse the schedule and save it on your smartphone.
Summer Festivals · Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
This week was all over the board for West Michigan’s music scene — from hip hop and pop at WSNX’s Party in the Park to a Prince tribute to a bevy of Saturday festivals in Grand Rapids to symphony musicians playing a free show in Kalamazoo. Check out the images and video.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Festivals
Some jaw-dropping, lively sets marked the second day of Cowpie Music Fest, not to mention more comfortable, sunny weather that even had Shagbark Farm’s cows , quite literally, mooing their approval. Check out the photo gallery and recap of the second day of action at this rootsy festival in southern Kent County.
The crowd may have been smaller than usual for a Meijer Gardens show, but the cultural experience was unparalleled as Nigerian ensembles led by Femi Kuti and Bombino dazzled fans in the heat. Read the review and browse the photo gallery from this resplendent show.
The weekly Meijer Gardens series showcasing regional music kicked off on a beautiful summer night with a resplendent “Tracing the Roots” theme. The series continues on Tuesdays through August. (Photos)
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Album-release shows and the debut of a new local music festival were just part of a week that also featured a West Michigan tour stop by Yonder Mountain String Band and the kickoff to the Celadon Summer Concert Series. Browse all of the resplendent images from a top-drawer week of music across West Michigan.
Concert reviews · Features · Photos · Summer Festivals · Videos
Attendance was down a bit, but the music was as hot as the weather with The Go Rounds and FBC All-Stars representing Michigan during the ninth annual day-long street party that also featured People’s Blues of Richmond, The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band, The Main Squeeze and Dos Santos: Anti-Beat Orquesta. Check out the story, photo gallery and video.
Features · Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
A David Bowie tribute band, Cabildo and Grand Rapids Symphony musicians will light up the unusual weekend ‘marketplace extravaganza’ with The Concussions playing an opening night party. Read the story and review the schedule of events.
Artist Spotlights · Upcoming shows · Videos
The world music-infused Ann Arbor indie-folk band — one of Michigan’s most respected group of musicians — brings its tour behind “The Threshold and The Hearth” to Grand Rapids, Grand Haven and Traverse City this week. Read the Local Spins Artist Spotlight feature and check out the videos of songs from the new album.
Announcements · Summer Festivals · Upcoming shows
Michigan acts and stars from across the globe pump up this year’s Blissfest lineup. Regular advance tickets for the July 8-10 festival are now on sale. Check out some of the featured acts in the 2016 lineup.
Artist Spotlights · Audio · Local Spins on WYCE · Videos
The band of siblings which plays Grand Rapids Wednesday boasts an eclectic approach. Watch the video and listen to the Local Spins on WYCE radio podcast which includes the premiere of new tracks by The Crane Wives, Devin & The Dead Frets, The Balsam Brothers, Dear Tracks, Paddy’s Cure, The Lippies and more
