Local Spins’ holiday list leaves Santa envious by highlighting perfect gifts for music lovers on your radar. Plus, our Michigan Music Showcase podcast boasts ideas for buying music by Mitten State artists.
How to Make Sure You’re the Star of the Holidays: Use the Local Spins Gift Guide.
It’s a struggle every holiday season.
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Trying to find the right gift for the music lover on your shopping list can seem like a fool’s errand or simply unattainable when it comes to the costs involved.
Local Spins to the rescue.
We’ve compiled a can’t-miss roster of gift options for Christmas, Hannukah, Kwanzaa or whatever holiday you’re planning to celebrate this month — and most of them include a local or Michigan-centric angle.
Check them out below and happy holidays from Local Spins, and remember to embrace the best gift of all: Be good to each other.
1. “501 Essential Albums of the ’80s: The Music Fan’s Definitive Guide,” by Gary Graff – Edited by Michigan’s own celebrated and award-winning music writer and critic Gary Graff (Billboard, Oakland Press, Guitar Player and others), this comprehensive compilation released earlier this year — which Graff notes “can be handed to someone to fully understand and appreciate what happened musically, and to some degree culturally, during the ’80s” — is an ideal gift for those hair-sprayed, muscle-shirted, MTV-loving folks who grew up with the likes of Wham!, The Police, Michael Jackson, Madonna and Prince — oh, and The Buggles, who helped launch the video era with “Video Killed the Radio Star.” The book unfurls it all year by year, highlighting classic albums from the likes of AC/DC and The B-52’s to Tom Petty and Bonnie Raitt. $26.49 at Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/501-Essential-Albums-80s-Definitive/dp/0760393362/ref=sr_1_1
2. Vinyl Releases by Michigan Artists – As any true music devotee and audiophile knows, vinyl rules. And several high-flying Michigan bands and solo artists brandished exquisite vinyl releases in 2025. Here are four prime examples that will have your gift recipient leaping for joy like a reindeer on Red Bull. Of course, we highly recommend you purchase these in person at your favorite local record store or directly from the artist, and avoid rewarding those big corporate online outlets: 1. Billy Strings & Bryan Sutton, “Live at the Legion” (traditional bluegrass, $39.98-$45.98 at billystringsstore.com); 2. Lord Huron, “The Cosmic Selector, Vol. 1” (atmospheric indie-rock/Americana, $37.99 for blue swirl vinyl at https://store.lordhuron.com/collections/music/products/the-cosmic-selector-vol-1-limited-edition-blue-swirl-vinyl; 3. Greensky Bluegrass, “XXV” (progressive bluegrass, $35 at https://greenskybluegrass.redstarmerch.com/collections/xxv); 4. Eminem, “The Marshall Mathers LP 25th Anniversary Edition” (rap/hip hop, $51 for colored vinyl at https://shop.eminem.com/products/the-marshall-mathers-lp-25th-anniversary-edition-2lp.
3. Concert Tickets to Acrisure Amphitheater’s Opening Night – The hype and hubbub over the new, $184 million, 12,000-capacity Acrisure Amphitheater set to open next May in downtown Grand Rapids has been growing for years. So snagging tickets for the historic first night featuring R&B star Lionel Richie on May 15, 2026, makes for a milestone event that your gift recipient will long treasure — and even more so because two Michigan acts will open the show: The War and Treaty and Brian Vander Ark (of The Verve Pipe). $31.05 for lawn seats, $162.70-$640.70 for other seats at https://www.ticketmaster.com/lionel-richie-grand-rapids-michigan-05-15-2026/event/08006369F9DB8795.
4. Merchandise from Michigan Concert Venues — Let’s face it, those independent concert venues that managed to survive the ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic deserve your support. Consider T-shirts and other gear that not only support these venues but also serve as walking billboards to promote your favorite hot spots such as The Intersection, Pyramid Scheme, Tip Top Deluxe, Park Theatre, Bell’s Eccentric Cafe, The Alluvion, St. Andrew’s Hall, Masonic Temple Theatre and others. Prices vary; check venue websites.
5. Bandcamp Gift Cards — Unlike other online outlets, Bandcamp.com really embraces independent artists by not only providing them an average of 82 percent of revenue from their music sales, but also hosting regular “Bandcamp Fridays” where it waives its revenue share and passes the full amount to artists. It’s an ideal way to support Michigan artists. Available in $10, $20, $50 and $100 amounts online here. Not only that, but artist T-shirts and other merch is available, too, and it’s a great place to surf for new music.
5. Winter Wheat Festival Tickets – Of course, Michigan music festivals have become a major industry when it comes to summertime fun. And the first festival of the year also happens to be a fundraiser for the Wheatland Music Organization’s which hosts the iconic Wheatland Music Festival in Remus every September. Winter Wheat takes place Jan. 10 on two stages indoors at The Intersection in Grand Rapids with more than a dozen acts performing, including Nicholas James & The Bandwagon, The Schrock Bros, Blue Water Ramblers, Josh Rose, Megan Dooley, The Rev. Jesse Ray, K. Jones & The Benzie Playboys and more. Your music-loving gift getter will revel in this day-long celebration of traditional music and dance. Advance tickets, $32, available here: https://wheatlandmusic.org/ItemDetail?iProductCode=WW%20TICKET&Category=SALES
6. Local Spins 2026 Calendars — There’s nothing else like it when it comes a Michigan-centric, music-oriented keepsake that helps you count the days and track 2026 Michigan music festivals. Featuring concert photos of more than 40 Michigan bands and solo artists — not to mention festival dates — these eye-catching calendars continue to impress musicians and fans alike, year after year. Plus, a portion of sales proceeds will be donated to a good cause: Access of West Michigan’s programs to battle poverty in the Grand Rapids area. Help support the work of Local Spins and impress your gift recipients, too. $15, available online here: https://localspins.com/product/local-spins-2026-calendars/
7. Mistaken Lyrics Coasters — OK, this unusual and fun gift just caught our eye, partly because all of us have messed up the lyrics to popular songs at some time or another. Take The Eagles’ “Hotel California”: “On a dark desert highway, Cool Whip in my hair.” Or, Elton’s “Hold me closer, Tony Danza.” The cork coasters “champion getting the words to famous songs completely (and hilariously) wrong.” Just a fun way to get entertained while you quaff a brew. $36, available in six different themes, online here: https://www.uncommongoods.com/product/mistaken-lyrics-coasters/486880000000
If you’re still looking for ways to support Michigan artists and finish up your holiday shopping at the same time, well, this week’s Local Spins Michigan Music Showcase radio podcast boasts tracks by 14 Michigan bands and solo artists covering a wide spectrum of music — including fresh holiday tunes — that should appeal to everyone on your gift-giving list. (Most of their music is available on Bandcamp or Amazon.)
Check out music by Major Murphy, Porter & Josie Kenyon, John Richard Paul, Coley Kennedy, Fangs & Twang, St. Sinner Orchestra & The Accidentals, Bwitches, Brent Godfrey, Chris Michels, Empress Eyes, Hot Girls, Nick Veine, The Bootstrap Boys and Signal Quartet.
The Michigan Music Showcase airs at 11 a.m. Fridays and 5 p.m. Sundays on WYCE (88.1 FM) and online at wyce.org, and on Interlochen Public Radio at 7 p.m. Saturdays.
PODCAST: Local Spins Michigan Music Showcase (12/12/25)
Copyright 2025, Spins on Music LLC
