
Accidental Musician: How Sam Beam Became Iron & Wine

The Weather Station: Holding onto Humanity in the Digital Storm

Behind the astute songwriting of Iron & Wine is Sam Beam, a multi-disciplinary artist from South Carolina. As a five-time GRAMMY nominee, it’s no surprise that Beam’s imaginative demeanor first appeared in childhood. “I was the kid in the back of the class drawing, not paying attention in school,” Beam said.
The personal and prolific project of Canadian singer-songwriter Tamara Lindeman, The Weather Station broke through in 2021 with the release of her sixth studio album, Ignorance. A critically-acclaimed masterwork confronting the grief and anguish of the climate crisis, the album landed on countless year-end lists, from The New Yorker to Pitchfork, Rolling Stone to The Guardian.
The sudden success of singer-songwriter Marc Scibilia might seem like an overnight sensation. But the Buffalo-bred, now Nashville-based musician worked for years, toiling away in the industry, before his song “More To This” became a viral hit late last year.
The story behind the name of local indie rock trio Ten Peso Version is absolutely priceless.
The biggest night of the year for West Michigan Music returns when the Jammies take over all three stages at The Intersection Feb. 28. The annual celebration of all things local music, and fundraiser for Grand Rapids community radio station WYCE 88.1 FM, the Jammies put the spotlight on rising stars and legendary talent right here in West Michigan with an evening packed full of performances.
Over two years, thousands of miles, and countless Zoom calls in the making, Grand Rapids rock band Finding Amelia released their debut album, Onwards and Upwards, on New Year’s Eve.
Each and every year, West Michigan launches yet another massively talented artist into undisputed stardom. Going back to the glory days of 90’s hit-makers The Verve Pipe and Mustard Plug, to the chart-topping success of Pop Evil, and most recently, Grammy-winner Billy Strings, our side of the state more than holds its own with an abundance of music demanding attention.
Blake Evaristo is breathing new life into pop-punk with Action/Adventure, a Chicago-based five-piece band.
There is no place like West Michigan for Jason Singer – founder/songwriter/lead vocalist of indie-rock band Michigander.
After 12 years as a band, and over 900 shows, longtime Grand Rapids veterans Desmond Jones will plunge the depths of their past for their upcoming new album, Squids. A project that goes back to the jam band’s beginnings as college students at Michigan State University in East Lansing back in 2012, Squids has stuck with the group over the years, popping up in album art, live shows, and other inside jokes ever since.
After the pandemic hit, time started to move differently for L.A. indie rock band Local Natives. “It was really hard for us,” vocalist/guitarist/keyboardist Taylor Rice told Revue. “We’ve just been playing music, and creating music together kind of nonstop, and living that life, really, our whole lives. Even through childhood.”
When critically acclaimed singer-songwriter Neko Case’s house burned down six years ago, she rose from the ashes, with the release of her last full-length solo album, 2018’s Hell-On.
Halloween, horror, and heavy metal. It’s a match made in, well, hell. It’s also the first time the three have fused together for a brand new seasonal festival taking place here in West Michigan this month.
Live music is back in full force in West Michigan, and along with that comes a new wave of bands ready to kick off their careers.