When Chicago EDM duo Louis The Child takes the stage at this year’s Breakaway Music Festival in Grand Rapids, expect the unexpected. 

• Touring Music
• Concerts
• Louis the Child
• Breakaway Music Festival
• Belknap Park

Looking over this year’s list of Best of the West Music finalists makes one thing perfectly clear: live music didn’t just survive the pandemic, it’s back and it’s thriving.

• local music
• Best of the West

So often in music, like in life, timing is everything. That’s definitely the case for rising Grand Rapids jazz fusion group Pocket Watch.

• local music
• jazz
• Pocket Watch

Sameer Gadhia of Young The Giant didn’t originally dream of being a lead singer.

• van andel arena
• Touring Music
• Young the Giant

The right soundtrack can take even the best road trip to the next level. So venture through our handpicked playlist of some of the most exciting artists in West Michigan when you decide to head out of town for something new this summer.

• local music
• Road Trips
• Playlist

No one is more surprised by the seemingly overnight success of country-rock outfit The Red Clay Strays than the band members themselves.

• The Intersection
• Touring Music

"We got robbed this morning,” said Max Rainer, lead singer of Wilderado, the day of our interview.

• The Pyramid Scheme
• Touring Music

After nearly three decades in one of the most reliable hit-making hard rock bands in the country, Chevelle drummer Sam Loeffler has found the secret to success in the music industry—just stay together.

• GLC Live at 20 Monroe
• Touring Music
• Chevelle
• Steve Albini

The creation of longtime Grand Rapids songwriter and musician Greg Scheer, the St. Sinner Orchestra merges a rock band with a classical string section, for a sound unlike anything else.

• local music
• St. Sinner Orchestra
• The Stray

To Patrick Hallahan, drummer of My Morning Jacket, his instrument is more than his career; it’s his calling.

• Touring
• My Morning Jacket