When Adam Aijala was a kid, presents came twice a year: on birthdays and Christmas. So when, at 12, he saw a guitar-and-amp combo on sale for $99, he figured they’d say no; after all, he’d been asking for two years.

From SoundCloud sensation to meme-rap icon, Yung Gravy’s mix of playful rhymes and nostalgic style has won over generations of fans. Born Matthew Raymon Hauri in Rochester, Minn., he has become famous for his retro-sampling beats, clever lyrics, and viral hits like the platinum-certified “Mr. Clean.”

Five days after Derek Sanders got married, he left for tour. That’s life for the frontman of Mayday Parade, a beloved emo band that first found its fame in the Myspace era. Having already completed a celebratory 20 year anniversary tour this year, Mayday Parade is back on the road to support All Time Low. 

After more than a decade of touring, New York siblings Gracie and Clyde Lawrence have transformed their band Lawrence from a scrappy soul-pop project into one of the most vibrant live acts in the country.

Although she’s still only 19 years old, singer/songwriter Kanin Wren wants to be a role model for younger kids. Already known for her popular touring Taylor Swift Experience—where she covers many of the megastar’s biggest hits, while performing a few songs of her own—the rising Michigan-based pop star surprise-released her debut studio album, Wren, back in late June. 

It’s hard to picture Marc Rebillet as anything other than an improvisational musician and actor. But before Rebillet stepped into his silk robe and signature boxers full-time, he worked a decade’s worth of odd jobs.

Back in the summer of 2019, Connor and Kendall Wright of Grand Rapids indie duo Cal In Red weren’t thinking about streaming numbers, festival sets, or how to balance a growing music career with adulthood.

Our annual Arts & Music Issue is the time when we here at Revue have the opportunity to bring attention to many bands, musicians, and other artists who are right on the cusp of breaking through to a bigger and wider audience. Across all genres, and coming from all around West Michigan, it’s both a challenge and an honor to handpick only 10 of the countless talented acts putting in the work onstage, on tour, and in the studio, finding their voice, and mastering their craft.

The past meets the future with the recent opening of Grand Rapids’ new large events and entertainment venue, The Big Room.

The Rebel Eves—singer/songwriters Katie Pederson, Grace Theisen, and Jilian Linklater—emerged in 2022, after countless Zoom sessions, and one fateful lakeside songwriting retreat, determined to build something more than just a band.