Before the show could begin, I was asked to turn off a lamp. That might seem antithetical to the name: Lamp Light Music Festival, but this one moment captures the intimacy and comfort of a very special weekend.

It’s rare for Grand Rapids to act as the grand finale for any tour, much less a reunion tour that has sold out venues from New York to San Francisco. But considering the history Grand Rapids has with the recently reunited Bear Vs. Shark, it’s no surprise that the Michigan post-hardcore heroes will end their first run of shows in over a decade right here.

Check out these upcoming shows and releases from local bands including ConvoTronics, Martyr For Madison and more.

Social issues around politics, religion, race, marriage and sexual orientation often polarize family, friends and neighbors — just look to the looming presidential election and debates on Facebook, at the kitchen table or around a campfire.

The first round of ArtPrize’s public voting is over, and the results are in.

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Last night, Kanye West’s Saint Pablo Tour landed at Van Andel Arena – literally.

As students start making their way back to the cliques and classrooms, especially in a college-heavy city like Kalamazoo, one also notices an upsurge in the local music scene.

You don’t have to like the Moonshine Bandits, or their music. In fact, you can downright hate it if you want. But any logical person that values hard work and a devotion to a craft has no choice but to respect the Los Banos, Calif.-based country rap/rock group. Since 2003, the Moonshine Bandits, consisting of Dusty “Tex” Dahlgren and Brett “Bird” Brooks, has zigzagged around the country, slinging their unique brand of country hip-hop and picking up fans one by one.

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Check out these local shows and releases in September.

Every one of Frank Turner’s live shows means as much to him as the one before. In fact, the British folk singer-songwriter has kept a running tally of all the shows he’s ever played, and he’ll hit 1,966 when performing in Kalamazoo on Oct. 1.