Music in Grand Rapids

You don't have to go to the biggest cities to see the biggest stars. Everyone from Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift to Bruno Mars and Bruce Springsteen puts Grand Rapids on their tour schedule. See your favorites - without the hassles of traveling to Detroit or Chicago - at:

• Van Andel Arena, one of the world's top 10 highest-grossing mid-size arenas, hosts the biggest, most spectacular tours.
• DeVos Performance Hall is a smaller, Broadway-style theater catering to more specialized musical tastes.
• GLC Live at 20 Monroe is a 2,500+ guest venue that hosts various artists and shows in a unique space.
• Fifth Third Summer Concerts at Meijer Gardens is an annual series of concerts featuring the finest national and international musicians in a stunning outdoor setting.
• St. Cecilia Music Center presents world-class jazz, chamber music and folk musicians in a first-class music hall.
• The Intersection, a Grand Rapids concert mecca since 1972, showcases a diverse slate of musical acts on four separate stages.

• Actors' Theatre  specializes in the very latest off-Broadway fare
• Broadway Grand Rapids  offers touring productions of big Broadway shows
• Circle Theatre  presents three main-stage musicals every summer, plus a host of concerts spotlighting local theatrical talent (and what talent it is!)
• Grand Rapids Civic Theatre, one of America's oldest and largest community theatres, stages big, crowd-pleasing productions of well-known favorites.

• The Roger B. Chaffee Planetarium at Grand Rapids Public Museum  (winter)
• The slopes of Cannonsburg Ski Area  (summer)
• Riverside sites in Lowell and Rockford (summer)
• The farm at Blandford Nature Center  (summer)
• Amidst the art at LaFontsee Galleries  (Oct.-April)
• Amidst the stacks at Grand Rapids Public Library  (Oct.-April)

A wide variety of smaller venues – including Midtown, The Pyramid Scheme and Skelletones – host a mix of national, regional and local favorites. Many bars and restaurants also offer live music.

One of the crown jewels of the local culture scene, the Grammy®-nominated Grand Rapids Symphony presents more than 400 performances each year, playing everything from the classics to today's top hits. The Symphony also accompanies Opera Grand Rapids and Grand Rapids Ballet Company performances.

Want to get a taste of the local music scene? Listen right now to WYCE, an independent, community radio station serving the communities of Grand Rapids and West Michigan. Experience our local music passion through interviews with artists, in-studio performances, album reviews, and where to find great local music.

Listen online!

Listen Live

GR Live is a live radio program happening every Thursday at noon in downtown Grand Rapids at Midtown and broadcasts live over the air on WYCE 88.1 FM. The show will be hosted by Quinn Mathews and will feature live music from groups playing in Grand Rapids and interviews with people involved in our regional music community. Listeners will learn about music events happening in and around the city while being able to relax and enjoy the performances.

From a Chamber Choir  and Bach Chorale  to Blues  and Jazz Societies , we've got a great-sounding scratch for most every musical itch. Check out this list of specialty music organizations and performing arts groups.

Check out the hottest upcoming shows. For a complete list of music in Grand Rapids, see our events calendar.