In my (nearly) eight months of living in Detroit, I have had the distinct pleasure of attending more music and art events than I’ve attended…in my life? Is that possible?!
With the art scene rich, and the venues aplenty, not a day goes by without a performance here in the city. I believe that on any given night, you could find something that would tickle your interest, from professional jazz to coffee-shop acoustics. And the best part is that good music – and art, in general – can be found at a variety of price-points. Even price-points that won’t force us up-and-coming adults to eat PB&J for weeks on end. So, without further ado, I present to you the list of music performances and venues I’ve frequented (okay, visited ~once each) since I’ve been in the D: A Million (8) Concerts in (about) 8 months.
Ingrid Michaelson @ The Fillmore
The first concert I went to here featured my favorite, Rogaine-saying artist in what has come to be one of my favorite venues downtown. With gladiators guarding the stage and ornate carvings covering the ceiling, The Fillmore is a beautiful performance space, great for pop concerts and Cupid Runs (that’s a whole other story).
Jazz @ Bakers Keyboard Lounge
You can’t visit (or live in) Detroit and not treat your ears to some high-quality jazz. Bakers is the best place to catch a live set, with ambience for days. The fancy cocktails and fun company was well worth the wait to get seated! If you’re looking to impress, Bakers will definitely help you do so.
Chargeaux @ the Detroit Symphony Orchestra
We all have those Thursdays that are packed full of to-do’s from your personal and professional life. Those days where you feel like you’re running late from the time you open your eyes six-o-clock in the morning. I was having one of those Thursdays when my friend asked if I wanted to go see Chargeaux with her. I didn’t recognize the artist, but I only needed to listen to 30 seconds of a song to know I was going to love hearing them live. So, I downed another cup of coffee and told her to buy me a ticket. This was my first performance at The Cube, a medium-sized venue in the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, equipped for small shows from duets like Chargeaux to salsa lessons. Chargeaux is incredible live; if you haven’t heard them yet, go find a show! Each one is truly unique as they aren’t afraid to improvise. Talk about connecting with someone!
Hamtramck Music Festival – Hamtramck
The Hamtramck Music Festival was a weekend-long event, with all kinds of bands playing at all times of the day. We heard everything from bluegrass-jazz fusion to the sexy tones of budding Detroit artists (this is a shout out to you, Vespre!). Tickets were only $10 for an entire weekend of Hamtramck fun – you just had to be willing to shower with your (wrist)band. And as Hamtramck offers a multitude of unique bars and performance spaces of its own, we had a ball band-jumping all weekend.
Johnny Swim – Saint Andrew’s Hall
Saint Andrew’s, located downtown by the Old Wayne County Building, is smaller than other venues, but it packs a punch. Much like the U-Street Music Hall in Washington D.C., Saint Andrews features a large hall with select balcony seats, and a wrap-around bar. It’s great for a Johnny Swim concert, where Abner Ramirez waded into the crowd to give us a personal little encore. (Or for the teenage-studded Emo Concert complete with a mosh-pit.) Saint Andrews is a great space for a more intimate performance.
Hedwig and the Angry Itch – The Fischer
So this one wasn’t truly a concert, but it was a musical performance. It was a musical – and the first rock-and-roll musical I’d ever seen! With a regal entrance and beautiful architecture, The Fischer is a treat to visitors and locals alike. Fondly known as the Broadway of Detroit, the Fischer puts on jaw-dropping musicals and performances, such as Hedwig and the Angry Itch or Rent. Hedwig is a lesser-known show, but it’s quite a story with quite the acoustics. Go check this one out if you want a performance that truly engages the audience!
Simple Plan – Fillmore
I know The Fillmore is on here twice, but a) it’s a cool venue and b) Pierre (lead singer of Simple Plan, right) signed my sleeve (left). ‘Nuff said.
MoPop Music Festival – West Riverfront Park
I thought it was only fair to leave you with a music festival that hasn’t already come to be: the MoPop Musical Festival taking place this July. It’s the only outdoor venue on my list (because everything else took place over the winter), and it’s one I’m really looking forward to. After spending countless hours walking or running down the riverfront, I’m excited to kick back and listen to some tunes in the summer’s warmth. See you there!
*Other great venues I’ve been to that have not been featured in this blog:
Third Man Records
Rivera Court in the Detroit Institute of Arts