This week, we’ve got chances to shop from local makers, see performances by rising musicians and explore artifacts from Techno history. Plus, a celebration of vegan food. Read on to learn more.

Upcoming events

Strange Beautiful Music 18

  Various locations in Detroit

  Thursday, Sep. 11 through Saturday, Sep. 13

  Free, $23–$34

An annual multi-day event celebrating new music in Detroit, spanning a wide range of genres — including jazz, free improvisation, Techno, electronica, Neo-soul, ambient and genre-defiant. Concerts take place at three local venues over three days, including a show at the Detroit Institute of Arts, which is free for residents of Wayne, Macomb and Oakland counties, on Friday from 7–8:30 p.m.

Jeff Mills presents Star Chronicle

  Spot Lite in Detroit

  Thursday, Sep. 11 through Saturday, Sep. 13

  Free, $34–$80

A multi-media artist residency curated by Techno pioneer Jeff Mills, featuring film screenings, live music, and an exhibit of personal art and artifacts. Show doors open each night at 9 p.m. and admission is $34 per day or $80 for a three-day pass. The exhibition is free and open to the public 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.

Fridays at The Station: Charity and DJ BJ

  The Station at Michigan Central in Detroit

  Friday, Sep. 12

  $15

A monthly evening event featuring live performances, food and drinks at Michigan Central. This month’s event features a special performance by singer Charity, joined by DJ BJ. The event goes from 5–10 p.m. and music starts at 7:30 p.m.

The Hawk Makerspace 3rd Anniversary Open House

  The Hawk in Farmington Hills

  Saturday, Sep. 13

  Free

An open house for community members to check out The Hawk Makerspace, a shared technical and creative studio in Farmington Hills. There will be live demonstrations of the studio’s professional-grade equipment, giveaways, refreshments and discounts on studio passes. The event goes from 3–7 p.m.

Common Ground’s 51st Birmingham Street Art Fair

  Downtown Birmingham

  Saturday, Sep. 13 and Sunday, Sep. 14

  Free

A longstanding fine arts fair featuring 90 juried artists along Old Woodward in downtown Birmingham. The fair is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Ypsi Vegan Fest 2025

  Downtown Ypsilanti

  Sunday, Sep. 14

  Free

An event celebrating vegan foods in an effort to make veganism more accessible. There will be local vendors, cooking demonstrations and talks by vegan advocates. The event goes from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is open to all — vegan or not.

Eastern Market After Dark

  Eastern Market Shed 2 in Detroit

  Thursday, Sep. 18

  Free

A district-wide night market featuring galleries, open studios, retailers, brand activations and live music. The market is open from 6–11 p.m.

In this week’s episode of Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music, some cool September albums released from 1965-1995. Also, new tunes from Spoon, Trombone Shorty, David Byrne, Fall Out Boy and much more.

See the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the media player above.

Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music Playlist for September 6, 2025

HOUR ONE:

• “Guess I’m Fallin’ In Love” – Spoon
• “Soak Up The Sun” – Sheryl Crow w/Surf Mesa
• “The Power” – Curtis Harding
• “What Is The Reason For It” – David Byrne w/Hayley Williams
  
• “Say Yes” – Apropos
  
• “Respect” – Otis Redding (released September 1965)
• “Part Time Lover” – Stevie Wonder (released September 1985)
• “Lakeside Park” – Rush (released September 1975)
• “Asshole” – The Lumineers
• “Believe” – Kashus Culpepper
• “Another Life” – Alabama Shakes
• “FLA” – Kathleen Edwards
• “Ben Franklin’s Song” – The Decemberists
  

• “Meeting Across The River” – Bruce Springsteen
• “Born In The U.S.A. (Electric Nebraska)” – Bruce Springsteen
• “Rock The Boat” – Trombone Shorty
• “Rock The Boat” – Aaliyah
• “Wild And Clear And Blue” – I’m With Her (Acoustic Cafe preview)
  
• “I Hate U” – Prince (released September 1995)
• “Oh Sheila” – Ready For The World (released September 1985)
• “Tracks Of My Tears” – Linda Ronstadt (released September 1975)
• “Ho Hey” – The Lumineers
• “Start Today” – Fall Out Boy
• “Horses Through A Rainstorm” – Graham Nash
• “Live Life” – Terry Reid (RIP, 8/4/25)

Listen to Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music every Saturday from 2-4 p.m. ET on Detroit Public Radio 101.9 WDET and streaming on-demand at wdet.org

On this week’s episode of Acoustic Café, it’s a return visit from the trio I’m With Her. Aoife O’Donovan, Sara Watkins and Sarah Jarosz have all been guests individually many times, but they’re back as the trio I’m With Her to talk about their new album “Wild And Clear And Blue.”

Also, we dip into the archives for songs from Bernard Allison, Robbie Fulks, Southern Avenue and much more!

See the playlist below and listen to the episodes on-demand for two weeks after it airs using the media player above.

Acoustic Café Playlist for September 7, 2025

• “Million Dollar Intro” – Ani DiFranco
• “1901 (acoustic)” – Phoenix
• “Born In A Cage” – Patty Griffin
• “Never Felt Better” – Everything Is Recorded
• “Everything” – Durand Jones & The Indications
• “Upside” – Southern Avenue (in-studio performance)
• “Always On My Mind” – Chrissie Hynde w/Rufus Wainwright
• “Wild And Clear And Blue” – I’m With Her (in-studio guests)
• “Ancient Light” – I’m With Her (in-studio guests)
• “Room On The Porch” – Taj Mahal 7 Keb’ Mo’
• “Misplaced” – TORS
• “Nobody Cares” – Robbie Fulks
• “Every Kind Of Music But Country” – Robbie Fulks (in-studio performance)
• “Still” – Ben Folds and The National Symphony Orchestra
• “When The Lavender Blooms” – The Paper Kites
• “The Story Of My So Called Life” – Molly Tuttle
• “New To This Town” – Brittney Spencer
• “Best Of Luck” – Nickel Creek (in-studio performance)
• “Beg Steal Borrow (acoustic)” – The Head & The Heart
• “Oh Wide World” – Mon Rovia
• “Sarah” – Folk Bitch Trio
• “Change Your Way Of Living” – Bernard Allison (in-studio performance)
• “Standing On the Fault Line” – I’m With Her (in-studio guests)
• “Mother Eagle” – I’m With Her (in-studio guests)

Listen to Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music every Saturday from 2-4 p.m. ET on Detroit Public Radio 101.9 WDET and streaming on-demand at wdet.org.

In June, U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced that they wanted to rescind the Roadless Rule, arguing that it created needless obstacles to land management. However, many conservationists say reversing this decision puts millions of forest acreage at risk.

The Roadless Rule, established in 2001, protects about 60 million acres of National Forest land all across the U.S., including Michigan. These areas have no roads, logging, or mining. Outdoors lovers, conservationists, and others value these lands for their natural wilderness. 

When the rule was first proposed, it received over 1.5 million public comments in support, showing strong public backing.

Effects in Michigan

If the Roadless Rule is repealed, 16,000 acres in Michigan could be harmed. Most of Michigan’s roadless areas are in the Upper Peninsula including the Hiawatha National Forest, as well as parts of the Lower Peninsula, in the Manistee National Forest and Ottawa National Forest.

Anna Medema is the Sierra Club’s Associate Director of Legislative and Administrative Advocacy for forests and public land. She says keeping the Roadless Rule in effect is vitally important. “Once you build a road into a forest area it could take decades or centuries if you were to decommission these roads and try to let it regrow wildly,” Medema says. “Those wild characteristics are really rare.”

Trump administration officials say that removing the protections could help reduce wildfires by facilitating forest management. However, research shows that wildfires tend to happen more often in areas with roads because of human activity, negating potential benefits of road access.

In Michigan, wildfires are generally less common and less serious. Additionally, building roads and logging could actually raise the risk of fires.

The public can comment on the Roadless Rule here until September 19. 

This story is part of WDET’s ongoing series, The Detroit Tree Canopy Project.

From the 46th Annual Dally in the Alley to the inaugural Detroit Vinylfest, here are five free events to check out in Detroit this week.

Upcoming events

Detroit Vinylfest

  Eastern Market Shed 5

  Friday, Sep. 5

  Free

A new event from the creators of Detroit Bookfest, where vendors will sell vinyl records/LPs, CDs, cassette tapes, music-related posters, t-shirts and more. The event goes from 1–8 p.m.

In the Life: Black Queerness Exhibition

  The Carr Center in Detroit

  Friday, Sep. 5 through Saturday, Oct. 11

  Free

An exhibition produced by Mighty Real/Queer Detroit that explores the mirroring power of artist and viewer through the lens of the Black Queer experience. The exhibition features 13 artists and spans photography, painting, drawing and multi-media works. The Carr Center is open to the public on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from noon to 5 p.m., and on Fridays from noon to 8 p.m.

46th Annual Dally in the Alley

Detroit’s Cass Corridor

  Saturday, Sep. 6

  Free

A longstanding community festival featuring live music, art, food, beer and a kids fair in the streets of Midtown Detroit. Festivities go from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Entrance is free, but donations are welcome.

6 Mile Street Festival

W. McNichols Road in Detroit

  Saturday, Sep. 6

  Free with RSVP

A celebration of local community, commerce and culture featuring musical entertainment, family-friendly activities and local artist showcases in Northwest Detroit. Festivities go from noon to 8 p.m.

Sounds from the Park: Memory and Transformation

Belle Isle

  Thursday, Sep. 11

  Free

The fifth and final installment of the Sounds from the Park series of outdoor concerts organized by the Detroit Parks Coalition. The show features a live performance from and original music by Detroit saxophonist Marcus Elliot. Performance goes from 6–8 p.m.

In this week’s episode of Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music, we’re honoring Jazz Fest by revisiting an Acoustic Cafe interview from 2024 with festival performer Keyon Harrold and his Detroiter filled band!

Also, lots more jazz from Robert Glasper, Trombone Shorty, Brad Mehldau, plus some other music of interest this final week of Summer ’25!

See the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the media player above.

Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music Playlist for August 30, 2025

HOUR ONE:

• “Don’t Lie” – Keyon Harrold (at Big Sky Studio, Ann Arbor, March 2024)
• “Beautiful Day” – Keyon Harrold (at Big Sky Studio, Ann Arbor, March 2024)
• “The End Of Our Road” – Gladys Knight & The Pips
• “Dandelions” – Whitney
  
• “Petrichor” – Jon Batiste
  
• “Same Old Song” – The Lumineers (coming to Comerica Park, 9/13)
  
• “Between The Bars” – Brad Mehldau
  
• “Love On Your Side” – Adam Plomaritas
  
• “Listen To The Music” – The Isley Brothers
  

• “The Intellectual” – Keyon Harrold (at Big Sky Studio, Ann Arbor, March 2024)
• “Foreverland” – Keyon Harrold (at Big Sky Studio, Ann Arbor, March 2024)
• “Travelin’ Band” – John Fogerty
• “I Just Want To Celebrate” – Marshall Crenshaw
• “Rm 112” – Robert Glasper (flipped by Karriem Riggins)
  
• “Optimistic” – August Greene
• “Thirteen” – Brad Mehldau
• “The Stuff” – Rachael & Vilray
  
• “Earth” – Stratos (w/Santino Jones)

Listen to Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music every Saturday from 2-4 p.m. ET on Detroit Public Radio 101.9 WDET and streaming on-demand at wdet.org

On this week’s episode of Acoustic Café, our guest is Ketch Secor, who has fronted Old Crow Medicine Show for 25+ years. This summer, Ketch finally made an autobiographical solo debut called “Story The Crow Told Me.”

Also, we dip into the vast ACafe archives for songs from Beck, Jensen McRae, Old 97’s and much more!

See the playlist below and listen to the episodes on-demand for two weeks after it airs using the media player above.

Acoustic Café Playlist for August 31, 2025

• “Million Dollar Intro” – Ani DiFranco
• “A Lesson In Leavin'” – kissing other ppl
• “In Love With Me” – Maren Morris
• “I Can See The devil” – S.G. Goodman
• “Everything” – Durand Jones & The Indications
• “Cancel Culture” – Crys Matthews (in-studio performance)
• “Unravelling (acoustic)” – MUSE
• “Talkin’ Doc Blues” – Ketch Secor (in-studio guest)
• “Destination Road” – Ketch Secor (in-studio guest)
• “Manhattan Serenade” – Rachael & Vilray
• “Eventime” – Uwade
• “Come As You Are” – Rhett Miller
• “Ivy” – Old 97’s (in-studio performance)
• “Heaven With You” – Michael Franti & Spearhead
• “Pray God Listens” – The Wood Brothers
• “Gravity” – Sarah McLachlan
• “Guess I’m Doing Fine” – Beck (in-studio performance)
• “Luther” – Iron & Wine, Ben Bridwell
• “Everybody’s Trying To Figure Me Out” – HAIM
• “People Lead” – Ben Harper
• “Let Me Be Wrong” – Jensen McRae (in-studio performance)
• “A World Away” – Old Crow Medicine Show
• “Old Man River” – Ketch Secor (in-studio guest)
• “Thanks Again” – Ketch Secor (in-studio guest)

Listen to Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music every Saturday from 2-4 p.m. ET on Detroit Public Radio 101.9 WDET and streaming on-demand at wdet.org.

On this episode of Detroit Evening Report Weekends, we speak with Maher Obeid, owner of a new halal brunch spot in Detroit called Haus of Brunch at the Westin Book Cadillac.

In this story, we discuss how halal food is becoming a booming industry, expanding to different genres of cuisine — including halal soul food — in downtown Detroit.

Listen to the episode using the media player above. 

Subscribe to the Detroit Evening Report on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts. 

It’s Labor Day Weekend, which means tons of annual festivals in Detroit. Plus, some unique celebrations for punks and sandwich enthusiasts. Read on to learn more.

Upcoming events

“What’s So Funny About Detroit?” Comedy Showcase

  The Old Miami in Detroit

  Thursday, Aug. 28

  $25 online, $30 at the door

The final WDET comedy showcase of the summer, hosted by In The Groove’s Ryan Patrick Hooper. This month’s headliner is Nicole Melnyk with special guests Alaina Bamfield, Madison Thomas, Andy Peters, Reeves Ledbetter, Pat Sievert, Brooke Van Poppelen and Joe Aasim. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m. Guests must be 21+.

Michigan State Fair

  The Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi

  Thursday, Aug. 28 through Monday, Sep. 1

  $10–$42

A family-friendly festival featuring carnival rides, livestock shows, talent competitions, beer tastings and more. General admission is $10, and some festival activities cost extra. The fair is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, and from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday through Monday.

46th Annual Detroit Jazz Festival

  Various locations in Detroit

  Friday, Aug. 29 through Monday, Sep. 1

  Free

The world’s largest free jazz festival, featuring dozens of performances by world-renowned musicians across several local venues. General admission is free, but VIP seating and other perks are available for $125–$600. Performances start at 6 p.m. on Friday and at noon on Saturday through Sunday.

Arts Beats & Eats

  Downtown Royal Oak

  Friday, Aug. 29 through Monday, Sep. 1

  $10–$68

An annual festival featuring live music, a juried art fair, carnival competitions and more. General admission ranges from $10–$12 depending on the day and time, and VIP tickets are available for an additional $68 online. The festival is open Friday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Monday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

45th Annual Hamtramck Labor Day Festival

  Joseph Campau Street in Hamtramck

  Saturday, Aug. 30 through Monday, Sep. 1

  Free

An annual Labor Day celebration featuring live music, carnival rides, canoe street racing and more. The Labor Day Parade takes place on Monday, Sep. 1, and the festival is open from noon to 10 p.m. each day.

Crew Fest

  Tangent Gallery in Detroit

  Saturday, Aug. 30

  $16

A new community-driven art and music festival celebrating the underground punk and alternative scenes. There will be live performances by local bands, art for sale by independent makers and refreshments from unique kitchens. The festival goes from 2–11 p.m.

Detroit Sandwich Party

  Eastern Market Shed 5 in Detroit

  Sunday, Aug. 31

  Free to attend, sandwich prices vary

The second annual event celebrating the great sandwich makers of our city. Guests can sample small-format sandwiches from dozens of local vendors, and drinks are available for purchase as well. The party goes from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

15th Annual Detroit Month of Design

  Various locations in metro Detroit

  Monday, Sep. 1 through Tuesday, Sep. 30

  $0–$100+

An annual celebration Detroit’s designers, featuring a wide range of exhibitions, installations, product launches, tours, hands-on workshops and discussions. This year’s calendar features work from over 500 creatives on display at 95 events throughout the metro area.

Roughly one-third of food grown on U.S. farms never gets eaten. For many Detroiters, food insecurity is a daily concern. Federal cuts to SNAP benefits are coming, and they are expected to hit low-income households in Detroit especially hard. That’s on top of the already-limited access to fresh produce, meat and dairy.

But Detroit’s farming story runs deep. Black farmers have long helped the city feed itself, before and after settlers colonized the area. The historic Black Bottom neighborhood — which was razed to make way for freeways — was named for its rich soil. Now, Detroit is one step closer to adding city-wide composting to its urban agriculture story.

Last week, the city launched a pilot composting program with openings for the 200 people to sign up. Demand was so high that people who wish to sign up are now joining hundreds of others on a wait list. That enthusiasm is good news for proponents of urban agriculture in Detroit.

The City of Detroit’s Director of Sustainability, Tepfirah Rushdan, and the city’s Deputy Director of Urban Agriculture, Patrice Brown, joined The Metro to discuss the enthusiasm for the program, and the future of urban agriculture and sustainability in Detroit.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on demand.

Subscribe to The Metro on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

More stories from The Metro

In this week’s episode of Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music, some cool music from and around the 50th anniversary of Springsteen’s “Born To Run” album. It turns 50 on Monday, August 25.

Also, Chance the Rapper with Jazmine Sullivan, The City Lines with new Motor City Music, Jack White punches back hard and more!

See the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the media player above.

Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music Playlist for August 23, 2025

HOUR ONE:

• “Finest Worksong” – R.E.M.
  
• “Daria” – Toro y Moi
  
• “Everybody Scream” – Florence & The Machine
• “‘Running Boy” – Mon Rovia (at The Ark 11/19)
• “That’s How I Feel'” – Jack White
• “Born To Run” – Bruce Springsteen
  
• “Thunder Road” – Matt Nathanson
  
• “So Young And In Love” – Bruce Springsteen
• “Moody” – Royel Otis
• “Sushi & Coca Cola” – St. Paul & The Broken Bones
• “Found A Friend” – Southern Avenue (at The Leon Loft, Ann Arbor)
• “Gethsemane” – Ian Gillan (turned 80 this week)
  

• “Lisztomania” – Phoenix
  
• “Old Me, New Wig” – Molly Tuttle (9/11 at Masonic)
• “Speed Of Love” – Chance The Rapper w/Jazmine Sullivan
• “People” – Patrick Adams
• “Do It All” – The City Lines
• “Janey Needs A Shooter” – Bruce Springsteen
• “Jeannie Needs A Shooter” – Warren Zevon
  
• “You Were Wrong” – Roomful Of Blues
• “Walking The Dog” – Rufus Thomas
• “Watch Me Go” – Lord Huron
• “She’s The One” – Bruce Springsteen

Listen to Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music every Saturday from 2-4 p.m. ET on Detroit Public Radio 101.9 WDET and streaming on-demand at wdet.org

On this week’s episode of Acoustic Café, our guest is the band Southern Avenue, the family band from Memphis. In July, they absolutely brought the house down at The Leon Loft, playing songs from their new album “Family.”

Also, the late Flaco Jimenez, cool new covers from Maia Sharp (U2) and kissing other ppl (Lennon Stella), Warren Zevon and Lianne La Havas from our in-studio archives and more!

See the playlist below and listen to the episodes on-demand for two weeks after it airs using the media player above.

Acoustic Café Playlist for August 24, 2025

• “Million Dollar Intro” – Ani DiFranco
• “And So It Goes” – Billy Joel
• “No Champagne (6 AM)” – Cautious Clay
• “How About A Drink” – Billy Raffoul
• “What’s It All For” – Noah Cyrus
• “Paperthin” – Lianne La Havas (in-studio performance)
• “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” – Maia Sharp
• “Upside” – Southern Avenue (in-studio guests)
• “Found A Friend” – Southern Avenue (in-studio guests)
• “Forever Never Lasts” – Rachael & Vilray
• “I Don’t Want Your Garden” – Hazlett
• “Carmelita” – Flaco Jimenez & Dwight Yoakam
• “Lawyers, Guns & Money” – Warren Zevon (in-studio performance)
• “God Sent You” – Bruce Springsteen
• “Avalanche” – Jade Bird
• “The Way I Tell The Story” – David Wilcox
• “Dinner” – Indigo De Souza
• “Driver Education” – Indigo Girls (in-studio performance)
• “Kissing Other People” – kissing other ppl
• “Self Made Man” – Rachel Baiman
• “What If” – TORS
• “Treason” – Nilufer Yanya
• “Sisters” – Southern Avenue (in-studio guests)
• “Long Is The Road” – Southern Avenue (in-studio guests)
• “So Much Love” – Southern Avenue (in-studio guests)

Listen to Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music every Saturday from 2-4 p.m. ET on Detroit Public Radio 101.9 WDET and streaming on-demand at wdet.org.

In this week’s episode of Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music, what’s the point of the Dream Cruise without cruising music? We’ll provide.

Also, a lovely new duet from Detroit’s Lilly Macphee with Mike Leslie, new music from IVY, Durand Jones & The Indications, Chance the Rapper with Jazmine Sullivan and more!

See the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the media player above.

Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music Playlist for August 16, 2025

HOUR ONE:

• “If She Could See Me Now” – Lorde
  
• “Lucky Stars” – HAIM
  
• “Flower Moon” – Durand Jones & The Indications
• “‘Heartbreak” – IVY
• “Someone I Knew” – Lilly Macphee & Mike Leslie
• “White Mustang” – Lana Del Ray
• “My Mustang Ford” – Chuck Berry
  
• “Mustang Sally” – Wilson Pickett
• “Mustang Sally & GTO” – John Lee Hooker
  
• “Peaceful Place” – Leon Bridges
• “Lonestar” – Charley Crockett
  
• “Southern Man” – Kashus Culpepper w/Marcus King
  
• “Save Your Tears” – Jade Bird
• “Immigration Man” – The Roamers
• “Immigration Man” – David Crosby & Graham Nash
  

• “Express Yourself” – N.W.A.
• “Foreign Bird” – Folk Bitch Trio
• “Always On My Mind” – Chrissie Hynde
• “Boots Of Chinese Plastic” – The Pretenders
  
• “Muddy Shores'” – Moonrisers
  
• “Sunday Driver” – The Raconteurs
  
• “Baby Driver” – Simon & Garfunkel
  
• “One Piece At A Time” – Johnny Cash & The Tennessee Three
• “Motor City” – The Satintones
• “Being A Woman” – Lake Street Dive
• “I Want You Back” – Lake Street Dive
• “All My Ex’s Live In Texas” – George Strait
• “Motor City Steel” – The Dandy Warhols

Listen to Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music every Saturday from 2-4 p.m. ET on Detroit Public Radio 101.9 WDET and streaming on-demand at wdet.org

On this week’s episode of Acoustic Café, it’s Jon Muq telling an amazing story of coming from Uganda, to Austin, TX, then on to Nashville to work with The Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach on his debut album.

Also, the return (for the first time) of the Buckingham/Nicks album from 1973, new songs from Folk Bitch trio, Alison Krauss & Union Station, Jade Bird and more!

See the playlist below and listen to the episodes on-demand for two weeks after it airs using the media player above.

Acoustic Café Playlist for August 17, 2025

• “Million Dollar Intro” – Ani DiFranco
• “32 Flavors” – Ani DiFranco
• “God’s A Different Sword” – Folk Bitch Trio
• “Broken Wing Bird” – Kashus Culpepper & Sierra Ferrell
• “Holy” – Mac Demarco
• “For What It’s Worth” – Martin Sexton (in-studio performance)
• “Whiplash (acoustic)” – Kristen Ford
• “Hello Sunshine” – Jon Muq (in-studio guest)
• “Run Away” – Jon Muq (in-studio guest)
• “Who Wants” – Jade Bird
• “You Called Me Kid” – Pete Droge
• “Crying In The Night” – Buckingham Nicks
• “Races Are Run” – Cunningham Bird (in-studio performance)
• “Way Up To the Sky” – Patty Griffin
• “Truth #2” – The Chicks
• “16 Military Wives” – The Decemberists (20th anniversary of “Picaresque”)
• “California” – Natalie Bergman
• “This Love Is Real” – John Prine (in-studio performance)
• “Youth Gone Wild” – Alex Williams
• “One Ray Of Shine” – Alison Krauss & Union Station
• “Redemption Song” – Bob Marley
• “Old Soul” – Stephen Marley
• “Bend” – Jon Muq (in-studio guest)
• “One You Love” – Jon Muq (in-studio guest)

Listen to Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music every Saturday from 2-4 p.m. ET on Detroit Public Radio 101.9 WDET and streaming on-demand at wdet.org.

This week, we’ve got a global spread of celebrations, from Afrobeats to K-Pop. Plus, bringing it back home to the Motor City with the Woodward Dream Cruise and more. Read on for details.

Upcoming events

Techno In The Parks

  Riverside Park in Detroit

  Friday, Aug. 15

  Free

An outdoor concert celebrating techno music, featuring DJ Deep Sequence with special guests Hazmat Live and Room 131. There will also be food trucks, face painting, games and inflatables. The concert goes from 5–8 p.m.

K-Pop Culture Experience — Dance, Games and Flavors

  The Detroit Institute of Arts

  Saturday, Aug. 16

  Free with museum admission

An immersive celebration of Korean culture, featuring a dance performance by PRISM Cru, games with prizes, food samples, and a tour of the DIA’s Korean Gallery. Registration starts at 10:30 a.m. and activities go through 2:30 p.m. Museum admission is free for residents of Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties.

AfroFuture Detroit

  Bedrock’s Douglass Site in Detroit

  Saturday, Aug. 16 through Sunday, Aug. 17

  $95–$327

The U.S. debut of a globally-successful two-day music festival showcasing African and diasporic talent. Headliners include Afrobeats superstars Asake and Davido, genre-defying Kaytranada, Brazil’s Ludmilla and Detroit’s own Tee Grizzley. Doors open at 2 p.m. each day.

R&Beach

  The Beach at Campus Martius Park in Detroit

  Saturday, Aug. 16

  Free with RSVP

An downtown beach party featuring R&B music, tequila samples, vinyl record decorating and concert ticket giveaways. The party goes from 6–10 p.m.

Fraser Lions Club Carnival

  Steffens Park in Fraser

  Thursday, Aug. 21 through Sunday, Aug. 24

  Free

An annual fundraiser for the Fraser Lions Club, a local nonprofit that supports blind community members by providing resources like leader dogs. The four-day event features family-friendly activities like carnival rides, games, live music, a petting zoo, fireworks and more. Festivities start at 5 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, and at noon on Saturday and Sunday. Admission is free, parking is $10 and ride wristbands are $30.

On this week’s episode of Acoustic Café, it’s a special show, featuring The American Songbook classics re-interpreted by today’s artists… songs from almost 100 years ago, interpreted by folks whose grandparents weren’t even born when the songs were first popular!

See the playlist below and listen to the episodes on-demand for two weeks after it airs using the media player above.

Acoustic Café Playlist for August 10, 2025

• “Million Dollar Intro” – Ani DiFranco
• “Summertime” – Zee Avi (in-studio performance)
• “Strange Fruit” – Bettye Lavette
• “Orange Colored Sky” – Emm Gryner (in-studio performance)
• “But Not For Me” – Grant Perez
• “The Glory of Love” – Patty Griffin (in-studio performance)
• “The Nearness Of You” – Norah Jones (in-studio performance)
• “Don’t Know Why” – Pat Metheny (in-studio performance)
• “I’ve Grown Accustomed To her Face” – Andrew Bird
• “Moon River” – Melody Gardot
• “Gee Baby Ain’t I Good To You” – Taj Mahal
• “I Don’t Know Why (I Just Do)” – Jeff Goldblum, Mildred Snitzer Orchestra, Ariana Grande
• “September Song” – Lukas Nelson (in-studio performance)
• “Night & Day” – Willie Nelson (in-studio performance)
• “Over The Rainbow” – Judy Collins (in-studio performance)
• “Both Sides Now” – Allison Moorer (in-studio performance)
• “I’ve Never Been In Love Before” – Amos Lee
• “Goodnight My Love” – Rachael & Vilray
• “What A Wonderful World” – Victoria Williams (in-studio performance)
• “I Fall In Love Too Easily” – Susan Werner (in-studio performance)
• “Old Devil Moon” – dodie
• “I Get A Kick (Out Of You)” – Jamie Cullum (in-studio performance)
• “Let’s Do It (Let’s Fall In Love)” – Alanis Morrisette
• “Dream A Little Dream Of Me” – Judith Owen (in-studio performance)
• “Rocks in My Bed” – Allen Toussaint & Rhiannon Giddens
• “Nature Boy” – Gregory Porter (in-studio performance)

Listen to Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music every Saturday from 2-4 p.m. ET on Detroit Public Radio 101.9 WDET and streaming on-demand at wdet.org.

Before you read any further, I just want to invite you to a little party we’re hosting at Batch Brewing Company this Thursday! The Sounds Like Detroit Showcase 2025 is sponsored by Henry Ford Health and tickets benefit WDET. Come hang out with me as we enjoy performances by Beth, Samuel Nalangira, Corazon Szell and Tariq Gardner.

Now then…

Each week on MI Local, I do my best to bring you, well, as the title of the show implies: the latest in local! Also implied by the title of the show is a fun lil’ pun that plays off of my last name—and trust me, you probably know someone who hasn’t figured that out yet, so impress them with that trivial tidbit at your next dinner party.

Anyway! I was so excited to shuffle in quite a few new tracks by Metro-area musicians that just dropped, including a fantastic and charming pop-rock cut from John Krautner off of his latest album Cinnamon Lake, along with the Northwest-Michigan-based folk-rock songwriter May Erlewine’s hopeful ballad “Lemonade.”

My guest this week were the indie-rockers known as Long Square. They joined me live in-studio to premiere a new song, “Ate,” which also just had its music video premiere online.

Long Square in studio with Jeff Milo. Photo by Mike Milo

They played their first show about a year ago, but audiences can already anticipate a high-energy performance with an intricate and often frenetic playing style, which we music journalists used to like to refer to as “math rock.” Niche-sub-genre talk aside, the reason you’ll already get a potently realized indie-rock package with a veritably new band is that several of these players have been in a handful of previous projects.

You can see Long Square live this Saturday night in Hamtramck at The High Dive with Second Body and The Feat. Follow on Instagram for more.

Also, make sure to stream the show above if you missed it, because Long Square also gave you a sneak peak of an unreleased track off of their upcoming album!

Other highlights from this week’s show include a new track from heavy-rockers Edison Hollow, who have an album release show on Friday night at Small’s. We also heard new indie-rock from singer/songwriter Taylor Brown, who writes and records under the moniker of Sock Jock! Splashing in some genre variety, we heard some reggae/ska from Detroit Riddim Crew, and a dip into post-hardcore ferocity with Big Life.

See the playlist below and listen to the episode on-demand for two weeks after it airs using the media player above.

MI Local Playlist for August 12, 2025

• “Storm Clouds” – John Krautner
• “Lemonade” – May Erlewine
• “Rolling Like a Stone” – Edison Hollow
• “Sticker” – Dusty Rose Gang
• “Trained Behaivor” – Detroit Riddim Crew
• “Out of Breath” – Big Life
• “Not So Bad” – Middle Out
• “Lock & Key” – Sock Jock
• “Nothing Left to Say” – The Broken Strings
• “Butterflies Can’t Hide” – Tariq Gardner & Evening Star
• “Ate” – Long Square

In this week’s episode of Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music, some anniversary re-issues from Common, John Prine and Natalie Cole.

Also, new music from Disclosure with Anderson Paak, Detroit’s Thornetta Davis, Kate Hinote Trio, Jack Spivey and more!

See the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the media player above.

Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music Playlist for August 9, 2025

HOUR ONE:

• “GO!” – Common (20th anniversary re-issue of “Be”)
  
• “Hey, Ah, Nothin'” – John Prine (30th anniversary re-issue of “Lost Dogs & Mixed Blessings”)
• “I Gotta Sang The Blues” – Thornetta Davis (cover of Living Blues magazine!)
• “‘Heartthrob” – Indigo De Souza
• “Closer” – Tegan & Sara
• “luther” – Kendrick Lamar & SZA
• “luther” – Iron & Wine & Ben Bridwell
  
• “If This World Were Mine” – Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
  
• “Fletchers” – Craig Finn
• “Kissing Other People” – kissing other ppl
  
• “Forever Never Lasts” – Rachael & Vilray
  
• “Time After Time” – Benny Sings
• “But Not For Me” – Amos Lee
  

• “Pink Cadillac” – Natalie Cole Common (75 birthday anniversary re-issue of “Everlasting”)
• “Fire” – The Pointer Sisters
• “Witness” – The Wood Brothers
• “I Can See The Devil” – S.G. Goodman
  
• “Over & Over'” – Jack Spivey
  
• “Upside” – Southern Avenue
• “Philosophy” – Ben Folds Five (debut released 30 years ago this week)
• “NO CAP” – Disclosure w/Anderson Paak
• “It’s My Toy” – Kate Hinote Trio
• “Ordinary Creature” – Of Monsters & Men
• “El Molestoso” – Eddie Palmieri
• “Revolt El Libertad Logico – Eddie Palmieri

Listen to Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music every Saturday from 2-4 p.m. ET on Detroit Public Radio 101.9 WDET and streaming on-demand at wdet.org

On this week’s episode of Acoustic Café, we revisit our 2005 interview with Death Cab For Cutie’s Benjamin Gibbard and Chris Walla to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their game-changing album Plans.

Also featured, archived stuff from Sting, Rachael & Vilray, Aimee Mann and much more!

See the playlist below and listen to the episodes on-demand for two weeks after it airs using the media player above.

Acoustic Café Playlist for August 3, 2025

• “Million Dollar Intro” – Ani DiFranco
• “Under the Milky Way” – The Church
• “Jubilee” – The War & Treaty
• “The Farm” – HAIM
• “Love And Hate” – Natalie Jean
• “Even In The Evening” – Rachael & Vilray (2021 in-studio performance)
• “That’s Gonna Leave A Mark (acoustic)” – Molly Tuttle
• “Crooked Teeth” – Death Cab For Cutie (in-studio guests, 2005)
• “Brothers On A Hotel Bed” – Death Cab For Cutie (in-studio guests, 2005)
• “Sisters” – Southern Avenue
• “Can’t Win For Losing” – Cedric Burnside & Tierinii Jackson
• “Progress Of Man (Bitcoin & Cattle)” – Hayes Carll
• “You’re With Stupid Now” – Aimee Mann (2006 in-studio performance)
• “Keep On Tryin'” – Poco
• “I Need The Answer” – Durand Jones & The Indications
• “The Way Of The World” – Noah Cyrus
• “These Days” – Tanner Usrey
• “California Zephyr” – Ben Gibbard & Jay Farrar (2009 in-studio performance)
• “Moon Over Bourbon Street” – Sting
• “Shape Of My Heart” – Sting (2024 in-studio performance)
• “In Good Trouble” – India Arie
• “The Flyboy & The Kid” – Willie Nelson
• “Photobooth” – Death Cab For Cutie (in-studio guests, 2005)
• “Soul Meets Body” – Death Cab For Cutie (in-studio guests, 2005)