Outdoor concerts, unique art experiences and critically-acclaimed comedy. Here’s what to do this weekend in metro Detroit.

Music

Hip-Hop in the Parks | Palmer Park | Friday, Aug. 1 | Free

An outdoor concert organized by the City of Detroit featuring live performances by Asaka the Renegade and Sounds Like Detroit 2024 finalist Chris Lanard. Family-friendly activities and performances go from 5–8 p.m.

Keep A-Knockin’ | The Old Miami | Friday, Aug. 1 | $5

An all-vinyl ’50s and ’60s dance party featuring R&B, Doo-Wop, Soul and Girl Group selections from DJs Dave Lawson, Sisteranna, Mike Dutkewych and WDET’s own Mike Latulippe (host of The Detroit Move Tuesdays at 8 p.m.). Doors open at 9 p.m.

Jazz on the Ave | Detroit’s Avenue of Fashion | Saturday, Aug. 2

A long-running annual block party featuring live music, food and family-friendly activities. Festivities go from noon to 8 p.m.

Jazz on the River | Elizabeth Park | Saturday, Aug. 2 and Sunday, Aug. 3 | Free

A long-running annual jazz festival along the Detroit River in Trenton, featuring performances by legendary artists like Gerald Albright and Spyro Gyra. Performances start at 1:30 p.m. each day and there is a $5 cash parking fee.

Sounds from the Park: Reverence for Nature | Eliza Howell Park | Saturday, Aug. 2 | Free

An outdoor concert organized by the Detroit Parks Coalition featuring a live performance from and original music by Detroit saxophonist Marcus Elliot. Performance goes from 7:30–8:30 p.m.

Visual art

Sidewalk Detroit Festival | Eliza Howell Park | Friday, Aug. 1 and Saturday, Aug. 2 | Free

An annual celebration of Detroit creatives, group movement and community building featuring outdoor performances and art installations. Festivities go from 6–8 p.m. on Friday and from 2–9 p.m. on Saturday. Free parking is available.

Belle Isle Art Fair | Belle Isle by Scott Fountain | Saturday, Aug. 2 and Sunday, Aug. 3 | Free with state park pass

A nationally-ranked nature-focused art fair featuring over 100 juried artists. Open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Comedy

Comedy at the Congregation | The Congregation Detroit | Friday, Aug. 1 | $15 online, $20 at the door

A monthly comedy showcase hosted by Sarah Lynn. This month’s headliner is Chloe Mikala, an award-winning comedian who has performed with The Second City. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show starts at 7:30 p.m.

This week, we have local talent spotlights, unique shopping experiences, cultural celebrations and thought-provoking theater. Read on to learn more.

Local talent spotlights

On Friday, July 25, the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity is hosting the 79th International Talent Hunt Demonstration at Huntington Place Convention Center in Detroit. The Talent Hunt Program provides exposure, encouragement and financial assistance to talented young people participating in the performing arts. Winners are awarded recognition and may be given college scholarships. Submissions in vocal music, drama, instrumental music, dance and art are welcome. The event goes from 6–8 p.m. and is free and open to the public. For more information, visit oppf.org/talent-hunt.

Also on Friday, July 25, the City of Detroit continues their Summer Music Series with Motown in the Parks at Farwell Park, featuring sounds from B Williams and a live performance by Detroit’s “Queen of the Blues,” Thornetta Davis. There will be food trucks, games and more. Admission is free and the event goes from 5–8 p.m. For more information, visit @cityofdetroit on Instagram.

Join us on Thursday, July 31 at the Old Miami for the next installment of WDET’s comedy showcase, “What’s So Funny About Detroit?” Hosted by Ryan Patrick Hooper (host of WDET’s In The Groove weekdays at noon), this month’s show features three incredible stand up comedians: Sam Tallent, T. Barb, Brianna Blackburn, and Brad Wenzel. Doors open at 6 p.m. and guests are asked to bring their own chair or blanket for seating. Admission is $25 online or and $30 at the door, and proceeds directly support Detroit public radio. For more information, visit wdet.org/events.

Unique shopping experiences

Celebrate Detroit’s 324th birthday in the Cass Corridor on Saturday, July 26. From 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., there will be DJs, live music, family-friendly activities and great deals from your favorite local shops on Cass and Willis. For more information, visit midtowndetroitinc.org.

On Saturday, July 26, the Downtown Detroit Partnership continues their Music & Markets series at Beacon Park. This month’s event highlights house music and features a performance by WDET’s own Waajeed (host of The Boulevard Wednesdays at 8 p.m.) as well as an open-air market featuring goods by local makers. Food will be available for purchase from Lobster Truck and Little Bite Big Taste, and the Detroit City Football Club game against Westchester will be playing on the big screen. Admission is free and the event goes from 6–10 p.m. For more information, visit downtowndetroit.org.

Pewabic Pottery is having their annual Summer Seconds Sale this weekend. Guests can browse imperfect vessels, art tiles and architectural tiles, all available at steep discounts. Pewabic members get first pick on Saturday, July 26 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., then the sale opens to the public on Sunday, July 27 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Customers are asked to bring their own packing materials. For more information, visit pewabic.org.

Cultural celebrations

On Saturday, July 26, the International Institute of Clean Greens is holding its 3rd Annual Collard Green Cook-Off at Chandler Park. This event celebrates Black culture, community and culinary arts through collard green dishes from local Black-owned farms. In addition to the cook-off, there will be live music performances, community booths and family activities. Admission and your first plate are free, and the event will be held from 2–6 p.m. For more information, visit their Eventbrite page.

On the last Tuesday of every month, UFO Bar hosts Reel Love, a celebration of Black culture and storytelling through film, music videos and soulful soundscapes. The next edition takes place on Tuesday, July 29 and goes from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. Admission is free. For more information, visit @ufobardetroit on Instagram.

Thought-provoking theater

From Thursday, July 31 through Sunday August 3, Detroit Public Theatre is showing a new play commissioned by the Arab American National Museum, “Drone.” Written by award-winning playwright Andrea Assaf, the production explores the normalization of domestic and global violence and its effects on the human soul. It features live music, emerging technologies and artistic containers for public dialogue. The show begins at 7 p.m. on Thursday through Saturday, and at 2 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is $10 on Thursday and $25 Friday through Sunday, with discounts for museum members, students and seniors available. For more information, visit arabamericanmuseum.org.

This week, Detroit-based singer-songwriter Mike Ward joined me in-studio to discuss his new album, “The Time That Remains.” We listened to a few songs from the record and Ward treated WDET listeners to a special live on-air performance.

Ward has been performing with and under the moniker of Psychosongs for years; his first studio album came out in 2018. Particularly since his 2020 album, “Darkness and the Light,” Ward has been exploring themes around hope and empathy during troubling times, along with the benefits that can come with sustaining said hope. Tapping into the classic vein of singer-songwriters like Bruce Springsteen, John Prine, Bob Dylan and Neil Young, Ward’s songs are also specifically never pollyannish, even if they’re defiant in their reach for positivity.

Ward is performing a couple of shows this weekend in Muskegon and Norton Shores, before returning to metro Detroit for a CD release show, celebrating “The Time That Remains” at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 3, hosted at the outdoor Ferndale venue known as the Gazebo.

On this week’s show, we heard two songs from Ward’s new album, including “Why Not?” and “Paycheck.” Ward also performed a live rendition of another new song, “Instrument for Good,” live in-studio.

Along with our chat with Ward, we premiered a lot of new music by local artists, including the new single from Ann Arbor power-pop trio The City Lines. Their new album, “Prescribed Fires,” comes out in September! We recently premiered The City Lines new music video for this single (read more here).

The Armed are a Detroit-based post-hardcore punk outfit that tends to remain mostly anonymous, as far as its membership, even while still performing live shows and creating visual content (like music videos); you can hear their cinematic and beautifully ominous trip of a new single titled “Sharp Teeth” on this week’s MI Local. We also heard the latest from Kalamazoo-based emo/punk trio saturdays at your place, and Detroit-based indie-rockers The Microplastics!

We checked-in on shows happening around the region, including the three-day music festival happening at The Outer Limits Lounge this weekend, known as their annual Stroh Down event. We heard from Zastava, a shoegaze-adjacent rock quartet (and former guests of MI Local) set to perform at the event. We also looked ahead to mid-August, when The Bling Pig hosts the annual Fuzz Fest, put on by longtime rocker Chris Taylor; we heard from the surfy-punk quartet known as Virga!

Don’t forget that WDET’s Sounds Like Detroit Showcase is coming up on August 14, hosted at Batch Brewing! Local R&B/neo-soul icon Beth is one of the featured performers, and we heard a song by her on this week’s show titled “Free.” Get your tickets for Sounds Like Detroit, here!

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 July 22, 2025

• “Blood & Smoke” – The City Lines
• “Kid, You’re Wrong” – The Recital
• “Waste Away” – saturdays at your place
• “Sharp Teeth” – The Armed
• “Break Your Heart” – The Microplastics
• “Amy” – Ben Piper
• “Your Old Key” – Ethan Daniel Davidson
• “Station” – Zastava
• “Bierstadt” – Virga
• “Free” – Beth
• “Critical Violets” – Fred Thomas
• “Why Not?” – Mike Ward
• “Instrument for Good” – Mike Ward (live in WDET Studios)
• “Paycheck” – Mike Ward

Here at WDET, we feel incredibly lucky to have such an esteemed group of music hosts gracing our airwaves. On the Don Was Motor City Playlist, Blue Note Records President and music industry powerhouse Don Was pays homage to the Motor City and the artists that inspire him.

Every Friday, Was digs deep into his music archives to curate playlists and share personal stories about the artists whose songs he features. Co-hosted by WDET’s Ann Delisi, listeners hear commentary about Detroit and its rich musical and cultural histories.

Listeners and fans will again have the opportunity to celebrate the show — now in its fourth year — at the Don Was Motor City Playlist’s 2nd annual Bowling Party on Monday, July 21 at the Garden Bowl! 

Was and Delisi joined The Metro ahead of the event to share more about what’s in store for tonight. Get your tickets here.

Use the media player above to hear the full conversation.

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

More stories from The Metro

The Concert of Colors is back in full swing, but it’s not the only global festival in town. This week, we’ve got everything from cross-continential concerts to community picnics. Read on to learn more.

Global music

The Concert of Colors has officially returned for its 34th year in Detroit with festivities continuing through Sunday, July 20. Highlights from this year’s lineup include soul legend Mavis Staples, Afrobeat pioneer Femi Kuti and Detroit’s Queen of the Blues Thornetta Davis. WDET will have special programming throughout the festival, including a live broadcast of The Don Was Motor City Playlist on Friday, July 18, a live broadcast of Essential Music on Saturday, July 19, and live DJ sets by Alternate Take’s Liz Warner and The New Music Show’s Shigeto on Sunday, July 20. All events are free and open to the public. To see the full lineup and learn more, visit our events page.

This weekend, the African World Festival returns to Hart Plaza for a three-day celebration of culture, history and community. From Friday, July 18 through Sunday, July 20, the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History will honor the legacy of the African Diaspora through live musical and dance performances, traditional storytelling, interactive games and workshops, regional foods, and more. Tickets start at $23 for adults, $13 for children and $18 for seniors. Family passes and VIP tickets are also available, and all Wright Museum members get in for free. For more information, visit thewright.org.

On Friday, July 18, Michigan Central continues their Fridays at the Station series, with a new music collaboration. This week, Detroit-based guitarist Na Bonsai joins Japanese DJ Yukiko for a night of genre-defying grooves and unique sonic experiences. Doors open at 5 p.m. and sets start every hour on the hour until 10 p.m. For more information, visit michigancentral.com.

Local art

On Thursday, July 17, the Ann Arbor Art Fair returns for another massive three-day juried art fair featuring nearly 1,000 artists over 30 city blocks. There will be food trucks, live music and interactive experiences. For more information, visit theannarborartfair.com.

On Friday, July 18, a new community-led exhibition is opening at Swords Into Plowshares Peace Center and Gallery in Detroit. “We Been Here Vol. 2” aims to defy gentrification by celebrating Detroit artists, with works on display from dozens of local creators. An opening reception takes place on Friday, July 18 from 6–9 p.m., and the exhibition will be open through Thursday, July 31. For more information, visit Qiana M Davis on Instagram.

On Thursday, July 24, catch Sounds Like Detroit performers North Ingalls at The Blind Pig in Ann Arbor. The indie-folk group will be playing alongside Ladyfinger and Erik Earth. Tickets are $14.35 and help fund North Ingalls’ debut album. Doors open at 8 p.m. and the venue is 18+. For more information, visit blindpigmusic.com.

Friendly spaces

On Saturday, July 19, 50501 Michigan is partnering with several local advocacy groups to host a “Good Trouble” Mutual Aid Fair in Palmer Park. The event marks the fifth anniversary of the passing of civil rights leader Congressman John Lewis, who coined the term “good trouble” to refer to people coming together to take peaceful, non-violent action to challenge injustice and promote positive societal change. From noon to 3 p.m., there will be free food, free face painting, a gently-used clothing swap, games and prizes. Guests are asked to bring chips or water to share if they’re able. For more information, visit actionnetwork.org.

On Monday, July 21, join us for the second annual Don Was Motor City Playlist Bowling Party at the Garden Bowl in Detroit. Guests will enjoy music, pizza courtesy of Sgt. Pepperoni’s, and plenty of friendly competition with hosts Don Was and Ann Delisi. Bowlers can book a party lane for up to six people or go solo, and spectator tickets are also available for those who would rather enjoy from the sidelines. Tickets start at $50 and directly support Detroit’s public radio station. Doors open at 5 p.m. For more information, visit our events page.

On Wednesday, July 23, test your street smarts at “Talk City To Me: A Detroit Trivia Night,” hosted by WDET’s Tia Graham (co-host of The Metro weekdays 10 a.m. to noon) and Outlier Media’s Briana Rice. Teams will compete to see who knows the most about the city’s politics, history and culture, and the top three teams will win prizes. Trivia takes place at UFO Bar in Detroit from 7–9 p.m. and tickets are $7. For more information, visit Eventbrite.

New music from Mieke Miami, Annahstasia, Perfume Genius, Jadu Heart and more.

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

In The Groove with Ryan Patrick Hooper playlist for July 17, 2025

• “Côte D’ivoire” – Yoni Mayraz
• “100 years of Bill & Lil” – Joe Webb
• “Backline” – Butcher Brown
• “Are You Even Real” – Teddy Swims & GIVĒON
• “The Line” – D’Angelo
• “Black Hole Sun” – bigboihums
• “Back 2 Me (feat. Sadie Walker)” – Girls of the Internet
• “Donuts Mind If I Do” – CHAI
• “Locket” – Crumb
• “Where’s My Brain???” – The Lazy Eyes
• “I’m Glad You’re Mine” – Al Green
• “Son of a Preacher Man” – Mieke Miami
• “Believer” – Annahstasia
• “Left For Tomorrow” – Perfume Genius
• “SOS” – Jadu Heart
• “On Jupiter” – Sun Ra & Sun Ra and His Arkestra
• “Everybody Loves the Sunshine” – Kiefer & Theo Croker
• “Wind Parade” – Jordan Rakei
• “Call My Name” – Joe Bataan
• “Liquid Love (feat. Sylvia Cox)” – Roy Ayers
• “Save Me” – Britti
• “Wednesday Morning Atonement” – Curtis Harding
• “You Ain’t The Problem” – Michael Kiwanuka
• “Floating Parade” – Michael Kiwanuka
• “Someone to Love You” – SAULT
• “Last One Standing” – Monophonics
• “The World Is A Ghetto” – WAR
• “Red Clay” – Jack Wilkins
• “Blue Moon” – Billie Holiday

Listen to In the Groove with host Ryan Patrick Hooper weekdays from noon-3 p.m. ET on 101.9 WDET or stream on-demand at wdet.org.

The African World Festival is an annual event hosted by the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. It’s a three-day experience with vendors, music and other performances that represent all the beauty and talent in the African Diaspora. 

African culture is so rich and widely recognized here in the city of Detroit. The festival — taking place this Friday, July 18 to Sunday, July 20 in Hart Plaza — has been around for 60 years. 

Zu Vernon, programming lead for the festival, joined The Metro on Wednesday to talk about what’s in store at this year’s event.

Use the media player above to hear the full conversation.

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

More stories from The Metro

The world can learn a lot from Detroit. Last week, the nonprofit Global Citizen came to the Hudson’s building to do just that.

The convening featured panels and discussions with Detroit artists and changemakers — but also some names that people recognize around the world — people like Wyclef Jean and Mark Cuban. 

The Metro’s Tia Graham attended the Global Citizen NOW Detroit summit and spoke with featured panelist, celebrity chef, restaurateur and author, Marcus Samuelsson about Detroit’s global food scene and its ability to bring cultures together.

Use the media player above to hear the full conversation.

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

More stories from The Metro

How exciting to be, what I believe, the first public radio music show to go from Justin Bieber’s excellent new album into Jeff Tweedy’s excellent new solo triple album! Plus new music from Hot Chip, Girls of the Internet, Ezra Furman, Kelela and more.

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

In The Groove with Ryan Patrick Hooper playlist for July 16, 2025

• “Devotion” – Hot Chip
• “Never Ever Ever (feat. Shiv)” – Girls of the Internet
• “Heartbeats (Logic1000 Remix)” – José González
• “summer of love (Minow Remix)” – Two Another
• “Hush” – The Marias
• “YUKON” – Justin Bieber
• “Are You Looking Up” – Mk.gee
• “DAISIES” – Justin Bieber
• “Enough” – Jeff Tweedy
• “Power of the Moon” – Ezra Furman
• “Hold On” – Leon Bridges
• “Like A Ship” – Leon Bridges & Keite Young
• “Ain’t No Love in the Heart of the City (feat. Kameron Whalum)” – Zeshan B
• “Fender On The Freeway (Minor Science Remix)” – DIIV
• “Teardrop” – Massive Attack
• “Baby Forgive Me (Young Marco Remix)” – Robyn
• “Waitin’ (unplugged)” – Kelela
• “You got time and I got money” – Smerz
• “Soul Lament” – Kenny Burrell
• “Crazy He Calls Me” – Aretha Franklin
• “Off Om” – Jeff Parker
• “..THUS IS WHY ( I DON’T SPRING 4 LOVE )” – Saya Gray
• “This Is How We Walk on the Moon (feat. Tirzah)” – Speakers Corner Quartet
• “Charlie (feat. Lil Yachty)” – Lola Young
• “Be A Witness” – Lady Wray
• “Laugh At You” – Penny Beverly
• “Nightingale” – Dee Felice Trio
• “I’ve Got a Woman” – Ray Charles
• “Trying to Live My Life Without You” – Otis Clay
• “If You Don’t Want My Love” – Jalen Ngonda
• “Tikurin” – Quantic
• “Peace on Earth (Mr Scott Remix)” – Ebo Taylor
• “What’ll I Do” – The New Birth
• “Keep Me In Mind” – Kelly Finnigan & Renaldo Domino
• “Coming Home” – Leon Bridges
• “Harlem” – Bill Withers
• “Playing Your Game, Baby” – Barry White

Listen to In the Groove with host Ryan Patrick Hooper weekdays from noon-3 p.m. ET on 101.9 WDET or stream on-demand at wdet.org.

Sounds from across the globe are coming to Detroit this weekend as the Concert of Colors music festival returns for its 34th year.

The four-day free global music festival, taking place July 16-20 in Detroit’s Cass Corridor, will feature artists from all corners of the globe — from Africa and the Middle East to the Caribbean, Latin America and more. 

WDET’s own Ismael Ahmed of This Island Earth established the Concert of Colors with New Detroit in 1993, as a one-day event on Detroit’s riverfront. Today, the event draws tens of thousands of visitors to the city, helping to put a spotlight on indigenous music and cultures around the world.

Events will take place across 12 venues, from the DIA to the historical museum, with headliners including legendary R&B/gospel singer Mavis Staples, ’70s soul and R&B group War, New York’s Spanish Flight and more. In addition to music, the festival brings global food and merchandise vendors, movies, poetry, children’s activities and much more to the city.

A full schedule of events can be found at concertofcolors.com.

As a proud partner of Concert of Colors, WDET will be broadcasting special programming related to the festival throughout the weekend. Also, Ahmed joined The Metro to share more about what Detroiters can expect at the event this year.

Use the media player above to hear the full conversation.

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

More stories from The Metro

A new play from Arab American playwright Andrea Assaf is exploring the concept of “moral injury” and the devastating effects of drone warfare.

“DRONE” tells the story of a U.S. military drone pilot “who is not allowed to talk about [the violence] he’s witnessing, and the effect that silencing has on his mental health and daily life,” Assaf told WDET. 

The pilot’s story is juxtaposed with testimonies from three drone strike survivors — based on real-life testimonies from witnesses and survivors of U.S. drone strikes.

“I’m a person who makes art to cope, to heal, to process, to express, so that I don’t hold all that in by myself, and so that I can create spaces to talk about these things; to break those silences, to get communities to talk together about things in a way that makes it a human story and not just a news story,” she said.

Assaf joined The Metro to share her perspective about these unseen moral injuries and her inspiration behind the play. “DRONE,” presented by the Arab American National Museum, will run July 31 and Aug. 1-3 at the Detroit Public Theatre, 3960 3rd Ave., Detroit.

Use the media player above to hear the full conversation.

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

More stories from The Metro

This week, we’ve got several free concerts around the city to check out. Plus, looking ahead to this year’s Concert of Colors. Read on to learn more.

Upcoming events

On Friday, July 11, the City of Detroit’s Summer Music Series continues with Soul in the Parks. This free concert features a live performance by WDET’s Sounds Like Detroit 2024 winners, Drey Skonie & The Klouds, as well as food trucks, bounce houses and more in North Rosedale Park. The concert goes from 5–8 p.m., and free parking is available in the surrounding areas. For more information, visit Detroit Parks & Recreation on Facebook.

On Saturday, July 12, the Ferndale upcycled fashion boutique Not Sorry Goods is throwing a closing party to mark the end of operations for their brick-and-mortar storefront. From 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., there will be live DJs, drinks and deep discounts on the entire store. For more information, visit notsorrygoods.com.

Detroit’s annual diversity festival, the Concert of Colors returns for its 34th year on Wednesday, July 16 through Sunday, July 20. Highlights from this year’s lineup include soul legend Mavis Staples, Afrobeat pioneer Femi Kuti and Detroit’s Queen of the Blues Thornetta Davis. WDET will have special programming throughout the festival, including a live broadcast of The Don Was Motor City Playlist on Friday, July 18, a live broadcast of Essential Music on Saturday, July 19, and live DJ sets by Alternate Take’s Liz Warner and The New Music Show’s Shigeto on Sunday, July 20. All events are free and open to the public. To see the full lineup and learn more, visit our events page.

On Thursday, July 17, the Detroit Parks Coalition presents the second concert in saxophonist Marcus Elliot’s “Sounds From The Park” series. The series features original compositions inspired by different Detroit parks, as performed by Elliot and his ensemble. This month’s concert takes place in Clark Park and centers the theme of “Family & Resilience,” celebrating the culture and unity of Southwest Detroit. The concert goes from 6–9 p.m. For more information, visit detroitparkscoalition.com.

Detroiter Donna Jackson is the first Black woman to serve as gallery manager of the historic Scarab Club. 

The local hub for visual, literary and performing arts has been around for over 117 years, but its leadership has yet to reflect Black Detroiters.

Jackson joined The Metro to talk about her vision for the future of the Scarab Club, Black representation and how she plans to engage all groups of people as the city continues to see shifts within its borders.

The Scarab Club is currently hosting its 54th annual Photography Exhibition, juried by the local artist and Womxnhouse Detroit Co-founder Asia Hamilton. The club will also host a Scarab Salon Open Mic on Wednesday, July 16, for local writers to share their work. 

Visit scarabclub.org for the latest programming and events.

Use the media player above to hear the full conversation.

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

More stories from The Metro

The LOVE Building’s monthly LOVE@Nite creative showcase series has helped to shine a light on some of the city’s top up-and-coming artists and creatives.

This summer, the organization launched CONTAINER, a homegrown creative residency platform that nurtures and spotlights Detroit-based artists across music, food, fashion, and visual art through performances, mentorship, and a citywide tour this fall.

The goal of the project is to retain creative talent in the city while giving local artists the tools and space to grow. 

The LOVE Building will host its fourth and final LOVE@Nite: CONTAINER Takeover event this Thursday, July 10, showcasing the 12 local artists in the 2025 CONTAINER cohort. The event will also be a part of the closing festivities for the Global Citizen NOW conference in Detroit.

Kwaku Osei, executive director of The LOVE Building, joined The Metro on Tuesday to talk about the final CONTAINER Takeover and what to expect.

Use the media player above to hear the full conversation.

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

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Detroit’s Avenue of Fashion is home to some of the city’s most iconic businesses and shops.

Every year on the first Saturday in July, the “Light Up Livernois” fashion, art and design festival takes over Livernois between Six and Eight Mile roads to highlight all the business and entertainment district has to offer. 

Alysyn Curd, one of the event’s organizers and co-founder of the Independent Business Association headquartered on the Avenue of Fashion, joined The Metro to share more about the event this Saturday.

Use the media player above to hear the full conversation.

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

More stories from The Metro

Soak up the sun this holiday weekend with outdoor festivals, food truck rallies and concerts. Or, beat the heat at an art gallery or crafting workshop. Either way, we’ve got you covered with these metro Detroit arts and culture events. Read on to learn more.

Outdoor dining

Royal Oak Taco Fest returns to metro Detroit this weekend with tacos, tequila and more from Thursday, July 3 through Sunday, July 6. This street festival features food from over 50 vendors and live entertainment across three stages from a wide variety of talent — including WDET favorites Elspeth Tremblay & The Treatment, the debut performance of alt-rock band SHÜ, and a special appearance by Tommy Chong of comedy duo Cheech & Chong. Other activities include mechanical bull rides, taco-eating contests, tequila sampling and more. Tickets are $12 and children 3 and under get in for free. For more information, visit royaloaktacofest.com.

Michigan’s largest weekly food truck rally, Downtown Street Eats, is back for its 13th season, bringing a variety of food trucks, carts and local restaurant pop-ups to the heart of Downtown Detroit. On Tuesday, July 8, they’ll have Cousins Maine Lobster, The Chubby Batch Cookies, Grand Traverse Pie Company, Impasto, Little Caesars, Sonny’s Hamburgers and Twisted Street BBQ. Food trucks are available in Cadillac Square from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and prices vary by truck. For more information, visit downtowndetroit.org.

The Downtown Detroit Partnership’s Tacos & Trivia Tuesdays series continues on July 8 on the second floor of Cabana 313 in Campus Martius Park. Guests are invited to play for free for a chance to win fun prizes, no registration required. Tacos and drinks will be available for purchase, and the series is supported in part by Corona Extra. For more information, visit downtowndetroit.org.

Arts and crafts

Decked Out Detroit offers a wide variety of activities and entertainment along throughout the summer. On Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays on the 1200–1400 blocks of Woodward Avenue, visitors can enjoy acoustic music, pose for personalized watercolor portraits, build a bouquet from the flower cart and more — all free of charge. While most of their activities will be closed on Thursday, July 3, the CREATE DIY workspace on 1413 Woodward will still be open, and is offering a free craft workshop for kids and adults from 4–7 p.m. For more information on their summer lineup, visit deckedoutdetroit.com.

The Detroit Symphony Orchestra’s Summer in Sosnick Festival kicks off on Wednesday, July 9 and goes through Sunday, July 20. This series features two weeks of free performances in Sosnick Courtyard, the DSO’s community green space. Events include a concert of works by living BIPOC composers, a yoga and music program, a sensory-friendly concert and more. For more information, visit dso.org.

Or, beat the heat by checking out the Michigan Watercolor Society’s 78th Annual Exhibition at the Janice Charach Gallery in West Bloomfield. The exhibition features works from over 60 of Michigan’s finest watercolor artists, ranging from traditional landscapes to stunningly realistic portraits. Admission is free and open to the public, and the show runs through July 23. For more information, visit thejdetroit.org.

Depending on when you’re reading this, you may only have a matter of hours in which to cast YOUR vote for this year’s Sounds Like Detroit Showcase! If you happened to catch MI Local, you heard three more artists who are currently on the ballot; last week I featured Tariq Gardner, Imani Bloom, and Angela Davis, but this week, I featured songs from Aisha Ellis (jazz), Nadim Azzam (hip-hop/folk) and B’Witches (lo-fi electro/bedroom-pop). Click here for more info and to vote!

With MI Local, you’ll always hear the latest and greatest tracks from artists around metro Detroit and all across the state of Michigan — a promise certainly kept this week with premieres from The Remants (indie-rock), Nancy Friday (lo-fi dream-pop/folk), and a sneak preview of the upcoming album by longtime local psych-rockers WICCANS!

The Remnants just released their debut full-length, “Strange Things Change Brings,” and they’re coming to you from Huron Township, which is way southwest of Detroit, pretty much halfway to Ypsilanti!

Nancy Friday is the moniker of Vanessa Beard, who not only makes mesmerizingly fuzzy and heart-heavy slow-dance drifter ballads, but also runs Porcelinen out of Hamtramck! WICCANS, meanwhile, are the wicked hard-rock brain-child of singers/songwriters Aran Ruth and Kelly Jean Caldwell; their forthcoming album “WICCANS BY WICCANS” is already decreed to be their final album.

We also heard new tracks from Carmel Liburdi (alt-folk), The Microplastics (indie-rock/punk/pop), and electronic music artist Rebecca Goldberg! Goldberg’s hosting a special listening party this Thursday, celebrating the release of her new full-length “Dancing Dreamland.” 

You’ll always get a zesty blend of genres on MI Local, including a foray this week into some potent punk and experimental sounds, coming from Detroit’s own lo-fi quirk-pop group Dori; ferocious new punk sounds out of Kalamazoo from Today’s Milk; and the long-running project out of Detroit known as Tyvek, which celebrates its 20th anniversary next Saturday at the Outer Limits Lounge!

Remember to vote for this year’s Sounds Like Detroit Showcase! You can choose which artist comes to the stage at our upcoming concert at Batch Brewing on Aug. 14! Remember, keep supporting local music and keep supporting local radio! Thanks for listening!!

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 July 1, 2025

• “Seeing’s Believing” – The Remnants
• “Summer Moon” – The Microplastics
• “69” – Carmel Liburdi
• “Retrieve” – Chris DuPont ft. Olivia Dear
• “Old Town” – Rebecca Goldberg
• “Run Out” – Today’s Milk
• “Overground” – Tyvek
• “Phone’s Suck” – Dori
• “Fire & Flame” – The Whiskey Charmers
• “Move Now” – Marshall Crenshaw
• “Valentine” – B’Witches
• “Jam Three Twenty One” – Aisha Ellis
• “Zen” – Nadim Azzam
• “House of Glass” – Nancy Friday
• “The Dance” – WICCANS
• “Crash Out Kid” – Hondo

A newly founded Black-owned magazine in Detroit is trying to show its readers that everyone can live a life of luxury. 

Divine Magazine highlights Detroit’s creatives and fashion designers, at a time when the fashion world is paying more and more attention to what’s being made in Detroit. 

Charde Goins, Detroit native and editor-in-chief of Divine Magazine, says she has always expressed herself as a creative through her clothing, and she got the idea to start a fashion magazine after graduating from Central Michigan University. 

Goins joined The Metro to share what inspires her about Detroit’s fashion scene and the journey of launching her own fashion magazine.

Use the media player above to hear the full conversation.

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

More stories from The Metro

Each year the Concert of Colors transforms Detroit with sounds from across the globe.

This year the rhythm is beating strongly in Mexicantown, where the festival kicks off on Saturday with a special showcase of Tejano and Latin music. Tejano, or Tex-Mex music, is a soulful blend of borderland storytelling and rhythms rooted in Mexico, Poland and the Czech Republic.

Ray Lozano, executive director of the Mexicantown Community Development Corporation, joined The Metro to talk more about Concert of Colors, Tejano music and the importance of amplifying immigrant voices.

Use the media player above to hear the full conversation.

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

More stories from The Metro