MetroArts is a television program entering its sixth season that features artists in and around the Metropolitan Detroit area representing the disciplines of visual, performing, and communication arts. They bring awareness to up-and-coming artists as well as support those artists who have worked in the Metro Detroit area by being arts advocates and taking an active role in their communities.
Come hang out with us for an afternoon of jazz and funk with Nadir Omowale and the jazz group Freestyle.
Gracious Saviour Lutheran Church (GSLC) announces the presentation of their 9th annual JAZZ ON THE LAWN and More! concert. This fundraising event is scheduled for Saturday,
July 22nd , 3-8pm at GSLC located at 19484 James Couzens, in Detroit.
This year’s entertainment will promise you an afternoon of prime entertainment featuring the Cass Technical High School Jazz Band, Pastor Robert McCloud of ConCrete Records and the
ever-popular Free Style Band, known throughout the city of Detroit and beyond, (Roy Strong-drums; Todd Alums-keyboards; Michael Edwards-bass; Cisco Cooper-vibes;Alan Day-flute and
saxophone; Terrance Bigham-percussion).
In addition, Musician extraordinaire, Nadir Omowale will captivate the audience with a fusion of R&B, Rock, Funk, Hip Hop and Jazz spun into a musical mix that is sure to please.
The purpose of Jazz on the Lawn and More! is to raise funds to supports the ongoing community outreach programs at Gracious Saviour. The event is free, but donations of canned goods or school supplies would be appreciated.
“We are inviting everyone to come out and join us for a good time, while also joining our outreach efforts to do some good in the neighborhood” said event spokesperson Gayle Hill.
The afternoon will be hosted by Praise Radio WPZR 102.7 FM midday host Randi Myles.
For more information contact:
Gayle Hill
Gracious Saviour Lutheran Church
19484 James Couzens Hwy.
Detroit, Michigan 48235
(313) 923-4433
We’ve had an awesome response to “Blue Lights” so far, and here’s a beautiful example. SoulTracks.com the biggest soul music site on the planet, offered Nadir’s new funk single to their audience as a First Listen. Check it out:
SoulTracks.com says: Working For the Man, J. Nadir Omowale’s 2008 polemical album dropped like a bomb into the political, military and economic upheavals taking place in that year. The urgent and powerful funk of the title track pretty much captured the feelings of every working man and woman at a time when the economy was in free fall, mainly due to the greed and incompetence of the people at the top. The rocking Detroit funk man came back in 2012 with the very good, though less overtly political The Book of Jonah, and in the year 2017, Nadir has returned.
A lot transpired – particularly in the fraught relationship between law enforcement and minority communities – between 2012 and 2017, and Nadir has something to say.
Nice and Rough: A Night with Steffanie and Tina
Rock Goddess Will Pay Homage to Icon’s Legacy
Wednesday, November 23 at The Charles H. Wright Museum
DETROIT, MI: Rock artist, and Detroit native Steffanie Christi’anwill honor industry icon, Tina Turner during a tribute concert,Nice and Rough: A Night with Steffanie and Tina on Wednesday, November 23, 2016, 8:00 p.m. inside the General Motors Theatre at the historical Charles H. Wright Museum of African-American History. Tickets are available at SteffChris.Eventbrite.com. Christi’an and her dynamic nine-piece band, will perform a variety of favorites from Turner’s vast catalog of music along with selection’s from Christi’an’s powerful debut album Way Too Much plus material from her upcoming release, It’s Complicated. Sponsored by Black Women Rock!, Distorted Soul and Bling UniverCity, the show promises to be an incomparable experience of pure rock, funk and soul.
Tina Turner is the Queen of Rock and Roll, and one of the world’s top-selling music artists of all time, and is the most successful female Rock ‘n’ Roll artist, receiving eleven Grammy Awards. Turner has also sold more concert tickets than any other solo performer in history. Her combined album and single sales total approximately 100 million copies worldwide, making her one of the biggest selling females in music history. She’s also an inductee of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as one half of Ike and Tina Turner. Christian’s show celebrates Tina’s 77th birthday on November 26th.
Rare is the artist whose presence is so magnificent that it markets itself. Rock Goddess, Steffanie Christi’an enters stage left to capture and captivate your starved soul. She stalks any stage on which she steps, making audiences her docile prey. This gifted singer/songwriter mesmerizes with her infinite energy, fiery passion and hypnotic vocals. Christi’an has performed internationally and locally at numerous events including a recent tour of France with the Black Rock Coalition Orchestra, performances with jessica Care moore’s Black Women Rock! in Detroit, and at the historic Apollo Theatre in Harlem, the Hangout Festival in Gulf Shores, Alabama with Talib Kweli and Taylor Mac’s A 24-Decade History of Popular Music in New York City. Her new album, It’s Complicated is due out on BlingUniverCity, early 2017.
It’s no secret that she is one of Christi’an’s primary inspirations. Steffanie’s robust vocals often channel Tina’s aura. “A few years ago, I performed a medley of Tina Turner songs at a Black Women Rock! concert and it went over so well! Ever since that show, people have been telling me, they would love to see me sing more of Tina’s music on a larger scale and I thought this was the perfect time. When I was a little girl watching Tina Turner on MTV, it was life changing for me. Here was this black women strutting and singing Rock & Roll. Those moments had an indelible impact on me and who I am as an artist,” says Steffanie.
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For media related information, please contact:
Nancy J. Phares
Media Alchemy Michigan
nancyjphares@gmail.com
248-486-3424
A new outdoor festival called Vibe on Main is coming to Novi on Aug. 13, and this first-time eventpromises to be a good time for everyone.
“It’s a great time of the year for a festival and Main Street is the perfect location,” said Robert Hansen, manager of the popular Rojo Mexican Bistro in downtown Novi. “I really think this is going to be a terrific event.”
Main Street will be closed to traffic from Paul Bunyon Drive south to Potomac Road and then west toward Novi Road for the festival, allowing for a stage at the Main/Potomac intersection, a beer tent/VIP area, food vendors, a mini bazaar, and the addition of outdoor dining patios that can be extended into the street.
Whitney McClellan-Stone and Cal Stone are the husband-and-wife team behind 2 Stones Events, the organizers of the festival. They were approached by the city a year and a half ago about doing a new event. And now they’ve lined up several impressive music acts and are eager to bring some positive vibes to downtown Novi.
“For years, my husband and I were on the board of the ’50s Festival, which ended several years ago after more than two decades,” McClellan-Stone said. “This event will focus on great Detroit area musicians and food that celebrates this city’s diversity. And people unfamiliar with downtown Novi will be surprised … we’re confident it won’t be long before it really explodes and starts drawing people from all over.”
‘Downtown’ restaurants include Rojo, the Michigan Beer Company, bd’s Mongolian Grill, and Alexandria Mediterranean Cuisine. Several off-site restaurants — like Johnny Carino’s, Bawarshi and Library Sports Pub & Grill — will be participating as well.
In other words, there’s something for everyone.
“It’s going to be pretty cool,” Stone said. “People can come for the beer, the wine, the food and the music.”
THE MUSIC
Five acts of various genres will take the stage from 4-11 p.m., beginning with Monsieur Guillaume & His Zydeco Hepcats, a seven-piece band specializing in the Cajun sounds of New Orleans.
The second artist, vocalist Ben Sharkey, has been steadily building a loyal local following, crooning in the style of Harry Connick Jr., putting a unique spin on modern tunes like Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean”, and serving up impressive originals.
Next, Nadir Omowale, a multi-faceted leader in the Detroit music scene, will bring his high-energy funk group, featuring vocalist Caleb Gutierrez.
The fourth slot belongs to Ryan Dillaha & The Miracle Men, a five-piece crowd favorite that blends Americana, country and rock.
Closing out the festival will be the Motor City’s queen of the blues, Thornetta Davis, a powerful singer and performer who boasts one of the best bands in the state.
“We’re mixing up genres to appeal to a wide audience – zydeco, country, jazz, rock, Americana, and funk,” said Stone, “and we feel extremely grateful to have these awesome acts working with us. There should be something here for everyone to enjoy.”
SUPPORTING LOCAL BUSINESSES
Novi City Council member Brian Burke said the festival is another step toward reinvigorating the downtown area.
“To be able to block off the street and have an evening of music and food, along with a beautiful sunset is just a great idea,” he said. “We’re supporting our local merchants with this festival, and that’s something everyone can get behind. But we’re also trying to get Main Street out of a stagnant period and become a vibrant center again, and I think this is a great start.”
Vibe Credit Union is the presenting sponsor for the festival. It’s the perfect partnership. “We love the name of the festival and we’re proud to be partners,” Chief Marketing Officer Tyler Ross said. “Our name represents the sound waves of our history in the telecommunications industry, and this year we’re celebrating our 80th birthday.”
Vibe Credit Union is involved in a number of community events, working in partnership with the Novi library, schools, city and chamber. Ross said the credit union philosophy centers around the idea of people helping people.
“This is really big for Novi and we’re happy to be a part of it,” she said. “People love music and great food.”
The Fifth Third Bank Michigan State Fair and Hubert Distributors (Bud Light) have come on board as sponsors, as have several car dealerships — Cadillac of Novi, Tom Holzer Ford, and Marty Feldman Chevrolet. In support of the new festivals, services and goods are being offered by the City of Novi, Independent Exhibit Services, Lagarda Security, Singh Development, Message Makers, Michigan CAT, Novi Public Library, and Waste Management.
A BOOST TO THE DOWNTOWN
Stone said he hopes the festival will serve as “a shot in the arm” for downtown Novi, one that will help lead to future events.
“It really is a unique area,” he said of the district. “I think it just needs something like a festival to give it more exposure. A lot of people don’t even know about downtown Novi, but once people visit, I’m sure they’ll want to return to check out something new.”
The stage is being strategically situated so that festival-goers on both the north-south and east-west portions of Main Street will be able to enjoy the show. The festival is free, but a $5 wristband is necessary to enter the beer and wine tent. Members of Novi Rotary will be serving, and proceeds will benefit that club’s foundation.
In a VIP area near the stage, patrons will enjoy a higher-end selection of beer and wine, and food (provided by Steve & Rocky’s restaurant).
The festival will run from 2-11 p.m., but Stone said it’s possible it will be expanded into a two-day event, with Friday, Aug. 12, serving as a fundraiser that’s centered around a craft beer tasting.
Burke said he envisions the festival as a catalyst that could lead to future projects, such as developing a pocket park in the area. Hansen said he appreciates how Burke and other city officials are working to bring some new energy into the downtown.
“I know they’re trying to revamp Main Street and they definitely have the support of the business community,” Hansen said. “They’re trying to bring it and this is a great step in the right direction.”
Just bring your dancing shoes and an appetite — and get ready for some good vibrations.
Businesses interested in partnering with 2 Stones Events in this new Novi event can call 810-599-0491. For more information on Vibe on Main, visit http://www.2stonesevents.com.
By Jay Grossman
Behind the scenes at the Icon Pro Audio Photo Shoot in Detroit [Read more…]
For the first time in nearly a decade, 13-time Detroit Music Award honoree and former Nashville resident, Nadir Omowale, returns to the Music City with his powerful band of Motor City A-list musicians. Their Mission: to baptize Nashville with THE FUNK.
Reggae /Soul Party in celebration of the release of 1592‘s “Family of Choice” and Dirty Notion’s debut Ep. With very special guests Nadir Omowale and crew. Pocket Sound System spins all night…
SoulTracks.com is currently the most popular soul music website in America. And from its inception in 2003, SoulTracks has been providing updates on the greatest Classic Soul artists and introducing readers to the next generation of Soul Music singers.
We are proud that they have chosen to help introducer their readers to Detroit Latin soul stirrer Caleb Gutierrez. Check out his SoulTracks.com First Listen feature HERE.
