NIGHT & DAY

7/3/2009

Rothbury Festival

Double JJ Ranch, .

"The brown acid is bad." "There isn't enough food to go around, so remember, the person next to you is dinner. …" Oh, wait. Wrong music festival! But we should all rejoice that Michigan finally has its own major rock festival, now in its second year. The lineup is a little more varied and eclectic than 2008's, although the emphasis is still on the "hippie" in all of us, headlined as the fest is by the Dead (as in the Grateful Dead without Jerry Garcia; Warren Haynes fills in), Willie Nelson & Family, the String Cheese Incident (the band's only 2009 appearance) and rock's long-lasting poet laureate Mr. Bob Dylan. Others appearing on four different stages during the four-day weekend include everything from the Hold Steady and Cold War Kids to King Sunny Adé and D-Town's own Hard Lessons. At the Double JJ Ranch in Rothbury; go to rothburyfestival.com for a full schedule or to purchase tickets.

7/3/2009

An Evening with Gladys Knight

Hill Auditorium, Ann Arbor.

Just to get down to the nitty-gritty, a lot of fans would ride the friendship train to the connection for the midnight train to Georgia, to hear Gladys Knight, and they'd make the journey no matter what they heard through the grapevine. Or you can just use your imagination. Part of the Ann Arbor Summer Festival, at Hill Auditorium, 825 N. University, Ann Arbor; 734-764-2538. annarborsummerfestival.org; $35-$65.

7/3/2009

Baar Bazaar

Magic Stick, Detroit.

7/3/2009

artBLAST

Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center, Birmingham.

The Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center's annual fundraiser serves up summer-themed sweets for the whole famdamily, including a grilled picnic dinner, make-and-take beach-themed art projects and musical entertainment. Attendees are also privy to a prime viewing location for the city of Birmingham's fireworks, followed by a screening of a totally groovy retro beach movie. At 7 p.m. at the Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center, 1516 S. Cranbrook Rd., Birmingham; 248-644-0866; bbartcenter.org; tickets range from $30 to $300.

7/3/2009

Misty Lyn & the Big Beautiful

Elbow Room, Ypsilanti.

With Scarlet Oaks and Black Lodge.

7/3/2009

Action <> Reaction: Video Installations

Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit.

Newton's third law of motion (for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction, duh) is explored in the DIA's newest exhibit Action <> Reaction: Video Installations. The installation features five videos that investigate cause and effect, as well as demonstrating the evolution of video from the 1960s to the 1990s. The films document everything from the autonomic nervous system to Rube Goldberg-esque chain reactions, totaling two hours of footage that questions how A leads to B and why it matters to us. At the Detroit Institute of Arts, 5200 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-833-7900; dia.org; on display through Jan. 3.

7/4/2009

Rothbury Festival

Double JJ Ranch, .

"The brown acid is bad." "There isn't enough food to go around, so remember, the person next to you is dinner. …" Oh, wait. Wrong music festival! But we should all rejoice that Michigan finally has its own major rock festival, now in its second year. The lineup is a little more varied and eclectic than 2008's, although the emphasis is still on the "hippie" in all of us, headlined as the fest is by the Dead (as in the Grateful Dead without Jerry Garcia; Warren Haynes fills in), Willie Nelson & Family, the String Cheese Incident (the band's only 2009 appearance) and rock's long-lasting poet laureate Mr. Bob Dylan. Others appearing on four different stages during the four-day weekend include everything from the Hold Steady and Cold War Kids to King Sunny Adé and D-Town's own Hard Lessons. At the Double JJ Ranch in Rothbury; go to rothburyfestival.com for a full schedule or to purchase tickets.

7/4/2009

Castanets

Garden Bowl, Detroit.

With M.A. Turner.

7/5/2009

Rothbury Festival

Double JJ Ranch, .

"The brown acid is bad." "There isn't enough food to go around, so remember, the person next to you is dinner. …" Oh, wait. Wrong music festival! But we should all rejoice that Michigan finally has its own major rock festival, now in its second year. The lineup is a little more varied and eclectic than 2008's, although the emphasis is still on the "hippie" in all of us, headlined as the fest is by the Dead (as in the Grateful Dead without Jerry Garcia; Warren Haynes fills in), Willie Nelson & Family, the String Cheese Incident (the band's only 2009 appearance) and rock's long-lasting poet laureate Mr. Bob Dylan. Others appearing on four different stages during the four-day weekend include everything from the Hold Steady and Cold War Kids to King Sunny Adé and D-Town's own Hard Lessons. At the Double JJ Ranch in Rothbury; go to rothburyfestival.com for a full schedule or to purchase tickets.

7/5/2009

Soupy Sales Summer Film Series

Detroit Historical Museum, Detroit.

In conjunction with the exhibit Detroit's Classic TV Personalities, the Detroit Historical Museum will screen classic episodes of Soupy Sales' original television series. A popular children's show host and comedian, Sales worked locally in Detroit for seven years, eventually appearing on WXYZ for eleven hours of pie-in-the-face and puppet fun every week. And there's no better time to revisit the museum, which is offering free admission throughout the entire month. Screenings at 1 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday through Aug. 30, at the Detroit Historical Museum, 5401 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-833-1805; detroithistorical.org.

7/6/2009

Summer Poetry Scarab Mondays

Scarab Club, Detroit.

Featuring Nancy Williams, Dee Matthews, Gary Metras and John Freeman Jr.

7/6/2009

Soupy Sales Summer Film Series

Detroit Historical Museum, Detroit.

In conjunction with the exhibit Detroit's Classic TV Personalities, the Detroit Historical Museum will screen classic episodes of Soupy Sales' original television series. A popular children's show host and comedian, Sales worked locally in Detroit for seven years, eventually appearing on WXYZ for eleven hours of pie-in-the-face and puppet fun every week. And there's no better time to revisit the museum, which is offering free admission throughout the entire month. Screenings at 1 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday through Aug. 30, at the Detroit Historical Museum, 5401 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-833-1805; detroithistorical.org.

7/7/2009

Can You Go Out Detroit? Kickoff Party

PJ's Lager House, Detroit.

Detroit's best-dressed power-popping stalwarts the Singles are spearheading this five-night, five-venue local music showcase. Two different bands will join the Singles each night, who will act as emcees and show openers Tuesday through Friday before headlining Saturday's gig, a CD release party and video premiere for the Singles' new single (wah wah wah), "Can You Go Out Tonight?" The kickoff features I, Crime and Four Hour Friends at PJ's Lager House, 1254 Michigan Ave., Detroit; 313-961-4668. Other shows feature Spitting Nickels and Cameron McGill & What Army at the Belmont on Wednesday, the Satin Peaches and Mick Bassett & the Marthas at the Corktown Tavern on Thursday, Friendly Foes and Those Transatlantics at Northern Lights Lounge on Friday, and the Handgrenades and the Wall Clocks wrap things up Saturday at the Magic Stick.

7/8/2009

Can You Go Out, Detroit?

Belmont Bar, Hamtramck.

Featuring Spitting Nickels with Cameron McGill & What Army and the Singles.

7/8/2009

Coney Island Tour

The Westin Book Cadillac Detroit, Detroit.

Lovers of Detroit's iconic Coney dogs should dig this delish Detroit Tour Connections walking tour which visits a number of downtown eateries famous for dishing up hot dogs slathered in chili and onions. Stops include Plaka, Leo's, Lafayette and American, where attendees can enjoy a complimentary dog (but of course!) and pop. Interested carnivores should meet at 6 p.m. near the Washington Blvd. entrance of the Westin Book-Cadillac, 1114 Washington Blvd., Detroit; info at 313-283-4332. Tours cost $10 and reservations are required for groups of eight or more. Coneys ain't your thing? DTC offers a variety of tours every Wednesday and Sunday (including another Coney romp on July 12) through September. Visit detroittourconnections.com for info.

7/9/2009

Can You Go Out, Detroit?

Corktown Tavern, Detroit.

Featuring the Satin Peaches with Mick Bassett & the Marthas and the Singles.

7/9/2009

Frontier Ruckus & Cotton Jones

The Crofoot Pike Room, Pontiac.

Each rooted in golden-tinged Americana crooning, these bands are set to burn down the barn … er … Pike Room this July. Intimately set inside the Crofoot's more discreet 'n' petite venue, the night looks to be a back-to-back (soft) barrage of emotive folk balladry, full of wistful acoustic guitar yelps and down-home banjo jangles. Hailing from rural Maryland, former Page France frontman Michael Nau, together with Whitney McGraw, is Cotton Jones. The duo has been releasing a series of EPs on the Ann Arbor based boutique label Quite Scientific for the last year-and-a-half. Lansing's Frontier Ruckus (pictured) is one of the state's best folk exports. Melancholy and organic, the band is led by singer Matt Milia, whose depth and delivery are wise beyond his years. At the Crofoot's Pike Room, 1 S. Saginaw St., Pontiac; 248-858-9333; thecrofoot.com.