Select events happening in metro Detroit this week. Be sure to check venue websites before all events for the latest information. See our online calendar for more ideas for things to do, or add your event: www.metrotimes.com/AddEvent.
Motor City Comic Con
Now in its 35th year, Motor City Comic Con is Michigan’s largest pop culture convention with celebrity guests, cosplay, panels, and other fun fan events. Highlights this year include a special screening of 2009’s searing superhero satire Watchmen hosted by Silk Spectre II actress Malin Åkerman, a live podcast and concert by wrestling legends Jeff and Matt Hardy, and a special appearance by Jeremy Renner (Hawkeye of the Marvel Cinematic Universe), among others.
From Friday, May 16-Sunday, May 18 at the Suburban Collection Showplace, 46100 Grand River Ave., Novi; motorcitycomiccon.com. Hours are noon-7 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are available starting at $35 for adults and $5 for children. Credit: Courtesy photoMichigan Rattlers
For its latest LP, Waving From a Sea, this Petoskey-based Americana group enlisted Jack White bassist Dominic John Davis. The result is a new synth-rock sound that calls to mind acts like the War on Drugs and Bruce Springsteen.
Joe Hertler opens. Starts at 7 p.m. on Friday, May 16 at Saint Andrew’s Hall; 431 E Congress St., Detroit; livenation.com. Tickets are $27.50. Credit: Courtesy photoPanic in Detroit
Since 2004, punk rocker Timmy “Vulgar” Lampinen has organized a Panic in Hamtramck festival featuring selections from the local rock ’n’ roll scene. This year, the festival has been rechristened Panic in Detroit, bringing two days of rock music to the Old Miami. Friday night features Heavy Möther II (a supergroup including members of the Gizmos, Retail Simps, Rocket From the Tombs, the Cowboys, and Heavy Mother) as well as Lampinen’s Human Eye, celebrating the 20th anniversary of its self-titled debut album, among others. Saturday’s bill includes acts like Brides, Tyvek, Detroit 442, the Mahonies, and much more.
Starts at 8 p.m. on Friday, May 16 and 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 17 at the Old Miami, 3930 Cass Ave., Detroit. Credit: Mark MurrmannMichigan Science Center Community Free Day
Detroit’s Mi-Sci is open to the public for free this weekend for one of its Community Free Day events. To coincide with the museum’s Tyrannosaurs – Meet the Family exhibition, Saturday’s theme is “Explore the Roar” and features activities with Mi-Sci’s educators like digging for fossils and dinosaur shadow puppets. Tickets are free thanks to support from Ford Philanthropy, but must be reserved in advance at the Mi-Sci website.
From 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday, May 17 at the Michigan Science Center; 5020 John R St., Detroit.; mi-sci.org. No cover with RSVP. Credit: Courtesy photoPost Malone’s BIG ASS Stadium Tour
Out of all the pop artists to pivot to the lucrative country music market in recent years, singer and rapper Post Malone might have been the most successful. Where other artists seemed fine to just put on a cowboy hat and add some banjo to their music, Malone went whole hog on his cheekily named F-1 Trillion, enlisting big names in country music and even seeming to have fun along the way. His “BIG ASS” stadium tour brings F-1 Trillion collaborators Jelly Roll, Sierra Ferrell (pictured), and Chandler Walters to Ford Field for what we’d bet will be quite the hoedown.
Starts at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 18 at Ford Field; 2000 Brush St., Detroit; ticketmaster.com. Tickets start at $100. Credit: Bobbi Rich
Leyland “Lee” DeVito is the editor in chief of Detroit Metro Times since 2016. His writing has also been published in CREEM, VICE, In These Times, and New City.
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