THURSDAY JUNE 18
The Neal Medlyn Experience Live!
HE'LL BE YOUR NAUGHTY GIRL
Imagine a skinny white dude wearing glittery spandex and shaking his ass a la Beyoncé and you've got the crux of the Neal Medlyn Experience Live! A re-creation of the curvy diva's 2007 concert DVD, The Beyoncé Experience Live!, Medlyn accurately re-enacts the homogenized spectacle of stardom — from backup dancers and costume changes to canned backing vocals and prancing star — in low-rent fashion, hilariously calling attention to our fatuous, celebrity-soaked culture. At 8 p.m. at the University of Michigan Museum of Art, 525 S. State St., Ann Arbor; 734-764-3731; $15, info and tickets at annarborsummerfestival.org.
THURSDAY JUNE 18
Black Dice
CLASH, CLAMOUR & CHAOS
Distorting a mish-mash of genres from psychedelic rock to dub to dancehall to the sounds of appliances gone haywire, this trio of Brooklynites creates disturbing and compelling noise: sonic mind-fucks that disturb or intrigue — or both. Their latest album Repo continues their exploration of vast soundscapes of distortion, scrambled vocals and raw, unadulterated noise. With Wolf Eyes and Awesome Color at 7 p.m. at the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit, 4454 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-832-6622.
FRIDAY JUNE 19
Summer Solstice Show & Block Party
FUN IN THE SUN
After being shut indoors for the duration of a long and treacherous Michigan winter, local artists and musicians will be hitting the streets to celebrate summer, albeit two days early. Nearly 100 local artists will showcase new work, including movies and animation projected on the Gallery's outside wall, and Ypsi rockers Dune Buggy Attack Battalion will perform. If that ain't enough, grab some free sushi or a hot dog and step outside to continue the party at businesses along Biddle Avenue. From 6 to 10 p.m. at the Biddle Gallery, 2840 Biddle Ave., Wyandotte, 734-281-4779; biddlegallery.com.
FRIDAY JUNE 19
Scott Gwinnell Orchestra featuring John Clayton
OPEN CLASSROOM
As one part of his artist-in-residence gig for this year's Detroit International Jazz Festival, Grammy-winning bassist-bandleader John Clayton is mentoring Scott Gwinnell, the bright light for the future of big band music hereabouts. This show with Clayton, as part of the DIA's Friday night series, is the first time the public gets to listen in on their work together, which culminates with the premiere of a new Clayton composition at the festival over Labor Day weekend. At 7 and 8:30 p.m., 5200 Woodward Ave., Detroit, 313-833-7900; free with DIA admission.
FRIDAY JUNE 19
Showtime Anniversary Party
ARE WE ON CARNABY STREET?
Showtime Clothing celebrates 20 years of outfitting those above mall shopping with an epic (and free) anniversary shindig. Electro-rock misfits Crud and Motown legends the Contours headline, joined by three stages of the best-dressed bands around (wonder where they shop?), including Jiva, Ingray, Bixy Lutz and Ante M. A Showtime fashion show, free barbecue, and oodles of giveaways round out the entertainment. And dress in killer duds for a chance to win the Best Rock Star Clothing Award. At 8 p.m. at the Hastings Street Ballroom, 715 E. Milwaukee St., Detroit; the party's free, but tickets are required and available at Showtime (5708 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-875-9280).
FRIDAY JUNE 19
Bachelorette
POP COMPUTER POP!
New Zealand's Annabel Alpers (aka Bachelorette) creates ethereal dream pop from chips and bits of computers, creating convincingly organic music out of synths, drum machines and an array of electronic devices. But on My Electric Family, she widens her scope to include live instrumentation — the brass section of the Royal New Zealand Air Force Band even appears on “Dream Sequence.” But the electronics still loom large, something of a paradox given Alpers' lyrics, which question our increasing dependence on technology. Introspection at its poppy tech finest. With Serenity Court and Pikelet at 8 p.m. at the Crofoot's Pike Room, 1 S. Saginaw St., Pontiac; 248-858-9333; thecrofoot.com; $8.
FRIDAY-SUNDAY JUNE 19-21
River Days
FUN IN THE SUN PART DEUX
River Days returns for a third year of G-rated entertainment, including carnival rides, tall ship tours, the Parade of Lights, the Pooch-a-Palooza pet walk and three stages of music. The Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Mickey Thomas' Starship, Ginuwine, K'Jon and a host of locals perform. While the fest officially wraps Sunday, the Countdown to Fireworks Carnival keeps the frolic alive through Wednesday, culminating with the oohs and aahs of the 51st annual fireworks show. Activities take place along the Riverfront in Detroit, visit detroitriverdays.com for info.
FRIDAY-SUNDAY JUNE 19-21
Dearborn Arab International Festival
PASS THE FALAFEL
The 14th Annual Dearborn Arab International Festival will showcase Detroit's Arab community, the largest in the country, exploring how the city has influenced and been influenced by this vibrant population. The weekend features a Middle Eastern cooking contest, music, merchandise, food, a lot to learn and nothing to lose. From 5 to 11 p.m. Friday, noon to 11 p.m. Saturday, and noon to 10 p.m. Sunday, along Warren Ave. in east Dearborn. Contact the American Arab Chamber of Commerce at 313-945-1700 for info.
SATURDAY JUNE 20
Best of the Green Brain Comic Jams
IMPROV ARTISTRY
Our readers' favorite purveyors of comics and graphic novels celebrate 10 years in biz with a summer chock-full of chirpy haps, kicking off with the opening reception for the Best of the Green Brain Comic Jams, the first exhibit in the shop's new gallery. The show features comics created by local and visiting cartoonists at Green Brain's monthly comic jams. Exercises in improvisation, the jams see artists working with a nine-panel grid that's passed from artist to artist with each filling in a panel based on what the last artist did. At 7 p.m. at Green Brain Comics, 13210 Michigan Ave., Dearborn; 313-582-9444; greenbrain.biz; showing through Aug. 14.
SUNDAY JUNE 21
Sirens of the Solstice
HOT WEATHER HAUTE
Royal Oak's Lost & Found Vintage and Upstares Salon have teamed up to bedeck beguiling beauties in retro swimwear and sultry styles from throughout the years for this summertime fashion show. Brad Hales provides the soundtrack for the struts, followed by a performance by the Fondas. Proceeds will benefit Arts & Scraps, the Detroit nonprofit that recycles industrial scraps into fun and fantastic art projects for kids. At 10 p.m. at Cliff Bell's, 2030 Park Ave., Detroit; 313-961-2543; cliffbells.com.
MONDAY JUNE 22
Nico Vega
VOX ROX
This L.A. trio performs bold and brassy rock 'n' roll sans bass. Much has been made of singer Aja Volkman's smoky voice, which kicks in with a bluesy throttle that obligates comparisons to Janis Joplin. The similarities may be debatable, but Volkman's commanding stage presence can't be denied. Nico Vega headlines in support of its self-titled, debut LP with Children Collide and Effigy. Doors at 8 p.m. at Small's, 10339 Conant St., Hamtramck; 313-873-1117; all ages; $6 for 21 and older, $10 under 21.
TUESDAY JUNE 23
Alice in Wonderland
RABBIT HOLES IN THE D?
This family-friendly production of Lewis Carroll's classic tale transports the inquisitive Alice from the 19th century English countryside to the streets of modern-day Detroit. But Alice still travels to Wonderland and encounters the Mad Hatter, Cheshire Cat and the Queen of Diamonds. It's the same old story with an urban twist. At 10:30 a.m. at the Hilberry Theatre, 4743 Cass Ave., Detroit; 313-577-2972. Additional performances Wednesday, June 24 through Friday, June 26, Tuesday, June 30 through Thursday, July 2 and Tuesday, July 7 through Saturday, July 11.
TUESDAY JUNE 23
Zap Mama
AFROPEAN ECLECTICISM
The toast of the world music scene, Zap Mama melds traditional Western genres and African beats to create intoxicating and exotic music that recalls everything from hip hop and soul to Afrobeat and drum 'n' bass. But Zap Mama's main instrument is the powerful voice of leader Marie Dualne. The Congo-born and Belgium-bred chanteuse began the group as an all female a cappella quintet in 1990; over the course of seven albums the group has added instrumentation and evolved into a multicultural, musical powerhouse. Zap Mama performs in support of its latest disc, ReCreation, with Qool DJ Marv at 8 p.m. at the Power Center for the Performing Arts, 121 Fletcher St., Ann Arbor; tickets and info at annarborsummerfestival.org.
