PONDEROSA STOMP HONORS MOTOR CITY MUSIC, FROM MITCH TO THE GORIES, WITH "THE DETROIT BREAKDOWN"

Anyone who's attended the Ponderosa Stomp -- which used to take place in New Orleans the same week as the Crescent City's Jazzfest -- knows what a total blast it can be, sometimes even better than the Jazzfest itself! Many legendary performances have taken place under its banner over the years, including seminal rock 'n' roll guitarist James Burton teaming up again with Dale Hawkins (of "Suzy Q" fame, who passed away recently) for the first time in decades, among so many other once-in-a-lifetime performances.

The Ponderosa Stomp moved to New York City's Lincoln Center as of last summer, though, with a New Orleans edition now taking place in September. And this year, the NYC event is honoring Detroit in a major way with its "The Detroit Breakdown" show on July 31st. A multi-genre tribute to our city's musical heritage, the event will feature Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels, Question Mark & the Mysterians, the Gories, all-black punk band Death, bluesman Eddie Kirkland, legendary soul singers Melvin Davis and Spyder Turner, Motown hitmakers the Velvelettes and Dennis Coffey and R&B all-stars, the Party Stompers, the latter led by MT's own Mike Hurtt. The show is part of the Stomp's “Roots of American Music” day-long program, with performances on the Hearst Plaza Stage by day and Damrosch Park Bandshell in the evening.

“Detroit's various musical eras all feed from each other and continue to influence music around the world," said Stomp spokesman Ira Padnos in a press statement. "We felt it only right that they should be honored and celebrated by as storied an institution as Lincoln Center."