Sixty musical acts were named today for the upcoming 2008 Comerica Cityfest (formerly Comerica Tastefest) which takes place July 2nd through the 6th. There will be four stages in Detroit's Historic New Center, presenting artists simultaneously, including the Motor City Casino Stage (presented by the Detroit News), the Pure Detroit Stage (presented by Real Detroit Weekly), the Grand Boulevard Jazz and Blues Stage, and the New Center Council Park Stage (presented by Metro Times).
Headliners on the Motor City Casino Stage include De La Soul, George Clinton & Parliament-Funkadelic, Broken Social Scene, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Aly and AJ, Calexico, the Zombies (hence, our "clever" headline), and Seun Kuti, son of Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti, who will lead his father's legendary band, Egypt 80.
The Grand Boulevard Jazz and Blues Stage will feature both local and national acts including Ultimate Ovation, Thornetta Davis, Grupo Fantasma, Kidz of the Kingdom & the Perfecting Church Mass Choir, the Oblivion Project (presenting the nuevo tango music of Astor Piazzolla), NOMO, Jazzhead, the Mikhal Caldwell Trio, Stewart Franke & the Regular Boys, Planet D Nonet (with Detroit's "Queen of the Blues" Alberta Adams, Organic Trio, Scott Gwinnell Group, Jo Serrapere & the Willie Dunns, and trumpeter Rayse Biggs & Friends.
The Pure Detroit Stage will also feature both local and national acts, including a full day showcase hosted by Monica Blaire presenting a Detroit Groove Gumbo that will showcase our own Khary Kimani Turner, Ras Kente's Take No Prisoners Posse, DJs DEZ and Mike "Agent X" Clark, Silent Riot Allstars, Orthea Barnes and a special closing live/DJ set by the legendary Underground Resistance.
The Pure Detroit Stage promises sets by local faves Cetan Clawson, Zoos of Berlin, the Dead Bodies, SSM, Deastro, Bump, the Amino Acids, Thunderbirds are Now!, Grayling, Silent Years and the Muggs. LA-based rock band the Strays will also be on hand. And Paxahau (producers of Detroit's Movement Festival) will present King Britt of Digable Planets, with Detroit's own Ryan Elliot opening.
The New Center Council Park Stage will spotlight some Detroit's best folk and indie rock bands, including the Volebeats, Apt. 4, Great Lakes Myth Society, Lightening Love, Doop & the Inside Outlaws, Patrick O'Brian, Danny Dollrod's new project the Readies, American Mars, Shotgun Wedding (fronted by our pal Eddie Baranek of the Sights, the Hentchmen, and Magic Shop, the latter the brand new band featuring Steve Nawara of the Detroit Cobras.
Local longtime music aficionado Stirling will be hosting that stage for the fifth straight year in arow.
More acts will be announced in the coming weeks. As always, this 20th anniversary CityFest is free, with food and beverage purchases from 40 Detroit area restaurants supporting the free programming. The festival will be open from 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday, and 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday.
The Muggs: A Cityfest headliner.
