The hot music of Zozo Afrobeat provided a perfect soundtrack for revealing the line-up for Detroit's 18th annual Concert of Colors Diversity Festival, which takes place July 16 to 18, 2010.
The performance by Zozo Afrobeat, a 13-piece ensemble from New York City featuring musicians from around the world led by the African music great Kaleta, lent an appropriate grace note to follow the festival schedule reveal by metro Detroit radio personality Martin Bandyke and the introduction of the Detroit Institute of Arts as a new Concert of Colors partner last Friday at the DIA's theater auditorium.
We're pleased to see the Concert of Colors continue to persevere and thrive in the face of what Bandyke described as a "ferocious" economic climate. The free festival continues to bring a diverse group of people together to enjoy the good vibes and a great music bill each summer.
This year's fest kicks off on Friday evening (July 16) at the Detroit Institute of Arts with performances from the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and Mexican folk group Tien-Huciani. You can also check out the DIA's well-reviewed Through African Eyes: The European in African Art, 1500-Present exhibit, and cap the evening by viewing a 1931 Spanish-language version of Dracula filmed with the same sets, lighting, and costumes as the classic version starring Bela Lugosi.
Concert of Colors action moves to its primary venue at Detroit's Max M. Fisher Music Center ("The Max") on Saturday and Sunday (July 17 and 18).
Saturday's schedule includes: Irish traditional music from The Codgers; global jazz and funk from Muruga & The Rainforest Band; reggae from The Basiks; Bhangra & brass from Red Baraat; Native American folk from Bill Miller; Kenyan benga from Kengne Kenge; and the Don Was Detroit All-Star Revue.
Sunday sessions include: storyteller Ivory Williams; Asian rock and roll from October Babies; steel guitar from Calvin Cooke; Brazilian funk & jazz band Zap Toro;
electronic jazz & funk from Rev. Cool Arkestra; Western and Arabic classical music featuring Simon Shaheen on the oud, an Arabic stringed instrument, with the DSO conducted by Tito Muñoz; the Southwest Detroit Latin Super Session featuring some of the city's best Latin music; and R&B/soul legend Mavis Staples.
Don Was' Detroit Super Session is a highlight of the festival for us, with Was producing an eclectic bill of metro Detroit artists from multiple eras and musical genres.
Was worked with the Concert of Colors in 2008 to orchestrate to festival's first Super Session featuring Detroit talent. The revue, usually featuring one song from each of a dozen or so acts, is quickly becoming a Concert of Colors tradition as Was readies another great group for this year's third annual Super Session.
Super Session acts this year include: Alberta Adams, Dennis Coffey, Marshall Crenshaw, Doop & the Inside Outlaws, Electric Lion Sound Wave Experiment, Ingray, Motor City Horns, Niagara, Outrageous Cherry, Jimmy Ruffin, The Satin Peaches, SRC Gary Quackenbush, Jere Stormer, Sun Messengers, and Kim Weston.
The All-Star Revue house band backs many of the acts and includes Don Was on bass, Luis Resto on keyboards, Terry "Thunder" Hughley on drums, and Brian "Roscoe" White on guitar.
Be sure to check out video clips from the two previous Concert of Colors Super Sessions at the Wasmopolitan Cavalcade of Recorded Music.
I'll be especially curious to see if Jimmy Ruffin does "What Becomes of the Broken Hearted" this year as Mitch Ryder's rendition of that song was one of my favorite performances at Was' 2008 Concert of Colors Super Session.
The Concert of Colors also offers plenty of other family-friendly fun. An outdoor festival area next to Orchestra Hall hosts vendors selling multicultural food and other products and free craft activities for the kids. One of the best deals at the festival has to be the ice cream dished up by St. Patrick Catholic Church adjacent to the outdoor festival area...great prices, with the money going to benefit the church and its programs.
New to the Concert of Colors this year is a food drive to benefit the Gleaners Community Food Bank, Diversity Games (a series of educational activities for all ages geared to learning more about world music), and a farmers market that comes to the grounds of The Max on Sunday afternoon.
Can't wait for the festival, or want to see what you missed last year? Check out Sizzling Concert of Colors does Detroit proud here at Midwest Guest or Photo Friday: Celebrating Diversity-Concert of Colors 2009 Pictured at The Wandering Photographer.
Note:
"Where I live" posts are part of a series of periodic stories about special events and people in, and around, metro Detroit. "Where I live" posts are stories I'll post in addition to my regular schedule of stories about attractions around the larger Midwestern region. I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoy writing them.
© Dominique King 2010 All rights reserved
Comments