REVIEW: Ribs RnB Music Festival and a Great Weekend in Detroit ft. Sheila E & Bruno Mars
The Ribs RnB Music Festival 2017 ended with the crowd completely buzzing with excitement. It was a successful three-day music festival last month that brought together some of the biggest, best names in RnB along with plenty of supporting artists and performers. It was known as the Ribs ‘n’ Soul before it was turned into an annual event everyone can enjoy.
Interestingly, Ribs RnB Music Festival 2017 was not the only exciting music event happening in Detroit that weekend. What started as a simple road trip to attend the festival turned into a stunning journey with a lot of incredible moments.
Tower of Power and a Great Thursday
The Ribs RnB Music Festival was scheduled to start on August 11th, but our trip started earlier than that. On Thursday, we were greeted by the Tower of Power and a treat of funky soul. The San Francisco band also featured Jake Clemons as the opening performer, storming the night like nothing we’ve have seen before.
On the same night, Jackson Browne also staged a concert to help the Old Redford redevelopment effort. Old Redford, for those of you who are not familiar with the district, is fast becoming the center for music and arts in Detroit.
The scene was lively. We saw a lot of performers and artists with a formal music education background from top names such as Kent State University, learning from artists who have been in the game longer. The rapidly growing music and arts scene is among the reasons why more students are taking an online MME program and studying music.
The Spectacular Weekend
Idina Menzel was in town for her performance at the Meadow Brook Amphitheatre, but we couldn’t wait to see performances by the likes of the Atlantic Starr and Sheila E headlining the Ribs RnB Music Festival. The entire festival really showed what Detroit and RnB are all about. Good food, amazing crowds, and great music filled the entire weekend.
There were more than 30 artists in the lineup. The riverfront setting of the festival made it even more romantic. The weekend didn’t stop there. On Saturday, Bruno Mars performed with his band – led by Phredley Brown, a guitarist from Detroit – and Camila Cabello as the opening act. They hit The Palace and they hit it good.
Music City
It is difficult to deny the strong musical roots the city of Detroit has. Last weekend was the perfect example of how big stars and new performers set the city alive. The Ribs RnB Music Festival ended with performances by Deja, Denise Davis, and Deon Yates before Atlantic Starr took the stage. It was magical.
It is worth noting that the scene also inspired a lot of young artists. It has been inspiring many people to take music more seriously, including by pursuing a music degree such as the online masters in music mentioned earlier. Some of the younger talents are aiming for next year’s festival and the various events surrounding it. We may see new stars being born in Detroit.
