DETROIT’s 21st Annual COMERICA CITYFEST .:. SUPPORT DETROIT!
For 2 decades now the New Center Council and its sponsors have brought you 5 days of completely FREE live music, art and street performance every 4th of July week in the streets of downtown Detroit’s New Center neighborhood to celebrate diverse urban living and raise funds for neighborhood works via the food and beverage sales, while presenting a vast array of the city’s restaurants to sample from. Originally dubbed Detroit’s TasteFest, the focus having been on the fantastic selection of the metro area’s restaurants, the festival over the years became more and more known for its amazing music and cultural presentations, both international and local, and a few years ago the festival directors decided it was time to re-name the festival to reflect the all-encompassing essence of what is now known as the Detroit Comerica Cityfest.
The addition of the 2nd Ave Street Market shortly after 2000’s festival created an outdoor retail boutique strip within the festival showcasing a few dozen of the city’s most eclectic independent shops, along with the addition of the Pure Detroit Stage and Park Stage which built staple platforms for Detroit’s rising talent to grace the eyes and ears of arguably one of the largest and most diverse crowds the city sees annually. These amazing facets of Cityfest, coupled with hip activities like the mini Modern Skate Park, Kids Zone, Fisher Lobby Art Gallery and tours of the neighborhood’s historic buildings, truly represent Detroit and its unique cultural assets. And even in the struggling ecomonic climate in the city and the nation at large, Cityfest still remains FREE of charge so that the gathering welcomes anyone to experience the festival that therefore creates a truly diverse audience.
Fusicology, now an annual media partner, is proud to have been a part of Detroit’s Cityfest for over 5 years, from bringing some of the best rising talent to the festival to curating street performances and of course letting YOU, the Fusicologist, stay in the know about the festival. Our staff looks forward each summer to thoroughly enjoying the sights, sounds and tastes of Motown right in the middle of the legendary neighborhood where most of the Motown Sound was created – you can almost feel that energy while there! In tribute to one of Fusicology’s favorite cities in the whole wide world… trust us when we say it’s worth the trip to the D for Cityfest! Hot fun in the summertime!
Comerica Cityfest 2009 features yet another fantastic music line-up: Fusicology brings you opening day with the Platinum Pied Pipers opening for De La Soul on the Main Stage to kick off July 1st real right, along with performances starting at 5pm from JazzHead, The MacPodz, The Hentchmen, and Mike Posner. Days 2, 3 and 4 will see sets from Uncle Paulie’s Block Party featuring Supa Jay Spliff & Prince Whippa Whip and co, Lola Morales & Sean Blackman, the rising Will Sessions Band, The Motor City Horns with The Brothers Groove & Johnnie Bassett, Bettye LaVette, Dennis Coffey Quartet and more. Closing day we will be dancin’ in the streets on 2nd Ave with the Tribute to Detroit’s Electrifyin’ Mojo featuring classic DJ sets from Rick Wilhite, Marc Duncan, Kenny Dixon Jr, and Carl Craig. All that, and more, for FREE!
SUPPORT DETROIT!
Did you know? The proceeds from the food & beverage sales at Cityfest fund public works in New Center such as street cleaning, parks, gardens and tree-planting, community forums, neighborhood branding, economic development and more. So support New Center by enjoying tasty local grub 4th of July week! After all, the music is already FREE.
(Not to mention shopping in the 2nd Ave Street Market means supporting local independent businesses!)
Complete Festival Info | About The New Center Council & Area | Official Cityfest Afterparties @ Northern Lights Lounge
+ Fusicology’s photos from Cityfest 07 here
— Jocelyne Ninneman for Fusicology
