The music line-up for the 2008 Comerica Cityfest (formerly Comerica Tastefest) is firming up with most of the 60 acts now confirmed for the July 2-6 schedule. This year marks the 20th Anniversary of Comerica Cityfest, and its tradition of presenting some of the best free concerts anywhere, will continue over the 4th of July weekend on the following four stages in Detroit’s Historic New Center: 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 Grammy winning New York MC’s De La Soul, funk originator and international superstar George Clinton & Parliament-Funkadelic, Canadian indie pop collective (and Juno award winners) Broken Social Scene, New Orleans’ favorite sons The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, emerging songbirds (and sisters) Aly and AJ, sun-bleached Arizonan troubadours and festival favorites Calexico, 60’s pop innovators The Zombies, 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 once again feature stellar local and national acts who are sure to delight the dedicated Cityfest jazz and blues audience : artists include the sweet soul harmonies of Ultimate Ovation, Detroit's own diva of soul and blues Thornetta Davis, Austin Texas favorite latin funk orchestra Grupo Fantasma, anointed singing from Kidz of the Kingdom and the Perfecting Church Mass Choir, musical adventurers the Oblivion Project presenting the nuevo tango music of Astor Piazzolla, the tight swinging world jazz beats of NOMO, acid jazz veterans Jazzhead, new jazz rock fusion guitarist Mikhal Caldwell Trio, the blue eyed-soul stylings of Stewart Franke and the Regular Boys, the swinging little big band Planet D Nonet with Detroit’s Queen of Blues Alberta Adams, Organic Trio, Scott Gwinnell Group, singer, songwriter and stylist Jo Serrapere and the Willie Dunns, and acclaimed trumpeter Rayse Biggs and friends.
The Pure Detroit Stage legacy will continue by showcasing some of Detroit’s best and brightest rock, soul, hip hop and electronica artists with a few national acts added for maximum flavor. Acts currently booked include a full day showcase hosted by the effervescent performer Monica Blaire. Her Detroit Groove Gumbo will showcase poet Khary Kimani Turner, reggae sensation Ras Kente’s Take no Prisoners Posse, DJ’s DEZ and Mike “Agent X” Clark, Silent Riot Allstars, Orthea Barnes and a special closing Live/DJ set by the legendary Underground Resistance.
For those about to rock, the Pure Detroit Stage presents guitar wiz Cetan Clawson, Zoos of Berlin, The Dead Bodies, SSM, Deastro, Bump, The Amino Acids, Thunderbirds are Now!, Grayling, Silent Years and recent reality show (The Next Great American Band) celebrities The Muggs. Also appearing will be LA based rock band The Strays known for their riveting performances and post punk/mod rock recordings. And for good measure, Paxahau (Producers of Detroit’s Movement Festival) will present King Britt of Digable Planets and eclectic Philly production fame. King Britt’s DJ set tore it up at last year’s Movement, and this will be his first Detroit play since then. Detroit’s own Ryan Elliot will open.
The New Center Council Park Stage will once again feature Detroit’s best folk and indie rock bands, along with some others who defy categorization. Hosted by Detroit’s glam-rock-art impresario Stirling for the fifth straight year, this stage has become a festival favorite. Confirmed acts include Detroit’s alt-country pioneers the Volebeats, guitar driven indie rockers Apt. 4, Ann Arbor naturalists Great Lakes Myth Society, new and refreshing female fronted trio from Ypsilanti Lightening Love, the working class country rock and “real deal” from downriver Doop and the Inside Outlaws, Patrick O’Brian, Danny Dollrod’s new project The Readies, the atmospheric pedal steel stories of American Mars, the broke down country of Shotgun Wedding fronted by Eddie Baranek of the Sights, garage heavies The Hentchmen, and Magic Shop, the brand new band featuring Steve Nawara of Detroit Cobras fame with much more to be announced in the coming weeks.
For 20 years, Comerica Cityfest has drawn patrons of all ages and tastes to enjoy a wide variety of free music performances that regularly play top ticketed festivals throughout the country such as Summerfest, Coachella, Bonnaroo, and Lollapalooza. Recent years have seen the likes of Wilco, Jet, Cat Power, Spoon, Ray Davies, Mavis Staples, Weird Al, Lupe Fiasco, Cheap Trick, The New York Dolls, Common, Kings of Leon, All American Rejects, Cake, The New Pornographers and Buddy Guy.
The music and entertainment at Comerica Cityfest is always free, but the public is reminded that food and beverage purchases from our 40 Detroit area restaurants support the free programming. So come hungry and be ready for some of the best free shows anywhere.
Festival-goers will have more time to experience all that Comerica Cityfest 2008 has to offer this year with its new extended hours. 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.
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My Trusted MOGs
how does one go about putting on a free festival???? are the artists playing voluntarily? or you mentioned supporting the restaurants was recomened do they help to pay the artists?? or the local government supports it? no entiendo.
My Trusted MOGs
THE ZOMBIES?
Wooooo! I have never been more excited in my life to be a resident of Detroit City. Broken Social Scene, too? Way to go, Taste Fest! (Old names, like old habits, die hard.)
My Trusted MOGs
i'd almost guarantee those artists are not playing for free. most of the time, someone with big pockets puts on the fest at great expense. then, they probably get their money back in other ways, like advertising or booths set up at the fest. in some rare occasions, the entire thing is a labor of love, on a volunteer basis. but you almost never see big name artists at those.
My Trusted MOGs
Mollifire is right. Yes, the artists get paid. The festival is produced by New Center Council, a non-profit company that puts the money they make from Comerica Cityfest back into developing the community in many ways and keeping downtown clean. Money comes in from ticket sales. Notice the Comerica in the title.... they help out, too. The festival is also staffed by tons of volunteers.
My Trusted MOGs
Oh, and by ticket sales I meant the tickets that patrons use to purchase food and beverages.