Even with summer in the rearview mirror and fall in full swing, Detroit’s music scene is just as active as ever. Check out some of the most interesting events the city has to offer for October.
Kickback House Show Festival
Saturday, October 3, 2015
4:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m.
Woodbridge, Detroit
Kickback brings some of Detroit’s best local artists together for a massive Woodbridge house party. The event “kicks off” with a potluck dinner at 5 p.m. and continues with short film screenings by Michigan filmmakers and performances by bands such as Nigel & The Dropout, Britney Stoney, The Normandies, Greater Alexander, River Spirit, Friendship Park, VNESSWOLFCHILD, Little Animal, and Sincerely, TIM. This intimate event will have you feeling like family, but please remember this takes place in private residences. It’s BYOB, but be respectful. To make Kickback possible, the organizers are asking for a $5 donation or to bring a potluck item. No profits will be made; all proceeds will go back to the bands.
Nick Cave’s “Figure This: Detroit”
Sunday, October 4, 2015
2:00 p.m. Doors Open; 3:00 p.m. Event Begins
The Detroit Masonic Temple
The culmination of artist Nick Cave’s Here Hear project project will be “Figure This: Detroit,” a large-scale performance comprising the dances and music from the Dance Labs, a presentation by children of their Cave-inspired creations, and the artist’s new artwork “Up Right: Detroit.” The free event will feature performances from Marcus White/White Werx, DJ John Jammin Collins, Biba Bell, Frank Pahl, Hardcore Detroit, the ODÙ Afrobeat Orchestra, and a concluding performance by Tunde Olaniran. We will also premiere two films by The Right Brothers: “Up Right: Detroit” and a special recording of “Heard•Detroit.” The event is currently sold out, but those who requested a ticket and cannot make the event should log into Eventbrite and “cancel” their ticket order so that their ticket can be released to the wait list.
Kraftwerk 3D Concert
Monday, October 5, 2015
7:00 p.m. Doors Open; 8:00 p.m. Event Begins
The Detroit Masonic Temple
Germany’s revolutionary (and reclusive) innovators of music technology Kraftwerk perform their 2013/2014/2014 “3D Concert” series at Detroit’s Masonic Temple Theatre. After more than four decades of pushing the boundaries of electro-pop, Kraftwerk’s highly-acclaimed “3D” performance offers listeners a one-of-a-kind visual and auditory experience – complete with 3D glasses at the door. (The group’s September 27 show at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium lasted more than two hours.) This is not a show to miss.
Kraftwerk After Hours
Monday, October 5, 2015
10:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m.
Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD)
German electronic music pioneers return to Detroit for a rare 3D performance. As the forefathers of electronic music, Kraftwerk heavily influenced The Belleville Three and other major Detroit techno players. Join us at The Masonic for a historic night, then find your way to MOCAD for an unreal afterparty featuring sets by The Belleville Three themselves — Juan Atkins, Kevin Saunderson, and Derrick May, with support from The Saunderson Brothers. We suggest getting there early, as capacity is limited, and the bill is stacked. The city hasn’t seen this much Detroit techno in one night since Movement.
The Detroit Fest Presents: Fall Festy Fest
Thursday, October 8, 2015 — Saturday, October 10, 2015
PJ’s Lager House
This three-day festival at PJ’s Lager House, featuring local artists such as Coyote Clean Up, DJ Ryan Spencer of Jamaican Queens, James Linck, Ancient Language, DUENDE!, Dirty Ghosts, and more, benefits Suck It Suicide, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to help those who have recently lost someone to suicide with financial support for funerals, clean-up, and memorial services. Sponsors include Corktown Studios, City Bird, Mudgie’s Artisan Deli, Cass Corridog, The Hudson Cafe, Brooklyn Street Local, and Found Sound. For more information on the event, visit their official Facebook page.
Protomartyr Record Release Shows
Friday, October 9, 2015 & Saturday, October 10, 2015
Marble Bar
Post-punk heavyweights Protomartyr host the release of their highly anticipated third studio album The Agent Intellect. After a summer of positive press and revealing two singles, “Why Does it Shake?” and “Dope Cloud,” Protomartyr will celebrate their most introspective work to date with the help of Australian punk rockers Deaf Wish and Detroit’s Casual Sweetheart. The intimate Marble Bar will provide attendees an up-close look at one of rock’s most mesmerizing acts and frontman Joe Casey’s masterful stage presence. Stream The Agent Intellect via NPR and pre-order the album here.
Du Dodge 3
Wednesday, October 14, 2015
9:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m.
New Dodge Lounge
The third installment of the New Dodge’s local showcase is the most impressive to date. Hosted by emcee Mic Phelps and lounge-master Andrea Bonaventura, this eclectic mix of Detroit artists guarantees a well-rounded Wednesday night. The evening’s lineup includes performances from hip-hop giant Guilty Simpson (who recently celebrated an album release), SYBLYNG member and producer Seth Anderson, Young Punk, Wrckles & Rudeboi and DJ Dash. Tickets are $5.
Theatre Bizarre
Saturday, October 17, 2015
6:30 p.m. – 4:00 a.m.
The Detroit Masonic Temple
Theatre Bizarre is inarguably the event of the Halloween season. Detroit’s Masonic Temple (the largest of its kind in the world) will offer eight full floors of its labyrinth to support five stages, 19 performance spaces, hundreds of performers and upwards of 20 bands for a night of deathly enchantment. This event adheres to a mandatory costume dress-code and boasts a hearty ticket price. (Tickets are completely sold out. Ask around.)
Creepy Cheapy VIII: Secret of the Ooze
Friday, October 23, 2015
Doors at 7:00 p.m.
The Crofoot
Creepy Cheapy VIII is a Halloween concert event with a theatric concept sure to enhance the “dress-up” season. More than 15 Detroit-area bands will perform between three stages, but there’s a catch… each band will perform a full-costumed cover set of another well-known act. Local stars, such as ANA, Blind Season, MPV, George Morris and Ronnie Tibbs, and Bevlove will appear as Foo Fighters, Paramore, The Breeders, Simon & Garfunkel, Nicki Minaj and others. The event will feature free candy, “cheap beer,” and a costume contest for attendees. As the flier reads: “Halloween USA is good, Mom’s basement is better, making your own costume out of old Real Detroit Weeklies is Best!”
ADULT. presents The Three Grace(s) Triptych
Friday, October 23, 2015
8:00 p.m.
Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD)
After a five-year hiatus, Detroit’s electronic duo ADULT. will once again perform “The Three Grace(s) Triptych” at the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit. The performance will feature three interconnected, silent horror films (which have been written, directed, edited, and scored by Nicola Kuperus and Adam Lee Miller) and include live music accompaniment from ADULT. during the screenings. Tickets are $10.
Funky Horror Picture Show
Saturday, October 31, 2015
9:30 p.m. – 4:00 a.m.
Populux
With so many events on Halloween, it can be hard to pin down the right one. Populux presents this Rocky Horror-themed night of debauchery that goes until 4 a.m. Headlined by Low End Theory’s top dog The Gaslamp Killer, you are in for one freaky night. With support from beat wizard Jimmy Ellis and our city’s favorite funkmaster Will Sessions, the Funky Horror Picture Show looks to be the best dance party on Halloween.