With the fall season fully underway and the start of the holidays on the horizon, there’s a treasure trove of great live events in Detroit. From rappers on the rise to legends of soul and techno, our choices below include something for everyone.
Big Sean: Finding Paradise Live in Detroit
Friday, November 6, 2015
7:30 p.m.
Joe Louis Arena
$19.50 – $45.50
Detroit’s prodigal son of contemporary hip-hop plays his first hometown show since he was removed from the J. Cole concert at DTE Energy Music Theatre this past July. While he surprised fans with a 20-minute impromptu encore in which he played many songs from his latest album, Dark Sky Paradise, his loyal followers were still left wanting more. For those who have been waiting patiently, they can find paradise live in Detroit, right at the Joe Louis Arena. Purchase tickets here.
Detroit Love: Carl Craig & Friends
Friday, November 6, 2015
9:30 p.m. – 4:00 a.m.
Populux
$20.00 General Admission
After bringing the sound of techno to the world with the internationally acclaimed Detroit Love tour, Carl Craig returns to The Motor City. This homecoming stop at Populux is co-presented by Paxahau, and features an absolutely stacked lineup. In addition to Craig, Octave One, Stacey Pullen, and Chuck Flask & Keith Kemp will perform. If you love Detroit techno, you won’t want to miss this show. Purchase tickets here.
JR JR + Gosh Pith + Brothertiger
Friday, November 13, 2015
8:00 p.m.
Royal Oak Music Theatre
$20 Advance / $22 Door
JR JR (formerly known as Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.) will return home with a new identity and a new self-titled album. Renowned for their on-stage theatrics and retro-chic apparel, JR JR will bring along Detroit cosmic trap duo Gosh Pith, and Brooklyn-based Brothertiger. Don’t miss this hometown favorite in their element – tickets are too cheap for excuses.
Small Victories: A Release Event with Flint Eastwood
Saturday, November 14, 2015
Doors at 8:00 p.m.
Two James Annex
$12.00 General Admission
Small Victories is Flint Eastwood’s first album in four years, and it already looks to be an album of the year candidate. In celebration, Assemble Sound is hosting a release show. Flint Eastwood will premiere the EP, along with support from local favorites Tunde Olaniran, Seth the Syblyng, and Parlour Tricks. If you love Detroit music, there is nowhere else to be. In true Corktown fashion, the event will take place at the Two James Annex, an unused warehouse across from the distillery. Purchase tickets here.
SHAZZAM: NightSneak 10-Year Anniversary
Saturday, November 14, 2015
Doors at 8:00 p.m.
Bert’s Theatre
$25.00 GA – $45.00 VIP
NightSneak Entertainment celebrate their ten-year anniversary this month at Bert’s Warehouse. It’s hard to imagine that for the past decade Nightsneak have been rocking dancefloors in Detroit on a regular basis. This year’s celebration features Sharam, Golf Clap, UZ, Dieselboy, Wick-it The Instigator, Hobo, Heavygrinder, Nigel Richards, and many more local players. If it’s been a while since you’ve been to Bert’s Theatre, this would be the perfect time to return. For more information, including where to purchase tickets, visit the official Facebook event page.
Boiler Room: Chicago vs Detroit
Saturday, November 14 & Sunday, November 15, 2015
6:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m. (Sunday); Saturday TBA
The Whiskey Disco (Sunday); Saturday TBA
Free tickets available by RSVP.
Boiler Room, a music platform that hosts intimate live music sessions with invite-only audiences, is coming to the birthplaces of house and techno for Chicago vs. Detroit. This four-show tour takes place November 10 and 11 in Chicago, while in Detroit events will take place on November 14 and 15. Both cities will play host to a bevy of major Detroit artists, such as Terrence Parker and Detroit Techno Militia in Chicago and Amp Fiddler, Detroit Grand Pubahs, Golf Clap, Matthew Hawtin, DJ Minx and more here in Detroit. While the Boiler Room regularly hosts exclusive international shows, the Detroit stop is shaping up to be one of their best yet. If you’re interested in going to any of these four events, you’ll have to RSVP online and hope for a ticket. The good news is if you get in, it’s free.
Angel Haze
Monday, November 16, 2015
8:00 p.m.
The Loving Touch
$15 Advance / $17 Door
Detroit’s very own Angel Haze is slated for a performance at The Loving Touch. Although they have since relocated to New York, Haze’s style of hip hop is grounded in their hometown’s raw style. Their new album Back to the Woods is available on iTunes, and this is an exciting opportunity to hear their latest cuts live. Be sure to catch the young rapper on this tour, as it’s unlikely they will play a venue this intimate next time around. Purchase tickets here.
Symphony in D
Friday, November 20 & Saturday, November 21, 2015
10:45 a.m. (Friday); 8:00 p.m. (Saturday)
Orchestra Hall
$15 – $100
The Detroit Symphony Orchestra and composer Tod Machover from the MIT Media Lab asked Detroiters “What does Detroit sound like?”, and they worked with the community to create a collaborative symphony with sound submissions and conceptual contributions from the public. The work, entitled Symphony in D, will premiere at Orchestra Hall this month. The project is made possible by a grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. Purchase tickets here.
Stevie Wonder: Songs in the Key of Life Performance
Saturday, November 21, 2015
8:00 p.m.
Joe Louis Arena
$29.50 GA – $149.50 VIP
Legendary singer, songwriter, musician, and producer Stevie Wonder is bringing back his Songs in the Key of Life Performance tour due to popular demand. The Motown icon returns for the critically acclaimed live adaptation of his 1976 at the Joe Louis Arena this November. Fans who missed him the first time around now have another chance to catch this electrifying concert. Purchase tickets here.
Bruiser Thanksgiving II: Danny Brown x Bruiser Brigade
Wednesday, November 25, 2015
8:00 p.m.
Majestic Theatre
$22.50 Advance / $25 Day of
Last year, Danny Brown and The Bruiser Brigade dazzled a keyed-up Detroit crowd with a raucous and rowdy hometown show at The Majestic Theatre on Thanksgiving Eve. It was such a stunning success that they’ve brought it back again this year. Brown is also partnering with InsideOut Detroit’s City Wide Poets Project (CWP). He’ll be leading a city-wide poetry workshop for teens and young adults the same day as the show. Purchase tickets for Bruiser Thanksgiving II here.
JAK with special guest Richie Hawtin
Saturday, November 28, 2015
9:00 p.m. – late
Leland City Club
$30.00 General Admission
Paxahau presents JAK with special guest Richie Hawtin spinning all night long. This could be the tech-house show of the year. While Leland City Club has lay somewhat dormant most of the year, they played host to some of the most legendary Movement after-parties to date. With this lineup, the venue is sure to add another not-to-be-missed event to the list. Purchase tickets here.
Mark Randisi and The Motor City Jazz Orchestra
Sunday, November 29, 2015
6:00 p.m.
Cliff Bell’s
$15.00
The Detroit-based record label Brass Jar Music is happy to announce the release of Hello, Detroit! Mark Randisi’s long-awaited release with The Motor City Jazz Orchestra during the 100th anniversary year of Frank Sinatra’s birth. At the same time it is a tribute to Detroit, with a new rendition of “Hello, Detroit!” (first recorded by Sammy Davis, Jr. for Motown, and written by Berry Gordy Jr.) The Motor City Jazz Orchestra is one of Detroit’s newest and more eclectic large ensembles, having performed in a variety of venues around Detroit, including the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD) as part of New Music Detroit’s annual marathon of contemporary music and performance – Strange Beautiful Music, Fifth Avenue Billiards, Freedom Hill, and The Henry Ford Museum.