Hey Detroiters! Welcome back to Culture Canvas.
Hope you all have been able to enjoy some of the many festivals that have taken place so far this summer like Movement, Motor City Pride, Hart of Detroit Summer Festival, or last weekend’s Detroit Kite Festival.
Another annual Detroit festival coming up is Concert of Colors, which kicks off Wednesday with a multimedia experience from Canadian-Iranian duo Niyaz at the Detroit Film Theatre. The free festival continues until Sunday, featuring musicians from around the world, like Morrocean-French quartet Bab L’Bluz, Ecuadorian singer-songwriter Eljuri, and Nigerian artist Femi Kuti.
While concerts for the festival take place at several venues across Midtown, Concert of Colors is returning to its original home on Friday–the Aretha Franklin Amphitheater, formerly known as Chene Park. The riverfront park will feature headliner Mavis Staples, the R&B/gospel legend best known as one of the members of The Staple Singers.
I talked to Detroit world music artist Sean Blackman, who is performing alongside fellow local musicians Victor Ghannam and Dave McMurray at the Detroit Historical Museum 5:30 p.m. Thursday. Blackman, who has performed at Concert of Colors several times, talked about collaborating with Ghannam and McMurray, when he first realized he wanted to make music for a living and what it’s like returning to the festival. The Q&A gives a sneak peek of a bigger story about Concert of Colors that is coming out Wednesday!
Editor’s note: This transcript was lightly edited for length and clarity.BridgeDetroit: How did the collaboration between you, Ghannam and McMurray come together?
Blackman: It was actually created by Ismael Ahmed, the founder of the festival. He called me and told me to call up Victor Ghannam and he said, ‘Put an Eastern jazz band together.’ Victor and I, when we connected about it, we said, ‘Neither of us are deemed jazz, at least what people know jazz to be, anyway.’ So, we decided to invite Dave McMurray. It’s an Armenian, Palestinian jazz band. We have three influences up front and we are backed by a couple of percussionists from the Middle East. We’re calling the band Hye Salam. “Hye” means Armenian and “salaam” is a greeting in Palestine.
As a musician, when you perform with another musician, there’s a
very spiritual intertwining that happens. It’s more than sharing an amazing meal with someone. It’s more like if you went to the Grand Canyon and you had a spiritual experience together. That’s what it’s like playing music with others.
BridgeDetroit: What kind of songs can people expect to hear?
Blackman: We’re performing mostly original music, so a combination of mine and Victor’s. And we’re playing my songs that are inspired by my Armenian heritage.
BridgeDetroit: When did you realize being a musician is what you wanted to do in life?
Blackman: I was 12 when I got my first guitar from my brother. He taught me a couple chords and I found out those are the same chords for some of my favorite tunes. And that was it. I haven’t put it down since and I’ll be 55 in September.
BridgeDetroit: How does it feel to return to Concert of Colors and celebrate artists from all over the world?
Blackman: It’s like CandyLand. Ismael Ahmed has such great taste in curating festivals, so even bands I’ve never heard of, I know they’re going to be awesome. I’ve never heard anything I didn’t like at Concert of Colors all these years. I don’t think I’ve missed the festival since the mid-90s. It’s not like there’s world music being performed in Detroit all year round. We don’t really have a world music platform, so when the festival comes around, it’s extra exciting.
As always, have a great week!
Until next time,
Micah
313 Scene
- Detroit electronic music group HiTech pulled out of a show after an open letter was circulated in the local music community accusing one of its members of abuse, including an alleged incident of sexual assault. Hours before showtime, HiTech — which was set to perform at a Red Bull-sponsored “B2B” DJ event at the Majestic Theater Friday evening — announced on social media that it was replaced on the lineup by local DJ and producer Fullbodydurag. (Detroit Metro Times)
- WDET, Detroit’s beloved public radio station known for its independent journalism and deep ties to the local music scene, is fighting for its future as President Donald Trump escalates his attacks on the media. A Trump-backed House bill, which passed by just two votes on June 12, would claw back $1.1 billion in already-approved funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). The cuts would affect more than 1,000 radio stations, including WDET, and roughly 350 television stations across the country. (Detroit Metro Times)
- The limited-edition “Vernors Boston Cooler” is available only in Michigan and northern Ohio this summer. The vanilla-flavored drinks will be available in 12-packs and two-liter and 20-ounce bottles from July through September. (Detroit Metro Times)
- The Detroit Jazz Festival recently announced the full 2025 lineup and schedule for its upcoming Labor Day weekend event Aug. 29 – Sept. 1. Along with Artist-in-Residence Jason Moran, global legends such as Branford Marsalis, Chris Potter and Maria Schneider will perform during the weekend, as well as hometown heroes such as James Carter, Endea Owens and Marion Hayden. (Detroit Free Press)
- Nicole Curtis is rehabbing a Detroit home in season nine of the hit HGTV show “Rehab Addict” that premiered June 24. And after two episodes, fans will have to wait until the fall to see the rest of the home’s rehabilitation, Curtis announced in an Instagram post on July 8. (Detroit Free Press)
What’s Going on in the D?
- Coffee shop and community space The Congregation is hosting its summer night market from 5-9 p.m. Wednesday at its headquarters, 9321 Rosa Parks Blvd. Attendees can check out products from local vendors, get something to eat from a food truck and listen to live music. The event is free, but people can register on Eventbrite.
- Detroit pastry chef Warda Bouguettaya is hosting the grand opening of her bakery Warda Pâtisserie Friday at 1286 McClellan in Little Village. This marks the second location of Warda Pâtisserie, with the first located in Midtown.
- As the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History celebrates its 60th anniversary, the Detroit Institution is hosting its annual African World Festival Friday-Sunday at Hart Plaza. Headliner LJ Reynolds and the Dramatics will perform 7 p.m. Friday, followed by Detroit’s Urban Art Orchestra at 9 p.m. Other activities throughout the weekend include yoga, dance and African drumming classes, an African marketplace filled with handcrafted goods from Black artisans and performances by fellow headliners, R&B group Midnight Star and gospel group Sounds of Blackness. A single day pass for an adult is $23, while passes for youth ages 6-17 are $12. An adult three-day pass is $60.
- Michigan Central’s Fridays at the Station is back from 5-10 p.m. with Detroit soul artist Na Bonsai and Chicago DJ Y. U. K. I K O. Tickets are $15.
- Make a Move LA, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering youth and communities through chess, creativity and culture, is hosting a chess tournament in Detroit 12-4 p.m. Saturday. Taking place at Robert C. Valade Park, the event will feature a 20 player all-ages chess tournament, a livestreamed final game, a halftime show featuring Detroit performers and cash prizes. Registration for adult chess players is $20 and free for youth players. General admission is also free.
- The Detroit Festival of Books, Michigan’s largest book festival, returns for its eighth year 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday at Eastern Market. The free event will feature more than 250 vendors, authors, and illustrators, offering books, antiquarian items, and historical memorabilia largely focusing on Detroit-area culture and history, said Ryan M. Place, Bookfest’s founder and chairman. In addition to the festival, Detroit Festival of Books is hosting its first Bookfest at the Main 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday at the main branch of the Detroit Public Library.
- Irwin House Gallery is hosting the event “Art x Dance,” from 3-7 p.m. Sunday at its headquarters, 2351 W. Grand Blvd. The free event is the first of a collaborative summer series between the art gallery and Detroit promotions company Urban Organic with sounds curated by DJ Bernan Bush and Drake Phifer. “Art x Dance” will also feature an artist showcase, food and more. People can register on Eventbrite.