ART
Art Gallery of Windsor (AGW)
• Mary Celestino’s paintings of the Canadian landscape in Middle Island are up through July 6.
• The mass consumption of plastic water bottles is under scrutiny in Supermarket, by Nadine Bariteau. Through June 18.
• The Salton Sea chronicles photographer Sandi Wheaton’s travels and runs through June 26.
• Painter Dennis Michael Jones explores syntax and painting as a language in Sometimes, Somewhere, Someday. Through July 17.
• Photo-based multimedia pieces by Canadian artist Jayce Salloum are on display in History of the Present (Selected Works 1985-2009). Through July 17.
401 Riverside Dr. W., Windsor, Ontario; 519-977-0013.
Artspace II
The Rubber Stamp Portfolio, which was sold by the MoMA in 1976, is on display through May 31.
303 E. Maple, Birmingham; 248-258-1540.
Biddle Gallery
An ongoing multimedia exhibition, Made in the Mitten, showcases the work of Michigan artists.
2840 Biddle, Wyandotte; 734-281-4779.
Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center
Regional art takes center stage through the Michigan Fine Arts Competition, which doles out more than $10,000 in prizes to Michigan artists. Through May 6.
1516 S. Cranbrook, Birmingham; 248-644-0866.
Detroit Artists Market
• A multimedia exhibition features the work of northern Michigan artists. Through May 28.
4719 Woodward, Detroit; 313-832-8540.
Detroit Institute of Arts
• Drawn primarily from the DIA’s permanent collection, An Intuitive Eye: André Kertesz Photographs 1914-1969 highlights Kertesz’s distinctive combination of photojournalistic compositions and modern, abstract aesthetics. The photographs of Paris, Hungary, and New York can be viewed through May 29.
• Lions, tigers, and bears! Oh, my! It’s a Zoo in Here is a showing of the museum’s holdings of animal prints and drawings. Works from more than 100 artists from around the world are on display. Through July 24.
Open Wed.-Sun.
5200 Woodward, Detroit; 313-833-7900.
Eastern Michigan University Art Department
• Molly Marie Nuzzo, an Ypsilanti-based painter, uses portraiture to explore gender and identity. May 23-27 in the Ford Gallery.
900 Oakwood, Ypsilanti; 734-487-1268.
Elaine L. Jacob Gallery at Wayne State University
Material Spaces: Veneration Through the Needle’s Eye runs through May 20.
480 W. Hancock, Detroit; 313-993-7813.
Ellen Kayrod Gallery
The Hannan Open displays the work of various artists through May 20.
4750 Woodward, Detroit; 313-833-1300.
Flint Institute of Arts
• Early and rarely seen works by Andrew Wyeth, including watercolors of coastal Maine and eastern Pennsylvania, are on exhibit in Something Waits Beneath It — Early Work by Andrew Wyeth, 1939-1969. May 7-Aug. 7.
• Precisionist artist Edmund Lewandowski’s work is remembered in a major retrospective, a first for the deceased artist. May 7-Aug. 7.
1120 E. Kearsley, Flint; 810-234-1695.
Gallery Project
Unhooked From Time ends May 8.
215 S. Fourth St., Ann Arbor; 734-997-7012.
Grosse Pointe Art Center
Fire and Ice is on display through May 28.
16900 Kercheval, Grosse Pointe; 313-821-1848.
Habatat Galleries
The 39th International Glass Invitational showcases works by more than 90 artists. Through May 29.
4400 Fernlee, Royal Oak; 248-554-0590.
Institute for the Humanities Gallery at the University of Michigan
David Chung’s multimedia installation, Pyongyang, is up through May 21.
202 S. Thayer, Room 1010, Ann Arbor; 734-936-3518.
Lawrence Street Gallery
The photography of Arnold Berkman is on display through the end of the month.
22620 Woodward, Suite A, Ferndale; 248-544-0394.
Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum
Examples of Art Deco and revival architecture from Detroit make up Art in Architecture: The Collaborative Spirit of the Interwar Period in Detroit. Items come from myriad area collections. Jennifer Baross of Destination Detroit Media presents a talk on architectural sculptor Corrado Parducci on April 6. The exhibition and lecture are free. Runs through May 28.
Open Mon.-Sat.
7400 Bay Valley, Saginaw; 989-964-7125.
Oakland University Art Gallery
Senior studio art students present their thesis work through May 15.
2200 N. Squirrel Rd., Rochester; 248-370-2100.
Paint Creek Center for the Arts
• The main floor of the center is taken up by Come Play with Me, a juried group show made up of handmade toys, dolls, and games from Michigan artists. Through May 14.
• Detroit-based painter Andrew Krieger’s works are on the first floor through June 18.
407 Pine St., Rochester; 248-651-4110.
Pewabic Pottery
Romancing the Rustbelt: Ceramics Inspired by our Heroic Industrial Past can be viewed through May 8.
10125 E. Jefferson, Detroit; 313-822-0954.
Re:View Art Gallery
Woodworker Andy Kem’s work is on display.
444 W. Willis Units 111 and 111, Detroit; 313-833-9000.
River’s Edge Gallery
• Deviating from its local art roots, gallery director Jeremy Hansen has made an exception for Desires and Devices 2 by international artist Etienne Yver. Through May 20.
3024 Biddle, Wyandotte; 734-246-9880.
Scarab Club
An all-media juried exhibition honors the working class through May 15.
217 Farnsworth, Detroit; 313-831-1250.
UMMA
• Visitors can walk through the multimedia interactive exhibition Photoformance: An Empathic Environment, which includes live dance, music, and poetry. Through May 15.
• Out of the Ordinary: Selections from the Bohlen Wood Art and Fusfeld Folk Art Collections runs through June 26.
• Korean ceramic traditions mesh with modern conceptualizations in Life in Ceramics: Five Contemporary Korean Artists. Through June 26. $5 suggested donation.
• Multimedia artist Amalia Pica takes everyday items and breaks them away from their functionality to make symbols or possible communication. May 28-Sept. 18. $5 suggested donation.
Open Tue.-Sun.
525 S. State, Ann Arbor; 734-764-0395.
Washington Street Gallery
Recent Works, an exhibition by Elizabeth Schwartz, showcases abstract paintings. May 10-June 19.
306 S. Main, Ann Arbor; 734-761-2287.
Wayne State University Art Department Gallery
The WSU Undergraduate Exhibition showcases student work through May 13.
150 Art Building, Detroit; 313-993-7813.
CLASSICAL
Chamber Music Society of Detroit
Winners of the 2009 Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson International Trio Award, the Morgenstern Trio debuts at the Chamber Music Society of Detroit to perform Beethoven’s Piano Trio in C Minor, Op.1, No. 3, as well as pieces by Maurice Ravel and Johannes Brahms. (Steven Rings, assistant professor of music at the University of Chicago, discusses the repertoire before the recital from 6:45-7:30 p.m.)
8 p.m. May 21. $25-$75.
Seligman Performing Arts Center on the campus of Detroit Country Day School, 22305 W. 13 Mile, Beverly Hills; 248-855-6070.
Detroit Institute of Arts
As part of its Brunch with Bach series, the DIA presents “Love and Inspiration with Jauchzet,” which features music by Bach, Vivaldi, and Purcell, among others. The early-music ensemble Jauchzet performs the program and features the vocal talents of soprano Lorna Young Hildebrandt.
May 8. $15-$35.
5200 Woodward, Detroit; 313-833-7900.
Detroit Symphony Orchestra
• Leila Josefowicz takes the solo spotlight in Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No. 1, as well as Wagner’s Prelude to Parsifal and Sibelius’ Symphony No. 2. Mark Wigglesworth conducts. May 6-7. $23.50.
• Pianist Jeremy Denk performs Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 21 (Elivra Madigan), accompanied by the orchestra under Peter Oundjian. Also on the program are Rachmaninoff/Respighi’s The Sea and the Seagulls, Ravel’s Boléro and works by Messiaen and Janácek. May 14-15. $23.50.
• With Leonard Slatkin conducting, the prize-winning Russian pianist Olga Kern tackles Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1. Also: Bartók’s Miraculous Mandarin Suite and a world premiere from acclaimed composer Du Yun. May 26-27. $23.50.
Orchestra Hall in the Max M. Fisher Music Center, 3711 Woodward, Detroit; 313-576-5111.
Fort Street Chorale and Chamber Orchestra
• Richard Householder conducts a performance of Arthur Honegger’s “dramatic psalm” Le Roi David, which features Peggy Dwyer, Dorothy Duensing, and Pablo Bustos as soloists.
May 15. $15-$20.
Fort Street Presbyterian Church, 631 W. Fort St., Detroit; 313-961-4533.
Michigan Opera Theatre
Bernard Uzan directs Giuseppe Verdi’s Rigoletto, a tale of the womanizing Duke of Mantua and his hunchbacked jester Rigoletto, who conspire to help the Duke seduce the wives and daughters of the various noblemen, until Rigoletto’s daughter Gilda falls victim to the Duke’s immoral ways. Featuring Todd Thomas and Gaétan Laperrière alternating as Rigoletto, James Valenti and Arnold Rutkowski alternating as the Duke of Mantua, and Rachele Gilmore and Sarah Joy Miller alternating in the role of Gilda.
Runs May 14-22. $25-$117.
Detroit Opera House, 1526 Broadway, Detroit; 313-961-3500.
Dance
Detroit Dance Collective
New Moves completes the troupe’s 31st season and marks the premiere of The Room by Barbara Selinger. There will also be guest performances from members of the Marygrove College Dance Company.
May 6. $20.
Marygrove College Theatre, 8425 W. McNichols, Detroit.
This 1860s Italianite home in Dexter is part of the NARI Tour of Remodeled Homes, May 14-15.
EVENTS
Edsel & Eleanor Ford House
Different by Design, an exhibit in the Gate Lodge Garage saluting the design flair of Edsel Ford, includes a 1934 Brewster Town Car, a 1938 Lincoln K Brunn Brougham, and a 1941 Lincoln Continental Cabriolet. These cars were owned by the Ford family and customized to Edsel’s specifications. Also on display are two miniature gas-powered, one-cylinder Custer race cars used by Edsel and Eleanor’s children William and Josephine in the 1930s. Home movies, artifacts, and family photographs are included, as well as multimedia experiences. Runs indefinitely.
During the exhibition, guided tours of the Edsel & Eleanor Ford House are available Tue.-Sat. every half-hour from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and on Sundays every half-hour from noon until 4 p.m. Admission for tours is $12 for adults, $11 for seniors, and $8 for children over 5. Under 5 are free.
1100 Lake Shore Rd., Grosse Pointe Shores; 313-884-4222.
Friday Art Walk
Kick the weekend off with a night of art, drinks, and hors d’oeuvres in downtown Northville. On the first Friday of each month, select art galleries are open late, and guests can shop and enjoy art demonstrations.
6-9 p.m. May 6.
Downtown Northville.
Utica Antiques Market
Considered one of the largest and oldest outdoor shows in the tri-county area, the event has hundreds of dealers.
May 7-8. $5.
The Knights of Columbus Grounds, 21 Mile Road, one mile east of Van Dyke, Utica; 586-254-3495.
Downtown Hoedown
The annual three-day concert is known as the world’s largest free country concert. The Hoedown includes music from local bands, as well as from established performers and newcomers.
May 13-15. Hart Plaza, 1 Hart Plaza, downtown Detroit.
NARI Tour of Remodeled Homes
The National Association of Remodeling Industry (NARI) is expanding its home tour to include not only stops in Ann Arbor and Dexter, but also displays in Royal Oak, Beverly Hills, and Bloomfield Hills. The new tour features 13 professionally remolded homes, and guests will have the chance to speak with industry professionals.
Noon–6 p.m. May 14-15. $10.
Visit narisemich.org for locations and ticket information.
Flower Day at Eastern Market
This is one of the largest flowers show in the country; an estimated 150,000 people attend each year. Hundreds of growers from Michigan, neighboring states, as well as Canada, are at the market offering more than 15 acres of annuals, perennials, foliage, shrubbery, trees, exotics, tropical plants, and flats.
May 15. Detroit Eastern Market, 2500 Russell, Detroit.
Stroll 4 Rett
Organized by Jeff and Sandy Kopelman, along with their daughter Lisa Fenberg, this walk is in memory of Rachel, their daughter/sister who lost her life to Rett Syndrome. This one-mile walk is wheelchair accessible, and ends with lunch and activities for kids and adults. All funds go to the International Rett Syndrome Foundation.
11 a.m., registration at 10 a.m. May 15.
Marshbank Park, Commerce Rd., West Bloomfield Township.
Ann Arbor Antiques Show
For more than 40 years, the show has offered a wide selection of antiques and collectibles from buyers throughout the United States and Canada. Items range from early American to Art Deco, and are sold throughout seven buildings and numerous tents.
May 14-15. $6.
Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds, 5055 Ann Arbor Saline Rd., Ann Arbor.
Comic Con
The Motor City Comic Con comes around once a year, and is a multi-media event with more than 1 million comics and collectibles for sale and trade.
May 14-15.
Suburban Collection Showplace, 46100 Grand River, Novi.
Art Birmingham
Originally known as the Birmingham Fine Art Festival, this annual event is celebrating its 30th anniversary. Located in Shain Park, the weekend features 190 juried artists.
May 14-15.
In and around Shain Pak, downtown Birmingham.
Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure
The annual 5k run/walk or one-mile walk returns to Detroit for its 20th year, and is sponsored locally by the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute. Join survivors and co-survivors as the morning honors and celebrates lost loved ones.
May 21.
Comerica Park, 2100 Woodward, Detroit.
Fine Art at the Village
A weekend of arts and crafts with 101 artists from around the country, the event includes live demonstrations, food, children’s activities, and entertainment.
10 a.m.-8 p.m. May 21. Noon-6 p.m. May 22. Free.
The Village of Rochester Hills, 104 N. Adams Rd., Rochester Hills.
St. Mary’s Polish Country Fair
This four-day event, held throughout Memorial Day weekend, holds the distinction of being “American’s Largest High School Fair” for the last 39 years. It has activities for all ages, which include live entertainment, dancing, more than 45 rides, Vegas and bingo tents, and more. Also, chow down on genuine Polish food.
May 27-30.
Orchard Lake St. Mary’s School, 3535 Indian Trial, Orchard Lake; 248-706-6775.
Movement Electronic Music Festival
Paxahau Event Productions present this year’s festival, which includes Ana Sia, Bruce Bailey, Scuba, Tini, and several other performers. Enjoy 36 hours of techno and electronic dance music.
May 28-30.
Hart Plaza, 1 Hart Plaza, Detroit.
FILM
The Henry Ford IMAX Theatre
The second part of the Family Film Festival asks audiences to experience animals and nature with four films aimed at families with younger kids. Through May 19.
• Travel to the rain forests of Borneo through Born to be Wild: An IMAX 3D Experience. The IMAX documentary is about orphaned orangutans and elephants and the people who work to save them. Tickets include a viewing of the feature-length film, along with an original IMAX 3D animated short film. Non-member tickets are $13.75 for adults, $12.75 for seniors, and $9.75 for children ages 2-12. Member tickets are $11.75 for adults, $11 for seniors and $8.25 for kids.
• Animalopolis is a more humorous, lighthearted take on the animal kingdom. Tickets $6.
• Short films Coral Reef and Dolphins are also $6 for all ages.
20900 Oakwood, Dearborn; 313-982-6001
The Redford Theatre
• The 1973 film The Sting follows Johnny Hooker (Robert Redford) and Henry Gondorff (Paul Newman) as two con artists who try to swindle a powerful mob boss.
May 13-14. Tickets $4.
• The film Rebecca, Alfred Hitchcock’s first American project, stars Laurence Olivier and Joan Fontaine. Fontaine plays a young bride who cannot escape the memory of her husband’s late first wife.
May 27-28. Tickets $4.
17360 Lahser, Detroit; 313-537-2560.
MUSEUMS
Arab American National Museum
• Motawi Tileworks is an exhibit that looks back at the company’s history while shedding light on the tile-making process. The exhibition also focuses on Motawi tile as both art and architectural décor, as well as the connection between contemporary work and the Arab World’s tradition of making tile. Through June 12.
• Arab Civilization: Our Heritage features Arab contributions to the early world. Ongoing in the Community Courtyard.
• Coming to America focuses on Arab immigrants and the culture they brought to the United States. Ongoing in Gallery 1.
• Living in America exhibits early Arab-American life. Ongoing exhibit in Gallery 2.
• Making an Impact celebrates the stories of Arab-American athletes, organizations, physicians, labor leaders, and entertainers. Ongoing exhibit in Gallery 3.
$6 adults; $3 students and seniors. Under 5 free.
13624 Michigan Ave., Dearborn; 313-582-2266.
Birmingham Historical Museum & Park
A Lifetime of Cameras is a 40-plus collection of cameras owned by Stu Shuster, with the earliest camera given to him by his grandmother, up to the latest analog camera. Look for the Kodak Vest Pocket Autographic camera, along with photographs taken by each camera. Through June 11.
556 W. Maple Rd., Birmingham; 248-530-1928.
Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History
• Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise: An Artist’s Journey takes a look into Gale Fulton Ross and her journey from confusion and despair to self-forgiveness, enlightenment, and artistic freedom. Her art is loosely based on Dante’s Divine Comedy. Through May 29.
• The Test: Tuskegee Airmen Project showcases the first African-American aviators in the U.S. military during World War II. Through June 19.
• Framed Stories: The Art of Carmen Cartiness Johnson and Jerome Wright is a two-person exhibit, paired together because of artistic similarities. Johnson, living in San Antonio, Texas, and Wright, from Philadelphia, are both self-trained, create narrative art, and demonstrate post-modern sensibilities in their work. Through April 11.
• The Heidelberg Project: Art, Energy, and Community celebrates the 25th anniversary of the display created by artist Tyree Guyton. Created to “provoke thought, promote discussion, inspire action, and heal communities,” this project is known as one of the most influential open-air art environments in the world. Through Nov. 27.
• The Chris Webber Collection: Exceptional People During Extraordinary Times, 1755-Present highlights rare artifacts from the personal collection of Chris Webber, native Detroiter, National Association All-Star player, and NBA announcer. His pieces reflect the lives and legacies of African-American greats such as Phyllis Wheatley, Rosa Parks, and Martin Luther King Jr. Through Nov. 6.
• Stories in Stained Glass: The Art of Samuel A. Hodge, a series of intricate and colorful works focusing on three areas of African-American culture and history — musicians, dancers, and freedom advocates — is one of the ongoing exhibits in the Main Level Corridor.
• A Is for Africa includes 26 interactive stations making up a 3-D “dictionary” designed for children. Ongoing in the Lower Level Corridor.
• And Still We Rise: Our Journey Through African American History and Culture is an expansive, evolving exhibit that recounts the 3.5-million-year-old odyssey that began in Africa and ends in Detroit. Ongoing in the Core Exhibition Gallery.
• Ring of Genealogy, a work designed by local artist Hubert Massey, depicts the struggles of African-Americans in the United States. Ongoing on the Main Level. •
$5-$8.
315 E. Warren, Detroit; 313-494-5800.
Detroit Historical Museum
• VeloCity: Detroit’s Need for Speed showcases the ways in which Detroiters have used their need for speed on land, water, air, and other forms of transportation.
• Streets of Old Detroit takes visitors back to the 19th and early 20th centuries through shop settings furnished with artifacts from the 1940s to early 1900s.
• Doorway to Freedom highlights Detroit’s role as part of the Underground Railroad, the last American stop for freedom-seeking slaves before boating across the Detroit River to Canada.
• Detroit Artists Showcase features John Gelsavage (1909-1988), a Polish-American painter and illustrator from Detroit who spent his career capturing the average working American.
• Frontiers to Factories is an exhibit that shows what Detroit was like before the advent of automobiles. See how the area changed from a trading-post settlement to a metropolis with millions of residents and factories.
• Meier’s Wonderful Clock was built to demonstrate the skills of clockmaker Louis Meier Sr. Weighing 2,500 pounds, the clock stands at 15-feet high and 7-feet wide, and was shown at the Michigan State Fair in 1906 and Chicago World’s Fair in 1934.
• Detroit’s Official Symbols explains in-depth symbols throughout the city, such as the city’s flag.
• Glancy Trains are from the collection of Alfred R. Glancy Jr., co-owner of the Empire State Building. His extensive collection is on display at the museum.
• Also: Michigan Sports Hall of Fame, Saying I Do: Metro Detroit Weddings, Fabulous 5: Detroit Historic Retailers, Scripps-Booth “Da Vinci Pop” Cyclecar, Motor City, Jerome Biederman, and WWJ Newsradio 950: 90 Years of Innovation, Booth Wilkinson Showcase, Fabulous 5: Detroit’s Award Winners, and Janet Anderson.
General admission: $4-$6.
5401 Woodward, Detroit; 313-833-1805.
Detroit Science Center
• Exhibits include a rocket laboratory, fitness-and-nutrition station, as well as a heart-health display. New to the center is the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America, which was formerly located at the Novi Expo Center. Ongoing.
• Dinosaurs Unearthed is the largest dinosaur exhibition ever to come to Detroit, and includes 24 animatronic dinosaurs, five full-size skeletons, and nearly 40 fossil replicas and eggs from the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods.
$11.95-$19.95.
5020 John R, Detroit.
Dossin Great Lakes Museum
• City on the Straits is an exhibit that provides snapshots of the ways the Great Lakes and the Detroit River have influenced the region. Artifacts include wood shipping crates, an iron paddlewheel hub from The Northerner, a Great Lakes depth chart, and more.
• Life on a Long Ship: Great Lakes Sailors takes a look into the lives of the people who make a living on the Great Lakes. This exhibit also offers a glimpse into the jobs of other crew members, such as the wheelsmen, mates, porters, and engineers.
• Dossin Great Lakes Museum: Celebrating 50 Years! focuses on the early years and the people who made the museum possible.
• Gothic Room allows visitors to experience the likes of a gentlemen’s lounge inside the City of Detroit III. The exhibit also features a window on the right side of the gallery to show the Detroit shoreline in the early 1900s.
• S.S. William Clay Ford Pilot House is a Great Lakes freighter that was scrapped, but its pilothouse was brought to the museum. Built in 1952, the 646-foot straight-decked vessel was lengthened to 767 feet in 1979.
100 Strand, Belle Isle, Detroit; 313-833-1805.
Exhibit Museum of Natural History
• Relics pays tribute to ingenious gadgets, such as a mirrored ball, rotating galaxy projector, video-projector masks, and more. On display indefinitely.
• Collecting for Science: Collections, Science, and Scholarships in the U-M Research Museums showcases the research at the U-M Museum departments of anthropology, paleontology, zoology, and the herbarium. Through July.
• Archeology! Current Research in the University of Michigan Museum of Anthropology is an ongoing research exhibit that examines the questions that contemporary archeologists ask about the past and the techniques they use to answer them.
Admission to the museum is free, but suggested donation is $6.
University of Michigan campus, 1109 Geddes, Ann Arbor; 734-764-0478.
Henry Ford Museum
• Heroes of the Sky is a permanent exhibit focusing on adventures in early aviation.
• With Liberty and Justice for All highlights four pivotal periods of history, beginning with the American Revolution and ending in the 1960s. Permanent exhibit.
• Automobiles in American Life features automotive milestones, including the 15 millionth Model T, as well as the Ford Mustang. Permanent exhibit.
20900 Oakwood Blvd., Dearborn; 313-982-6001.
MUSIC
The Deftones
The Sacramento, Calif.-based sextet faced a major setback in 2008, when longtime bassist Chi Cheng was seriously injured in a car accident (he’s remained in a minimally conscious state since). Then, in 2009, the band scrapped an entire album because it didn’t represent “who they were as people and musicians.” But 2010 was more agreeable for the alternative rockers, when their latest full-length release, Diamond Eyes, was named the iTunes Rock Album of the Year. The Deftones are riding that momentum as they steamroll through Detroit at 6:30 p.m.
May 1. $45.
The Fillmore, 2115 Woodward, Detroit; 313-961-5451.
The Kills
The Kills were once singer Alison Mosshart’s main gig, until some guy named Jack White swept her up to form the bluesy alternative supergroup, The Dead Weather. But that hasn’t stopped The Kills from chugging along, despite the second billing in Mosshart’s résumé. The band just released Blood Pressures, its fourth studio album, last month.
8 p.m. May 3. $17.
The Majestic Theatre, 4120 Woodward, Detroit; 313-833-9700.
For Pete’s Sake
This birthday tribute to Pete Seeger (who turns 92) won’t actually feature the folk legend. Rather, it will be a night of storytelling and sing-alongs — in the Seeger tradition — led by a roster of local performers.
8 p.m. May 3. $10.
The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor; 734-761-1800.
Neil Young
Always prolific — if, at times, a bit inconsistent — Neil Young has never been a stranger to experimentation. Last year, his efforts yielded great results, in the form of Le Noise, the Canadian rocker’s 33rd solo studio album. The Daniel Lanois-produced set spawned the single “Angry World,” which won a Grammy Award for “Best Rock Song.”
7:30 p.m. May 4. $45-$85.
Fox Theatre, 2211 Woodward, Detroit; 313-983-6000.
…And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead
Despite the pretentious moniker and a highly coveted “10” rating from hipster outpost Pitchfork (for 2002 album Source Tags and Codes), Trail of Dead is — at its heart — a rock band. Except, the quartet is from Austin, Texas — a town known for being “weird.” Like their hometown, the Dead (not that one) rarely play it straight.
8 p.m. May 4. $15.
The Magic Stick, 4120 Woodward, Detroit; 313-833-9700.
Dierks Bentley
Judging by his personal Twitter account, country star Dierks Bentley’s fame has led to some awkward moments. An excerpt: “My mom just called Borders bookstore and asked them to hold three copies of the latest Penthouse Magazine with my interview in it. I’m pretty sure [she] has no idea what Penthouse is. Wish I could be at that store with a video camera when she goes to pick them up!” That’s not exactly something a Southern gentleman would do, but, despite calling Nashville home now, Bentley originally hails from Arizona. (Bentley was also one of the five musicians who participated in Esquire’s Songwriting Challenge 2011, for which he wrote the song below.)
6:30 p.m. $35-$45. May 6.
The Fillmore, 2115 Woodward, Detroit; 313-961-5451.
Billy Ocean
Depending on what part of the world you resided in around 1984, you might remember Billy Ocean from his breakout hit, “Caribbean Queen,” or “European Queen,” or “African Queen.” But regardless of where you were in 1988, another one of Ocean’s singles, “Get Outta My Dreams, Get into My Car,” needed no title alterations to get its message across with lyrics like these: “Lady driver, let me take your wheel. Smooth operator, touch my bumper.” The concupiscent theme has driven Ocean’s career, even on his latest album, February’s Because I Love You.
8 p.m. May 6. $30-$35.
MotorCity Casino Hotel, 2901 Grand River, Detroit; 313-237-7711.
John Prine
Prine has the distinction of receiving his first written review from one Roger Ebert, back in 1970. “He starts slow. But after a song or two, even the drunks in the room begin to listen to his lyrics,” Ebert wrote. “And then he has you.” While the folk singer has never charted a top 10 hit or sold millions of records, his influence has spread far and wide. Fans include Kris Kristofferson (who discovered Prine), Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, and Roger Waters. Just by influencing those artists, Prine’s mark on popular music is indelible.
8 p.m. May 7. $45-$69.50.
Michigan Theater, 603 E. Liberty, Ann Arbor; 734-668-8463.
The Flaming Lips
The psychedelic alternative rock band, led by sartorial superfreak Wayne Coyne, has been putting out full-length albums since 1986’s Hear It Is. And while they’ve always approached recording with an unpredictable attitude of experimentation, the Oklahoma-based quintet is known perhaps more for its bombastic live show, employing elaborate costumes, oversized props, confetti, pyrotechnics, and complex light shows.
8 p.m. May 13. $35-$49.50.
The Fillmore, 2115 Woodward, Detroit; 313-961-5451.
Usher & Akon
Though it hasn’t been six months since Usher’s last visit to Detroit, the R&B star added a second North American leg to his OMG Tour because of “overwhelming popular demand.” If you’ve seen Usher perform live, then you know that he doesn’t need any extra legs, but he’s bringing Akon along anyway.
7:30 p.m. May 15. $30.50-$100.50.
Palace of Auburn Hills, 4 Championship Dr., Auburn Hills; 248-377-0100.
Sleigh Bells
While the name of this male-female duo elicits images of bucolic snow rides pulled by Santa’s reindeer, Sleigh Bells’ blend of explosive beats and biting, laser-like guitars would be a more appropriate soundtrack for a high-speed chase in outer space. But that doesn’t mean there’s any shortness of hooks.
6:30 p.m. May 18. $20.50.
St. Andrew’s Hall, 431 E. Congress, Detroit; 313-961-8137.
Bruce Cockburn
The Canadian-born songwriter has been going at it since 1967, when he became the de facto headliner at the Mariposa Folk Festival after fellow Canuck Neil Young cancelled. Across more than 30 live and studio albums, Cockburn’s blend of folk, jazz, and rock has also been covered by the Barenaked Ladies, Jimmy Buffett, the Jerry Garcia Band, and Ani DiFranco.
7:30 p.m. May 19 & 20.
The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor; 734-761-1800.
Young Jeezy
Jay Wayne Jenkins, better known to most as Atlanta rapper Young Jeezy or just “Jeezy,” tends to gravitate toward acronyms. As a kid, he spent nine months in the boot camp YCA (Young Challenge Academy); his first album was titled Thuggin’ Under the Influence (T.U.I.); his record label goes by the name CTE (Corporate Thugz Entertainment); and he’s a member of the USDA — the United Streets Dopeboyz of America, that is. Sometimes, the attraction to letters can be a drawback, as it was in 2008, when he was arrested for a DUI.
8 p.m. May 21. $59-$89.
Fox Theatre, 2211 Woodward, Detroit; 313-983-6000.
Sean Blackman, Wayne Gerard, and Larry Fratangelo
Guitarists Sean Blackman and Wayne Gerard are accompanied by percussionist Larry Fratangelo in this evening of bossa nova, samba, flamenco, and cha cha music as part of the Palmer Woods Music in Homes Spring-String Celebration, which features award-winning musicians playing in Palmer Woods residences.
8 p.m. May 28. $35.
The location of the home will be provided to ticket holders.
Brett Dennen
Despite his carrot-colored mop-top, Dennen bears no relation to comedian Carrot Top. Still, he looks nothing like the guy with the silky voice and laid-back acoustic strumming (à la Jason Mraz) that his songs would suggest. Maybe that’s why his music has accompanied scenes on network TV shows like Parenthood, Grey’s Anatomy, and House, rather than music videos on MTV. Then again, when is the last time you’ve seen a music video on MTV?
7 p.m. May 29. $20.
St. Andrew’s Hall, 431 E. Congress, Detroit; 313-961-8137.
THEATER
Fisher Theatre
• Originally slated to run in March, Chicago: the Musical, the award-winning musical about murder, corruption, and celebrity comes back to Detroit to “give them the old razzle-dazzle.”
Runs May 17-22. $38-$39. Tickets for the originally scheduled dates will be accepted for the corresponding postponed performance.
3011 W. Grand Blvd, Detroit; 313-872-1000.
Hilberry Theatre
Based on the book by John Irving and divided into two plays, The Cider House Rules, 1&2 follows Homer, a young man who grows up in an orphanage that he eventually comes to run, following in the footsteps of the obstetrician who delivered him.
Through May 14. $20-$25.
4841 Cass, Detroit; 313-577-2972.
Jewish Ensemble Theatre
• Circumcise Me, written by and starring Yisrael Campbell, follows Campbell’s story growing up an ordinary Irish and Italian Catholic kid in Philadelphia. A former alcoholic and recovering drug addict, Campbell recounts his journey to conversion to Judaism.
Runs May 7 and May 8. $32-$41.
• The Model Apartment, written by Donald Margulies, tells the story of Max and Lola, a couple of aging Holocaust survivors who try to escape from their troubles to Florida, only to find that they have troubles aplenty in their new home.
May 11 to June 5. $32-$41.
6600 W. Maple, West Bloomfield; 248-788-2900.
Meadow Brook Theatre
• The 1960s period musical SHOUT! The Mod Musical explores the ever-changing roles of women in society in a tongue-in-cheek manner.
Through May 15. $24-39.
207 Wilson Hall, Oakland University, Rochester; 248-377-3300.
Mosaic Youth Theatre
• Presenting an original play from Michael Dinwiddie, Northern Lights 1966 tells the story of the student protests at Detroit’s Northern High School leading up to the summer of 1967.
May 13-22. $10-20.
3011 West Grand Blvd., Detroit; 313-872-6910.
Performance Network Theatre
• The Obie Award-winning comedy Circle Mirror Transformation shows what can happen when a New England community-college drama class goes awry in the hands of an inept instructor.
Through May 22. $25-41.
120 E. Huron, Ann Arbor; 734-663-0681.
Purple Rose Theatre Company
In its world premiere, Carey Crim’s heartbreaking comedy Some Couples May… chronicles a woman and her family as they journey through the challenges of infertility.
Through May 28. $20-$40.
137 Park St., Chelsea; 734-433-7573.
Tipping Point Theatre
The Pulitzer Prize-winning play Crimes of the Heart follows Babe Magrath, a woman accused of shooting her husband, a senator, and won’t tell anyone, even her lawyer, why she did it. Babe relies on her sisters, Lenny and Meg, to help her through the ordeal.
Runs May 19 to June 25. $28-$30, Senior citizens 62 and older receive a $2 discount.
Tipping Point Theatre, 361 E. Cady, Northville; 248-347-0003.
Send information at least nine weeks in advance to:
Listings, Hour Detroit, 117 W. Third St., Royal Oak, MI 48067.
By e-mail: editorial@hourdetroit.
By fax: 248-691-4531.
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