District 142 will open its doors on Saturday, March 11. The 15,000-square-foot venue, located in the heart of downtown Wyandotte, is owned by Julie Law, owner of 360 Event Production, and Joshua Cade, owner of Whiskeys on the Water. The duo produces thirteen different festivals including Swiggin’ Pig, Wyandotte Wine Crawl, and the St. Patrick’s Party and Leprechaun Crawl.
“Josh and I have had a vision for years now to open a music venue in the city,” Law says. “It made sense to find a space that was right in the center of town, it was perfect for us.”
The building is over a century old, with some of its original charm still intact. “The front of the building is from the 1800s and has a lot of industrial qualities to it, gear windows and lots of steel. The inspiration was to keep up that look, while adding some elegance to it,” Law says.
Visitors will find a staircase made from the buildings 1900s rafters, bathroom partitions made by local welders, and custom-made channel letters over the stage, all of which pays tribute to the foundation of the building.

The team cut a hole in the floor of this two-story space to create a mezzanine to create a dual level experience for concertgoers. The lower level serves as a standing room only area and the upper level provides a more intimate, private seating space.
“The lower level is great for anyone who wants to be on the floor and get up close to see these bands, and the upper level has seating, a roaming waitstaff, and separate bathrooms. Both spaces have a bar as well,” Law says. Cade adds that the lighting and sound systems are top notch, making every show look and feel unique.
In addition to its central location and state of the art amenities, District 142 has another major advantage: parking. The venue is surrounded with free parking for concertgoers, with 11 parking lots in the area and over 1300 spaces. The venue itself can hold just over 700 people.
District 142 has already started filling up their 2023 lineup with shows like Saliva, A Flock of Seagulls, and Molly Hatchet. Many events will be 21+, with some family-friendly or 18+ shows mixed in.

With a focus on country and rock music, the facility will include everything from pop-rock and hot country to classic rock and outlaw country. They will also be hosting an array of festivals this summer. The facility will open its doors to patrons on March 11 with their first concert, The Four Horsemen — The Album-Quality Metallica Tribute.
“This is going to serve has homebase for several of the festivals we have hosted in years prior, including our St. Patrick’s Party and Leprechaun Crawl,” Law says. “Because of our location on Maple Street, we can expand our parties to be indoor and outdoor.”
The venue has already experienced an outpouring of support, with their April 1 Eva Under Fire concert selling out in less than a month. Interest continues as they book national legends like Foghat and Mark Farner’s American Band.
“We’re overwhelmed by the support, the community is so happy to finally have a live music venue in the Downriver area,” Law says.
Updates on District 142’s 2023 lineup can be found at district142live.com. Find even more of the latest development news in Metro Detroit at HourDetroit.com.
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