Longtime Detroit rock musician and poet Carolyn Striho has long envisioned a special concert event: a wondrous evening that merges music and poems from some of our city’s most accomplished artists.
On Oct. 8, that idea becomes reality with “A Detroit Poetry Music Night” at Aretha’s Jazz Café, featuring Striho and fellow Detroit artists Heather Buchanan, Mary McGuire, Tracy Kash, and Kahn Santori Davison.
“I’ve been planning a special night of Detroit performers for at least a couple of years,” says Striho, a multiple-time Detroit Music Award winner whose artistic sensibility might be described as Joni Mitchell, Joan Jett, and Sylvia Plath all rolled into one. Known for her energetic stage performances, she plays guitar and piano with her band, Detroit Energy Asylum.
“There’s so much incredible talent here in Detroit, and there are performers like me who are multi-hyphenate artists — poets, authors, singer-songwriters — who don’t always get to share their additional gifts.”
The evening will be hosted by Buchanan, owner of Detroit’s venerable Aquarius Press, who holds a special place in Striho’s career.
“Heather and I worked together on my book (Detroit (Maiden Energy), a 2020 collection of original poems), and she released it on Aquarius Press, so we’ve stayed pretty close ever since,” Striho says. “I wanted her to be a part of this because although she publishes a lot of other people’s works, she is a pretty prolific author, and she’s got a new book out (EMPIRE: Book Two of the Victors Saga). She’s going to be emceeing, but she’s also going to do some readings.”
“It’s always an honor to showcase the artistic legends in the city, especially those who have multiple talents,” Buchanan says.
Details on the Lineup
Buchanan recommended bringing Kash into the lineup. A bandleader, filmmaker, author, and Detroit Music Award winner in her own right for her jazz vocals, Kash will bring another mix of creative talents to the evening.
Davison, perhaps better known as a photographer and contributor to Detroit Metro Times, is also a poet and the author of Blaze, a collection based on his life.
McGuire, a celebrated Americana singer-songwriter and fellow Detroit Music Award winner, says the rock, folk, blues, and country she heard growing up in Detroit in the ’70s continues to shape her work.
“Detroit is woven into the way I hear music and the way I tell stories,” she says. “There’s a certain honesty and soul to this city that stays with you wherever you go. For me, this evening is really about connection: from the musicians and poets on stage to the people in the room. I’m really looking forward to our show.”
Striho’s poetry has also been finding a new audience; Detroit (Maiden Energy), appears to be experiencing a second life.
“After I did the online digital of the book, there was more interest,” says Striho, who is also a high school teacher. “It’s like it never really went away, but it built a whole new audience momentum. I was doing shows in Grand Rapids and people were talking about it, then I did some book shows through Michigan. It’s like it got rediscovered.”
Now, Striho hopes audiences will embrace the same blending of creative forms when the performers take the stage at Aretha’s Jazz Café.
“I’m excited to be performing with an incredibly talented group,” she says. “The show will feature new music and poetry with strength, creative energy, hope, and some rock and roll passion! We’re honored to share our songs and poems with inspiration from Detroit’s past, present, and future.”
“A Detroit Music Poetry Night” begins at 8 p.m. on Oct. 8 at Aretha’s Jazz Café (350 Madison, Detroit). Tickets are $17.85 and may be purchased through Eventbrite, by emailing auxmedia1@gmail.com, or by calling 313-515-8122.
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