Do you want some music? Do you want to see your favorite musical artist in action? Do you love the live experience of a concert? Detroit’s ability to handle large crowds and attract the biggest names in music makes it a top destination for concertgoers. This is Motown, after all: the city where Stevie Wonder and the Supremes launched their careers. Rising stars and local bands still find an enthusiastic welcome for music of all kinds in the city of Detroit.
fox theater
The preservation of the Fox Theater is one of Detroit’s proudest achievements. Arguably the most opulent in the nation when it opened in 1928, the 5,000-seat palace of the arts was designated a national monument in 1989 after an $11 million renovation. The Fox is now busy with concerts, family-oriented shows, and a wide variety of other offerings. It is the anchor of the Theater District and perhaps Detroit’s greatest civic treasure. In 2008, Fox welcomes the American pop band The Jonas Brothers; Grammy Award-winning R&B, soul and jazz singer Jill Scott; and Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, winners of the 2007 Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals, for the song Gone Gone Gone. The public can also see big-name entertainers like comedians Chris Rock and Frank Caliendo.
joe louis arena
Home to the 10-time Stanley Cup Champion Detroit Red Wings, Joe Louis Arena stands proudly along the banks of the Detroit River. The 20,058-seat arena is the largest indoor venue in the city of Detroit and regularly hosts exciting attractions, including professional sports, college hockey, concerts, circuses and even Disney on Ice shows. The People Mover stops at your door, so concertgoers can park elsewhere downtown and get to the arena quickly. The Foo Fighters are set to rock the Joe Louis Arena in 2008. Def Leppard with REO Speedwagon and Styx will also appear here and later in the year, Rush makes a stop at Joe Louis during his extended Snakes & Arrows world tour.
Cobo Stadium
Located near the Detroit River, Cobo Arena is one of Michigan’s premier event venues, entertaining national and international audiences for more than four decades. While Detroit’s basketball championships are held here, some of the best rock and roll concerts in the world are also held here – Slipknot, Madonna and KISS to name a few. Contemporary bands like Weezer, Jimmy Eat World, Bush, Oasis, Blink 182, and the Goo Goo Dolls, as well as seasoned veterans like Bob Dylan play here. Cobo hosts various sporting and civic events, rallies, meetings, and location shoots.
DTE Energy Music Theater
Originally known as the Pine Knob Music Theater due to its proximity to the nearby Pine Knob Ski Area and Golf Course, the DTE Energy Music Theater changed its name in 2001 when DTE Energy purchased the area’s premier outdoor amphitheater. Despite this change, many people still call the place “Pine Knob” or “the knob.” Many of music’s biggest stars have performed at the theater, including Chicago and Eddie Money. The Detroit venue is also on some of the biggest tours of the summer concert season, including Ozzfest, Gigantour, and Reggae Sunsplash. Canadian power trio Rush have called DTE their favorite place to play in the United States. The highly successful Police tour makes its stop at DTE in the summer of 2008. Tim McGraw and Gingantour with Megadeath are also scheduled to appear during the concert season from May through September.
Meadow Brook Music Festival
Located at Oakland University, the Meadow Brook Music Festival seats 8,000 people in the expansive outdoor pavilion and garden seating area. The Meadow Brook Music Festival is the official summer home of the renowned Detroit Symphony Orchestra, as well as being one of the best concert venues in Michigan, showcasing the musical talents of James Taylor and his Band of Legends in 2008.
Auburn Hills Palace
Detroit’s first auditorium-style concert hall is often referred to simply as the Palace, and is home to the Detroit Pistons and hosts numerous concerts and special events throughout the year. Some of the venue’s past big name artists include Sting, David Lee Roth and Crosby, Stills and Nash. In early 2008, the Spice Girls performed at the Palace as part of their The Return of the Spice Girls reunion tour to a sold-out crowd. The 2008 season also includes Avril Lavigne, Creedence Clearwater Revisited, Santana, Kanye West, Tom Petty and Celine Dion.
Detroit Symphony Orchestra
Founded in 1914, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra is one of the most prestigious and accessible orchestras in the United States. In 2003, he opened the Max M. Fisher Music Center, a performing arts complex that has become a popular venue for musical concerts of various genres, including some of the most popular jazz concerts in the city. The Max is home to the famous Orchestra Hall, Music Box, Atrium and Allesee Hall. Excellent acoustics and state-of-the-art facilities make each performance memorable. The Max also has facilities to host conferences, private concerts, banquets and weddings. The Chieftans, Ireland’s musical ambassadors, make their appearance at the Fisher in 2008, as do five-time Academy Award winner John Williams, followed by New Orleans Jazz and the Mambo Kings.
