The New Sunday Street Market at Eastern Market!

We all know that Detroit's Eastern Market has been bringing fruit, vegetables, and flowers to the people for over 100 years now. Every Saturday morning farmers from the area bring their goods downtown, in turn bringing thousands of people to the sheds to shop. Well, starting this week there is a new reason to head down to Eastern Market.

Starting this Sunday, June 1st, the Eastern Market Corporation will kick off their new Sunday Street Market. This market will feature vendors and artists spread throughout sheds 2 and 3. In addition to the goods, there will also be live music, food trucks, and there will be different features each week. For instance, this weekend for the kickoff, the Market is hosting artist and filmmaker Nicole Macdonald and her exhibit entitled “Factory Windows".

Entry to the Sunday Street Market is free, just like the Saturday market days, and it runs from 10 a.m. 'til 4 p.m. Don't worry if you can't make it out this weekend! This event will run weekly through September 28th. And there will be other fun events in conjunction with the Market every week! So, make sure you keep an eye on the Eastern Market Facebook page to stay in the loop on all of the happenings!

~C

Win Tickets To See The Lawrence Arms @ Small's!

Chicago punk rockers the Lawrence Arms will be hitting the stage at Small's on Tuesday, June 3rd. The band is currently on the road on a short midwest tour, with other stops in Minneapolis, St Louis, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Madison, Kalamazoo, Chicago and Normal, IL. The trio just released a new full length album Metropole earlier this year, you can pick it up on iTunes here.

Also on the bill for Tuesday night are tour mates The Copyrights and Sam Russo, along with Detroit's own Rebel Spies. Tickets are $15 in advance or $17 at the door. You can pick yours up in advance here. Thanks to our friends over at Small's we are giving away 2 pairs of tickets to this great show! To enter to win, just email us at hipindetroit@gmail.com with Lawrence Arms in the subject and your name in the email. We will draw our lucky winners the morning of the show. This show is open to all ages too! So here's a chance for some of our younger readers to get in on the free tickets! Good luck!

~C

Tequila Mundo

This Saturday the Royal Oak Farmers Market will be selling fresh Michigan grown fruits and vegetables during the day and hosting a fancy tequila tasting at night. A few weeks ago we interviewed Mike over at Cabresto Tequila and learned that there is a lot more to tequila then we ever imagined. Each type and brand of tequila varies based on where the agave plant is grown, how it is cooked, and how long it sits and waits before it hits your lips. There is a tequila out there for all of us and this tasting is the perfect chance to find out what tequila that is. 

This event will feature over 60 types of tequila for you to taste and sample. Patrons can try the stuff straight up or get it mixed into cocktails, including margaritas. After you have had a few samples you can pick up a taco or burrito from one of the local restaurants participating in the event. This list includes Alley Taco, Rojo Mexican Bistro, Zumba Mexican Grille, Taquería El Nacimiento, On The Border Mexican Grill, and Camelia's Mexican Grill. There will also be over 40 salsas to sample and taste as you walk around! There will also be music, games, and shopping from a variety of vendors.

Tickets for the general tasting are $45 and can be purchased here. To learn more about the event, visit their website here. The tasting starts at 8 p.m. and goes 'til 11:30 p.m. 

~S

"The Wishing Tree" by Benjamin Miles - Album Release Party

Summer and hip-hop go together like peanut butter and jelly. I love to roll the windows down, turn up the bass, and listen to the soulful sounds of someone with a solid lyrical flow. I was recently sent an album called The Wishing Tree by Benjamin Miles and I have been playing it on repeat every time I'm cruising in my car. It's a solid album from start to finish with a few guest appearances, including Bryan Lackner, Brent “Blak” Smith, Chris RedPill Orrick, MOLA1, Jp From The Hp, Britney Stoney, Charlie Beans and Tony Baggs. My favorite track off the album is "Wolves & Sheep" featuring Britney Stoney, it's different than the other tracks on the album and stuck out to me.

Benjamin will be celebrating the official release of the new album this Friday at The Loving Touch. Lawrence Kopelli Young and the #CoOwnaz will be opening the show and it is FREE to get in. 21+ are welcome and The Loving Touch is located at 22634 Woodward Ave. in Ferndale.

You can pick up a copy of the new album The Wishing Tree here. Take a listen, get addicted, and head out to the show this Friday to hear it performed live.

~S

Celebrating Women in Hip Hop

Ever notice that it is a lot harder for a female artist to get recognition for her music if it isn't bubblegum pop? People seem to be taken aback when a woman can get on stage and play guitar or spit out a verse. Here in Detroit we have so much female talent that people have finally taken notice and begun to give these artists the respect that they deserve. There is a growing female hip hop community out there taking over stages and making people listen.

In 2009 The 5e Gallery started hosting weekly events that celebrated women in the arts. They have been meeting every Tuesday for 5 years and this Saturday they are hosting a party to celebrate where they have been and where they are going next. This event will feature a performance by Miz Korona, DSSense, Mahogany Jones, Insite the Riot, NiqLoveRhodes, Abstract Jazz, Keys Blake, Jaci Caprice and DJ Lynda Carter. They will also have a live painting & graffiti showcase featuring Nicole Carter, Riku, Nemiki, Help & Mary Pepper. The gallery will also be debuting their documentary film at this event. To top it all off, the night will feature the galleries first B-Girl Battle, the winner will receive a $500 cash prize. 

This will be an evening to celebrate women in the arts and possibly win some money if you have the skills to do so. Tickets for the event are only $10 and can be purchased in advance here. The 5e Gallery is located at 4605 Cass Avenue in Detroit.

This is the tentative schedule for the day:
12 PM FILM + PANEL (DOCUMENTARY ON THE FOUNDATION OF WOMEN IN HIP HOP IN DETROIT)
2 PM B-GIRL WORKSHOP
4 PM BATTLE REGISTRATION
5 PM PRE-LIMS START
6 PM B-GIRL BATTLES
8 PM - 9 PM FRESH NEW ARTIST SHOWCASE
10 PM - 11 PM CONCERT (MUSICAL PERFORMANCES)
11 PM AWARD SHOWCASE
12 AM HEADLINER 

~S

Win Tickets to Hush at the Magic Stick!

A Detroit hip hop artist has made a name for himself in the music business, but he has also earned a place in my heart by saving so many stray dogs in our city. Hush has been rapping since '92 and has made guest appearances on all sorts of iconic albums, including Eminem's Slim Shady EP. Hush has shared the stage with with everyone from 50 Cent to Pitbull. He is also the man behind the Detroit Dog Rescue whose mission is to open and operate Detroit’s first no kill shelter. You can foster and adopt dogs in need here.

Hush is a pioneer or music and charity. You can catch him perform alongside Ro Spit, Hatch, Strays, and The Prime Eights this Saturday, June 7th at the Magic Stick. Cover is only $10 and all ages are welcome. We also have two sets of tickets to giveaway for the show. If you would like to get in for free, please send your full name over to hipindetroit@gmail.com. We will draw two winners the day before the show and their names will be on the guest list plus one for the event.

The Magic Stick is located at 4150 Woodward in Detroit and the show starts at 8 p.m.

~S

The Michigan Glass Project Main Event

In the past two years The Michigan Glass Project was able to raise over $24,000 to donate to the Belle Isle Aquarium. They are a large part of the reason that it was able to reopen to the public. This year's Main Event will take place June 6-8 and the proceeds from the vent will go to the Aquarium. They are hoping to raise more money and get more people involved this year. 

June 5th you can head out to the Aquarium for the kick off party. This will include drinks, food, live music, and networking. Tickets for the kick off party are $25 at the door and the Aquarium is located on Belle Isle. (Remember you must purchase a $10 pass to get onto Belle Isle these days, so factor that in if you do not already have one.)

June 6th will be the first day of the Main Event. This will take place at IC Building 6 at 1600 Clay St. Detroit, MI 48211 and will go from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. The first day will feature live glass blowing demos, live music, wares from local vendors, and food & beverages. A day pass is $15, but a 3 days pass is only $20.

The after party for the first night will be held at the Tangent Gallery located at 715 E Milwaukee St. in Detroit. This party will go from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. and will feature live music, live painting, a silent auction and a cash bar. It is $10 to get in the door, unless you already have a bracelet. Then it's only $5.

June 7th will be the second day of the Main Event, located once again at the IC building. The price and the attractions are the same, but the Saturday's after party will be held in The Whitney Garden and will feature live music and a cash bar. Tickets are once again $10 or $5 if you have a bracelet. This after party also goes from 10-2.

Sunday will feature live glass blowing, vendors, music, food and drinks, but they will also have a special brunch from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. The last day of the main event will be a little shorter, as it will be open from 10 a.m. -.8 p.m.

Sunday's after party will take place at The Old Miami and will feature live music. This party is free with a wristband and only $5 without one.

The weekend's events will feature twenty torches, ten dedicated to the main team of artists and ten dedicated to local and national glass artists interested in sculpting for the cause. They will have live soft glass demonstrations featuring local furnace glass masters from The Juice Box Studio and a soft glass beadwork station with recognized beadmakers from around the area. You can watch live painting with nationally recognized street artists and have a few drinks with your friends while taking it all in.

We attended the event the last two years and were surprised by how much fun we had. We have two recommendations for anyone attending. Make sure to dress light, those torches get warm, and pace yourself. Day drinking can be a little intense.

For more information follow The Michigan Glass Project on Facebook here.

~S

Win Tickets to See The EELS with Chelsea Wolfe at ROMT!

Lately we have seen a big bump in our readership and we're truly thankful that everyone is reading and participating in the Detroit music scene. Music means the world to us and we're glad it means a lot to all of you. As our readership grows bigger, so do the venues that we are getting access to. We have always been fans of seeing shows at Royal Oak Music Theatre, not only does it have a great sound system it also doesn't have a bad seat in the house. No matter where you sit, you have a great view of the stage. We are excited to announce that that we have two sets of tickets to give away to The EELS and Chelsea Wolfe at ROMT this Tuesday, June 3rd.

The EELS are an alternative rock band from California that recently put out a new album called The Cautionary Tale of Mark Oliver Everett. The band has 11 studio releases and each album has a different feel. This latest album is a tribute to a love lost and some of the most raw music from the band to date.

Chelsea Wolfe is a singer songwriter who's also from California. Her music is described as “drone metal art folk”, she has a unique sound to say the least. You may have heard her song “Feral Love” on this season of Game of Thrones. She reminds me of a gothy Fiona Apple, and I have been addicted to her music ever since Jess Haze over at Todd's room told us about this artist when we were interviewing her.

To win tickets to the show you have to add us on Instagram or Twitter and send us a message using the hashtag #IWantToSeeEELSatROMT. We will draw two names the morning of the show and give them details on how to claim their prize. You can also purchase tickets to the show by clicking on the link here.

We're very excited that ROMT has opened up their doors for our readers because this is one of the best venues in town. ROMT is located at 318 West 4th Street in Royal Oak. Doors for the show are at 7 p.m. and tickets range from $29.50 to $35.

~S  

Win Tickets to the Flint Family BBQ!

It is really fun to watch people that you admire and respect succeed. Everytime another one of the bands that we love gets the credit that they deserve we get the biggest smiles on our faces. Watching Flint Eastwood evolve into the powerhouse that they have become today has been amazing. Jax was a bad ass who commanded the stage the first time we saw her, but at Blowout we were blown away by how much the entire band has grown as performers and musicians. They just seem to have that special something that makes you want to dance and have a good time.

Flint Eastwood has announced that they will be hosting an event to kick off the summer and they are calling it The Flint Family BBQ. The lineup for the show includes Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers, Monument Monument, George Morris & The Gypsy Chorus, Blaire Alise & The Bombshells, DL Rossi, Rival Summers, Carts Before Horses, and Greater Alexander. They are also planning to have free food, lawn games, live art, and drink specials throughout the day. The lineup alone is drool worthy, the games and other attractions are just a bonus.

The BBQ will take place at The Crofoot in Pontiac. Doors for the show will be at 5 p.m. and the music will start at 7 p.m. They would like everyone to come out early to enjoy the fun, games, sun, and BBQ before they start the music and dancing. They will also have two stages, so once the music starts it's going to keep going until the night ends. Tickets are only $10 in advance and will be $15 the day of the show. Flint Eastwood has been selling out shows lately, so it might be a good idea to save the 5 bucks and get your ticket in advance here.

As a bonus, Jax personally gave Hip In Detroit one set of tickets to giveaway to one of our lucky readers. She is not only a bad ass on stage, but it turns out she is a badass in real life. There are two ways to enter to win this time around. You can email your full name to hipindetroit@gmail.com and be entered one time into the drawing, or you can add us on Instagram or Twitter and send us a message using the hashtag #IWantToGoToTheFlintFamilyBBQ. If you enter via social media we throw your name in the hat twice and double your chances of being our winner. If you help us get the word out about the show we will do our best to get you in the door.

All ages are welcome to attend the show and The Crofoot is located at 1 South Saginaw in Pontiac. We're looking forward to putting on our best bolo tie and getting down with the family. Hope to see all of you there!

~S

The Perfect Summer Kick Off Show - Saturday at The Berkley Front

If you like music, you should be at The Berkley Front this Saturday. It really is that simple. There is a great show there that you will kick yourself in the butt for missing later. The lineup for the night is The Hand in the Ocean, Ryan Allen and Jack & Ace.

First off, The Hand in the Ocean will get you in the mood for summer. Their banjo filled tunes will make you want to head out to the woods or sit around a campfire. The band plans on playing a new song Saturday night too, but if you want to check out their older music, head over to their bandcamp here.

Also on the lineup is Ryan Allen. You all know Ryan from his many projects, like Destroy This Place and Thunderbirds Are Now! It has been a few years since he has played solo, but he is ready to show off some new songs that will be featured on an upcoming album. Ryan also has tracks online that you can check out on his bandcamp here.

To top things off, Jack & Ace is a duo made up of Bob Nanna from Braid and Lauren LoPiccolo. Their songs mix all sorts of styles with some having a summery feel and others more melancholy. There's a whole slew of tracks available for free download through, you guessed it, their bandcamp. You can pick them up and check them out here.

It will only cost you $5 to get in the door this weekend and it should be a pretty laid back night full of great music. Doors open at 9 p.m. with Ryan Allen kicking things off at 10. The Berkley Front is located at 3087 W. 12 Mile in Berkley. For more information on this show, check out the Facebook event page here.

~C

Dave Grohl Takes Another Step to Save Rock 'N' Roll

Photo Credit: Rolling Stone

Last year Dave Grohl released a documentary called Sound City in which he chronicled the studio and the soundboard used to record some of rock's biggest albums, including Nirvana’s Nevermind. The film reminded me of two things, how much rock and roll means to me and how cool Stevie Nicks is. If you haven't seen that one yet, I suggest that you sit down and give it a go. Dave Grohl reminds you why you fell in love with music in the first place and brings you back to the days when auto tune did not exist.

This week Mr. Grohl announced that he is going to take another shot at filmmaking. The Foo Fighters are not only releasing their 8th album this fall, but they will also be debuting a series on HBO that will feature the making of the album. Instead of making this new record in his home studio (where the Sound City soundboard is currently located) he traveled around the country and recorded in some of the most famous places in the US. This includes visiting Steve Albini's Electrical Audio in Chicago and Rancho De La Luna in Joshua Tree, California. He will not only chronicle the process of making the songs, but he will go over the rich history of each recording studio. He even goes as far as to talk to other artists who have recorded in that studio. Each song on this new album was written in full before a single lyric was written and the lyrics were inspired by the place the song was recorded and the experience that he had personally while recording it.

Dave may single handedly save rock and roll. He is showing the world once again that real music still exists and that you do not have to have a writing team behind you to put out a hit. All I can say is I cannot wait for this documentary and this new album. Mr Grohl you are a true inspiration, “there goes my hero, watch him as he goes”.

~S

New Fortune Fest at New Dodge Lounge!

New Fortune Records is doing a showcase of artists that they work with this Sunday, May 25th at the New Dodge in Hamtramck. The lineup includes performances by The Ruiners, Ricky Rat Pack, Dutch Pink, After Dark Amusement Park, Detroit CYDI, Ryan Dillaha & The Miracle Men, The Webbs, The High Strung, Jeremy Porter & The Tucos, Mur, and the one and only James Linck. New Fortune Records will be giving out some free swag to patrons and they are selling some special edition vinyl releases, including a special 7" split featuring Detroit CYDI and Cold Men Young, plus an exclusive vinyl release of The High Strung's 2007 album Get The Guests. As you can see, this label covers a wide variety of artists and showcases all sorts of sounds currently coming out of Detroit.

The festival is $8 for 21 and over and $10 for 18-21. Doors open at 2 p.m. and the music will go through 2 a.m. The New Dodge will be featuring $2 drafts, 50¢ hot dogs, and specials from Cabresto Tequila will be offered throughout the day. Mr. James Linck plays at 7:30 p.m. and we suggest that you at least make it there for his set. He never disappoints. The New Dodge is located at 8850 Joseph Campau in Hamtramck. To keep up with details about this show, add the event on Facebook here.

~S

Always Brewing Detroit: Coffee & Community on Tap

Metro Detroit’s ubiquitous independent coffee shops and requisite open mic nights seemed to hit their stride in the late ‘90s and early ‘00s. However, high rent, corporate competition, and a myriad of other reasons have led to fewer options and the loss of neighborhood gems like AJ’s Cafe (Ferndale), Bittersweet Coffee House (Detroit), and Brazil Coffeehouse (Royal Oak). Enter Amanda Brewington and her aptly named startup, Always Brewing Detroit. Brewington brought her caffeine-infused business acumen and passion for community-building to Grandmont/Rosedale Park in 2012 as a pop-up, and again in 2013 as a permanent fixture.

I caught up with Brewington during a busy Thursday night between live musical performances and pour-over coffees to find out how the idea for Always Brewing Detroit became a reality, and how it is redefining the neighborhood coffee shop.

KT: As long as I’ve known you, you’ve always wanted to start a coffee house. Can you give us some background on where the coffee house idea came from?
AB: It actually came from a school assignment for my Honors English class, when I was 17. Our student teacher, Matt, told us to come up with a business idea and describe it. I described this place called “The Crawl Space” (because “The Basement” seemed too obvious, you know? Ha ha). It would be a coffee shop and community hangout during the day, and at night become a place for live music. After I wrote up the paper, Matt said, “If you ever open up a place like this, let me know!” Every day, I’m like, I need to find Matt, it exists now!

KT: Do you want to talk a little bit about the process of starting your own business?
AB: When I was 25, I quit my job, moved to downtown Detroit (when it was still semi-cheap to move downtown) and started waiting tables, with two days off per week so I could work on my business plan. Which, by the way, don’t Google “business plan”; it’s terrifying! I took a ten day class on how to write a business plan through the Michigan Small Business Technology & Development Center, and then I gave myself two months to write it… I got hooked up with TechTown’s Thrive One program. With their support, I set goals: to finish my business plan, find a location and find funding...

I got the funding, a $15,000 loan from TechTown and a $5,000 loan from Detroit Micro Enterprise Fund. As for the location, I literally drove around Detroit trying to find one.

KT: What made you choose the Grandmont/Rosedale Park neighborhood?
AB: I checked out the University District, but there wasn’t any parking, so I could not sign on to a Livernois location. Next, I checked out Southwest Detroit, but they already have a great coffee house (Cafe con Leche), and I did not want to be in competition. I did a request for proposal for a location in West Village where Harlequin Cafe used to be. Unfortunately, live music is a big part of my plan, and since the neighbors had complained about noise [from the prior tenant], that was out.

My mentor from TechTown actually had a meeting here [when it was a civic building] with the Executive Director of the Grandmont Rosedale Development Corporation, Tom Goddeeris. Tom said, “I wish we just had a coffee house we could meet at…” My mentor told him about me and my mission to open a coffee house, and I met with Tom to hear more about the area. Grandmont/Rosedale Park has a huge soccer league, baseball league, farmer’s market, the city’s oldest community theatre group, but they had no place to meet. It was kind of a no-brainer, but I decided to try a pop-up first.

KT: I noticed you also had a pop-up Spring Market recently, featuring goods by local artisans, what do you feel are the advantages and disadvantages of the pop-up trend?
AB: So I think you should do a pop-up with intention. People do pop-ups because it’s a trendy thing right now, but why? You can do a pop-up to build your brand and clientele and practice selling your stuff (especially if you don’t have a storefront) or test out a location or a particular market. You have to know what your endgame is. You should always think one step ahead of where you actually are.

KT: Why do you think community support is so important to starting a business or non-profit specifically in Detroit?
AB: Because you know what we suck at in Detroit? Having people. We need to have people, and a community, you can build a relationship with. I try to retain, at a minimum, my customers’ first names and what they’re drinking. You have to know people and keep track. Tuesday mornings I get 10-25 retired people from the neighborhood and none of them order. It’s just “Hey, I’ll have the usual.”

KT: What does ABD offer that a coffee house chain does not?
AB: The personalized touch, the events, and being the community gathering place. This community gives it back, over and over, and I keep being shocked by it. I have one customer who comes in to use the conference room for her business, but she doesn’t drink coffee. She asked me the other day if I needed anything. I mentioned that an oval table would probably fit the space better, and she said, “Pick one out; I’ll buy it for you.” There are other examples like that. People just show up, and ask what we need. Humbled isn’t even the right word; I get chills. They want me to stay and be here a long time. It’s bigger picture stuff.

KT: What products do you serve, and what is your buying philosophy?
AB: Almost everything we carry comes from within a 15 mile radius from the shop, so there is a low carbon footprint. We stock Chazzano coffee, Eli tea, Guernsey milk, Chez Chloe lava cakes, Love & Buttercream cookies, Beautiful Soup soups, and Fresh Corner Cafe sandwiches.

KT: What does the future hold for Always Brewing Detroit? A franchise?
AB: Everyone is like, where’s the next shop? To me, “franchise” is a dirty word. What I see myself doing down the road is opening up other businesses on Grand River... There aren’t really any other place-making, meetup businesses around here.


Upcoming Events: Tuesday, May 20th: Craft Night at 6 p.m., Thursday, May 22nd: Open Mic Night from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., Tuesday, June 3rd: Bring Your Own Board Game Night at 7 p.m., and Saturday, June 13th: A local Art Show all day. For more information, call (313) 879-1102 or e-mail coffee@alwaysbrewingdetroit.com

Hours: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesdays: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Thursdays: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturdays: 9 a.m. to Noon

Location: Always Brewing Detroit is located at 19180 Grand River Ave. in Detroit

~KT

Win Tickets to a Movement Afterparty on the Detroit Princess

This weekend is Memorial Day in Detroit and for the last for the last 14 years that has meant one thing, electronic music is about to take over the city. First it was DEMF, then it was Fuse-In, and ever since 2006 its been all about Movement. People come from all over the world and fill up Hart Plaza for 3 days to dance and celebrate the beginning of summer. You can learn everything that you need to know about the festival at their website here.

Movement is cool, but we are more interested in getting you into one of the hippest after parties around. This Saturday, May 24th and Sunday, May 25th you can continue your Movement partying on the Detroit Princess, electronic music will be taking over the ship for 2 back to back nights of fun.This party will feature performances by Terrence Dixon, Thomas Barnett, Claus Bachor, DJ Roach, Rennie Foster, Biblical Proportions, Cloudmaster Weed, DJ Dali Sliti, DJ Nabil Sliti, John Clees, Casey 3pm Clark, and Gabriel and Brandy. The ship will board at 11 p.m., cruise from 2 a.m. to 3 a.m., and the music will not stop until the sun comes up at 5 a.m. There will be two stages and five floors for you to explore. 

Tickets are $25 at the “door” and $20 in advance. This is the closest after party to the event and promises to be a good time. We have been given one set of tickets to give away for each night. To enter, please email your full name to hipindetroit@gmail.com and let us know if you would like to go Saturday, Sunday or be entered to possibly go both nights. We will email our lucky winners this Friday and give them details on how to claim their prize. The after party is 18 plus and the ship will board at 201 Civic Center Drive in Detroit.

 

~S

Presenting the 2014 Dirtfest Lineup

The 2014 Dirt Fest lineup has been released and it includes some big names mixed with some Michigan locals. We have no doubt that this year will be just as good if not better than the previous years. Some of the names that stuck out were Battlecross, Powerman 5000, Local H, Beast in the Field, Ana, Braided Veins, It Lies Within, Killswitch Engage, and Aim Your Arrows. For a full list of bands click here. They still have one more mystery headliner to announce on July 19th, so we will keep you updated as they add to the roster.

The festival is scheduled to take place on August 9th at the Birch Run Expo Center and general admission tickets will go on sale May 23rd. VIP tickets are already available for purchase. You can pick yours up here. VIP tickets include VIP seating, restrooms, a private bar and a t-shirt.

We go to Dirt Fest for the experience, as far as we're concerned who's playing doesn't necessarily matter. But, this lineup shows promise and has us excited to head back for another year of shenanigans. Check out this video announcement from Killswitch Engage about headlining this year's show.

You can also see a highlight video from last year's fest to find out what you're in for:

Head over and "like" Dirt Fest on Facebook to get updates directly to your feed.

~S

Let's Build a DIY Skatepark Detroit

Last year we visited a pop up skate park outside the Brewster Projects and had a great time watching all the people take advantage of the free ramps and jumps that local skateboarding enthusiasts had put out for everyone to enjoy. It was fun to see kids come from all over and unite over the fact that they love to skate. Detroiters are essentially turning abandoned lots into the new, hip place to be.

The makers of that pop up skate park want to do it again, but this time they want to build something more permanent. They have thrown together a benefit this Friday, May 23 to raise some money to break ground on a new DIY skate park this summer. They are asking everyone to come out and spend a little cash at Third Street Bar in Detroit to get this thing going. The best part is that there is no cover to come out and meet the people behind the park. Instead of paying a cover, you can use your hard earned money to enter to win raffle prizes. The money that they raise from the raffle will go directly to buying the tools that they need to get started. They will also have Wolf Eyes, Blacker Magick, and Nicky Stix performing for your listening pleasure.

We reached out to one of the organizers, Derrick Dykas, and asked him to answer a few questions about the project. Check out what he had to say below and feel free to stop by this Friday to support a great cause. Skate or Die!

HID- How old were you when you started skateboarding?
Derrick Dykas- "I got my first skateboard from my dad on my 12th birthday in 1996. So, long enough to have irreversible damage to everything on my body. But, I think I've still got some good years ahead of me."

HID- Tell us about the benefit that you are having this weekend to build a skate park. How are you raising money and how much of the money will actually go to the skate park?
Derrick Dykas- "I can't wait for the benefit, I've already got six months of work into this project and we haven't even broke ground yet. But it's a free show with three great artists that I've grown up skating with. People might think it's weird that Nick (Nicky Stix) will be on stage rapping just before Wolf Eyes go on, but that's skateboarding. There is no mold, no formula, no rules. But we will have a ton of stuff we will be auctioning and raffling off. A little something for everyone whether you skate or not. So we decided to not include a door fee and just depend on donations, raffle tickets and t-shirt sales to bring in money that we will use on tools to build the park. I've got a $3,000 list of tools that we are going to need to get stuff done. Lack of proper tools is why the stuff we built last year at The Brewster Projects fell apart, we stretched materials too far and didn't have the proper materials. We shouldn't have to sacrifice quality because we are doing it ourselves."

HID- What motivated you to get behind this project?
Derrick Dykas- "This project should motivate anyone who takes pride in where they live and skate. It's got the potential to be one of the best DIY parks in the state, Midwest and country. As long as we can keep money coming in, we can build whatever we want and not have to worry about the city taking it from us."

HID- When will the skate park actually be up and running?
Derrick Dykas- "We hope to open the park on June 21st (National Go Skateboarding Day) with a huge party. I'm sure stuff will get skated once the cement cures, because I'd like to reward the volunteers that are there building, and not the people who just show up when we are done. Those guys are the worst."

HID- What kind of music do you like to listen to while you skate?
Derrick Dykas- "I don't usually listen to music when I skate. I understand why people do it, it's just not for me. I can't stand skating with headphones on and more often than not, I'm skating with my friends and want to enjoy their company."

HID- Anything else that you want our readers to know?
Derrick Dykas- "I just want to thank everyone in advance. I can't do this by myself and I'm extremely thankful for any help along the way. From Roula at Red Bull, Garrett and Kevin at Assemble, Sue at Park and Rec, and everyone who has helped us this far and in the future. I've got big ideas for this park and hopefully we can win everyone over with the finished product. Come check out the party, say "hi", check out some great bands, and have fun. This summer is going to be full of it. Hold on to your dicks."

The Third Street Bar is located at 4626 3rd Street in Detroit. Doors are at 8 p.m. and the party goes 'til 2.

~S

Lady Gaga Art Pop: You Make My Heart Stop

A little over a year ago Lady Gaga halted production of her "Born This Way Ball" and announced that she would be taking some time off to get a hip replacement. She canceled the rest of the tour and went in for some major surgery. Instead of taking time off after the surgery she got back to the studio and recorded her latest album Art Pop as soon as she was back on her feet. She promised her fans that this album and this tour would be different than anything that she had ever done before.

Art Pop is a dance record, it is a celebration of art, and it is different than her previous releases. It has been bashed by every critic out there, but as a fan I have to tell you, I do not see why. It might not have had the radio success that the last two albums have had, but commercial success doesn't mean shit to me. I have seen Gaga on her last four visits to Detroit and I knew that she was going to put on a great show despite what the critics had to say about the album. I walked into Joe Louis this past Saturday ready to dance and have a good time, and when it was all over I was not disappointed.

We arrived around 8:30 p.m. and made our way down to the floor which was standing room only. Once we were on the floor we saw the amazing stage set up that Gaga had assembled. The stage had three or four different walkways that literally went over the crowd. It was 100% see through, so even if you were standing under the stage you could see what was happening right above you. This setup made for some of the weirdest up skirts that I have ever witnessed, but also some of the coolest dance routines that I have ever seen.

At 9:15 the curtain dropped and Lady Gaga rose up through the floor in a costume that resembled the artwork on the cover of Art Pop. She proceed to play through about 5 or 6 tracks off Art Pop, including "Venus", "Manicure", and "Aura".

She changed her outfits for almost every song before breaking into a few of her hits, including "Poker Face", "Just Dance", and an acapella version of "Born this Way" on the piano. She then did a few more songs off Art Pop including "Mary Jane Holland", "Donatella", and "Do What You Want". She talked to the crowd in between every song. She accepted gifts of clothing and hats and put them out while she was performing. Gaga took a letter from a fan and read it aloud, it was sweet and touching and almost made me cry mid party. She interacted with the crowd and even invited a few people to come backstage after the show.

Each song came with costume changes, a story, or something to make it special. She walked around saying hello to her fans and waving at them when they waved at her. I stood way too close to the piano and even got a smile or two directed at me throughout the night. I have never seen an arena feel so intimate.

Gaga finished out her set playing "Applause" and my favorite track off the new album, "Swine". By this point she was dressed as a little raver and she was crawling around on the stage squealing like a little pig. The other pigs on stage were squirting fake puke onto a shirt which she then handed to someone in the crowd. The entire two hours was amazing to watch and very interactive.

She discussed the critics' judgement of the new album and said at the end of the day she loves it and that's all that matters to her. She addressed gay rights and celebrated the differences of those in the crowd. She talked about the image of pop stars in the media and went over all the ways that she doesn't live up to their standards. She even did a costume change on stage in front of the crowd screaming out, “I don't give a fuck what people think of me.” When she changed on stage she was completely nude, except for a thong. She literally showed her fans every nook and cranny of who she is, no filter. Her banter with the crowd was inspiring to say the least.

This show was different from Gaga's previous tours because it was less about a theatre production and more about having a party with her fans. It seems like this is her way of repaying the people that are sticking behind her despite what critics have to say. She closed the show by coming out in her fanciest outfit of the night and playing "Gypsy" on the piano. Even after two hours on my feet I did not want it to end. She delivered an excellent show and reaffirmed my obsession with her, no one gives their fans as much as she does.

~S

White Hot White Shag (VIDEO)

This past weekend we finally got to meet up with a band that we have wanted to chat with for a while, White Shag. The rock trio, fronted by Laura Mendoza with Jorge Cortez and Joe Leone, headlined a benefit for various women's shelters in the area. The event was called FoxFest and handful of bands featuring chicks took over the Tangent Gallery for a night.

If you haven't been to this venue yet, you should definitely head down and check it out. It is located off East Grand Boulevard and is a huge space with multiple rooms, a couple of stages, and a bar. They host a wide variety of events, so keep an eye on their Facebook page to see what they have coming up next.

White Shag was nice enough to take a few minutes to talk to us about the band, what they've been up to and SXSW. Check out what they had to say.

If you would like to check out White Shag for yourself, head over to their website where they have music, videos, and pretty much everything you can imagine. If you want to see them on the stage, your next chance is this Thursday, May 22nd at the Diesel Concert Lounge in Chesterfield. You can get more info on that event here.

~C

Checking In With Flat Broke Before Their Show on Sunday!

This Sunday head out to the New Dodge to check out Flat Broke. The Detroit punk rock band just released their first album in over 5 years, entitled Four Corners. With not all of the members living in Michigan anymore, writing the album had its own challenges. But thanks to the good ol' internet, they pulled it off. The band just released the album and are currently out on a short weekend tour in support of it. You can stream it online here and then pick up a hard copy when the band heads back to town on Sunday.

Flat Broke will be hitting the stage at the New Dodge with S.U.B., The Hangdowns and Crooked Cobras from Pittsburgh. Entry is only $5 and doors open at 7 p.m. We caught up with the band while they are on the road to talk a bit about the show and the new album. Here's what they had to say.

HID- How would you explain Flat Broke to someone who has never heard you before?

Flat Broke- "Motor City Street Punk"

HID- It was a minute since you guys played together. What made you decide to "reunite" and put out a new album?
Flat Broke- "Burning desire".

HID- Explain your new album "Four Corners" in three words or less.
Flat Broke- "Post angst-angst"

HID- While you were working on this album you guys were spread across the country. How did that work?
Flat Broke- "Email, Skype, demos, and lots of solo practicing for everyone."

HID- You're heading out on the road for a weekend tour. Tell us about that. Why Madison, St. Louis and Pittsburgh?
Flat Broke- "Just promoting the new album and label. And touring is good fun, not our first time out. Pittsburgh has always been our second home. Wisconsin and St. Louis are wild cards. New people really looking forward to playing for."

HID- Your Facebook mentions at a Fall tour. Any hints on where you might be headed?
Flat Broke- "Haha no comment!"

HID- Alright, let's go down memory lane for a minute. Flat Broke has played together for a while now. What was the craziest show you've played or the craziest thing that happened as a band?
Flat Broke- "Haha um. .. Those are long stories! Craziest shit always happens in New York, Brooklyn to be exact. Tommy's Tavern and the trash bar."

HID- Why should everyone make sure they are at New Dodge on Sunday?

Flat Broke- "Everyone should come out to share a drink and hear some stories and listen to some great bands. S.U.B., the Hangdowns, awesome guys making great music. Crooked Cobras, my boys from Pittsburgh, these guys rip and will party your faces off! And... Flat Broke and free beer cozies!!!!!!"

~C

A Living Room Session with Mexican Knives

Detroit’s own Mexican Knives have been selected for the second installment of The Living Room Sessions brought to you by Never Say Die. The idea behind these videos is to take over a local home and make a video with some of the best talent that this city has to offer.

The first installment of Volume 2 featured Jamaican Queens and then they did a video with James Linck for his song the "Jerk". This time it’s the Mexican Knives getting their chance to showcase what they have. Check out the video and watch out for more sessions from the girls at Never Say Die. Cool idea and great execution!

LRS Vol. 2: Mexican Knives Live from Sir Never S Die on Vimeo.

~S

Celebrate the Release of The Meatmen's First Album in Almost 2 Decades - Saturday at Small's!

Saturday night history will take place at Small's. The infamous band The Meatmen will be hitting the stage in celebration of their new full length album. This is the first release from the band in over 19 years!

The new album Savage Sagas is being released on Self Destructo Records, also home to Detroit's own Against the Grain. The reviews of the album so far sound like The Meatmen are up to their same antics and are as offensive as ever, so fans will not be disappointed. If you want a sneak peak of what you can expect, listen to the track "Dinosaur" that Decibel Magazine premiered here.

The official release show is this Saturday, May 17th at Small's in Hamtramck. Also hitting the stage that night are Gang Green, Easy Action and Nice Hooves. Tickets are $12 in advance and can be picked up online here or entry is $15 at the door. After this show The Meatmen will be hitting the road and heading out west. So head out and pick up the new album before their tour! And make sure you keep an eye out for Tesco Fest III when they head back to town later this summer!

~C

A New Music School & Your New Thursday Night!

A brand new music school will be opening up in Detroit this fall. We're not talking lessons for children either. This will actually be a college dedicated to teaching, "musicians who desire a long term, professional career in modern music."

DIME, the Detroit Institute of Music Education, plans to open their doors this Fall at 1265 Griswold in Detroit. They will offer courses in everything from Music Business to Improvisation. Programs will lead to either a Bachelors Degree or Diploma in Creative Music Performance. There will be Spring and Summer courses available for a variety of age groups as well.

If you would like to learn more about DIME like we do, they currently have a pop up location at 1520 Woodward Ave. in Detroit. There you can stop in for information or you can head out to one of the many events they have been holding. A great chance to check this place out is at their new series of shows on Thursday nights, with the first taking place on May 15th. This first edition of DIME's "Thursday Night Gigs" will feature My Pal Val and The Kickstand Band. Entry to the event is free and doors open at 6 p.m. with music starting at 7.

For more information on this show, head over to the Facebook event page here. For further details on DIME, visit their website at DIME-Detroit.com. We look forward to finding out more about this new opportunity in Detroit and sharing the info with all of you soon!

~C

Eastern Market Flower Day

Detroit's Eastern Market is a great place to get fresh flowers, fruits, and vegetables throughout the year, but now that spring is finally here all the sheds are finally open and the market is back in full swing. The market is open every Saturday from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. and features 100s of local vendors selling everything from strawberries to smoked meats. This is the perfect place to get all of the plants that you need to start your own garden or to get fresh vegetables grown right here in Michigan.

This Sunday, May 18th is their biggest event of the year, Flower Day. The annual event features over 15 acres of the highest quality annuals, perennials, foliage, shrubbery, trees, exotics, tropical plants, flats, and hanging baskets. 

The Eastern Market is located at 2934 Russell St. in Detroit. The Market released some tips for first time shoppers. Check them out below and make plans to stop by and get some beautiful new plants this weekend.

Helpful Hints for your visit:
1) There is plenty of free parking available throughout Eastern Market. The map in the Metro Times easily directs you in and out of the market.
2) Know ahead of time how much area you have to plant and whether you need sun or shade plants to achieve your goal.
3) Ask your Flower Grower Questions! They grew the flowers for you and they know what you need to do to take care of them and keep them blooming.
4) Enjoy the wide variety of restaurants, stores and food. Your belly will thank you for caring.
5) Bring a wagon, to help transport your products.
6) Don't rush ... Take your time and smell the roses, marigolds, jasmine, herbs, etc. Enjoy the music and the people.

~S

FoxFest This Friday at Tangent Gallery!

This Friday, May 16th four female fronted Detroit rock bands will be joining together to raise money for local women’s shelters. Detroit’s White Shag, The Luckouts, Meredith Lorde & the Tainted Saints, and Downfall will be playing to raise money for Alternatives for Girls, Turning Point, and LACASA Center.

The event will be held at the Tangent Gallery, which is located at 715 E. Milwaukee in Detroit. It is only $8 to get in the door and 100% of the money raised will go to the aforementioned charities. Two female artists, Julie Fournier and Christen Carolin, will be displaying their work in the gallery and two local shops, Rock N Rummage and CreepynCute, will have wares available for sale. This is a great way to help raise money and check out some of Detroit's best female talent!

~S

Health and Wellness at Affirmations

This Saturday, May 17th we are encouraging all of our readers to head out to Affirmations in Ferndale to take advantage of their Health and Wellness Fair. This Annual event features education, workshops, and low cost health screenings, including height, weight, vision, dental, blood pressure, glucose, and cholesterol testing. They will also have a DJ in house playing music while they raffle off prizes to those in attendance. They will even be serving up some healthy snacks for patrons to enjoy!

Affirmations welcomes everyone to come in and see all of the resources that they have to offer while finding new and better ways to take care of ourselves and each other. Affirmations is located at 290 West 9 Mile in Ferndale and the fair will take place from 1-5 p.m.

~S

Catching Up with Walls Of Jericho Before Their First Local Show in Years!!!

Over the last few years we have had the privilege of working with Black Iris Booking a lot. We feel that they bring some of the best punk, metal, and hardcore shows to town. They also help raise a lot of money for local charities whenever they get a chance, music is much more than a business to these ladies. This Saturday they have teamed up with Walls of Jericho and a charity called Relentless to raise money for a great cause.

I grew up going to Walls of Jericho shows and envied the band's front women Candace. In fact, when I was 19 years old she pierced my septum ring. I may not have the ring anymore, but I have the embarrassing pictures to prove it. Candace has always been and will always be a bad ass. She gets on stage and takes over a room in a way that most front people cannot. She is tough as nails and a great hardcore singer/songwriter.

WOJ have recruited Rebel Spies, From Hell, xTyrantx, and It Lies Within to join them on stage this Saturday, May17th at The Magic Stick to raise money for kids with cancer. There will be a weight lifting competition and lots of raffles for prizes, including massages, tattoos, and more.

Thanks to the ladies over at Black Iris we have one set of tickets to giveaway to the event that come with an extra special fan bonus. The winner of these tickets will actually get into the show early and get to watch WOJ sound check. To enter, please email your full name to hipindetroit@gmail.com. We will draw the lucky winner the morning of the show and email them details on how to claim their prize. Remember though, this event is for charity. So we expect you to take the $15 that you saved and put it towards some of the raffle prizes. Maybe you can be a lucky winner two times in one day!

Thanks to Black Iris we had the privilege to talk to Candace before this weekend's show. Check out what she had to say and will see you at The Stick!

HID- What inspired you to be part of this benefit show?
Candace- "It was actually our idea to do this benefit show. Last November I lifted at my first Relentless meet and again this past March. Every meet raises money for these brave, strong kids. Walls of Jericho is fortunate enough to give back to those who need it the most, through music. Walls of Jericho have always been about positive change for a better tomorrow. Now we have a way to watch our words come to life. It will be our first local show in years. All the bands on the bill are doing the show for free to support these kids. There will be tons of raffle items including tattoo, gym, and massage gift certificates, plus much more. We are also doing a Bench press competition at the show. Men and women who hit the most reps will receive awesome gift bags. It will be a great event!!!"

HID- Can you tell us a little about the group Relentless? How did you become involved with them and why?
Candace- "Relentless Detroit is: A non-profit that financially and spiritually supports children battling cancer and life threatening illnesses and their families. Last year we raised over $130,000 for 6 Michigan families and the Ally Jolie Baldwin Foundation.

I heard about this meet where Lifters worked together, providing hope to those who need it most. Instantly, I knew I had to be a part of it! Relentless is a great way to give back to the city to my hometown. It's not often that we get to help others while doing what we love to do most. I have always wanted to help those in need and Relentless was the perfect opportunity. I believe most people would give more if they knew how to help. So that is why we are having a benefit show. It's that easy to make a huge change in a little ones life, buy a ticket and make a difference!!"

HID- Walls of Jericho has taken lots of breaks over the years, but the band is about to release it fourth album. What made you guys decide it was time to record again?
Candace- "This last break we took was so I could start a family. I talked it over with the guys and they had my back 100%. On August 1st 2011, I had my baby girl Patsy. Once she was born I wasn't interested in touring right away. She is just now getting to the age where I feel more comfortable leaving now and then. But when I competed at Relentless, I knew my song writing was meant to go in that direction. This was the inspiration for a new album and for the 'Relentless' song."

HID- What is it like to be a female front woman in a male dominated industry?
Candace- "Challenging. I had to do everything twice as hard, and twice as well to be taken seriously. It's not for the weak of heart, I welcome the challenge."

HID- Has becoming a mother changed the way your write or perform?
Candace- "Yes for sure. My writing is now less about my trials and tribulations and more about perseverance. But I haven't changed too much. I am the same person with my daughter as on stage, except on stage I drop a few more F-bombs."

HID- Once upon a time you were a piercing artist, do you still do that? (P.S. You pierced my septum when I was 19!)
Candace- "Wow that is amazing. You still have it?? No I am not piercing anymore. Currently, my life basically consists of my family, Powerlifting and Music. I worked out of Eternal tattoos and the owner was amazing enough to let me come and go while we had tours, but around 2006 'Walls of Jericho' started touring full time and I had to leave the job behind."

HID- Did you choose the opening bands for this benefit? If so why?
Candace- "We chose a few. We knew that many of our friends would love to support the cause. We worked with Ramona the promoter to find the other bands we were less familiar with. Most of those involved with the show are people have been in the Detroit Music scene for twenty some years. Some of the newer bands are shaping what the scene is now and the future of it. Every band has selflessly come together to give HOPE to these kids and their families."

HID- How do you prepare to scream through a whole set? Do you lose your voice at times?
Candace- "I used to warm up with a beer, but I don't drink anymore so now its a pre-workout. I have lost it many of times, but always power through. We have never canceled a show due to me losing my voice. The guys help me out a little more and I get more time to jump in the crowd."

HID- Where do you hope to see WOJ in 5 years?
Candace- "Hopefully still doing shows and writing songs. We are not a band in it for anything more than the strong belief that music heals the world by healing people."

HID- If you could do it all over again would you? Why? Would you do anything differently ?
Candace- "YES in a heart beat!!. I needed Hardcore! Most people choose what they want to be a part of, hardcore chose me and it saved my life! It gave me a constructive way to express how angry I felt. It gave me a family when I felt utterly alone. It showed me that life doesn't have to be the road that was paved for you that its the path you create for yourself that matters.

Would I do anything differently? Yeah I might do my hair a bit differently, I look back of pictures from 1998 and wonder what the heck I was thinking lol!"


Ticket are available here and are only $15. Remember, this is for charity! The show starts at 7 p.m. and all ages are welcome. The Magic Stick is located at 4140 Woodward in Detroit.

~S