The exciting and fun Detroit diversity festival, The Concert of Colors, returns to for
its eighteenth year. Presented by the Arab Community Center for Economic and
Social Services (ACCESS), the Arab American National Museum, New Detroit, The
Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) and, new this year, the Detroit institute of
Arts (DIA), the concert is intended to bring all of the cultures in metro
Detroit together for a weekend of music, dance and fun.
The festivities will start at 4:00pm on Friday, July 16th
at the DIA with a performance by the Detroit Symphony (a second DSO Performance
will happen at 5:30) followed by the Mexican folk group Tien-Huicani at 7:00. Events Friday evening at the DIA will also
include Free admission to the exhibit Through
African Eyes: The European in African Art 1500-Present and a screening of a
1931 Spanish language version of the film Dracula.
On Saturday the music continues down the street at the Max
Fisher Music Center (The Max), home to the acoustically and architecturally exquisite
Orchestra Hall. Performances on Saturday include traditional Irish folk, Reggae,
and African and Jazz/Funk, all leading up to the Don
Was Detroit All-Star Review.
For the third consecutive year Don Was has put together an
eclectic group of Detroit based musicians to entertain the festival goers. Each
artist or group performs a piece and at the end, the ensemble comes out for a
rousing finale. In past years the review has included funk, soul, country hip
hop classic rock and punk. This year the line-up presents fifteen acts
including Jimmy Ruffin, Gary Quackenbush, Kim Weston and Marshall Crenshaw. The
Review is the highlight of the weekend for me. You can see video of the 2008
and 2009 review performers at the Don’s Wasmapolitan
Cavalcade of Recorded Music.
On Sunday the festival continues with the DSO, conducted by
Tito Munoz, highlighting soloist Simon Shaheen performing Shaheen’s composition
Concerto #1 for Oud and Orchestra. Known
for his expertise at Arabic and Western classical music, Shaheen will be a
special treat for the Detroit audiences.
Following a day of diverse music and talent (Asian,
Electronic, Steel Guitar and storytelling included), the festival ends with two shows in
Orchestra Hall. At 6:15 the Southwest Detroit Latin Super Session will
entertain with a varied repertoire from south of the border, followed by the incomparable
R&B and Gospel sound of Mavis Staples at 8:30.
The Concert of Colors is a chance to meet new folk, listen
to great music and have a fabulous time. For more information you can check out the festival web site or Dominique's informative article at the Midwest Guest Blog.
© 2010 Tim Marks All Rights Reserved
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