Thursday, November 30, 2017

Win Tickets to See Circa Survive, Thrice and Balance & Composure at The Fillmore

Circa Survive is currently on tour in support of their newest album The Amulet. This time out they have two huge acts opening the show making this a do not miss lineup. Thrice and Balance and Composure are joining Circa to preform at The Fillmore this Sunday, December 3rd. Each band would be great to see on their own, which is why it's so cool to see them all touring together.

If you haven't heard Circa's new music, take a second and check out their latest music video to get a feel for it.


Tickets to this show are approximately $30 to $55 in advance and you can purchase them here. You can also win a pair by emailing your full name to hipindetroit@gmail.com with the subject line #3greatbands. We will draw one lucky reader and they will get to attend the show with a friend for free!

~S

Tony Rave Debuts King of Broken Hearts, Forever Young

We have been following local artist Tony Rave for awhile and we are big fans of his work. He has been showing his art around town and making a name for himself, but this weekend he is returning to his roots for his latest show called King of Broken Hearts, Forever Young. This show will feature his take on one of Detroit's most controversial people, Kwame Kilpatrick. 

The image of one of Detroit's former mayors instantly sparks a lot of conversation, which is exactly what Rave wants to do. His works is always powerful and a little controversial, two things that we live for. Check out our latest interview with the artist and make sure to stop by to see the show in person this Saturday, December 2nd at 7 p.m. at Detroit Is The New Black. He will be unveiling some new work at the show and he wants you to be there to experience it for yourself! 


HID- What is the meaning of the King of Broken Hearts?
Tony Rave- "I wanted to create an image about the City of Detroit that doesn't say the words Detroit. I also wanted to create a image that expressed a deep truth about the city."

HID- How do you think seeing the face of Kwame Kilpatrick effects people?
Tony Rave- "I hope it starts people talking about him again. I think people misunderstand him. I think people in the city especially the new people moving here don't truly understand him. He was a teacher, a lawyer, a father, a mentor, a friend and so much more to so many people. He just made a few mistakes. He is still a son of this city and I think people should be more understanding. 28 years is a long time."

HID- Why did you name the show Forever Young?
Tony Rave- "Forever Young is the name of the 2nd image I have created inspired by the great Coleman Young. It's a surprise. (which will be unveiled at the show)"

HID- Why did you decide to have the show at Detroit is the New Black?
Tony Rave- "DITNB is a perfect space for artist of all kinds to show off there work. It is a perfect location. I really connected with the brand as well. DITNB has a good thing going."

HID- How do you think art if effecting the rebirth of Detroit?
Tony Rave- "Art/artist are the main reason Detroit is having this rebirth. We are responsible for this. Me and you, the local artist. We the ones. We did this. And of course Dan Gilbert lol. Dan Gilbert get at me!"

HID- What do you want people to see or feel when they come to this show?
Tony Rave- "I want people to come in and feel something. Try to understand something new. Be compassionate. And buy everything."

HID- What's next for Tony?

Tony Rave- "Well for the next year or so me and the team will be popping up in different locations in the metro area with this brand. We will be spreading these images all over the state so look out!"

HID- Is there anything else you want our readers to know?
Tony Rave- "I want all the artists in the city to know that I love them and that I am here for them. Just reach out to me and ill reach back. Come see me on December 2 lets talk."


The King of Broken Hearts, Forever Young show opens at 7 p.m. this Saturday inside Detroit is the New Black, for more information click here.


~S

Wednesday, November 29, 2017

Win Tickets to No Rest Fest at Marble Bar

This Saturday night some of the most intense bands that Detroit has to offer are coming together for No Rest Fest a.k.a. No Rest Frest. This is the fourth run for the festival, even though last year was referred to as No Rest Fest 4. This time around the event is taking over Marble Bar with 10 bands playing 10 minute sets. The lineup for the night includes The ArmedPure HissReverendNolan The NinjaMover ShakerFeral BodyGreet DeathGolden TorsoOld Gods, and SAFEWORDS. Cover for the show is only $5, but we're sure it will be packed! So you might want to pick up a ticket ahead of time here.

Thanks to Party Store Productions we are also giving away one pair of tickets to this show. To enter to win, send your name to hipindetroit@gmail.com with #norest in the subject line. We will draw one lucky winner on Saturday morning and they will get into the show that night with a friend for free.

Doors are set to open at 8 p.m. for this one. For more info and to stay in the loop the night of the show, click here.



~C

Win Tickets to See SWMRS with The Interrupters

This Friday night SWMRS and The Interrupters will be hitting the stage at the Magic Stick. The two bands are currently out on a co-headlining tour and will be joined by The Regrettes. The tour kicks off in Chicago on Thursday night and The Interrupters are just coming off a South American tour with Green Day. Check out some music videos from each of the bands to get ready for this awesome show.




Tickets for Friday's show are $16 in advance or $18 the day of the show. You can pick up your advance tickets here. Thanks to Black Iris Booking, we are also giving away a pair of tickets to this show. To enter to win, send your name to hipindetroit@gmail.com with #BIB in the subject line. We will draw one lucky winner on Friday morning and they will get into the show that night with a friend for free. 

Doors are set to open at 7 p.m. Friday and all ages are welcome. 


~C


Tuesday, November 28, 2017

A Benefit for Casey Schell, Gone Too Soon

The Detroit music community is a very close-knit group, especially when it comes to the punk and metal scenes. If you aren't part of it, it's nearly impossible to understand. There is a bond and sense of loyalty between these people that exists solely because of music. We support each other's projects, go to each other's shows, and band together whenever one of us is in need. We might not all be close friends with one another, but we are a family.

Last week, Detroit's scene lost another part of its family. We didn't know Casey Schell nearly as well as many of you. We would exchange a smile or a quick hello when we would run into each other at a bar or a show. However, it is clear how much he meant to his friends, family, and the Detroit music scene. His band S.U.B. has become a staple and one of the most loved punk bands in Detroit. Plus, he was part of the Zeke's family, a place that so many of us made our home base over the last couple of years. This loss has truly rocked our community and it's time for us all to come together to help each other out.

This Wednesday night Small's will be holding a benefit show to help raise funds for Casey's family. The lineup for the evening will include S.U.BThe Lowcocks, Steve Harvey Oswald and Kyle Green from Break Anchor, and Dave and Andrew from Fires In Japan. They are asking for $10 at the door, but you can of course give more if you are able to. Doors to the show are set to open at 8 p.m. If you are unable to attend Wednesday's show, but would like to help, there is talk of a Go Fund Me that is being established. Keep an eye on the Facebook event page for the benefit for details on that.

Lately we have been losing way too many of our own here in Detroit. Hug your friends a little tighter next time you see them. Let everyone around you know how much you care about them. Try to enjoy life every day. Do and say the things that you want to do. We never know how long we will be here, so let's make sure we make every minute last.



~C

Win Tickets to See Mike Birbiglia

If you are a Netflix subscriber you have probably heard of Mike Birbiglia. He has multiple Netflix specials under his belt and he even made an appearance on Orange is the New Black. If you haven't seen his stand up it's worth throwing on the next time you are looking for a laugh. You can also see him person at The Fillmore this Saturday.

We are personally excited to see Live Nation bringing more comedy to the huge historic stage. For many years it was rare to see a comedian be able to fill the seats of a venue like this, but with services like Netflix bringing stand up to so many homes whenever they want it, the medium is coming back with full force. If you have never seen stand up in person, make sure you add it to your bucket list. There is nothing like sitting back and letting someone make you laugh for an hour to two hours.

Tickets to see Mike are around $40 a person and you can purchase them here. You can also enter to win a pair to see the show for free. If you would like to enter to win these tickets, please email your full name to hipindetroit@gmail.com with the subject line #makemelaugh. We will draw someone this Friday and they will get to attend the set with friend for free on Saturday!


~S

Monday, November 27, 2017

The 12th Annual Detroit Urban Craft Fair Returns to the Masonic this Friday!

Over the weekend I asked my mom to send me a Christmas shopping list. When I got it and took a look, I was immediately overwhelmed with sadness. Everything that my mom asked for was practical. She asked for some new cupcake pans, a new turkey roaster, and she even asked for her favorite brand of Tic Tacs. And although I love to make my mom smile and get her what she wants over the holidays, I can't bring myself to get her any of that stuff on the list.

I am sick of giving gifts for the holidays because you are supposed to. I want to go back to giving gifts because I want to, and I think the only way to do that is to buy something special that someone can't necessarily buy for themselves. I want to give my mom something she doesn't even know she wants. I want to find the perfect token of my love and appreciation without spending a bunch of time in line with a bunch of angry people who are eagerly trying to complete their must-have lists.I also want to make sure that the money I spend goes back into my community, which means that this holiday I have decided that I am 100% shopping local. I only have a few people I plan to shop for, so I'm going to go out to the stores in my area, the craft shows, and the bazaars and I'm going to find something special to give the people that I love.

I'm going to start that hunt this Friday at the 12th Annual Detroit Urban Craft Fair because, as many of you already know, it is the biggest and best gathering of DIY talent in the Mitten. For three days, Handmade Detroit puts on the most bad ass craft fair that you have ever seen. The variety of vendors is usually so different that I can get most of my shopping done during my visit. Plus, I get to know that every dollar I spend is going into the pocket of someone who lives, works, and plays in the same community that I do, which makes Christmas seem a whole lot more joyful to me.  

I reached out to Carey Gustafson, one of the masterminds behind the legendary craft fair and creator of Glass Action, and I asked her a few questions about this year's event. Check out what she had to say about the event and make sure to head out to the Masonic Temple sometime this weekend to take a stroll around the bazaar for yourself. There will be good music, good food and drinks, and most of all, good handmade gifts for everyone on your list that you can buy guilt free! Stop shopping off of Amazon wish lists and start making the holidays wondrous, worry-free and magical again!


HID- Are there any specials or deals that we need to know about? 
Carey- "Opening night is $10 and runs from 6-9 p.m. This is a breezier party atmosphere that you can be first to select from our vendors stock, and enjoy some special Friday Night only attractions, including samples from Avalon Bakery, Blu Kitchen, Gus + Grey, a make and take with Craftsanity, a lettering station with Moving Beauty and more! 

Saturday and Sunday our admission price is $1, or folks are free to round up to further support Handmade Detroit! We're proudly the first and longest running contemporary craft show in Michigan, and all proceeds are infused right back into our community. Produced by local Michigan women! Every dollar helps run this 100 vendor show!"

HID- Why did you decide to donate some of the proceeds from the Friday night preview to Girls Rock Detroit? 
Carey- "We were excited to support and shine a spotlight on a group that was not only providing a fun rock n roll element to a camp dynamic but using music and a live-venue approach to empowering young girls to stretch their interests in the arts. They're learning about booking shows and setting up on stage and rehearsing together with women and venues in metro Detroit. Personally, I know a few families whose daughters went through the camp program and couldn't say enough great things!

Friday night is our special opening night celebration and some campers will be there talking with guests about their camp experiences, and Girls Rock Detroit has secured a few teen DJs to provide the music Friday night for our guests and shoppers!"

HID- What kind of music will you have this year?
Carey- "Crowd favorite DJ Dave Lawson will be spinning all day on Saturday 10-8 p.m. and 'Macho City' man Mike Trombley of Happy Endings Dance Party is our DJ Sunday from 11-6 p.m.!"

HID- Is there still going to be a cash bar this year?
Carey- "Yes! DUCF is set up once again in the Drill Room of the Masonic Temple (home base for the Derby Girls, if you've seen a bout!) and the MT supplies a bar with chips and snacks, pop, water, beer, mixers. Our entire show is located in one room. Guests love to 'try' and explore the Masonic when they come but many other areas have private parties or are blocked off, but guests should know for future reference that the MT does provide official tours of the Masonic! 

Delectabowl will be back to provide food Saturday from Noon-6 and Sunday from Noon-5 for guests from snacks to full meals to keep shoppers and their kids fed while they explore the craft fair!"

HID- What if you’re a local DIY crafter who wants to be in the show next year, what’s the best way to make that happen? 
Carey- "Great question! We field daily emails about this. Each year we open our applications for 9-10 weeks starting in mid-July. We close the apps late September and from those in-time applications, we build our show; the available spaces AND the waiting list. We pull people up if someone has to cancel. We have 95 spaces and received almost 400 applications this year! For those that follow or have attended a DUCF it's a modern show. We review price points, originality, quality of work, type of materials and the appeal of the goods for our audience. It's a special jurying process that is managed by a panel."

HID- Is there anything else that you would like our readers to know?
Carey- "I always like to remind people that if you're turned off by the big morning crowds, think about coming down mid-day, before dinnertime. Saturday always eases up around 3:30/4 p.m. and Sunday it really slows down around the same time, and we're there until 6 p.m. There's a freight elevator that anyone that has special physical needs or has a guest in a wheelchair, you're encouraged to check in at the back desk/entrance of the Masonic and call for that service. There's also a DUCF parking lot for our guests! It's located at 640 Temple, just down the street.

The last thought is that if you've not been back in a few years, or a seasonal regular, it's exciting to boast that this year 30 percent of our show is BRAND NEW vendors to us. You'll also see crowd favorites that have been juried in. 20% of the show is from Detroit proper, and 90% of the show is MICHIGAN makers. The crafters you are shopping you will meet! You won't be greeted by brand ambassadors! DUCF will always be rooted in a local community party making the atmosphere. Come have some fun with us!!"


The Detroit Urban Craft Fair happens this weekend, December 1st thru 3rd at the Detroit Masonic Temple. The fair takes place on Friday from 6-9 p.m., Saturday from 10-8 and Sunday from 11-6.


~S 

Assemble U with Spotify

Assemble Sound has become much more than a recording studio or a venue. It has become ground zero for community building and connecting within the Detroit music scene. They have been working with all of the city's up and coming artists while building a huge catalog of music that they can help connect with media and brands to further the artists' careers. They have also established themselves as a force to be reckoned with, but the best part of Assemble is that they are willing to share the fruits of their labors.

Assemble has found all sorts of cool ways to connect artists and creatives and help them along their way. One of the coolest ways that they have been doing this is by hosting free classes in their space to learn more about how to make it in the music business. Their last class for 2017 will be taking place on November 30th, 2017. This installment will focus on Spotify and music streaming. Guest speakers will include Spotify's Jennifer Masset (Head of Indies, North America), Amber Grimes (Sr. Manager of Urban Music), Royston Landon (Director, Artists & Management) and Xavier Jernigan (Head of Shows & Editorial, North America). The class starts at 6:30 p.m. and runs for about two hours.

To learn more about Assemble U click here, to learn more about Assemble, click here. Don't miss your chance to learn something new from the pros on Thursday!


~S

Friday, November 24, 2017

Hip in Detroit Guide to Shopping Small this Weekend

ZMC Pharmacy- This little shop has something for everyone, They also have a great selection of cards and stocking stuffer. Plus, they will have Santa in-house are 10 a.m. on December 2nd!

Rouge Makeup and Nail Studio- Our favorite vegan nail, makeup, and skincare studio are running a lot of specials this weekend and they are featuring some cool packaged deals that you can purchase throughout the holiday season. Stop in sometime and chat with Cheryl she will make sure that you leave with the perfect gift to pamper!

Third Wave Music- This Saturday! T-shirts 25% off! ALL small goods 10% off! ALL instruments & USED pedals 5% off!

Blumz by JRDesigns- BLumz by JRDesigns has great gifts and holiday decor. Plus, they have beautiful flowers! They will also be running some specials this Saturday that you can unlock by saying the magical words Shop Small this Saturday, November 25th.




Alley and Eye- Alley and Eye has the coolest shades in town. You can sope a pair this Saturday at the Femology event or at Inner State Gallery. Or you can order online and get a pair at 15% off with the code BlackFriday this Friday only! 

UHF Records- Its Record Store day, here is a full list of everything that they will have!

Brightly Twisted-Brightly Twisted makes the most uncommonly pretty clothing and home goods and they are featuring 40% off everything on their website through this Sunday!

City Bird/Nest-These cool gift shops are featuring sales and specials on Friday and Saturday. Plus, they are giving away some prizes for the first people to come in this weekend!

B.Nektar- B.Nektar is giving discounts on any mix and match cases of mead or cider purchased. 10% off and if you buy 6 bottles you get a free B. Nektar tote.

Lost and Found Vintage- the best place to buy vintage goods is having a sale! Black Friday: 20% off on all clothing and accessories. (Excluding KEPT jewelry) and on Small Business Saturday 10% on all clothing and accessories. (Excluding KEPT jewelry).

Rock City Music Company- 30% used vinyl, 20% off accessories, 10% off new guitars amps and pedals!

Miner's Den- Miner's Den is featuring 15% off their Michigan collections including Rebel Nell, Fordite, Petoskey and their Miner’s Den designer Michigan jewelry!

Peacock Room- This Friday and Saturday! 20% off ALL full-length gowns, 20% off Michael Michaud, 20% off La Vie Parisienne, and 20% off hairpins and barrettes.

Scout- One of the coolest little shops in Royal Oak, a great place to buy a gift!

Third Man Records- It's Record Store Day! Here is a full list of everything that they will have!

Green Daffodil- Small Business Saturday, November 25th from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.! Enjoy 15% off of Green Daffodil Products IN-STORE ONLY. There will be goodie bags for the first 25 customers who make a purchase.

Will Leather Goods- They are offering 20% off everything online and in-store through the 27th!

The Rustbelt Market- This amazing market literally has something for everyone, you can get a drink while you shop!  Open all weekend!

Found Sound Records- It's Record Store Day! Here is a full list of everything special that they plan to have! Plus there will be a meet & greet with Thor in store!

Rail and Anchor- Cool affordable gifts plus they wrap them for you if you ask! 

Saffron- Looking for something cute to wear this holiday season? Or maybe you need help shopping for your girlfriend. Go to Saffron, they'll take care of you! Cutest clothes in town!

Village Vinyl- Friday you can get everything for 10% off starting at 10 a.m.! And Saturday they will open at 11 a.m. with 20% off select items and 10% off everything else!



Spend Saturday Watching Cartoons at the Redford Theatre

Now that you've stuffed your gut and said thanks to all of your family and friends, hopefully you have sometime to kick back and relax this weekend. And if you're extra lucky, you might even have a long weekend off from work and real life. Well if you're looking to have some low key fun this weekend, make your way to the Redford Theatre in Detroit.

This Saturday afternoon you can enjoy some classic cartoons on the big screen in this classic theatre. The Redford is hosting their annual Classic Cartoon Festival this Saturday, November 25th. At 2 p.m. and again at 8 p.m. they will be showing some of your favorite classic cartoons as well as some cartoons that are a little more rare. The list of what the theatre will be shown is always kept secret, but in years past, selections have included Popeye, Tom & Jerry, Looney Tunes, Tex Avery, and more. Whatever the choices might be this year, we're sure this will be a super fun event where you can sit back, have some snacks, and just enjoy some great entertainment on the big screen without having to think too much. It is a Saturday after all. And we can't think of a better day of the week to spend watching cartoons!

Tickets to the Classic Cartoon Festival are only $5 and can be purchased in advance here. For more information on this event, click here.


~C

Wednesday, November 22, 2017

Hip in Detroit Talks One Year in Business with Third Wave Music

Everyone talks about small business as being the backbone of our economy, but we don't give small businesses enough credit for taking a chance and opening up in the City of Detroit. It's easy for corporations to take advantage of the city's perks and give it a shot because they can take the risk, but small startups don't have as much wiggle room. Detroit needs a strong backbone of local businesses to provide the community with the resources it needs, but small businesses need the support of their local communities to keep their doors open. So, when a cool business takes a chance and opens their doors in Detroit we have to show them our support!

One of the coolest businesses to open in the city was Third Wave Music. It was Detroit's first musical instrument and equipment store to open its doors in decades and it has delivered much more than it originally promised.
Not only has Third Wave Music become a one-stop shop for local musicians, it has also become a gathering place for the music community. The owners are as passionate about people and community as they are about music. The store is constantly adding new stock and offering new services, as well as bringing in the community together to learn about and appreciate Detroit's musical community together.  

We reached out to Jen David to check in with her about Third Wave on the heels of their one year anniversary. Her passion for music, community and Detroit comes through as you read her words. Check out what she has to say after one full year in business and stop by soon to check out all their new stock!  Don't forget, they are having a huge Shop Small sale this Saturday! 

HID- Why did you decide to open a music store in Detroit?
Jen David- "I feel I had a unique set of life circumstances to lead me to this place. I was gigging and living across from where the shop is for a few years and thinking about how ridiculous it was that Detroit didn’t really have a music store even though there were SO many musicians. Mostly out of my own selfish annoyance of driving to Guitar Center or Gordy’s or having my mom grab me stuff from the music store she was managing. That too, the combination of having a music store manager mom (in the business about forty years) and a jazz pianist father brought me to this point. I literally grew up in a music store and now I own one."

HID- How much of your stock is new and how much is used?
Jen David- "I’d say about 50/50. We carry an extensive inventory of breakables, those are the things that every player needs to replace. Guitar players need strings, woodwind players need reeds, DJ’s need needles, drummers need sticks and so on. For our instrument selection I seek out interesting and affordable used synths, band instruments, guitars, drum stuff, any instruments I can get a good deal on and pass it along to customers. I’m really excited about our vintage synth selection right now, because we have some really rare items that I’ve gotten lucky at some estate sales to find. It’s kind of a hunt, very rewarding to be able to play synths I’ve only ever heard of! When it comes to new instruments I am a little bit choosier, I specialize in local businesses and innovative companies making quality products. Some examples include a woman who grows her own gourds and turns them into shekeres, Red Panda a popular guitar effects company who are actually located across the street in the Green Garage, Artifex Detroit upcycled seatbelt guitar straps, Alley & Eye eyewear that keeps musicians looking fresh, to bigger electronics companies such as Korg, Vox Amps, Teenage Engineering and Critter & Guitari."

HID- How does someone start taking lessons at Third Wave?
Jen David- "Right now we have a roster of 6 talented teachers that teach on voice, guitar, strings, saxophone, and piano. You either come in, or give us a call, and we figure out a time that works for both you and the teacher and we get you going. The lessons run 25/half hour and you get your own time slot reserved every week."

HID- I know this sounds dumb, but how does consignment work? 
Jen David- "Not dumb, we sell your instrument for you and take a commission, and in our case it’s 20%. So if you want to make 100$ selling your guitar, we sell it for 120$ and you keep the 100$ and we keep the 20$."

HID- What are the three best memories that you have from the first year in business?
Jen David- "I’m just gonna name the first three big ones I can think of cause otherwise I will obsess about this. We recently hosted a really intimate and beautiful live music event with three talented performers (Kaylan Waterman, Kathy Leisen, and Rosali, check them out!) and man the vibes were just so good! Towards the end a customer brought a friend who happened to be this bomb ass harp player that I have been a fan of and was so excited to meet! She started throwing down and singing on piano, and Joshua jumped on drums and I played bass and it just felt so good and fun. Getting to play music randomly with such cool people is definitely a perk. Like I remember this drummer Shana stopped in, she’s friends with our guitar teacher Deekah (both also amazing local musicians) and we had the Oberheim synth that was used in the song Jump! by Van Halen and a customer came in, and on Saturdays we just kind jam, and he knew the entire keyboard part and we already had people on bass and drums and they just launched into the song like perfectly. I was laughing so hard! Shoot,  I think that’s two memories now…. Okay…here’s another one…Dally in the Alley and filming our latest video with Andrew Miller. I just love getting to connect with him on these Third Wave videos cause he captures me just being myself and it really resonates with people. I loved this video in particular because there was a woman who commented on it when I shared it saying “This video is no joke, I recently visited the store and she really is like this.” Haha! It’s great to be at Dally because it really just puts things into perspective for me, I was part of the organizational team from 2011-2013 and now my business is inside of it. Cool feeling. Is that three? I could go on and on - working on music with Devin who helps run the shop, Devin playing nose flute with my Dad improvising on piano, seeing that first coat of white paint on the brick wall with my best friend and husband, the first time I paid myself 500$ (last month haha), the first Wavy Week, my first big sale (Yamaha CS50), my mom cutting out an article about us from Music Trades magazine that came to the store she manages."


HID- What plans do you have for the store for the second year? 
Jen David- "I would like to expand our selection of new instruments, brands like Focusrite, Moog, Roland, I want to focus on studio gear, interfaces, it’s important to me to keep our inventory competitive with bigger dealers (cough cough Guitar Center cough cough, but fine-tuned to what our customers need. This first year was interesting because I really tried to just stock everything for all types of players, and now I am working on expanding and contracting and changing with those needs. Also doing more smaller intimate shows, and getting a lineup of seasonal group workshops and lessons, things to keep the community engaged."

HID- How often do you have live music inside the space?
Jen David- "We have live music in conjunction with larger scale events, Movement weekend, Noel Night (come listen to Efe Bes Dec 2nd!), opening week, anniversary party … but we recently had our first show just to have it and it was so nice, really want to do more of that."

HID- Why do you think music is so important to Detroit? 
Jen David- "Music is important to humanity and Detroit is important to music. This city has always inspired me the same way it has inspired the rest of the world. I’m just lucky to live in it, where else but Detroit could a little girl from the suburbs with a jazz player daddy end up singing backups for Martha Reeves at Bert’s on a random night? Don’t know… but I love it!"

HID- Is there anything else you would like our readers to know?
Jen David- "Word of mouth is our best friend, so please stop in, say hello, and spread the word!"


To learn more about Third Wave Music and to find their hours and learn more about their sales and specials follow them on facebook here


~S

Playground Detroit Officially Opens its Doors this Saturday!

Playground Detroit is officially opening the doors to their new creative space this Saturday, November 25th. The Detroit based art agency has been connecting talent with unique opportunities since 2012, so this space was a long time coming. For their inaugural debut, they are hosting their first show called COMM[UNITY]. This showing will feature the works of over 30 local artists and is a great place to purchase a piece of art for someone this holiday season. Playground Detroit has already helped over 200 artists, but this new space literally opens a whole new door for them and what they can do. We would like to wish the boss ladies at Playground Detroit our sincerest congratulations, we look forward to keeping up with all the hip things that you do!

For a full list of artists in the show click here. To keep up with Playground Detroit and all the cool things they do click here.

~S

Tuesday, November 21, 2017

Head Downtown To Do Your Shopping This Holiday Season

If you're looking to give some unique gifts this holiday season, head downtown to do your shopping! Now through January 7th there are dozens of pop-up shops set up throughout Capitol Park and Cadillac Square in Downtown Detroit. Although these shops are just temporary, they're not just set up in some flimsy tents. Instead, the organizers have built greenhouse and igloo type structures throughout the area, giving a more permanent and stylish feel. Some of the sellers featured at these shops include Aptemal Clothing (aka Detroit Hustles Harder), Art Life, and several vintage shops.
You can even pick up your Christmas tree while shopping at the parks! In addition to these outdoor structures, indoors at 1001 Woodward Avenue, local vendors and artisans have also set up shop. This location includes Rebel Nell, The Farmer's Hand and Ash & Erie. While you are out shopping in the parks, you can also stop in at one of the lodges in these awesome little structures where you can lounge with friends and grab a drink or snack.

This is a truly unique shopping experience and a great addition to Detroit this holiday season. The shops at the parks and at 1001 Woodward Ave are open Tuesday thru Sunday, however they will be closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Hours of operation are as follows:

Tuesday–Thursday from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Friday and Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Sunday from Noon to 5:00 p.m.

To see a complete list of shops set up throughout Capitol Park, click here. For shops set up in Cadillac Square, click here


~C

Win Tickets to the Brother Son "Young & Pretty" Release Party

Brother Son is a newer band to the Detroit music scene, but they're already making a big name for themselves. The four piece, featuring Francis Harrington on Vocals and Guitar, Chris Pecorell on Drums, Jimmy Walkup on Bass, and Drew Gijsber on Keys, got their start at the beginning of 2017. Since then, they've played their own headlining shows to huge crowds and even opened up for Detroit legends, Electric Six. Now they are gearing up to release a new EP, Young & Pretty. 

The band will be celebrating the release this Saturday, November 25th at The Loving Touch in Ferndale. The EP will also be available the same day on iTunes and Spotify. Joining Brother Son for the release party are Legume, Grainger, and Captwolf. Admission to the show is only $8 and all ages are welcome.

We are also getting some lucky readers into this show for free! To enter to win a pair of tickets to the show, send your name to hipindetroit@gmail.com with #brotherson in the subject line. We will draw two lucky winners on Saturday morning and they will each get in the door that night with a friend for free.

To get a feel for what you can expect at Saturday's show, give Brother Son a listen below.

Monday, November 20, 2017

Win Tickets to Danny Brown's 5th annual Pre-Thanksgiving Party!


Danny Brown's pre-thanksgiving bash has become legend. It is one of the hippest parties in town and if you miss out you are going to be feeling some serious FOMO on T-Day. The infamous Bruiser Brigade will be coming together to once again make you party till you pass out. This years lineup includes Danny Brown, Lil B, Jlin, Container, Venus X, John FM, and Detroit Lines.

This is the first year that Club Fantasy will be hosting the event and space for the show is limited. We imagine they will sell out well before doors open up for the show at 8 pm this Wednesday, November 22nd which means all of you will be fighting over the pair that we have to giveaway to the show courtesy of El Club and Party Store Productions. If you would like to enter to win a pair of tickets to the show please email hipindetroit@gmail.com. We will draw one lucky person this Wednesday and they will get to spend the biggest bar night of the year with one of the biggest acts to come out of Detroit in years.

The 5th annual bash takes place this Wednesday, November 22nd. Doors are at $8 pm and tickets range from $27 to $30 a piece. Club Fantasy is located at 6060 W Fort St. Detroit, MI. To learn more about the party and all other El Club events click here.



~S 

The Eastern Market Offers Special Shopping Throughout the Holidays

The Eastern Market has provided Metro Detroit with fresh locally grown food since 1841.  The market opens at sunrise every Saturday and about 50,000 people come through to shop every weekend.  The market can become especially busy during the holiday season, including the weekends right before Thanksgiving and Christmas.  In order to keep up with the high holiday traffic and make sure that Detroit has access to great quality food and cool locally made items, the Eastern Market is opening for some special holiday hours to help you with your shopping.

The Market will be opening six extra times throughout the holiday season. This includes this Tuesday the 21st to help prepare you for Turkey day and Dec 19th right before Christmas.  In addition to these two days, they will be open four Sundays throughout the season.  The Sunday markets will focus on Michigan made gifting options including clothing, art, jewelry, and beauty products.  The market opens at 9 am on Tuesdays and 10 am on Sundays. This year they will also be featuring visits with Santa on December 9th and 10th. Please visit them here to find out more details about these events.

We highly encourage you to shop small and local this holiday season, its the best way to guarantee that you get them something special that no one else gets them! 

Friday, November 17, 2017

Dinner with Mozart, Gwendolyn & Veronica

This Wednesday night, we had the chance to step out of our normal routine and try a unique pop-up dining experience. The event was called Dinner with Mozart and it was held in the Claddagh Loft above PJ’s Lager House in Corktown. Although pop-up dinners have become increasingly popular over the last couple of years, this was my first, and I have to admit, I was a little nervous. Although I love food, I’m not very adventurous with my selections. So putting my meal and my choices in someone else’s hands was quite a leap for me, especially since this was an intimate dining experience. If I didn’t like what was in front of me, I didn’t have the option to sneakily pass my plate off to a friend. Luckily, I knew that this was an Italian themed meal, so I figured I couldn’t go wrong.
When we first arrived at PJ’s Lager House, we weren’t sure what to expect. We approached the staircase leading to the loft and could hear the classical music playing at the top of the stairs. After following the music, we reached an amazing space, adorned with candles and flowers alongside the exposed brick walls, creating the perfect ambiance. Music was being performed live by a string trio, fronted by Natalie Frakes, featuring operatic selections from Mozart. We began mingling with our dining mates, admiring this awesome space and checking out the view from the window above the Lager House, which we’ve been in so many times before.
To start dinner off, guests could tempt their appetites with a delectable tray of artichokes, pesto, asparagus, olives and grapes served along with fresh Italian bread. Next, Gwendolyn & Veronica served up gnocchi in a browned butter sauce. It was absolutely delicious, and although pasta dishes are usually very filling, the light yet savory sauce wasn’t too rich and left us still hungry for more.
For the third choice, we were offered a meat or vegetarian option. In my case, as a first time pop-up diner, this is when the first panic really set in. I chose the meat option and immediately in my head thought, “What if it’s some weird meat you don’t like? Why didn’t you pick the vegetarian option!?!?!” Well, this night was all about trying something new for me, and I’m glad I did! This course featured delicious Italian sausage in a Ragù, along with mushrooms and all sorts of veggies. It was so good! It definitely would not have been something that I would have ordered on a menu previously, but now that I have tried it, I would love to have it again. Finally, was the last course before dessert, a refreshing salad with greens, roasted beets, nuts, and I think there were even some slivers of apple in there. Super tasty and a great transition from dinner to dessert.
The dessert was a cannoli fresh from Supino in Eastern Market. Now, my entire life I have said that I don’t like cannolis, although I hadn’t ever actually tried one. Since I didn’t want to be rude, I figured I’d take a few bites and say that I was full. Holy cannoli! One bite and I was hooked. That might be one of my favorite new desserts! I now see what all of the rage was about and I was told that this is one of the best cannolis around, so I’m glad it was my first.

Overall this night was absolutely amazing, from the food to the music to the ambiance and company. It was something a little out of the ordinary for me, but now I’m hooked (not only on cannolis, but the entire pop-up experience). I absolutely can’t wait to check out the next party that Gwen & Veronica host! Keep an eye on Hip in Detroit and our Facebook page for the next event that this amazing duo will be holding. They hope to make their dinners a regular occurrence, and we hope they do too!

If you would like to experience Gwendolyn and Veronica’s Dinner with Mozart for yourself, they are holding another event this Saturday night. Tickets are $75 and only 20 tickets are available. With admission you will receive the same amazing five course meal that we had the pleasure of having on Wednesday night, along with wine and live music. To purchase tickets and for more information on the event, click here.


~C

Meet Ladysse

Pop music never goes out of style and neither do stories of talented people moving TO Detroit. Over the last few years, this city has become a place for artists to move to instead of a place that people are trying to move away from. One of the most recent arrivals is an up and coming pop artist called Ladysse, who moved here after only one visit. She came, she saw, and she knew she wanted to be a part of it.

Today she is celebrating the release of her new music video for her song "Stay Apart". It is the first video that she has filmed in Detroit and the first release she has had since she moved here. You can check out the video, which was created by Raymond Rivard of Tradesmen Films below, but before you do check out our first interview with Ladysse and set a reminder in your calendar to head up to The Loving Touch this Sunday November 19th to see her first Detroit show if you like what you hear!

HID-Where did you get your name Ladysse from? Does it have a meaning?
Ladysse- "It was actually my “ghostwriter” name for the last few years! Just something I made up for writing credits on songs I wrote for other people! I needed a unique name when I started this project so, I just switched gears and here we are!"

HID-Where did you learn those dance moves in your new music video for "Stay Apart"?
Ladysse- "Pshhhh mostly just born with them... Possibly just from drooling over every Chance the Rapper video... "

HID-What was the inspo for that track?
Ladysse- "Relationships, boys, breakups! You know all the good stuff that everyone has experienced at least once in their life. Music writing thrives on feelings, and love is probably the most intense inspiration."

HID- Why did you decide to move to Detroit after your first visit here?
Ladysse- "This city and the people in it are so incredibly real! I felt inspired the second I set foot downtown. This city has been through everything and it’s only going to get better. Very thankful for everyone making me feel so at home here."

HID- Do you ride motorcycles?
Ladysse- "Not yet but it’s been on my to-do list for a while now! (Don’t tell my mom) haha "

HID- Why did you decide to book your first Detroit show at The Loving Touch?
Ladysse- "I love The Loving Touch! I’ve seen lots of my friends play there and it always has a good vibe."

HID- What do you have planned for 2018?
Ladysse- "Lots of new music, videos, tours, ice cream... All the things! I’ve been working on stuff for Ladysse the last two years and I’m so stoked to finally start sharing it with everyone!"

HID- Is there anything else you want our readers to know?
Ladysse- "Just that I’m really happy and thankful that I’ve been able to start this music venture in such a badass city! I know I’ve got a lot to prove but, I’m up for it! Let’s have some fun Detroit!"


~S

Thursday, November 16, 2017

Detroit Music Brings the Community Together to Celebrate the Life of One of Our Own

When you grow up going to shows every day of the week you form a bond with a bunch of strangers that don't necessarily live in the same area, go to the same schools or have the same background as you. You find the freaks that love music as much as you do and you bond over the fact that you would just generally rather be at a show. The musical community of Detroit is a close-knit group of people who look out for each other and support each other whenever they get the chance, even if sometimes that chance comes in the wake of a tragedy.

This week we were all shocked to learn that Michael Krygier who played with bands like Jessica Hernandez and the Deltas and Gold Crayon had passed away.  But,  we were proud when we learned that Ancient Language, Earth Engine, The Imaginatron and his former bandmates in Gold Crayon would come together to play a show in his honor this Saturday.  


Ghost Light Bar in Hamtramck will be opening its doors at 8 p.m. this Saturday to celebrate the life of Michael the best way we know how. The bands are charging $5 at the door and 100% of the proceeds will be going to Michael's family to help with funeral costs.  More importantly, this will be a great chance for everyone who is affected by loss to be together and look out for each other.  We all need someone to lean on and there is no one like the friends you made at a show.  

We would like to send our condolences to anyone who knew and loved Michael.  We are truly sorry for your loss.



~S

Win Tickets to See Blockhead LIVE at The Loving Touch

This Friday night, Sound & Silence and Young Heavy Souls have teamed up to bring Blockhead to town. The producer just released his latest album, Funeral Balloons, earlier this year. This is the seventh album from Blockhead's solo project, however he has also produced music with many other musicians, including Aesop Rock. You can give the new album a listen below.


Blockhead will be performing live at The Loving Touch this Friday, November 17th along with Eliot Lipp, Mux MoolMega Powers and Nuntheless. Tickets for the show are $15 in advance or $20 at the door. You can pick your tickets up in advance here. Thanks to our friends at Sound & Silence we are also giving away a pair of tickets to this show. To enter to win, send your name to hipindetroit@gmail.com with #blockhead in the subject line. We will draw one lucky winner on Friday morning and will send them details on how to claim their prize.

Doors are set to open at 7 p.m. on Friday night and the show will start at 8. For more info, click here.


~C 

Wednesday, November 15, 2017

Campus Martius Lights the Tree with Jessica Hernandez this Friday

This Friday, November 17th the City of Detroit will be lighting the tree in Campus Martius to officially kick off the 2017 holiday season. The 14th annual ceremony will be bigger than ever because it will also feature a sister party in Beacon Park with shuttles between both locations. There will be carriage rides along Woodward Avenue, Santa will be walking around and taking pictures, and DTE will be handing out hot chocolate. There will also be performances from Thornetta Davis, KEM, and one of our favorites, Jessica Hernandez and the Deltas. Jessica not only released her latest album Telephone in English and Spanish this year, but she is currently just shy of 9 months pregnant and more beautiful and powerful than ever. If you have not seen her live, do not miss this opportunity! We imagine she will be going into hibernation with her future daughter soon.

The tree will be lit at 8 p.m., the official party will open at 9 p.m. and the music will run from 10 p.m. until midnight. They are expecting a crowd of around 50,000 people at the event, so they have also set up a large television on Monroe so that everyone can see the magic. There will also be a lot of road closures during the event. You can expect the Q Line to be packed and Uber to be at surge prices, so plan accordingly! 

Jessica will also be releasing a recording of my all time favorite Christmas song "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas" this Friday. You can find out more about that here


~S

Tuesday, November 14, 2017

Win Tickets to See Swingin' Utters at Small's

Swingin' Utters have been playing music for decades now and they're about to release a compilation album that will feature the highlights from their career. On December 8th, the band will release Drowning in the Sea, Rising with the Sun, a best-of album including 33 songs. You can check out the track list for the record being released by Fat Wreck Chords here.

Throughout Swingin' Utters span, not only have they put out some great music, they put on great live shows. This Thursday night you have a chance to see them yourself at Small's. For this tour, Darius Koski is pulling double duty, playing with the Utters and opening up for them with his solo project. Also playing the show Thursday night are Detroit's own Rebel Spies and Break Anchor. Tickets for the show are $13 in advance or $15 the day of the show.

We had a chance to catch up with Swingin' Utters through email before they head to town. Check out what Darius had to say about touring and the new record, then read ahead to find out how you can win tickets to the show at Small's!

HID- How has the fall tour been so far?
Darius Koski- "So far it’s been great. It’s not a super long run, so it’s pretty manageable."

HID- Since you've been touring for quite a few years now and are kind of veterans to the game, are there any "rules of the road" that you guys have established or items that you have learned to not leave home without?
Darius Koski- "Not really. I just pack a lot of socks and underwear… and pack for the weather. I think a lot of people bring soap and wipes, but I don’t. Maybe I should..."

HID- How different is it touring now compared to when you were first starting out?
Darius Koski- "For me, it was easier when I was younger. I didn’t get as worn out. I think it was more exciting way back when we started touring, because there were so many unknowns, no cell phones, no internet, and not as many punk bands as there came to be."

HID- You have a new "best of" album coming out, "Drowning in the Sea, Rising with the Sun". How did you guys decide what songs to put on that compilation?
Darius Koski- "Me, Fat Mike and Chad from Fat each compiled lists and argued about them for a while until we came to a consensus."

HID- Since we're talking best of, what's the best part about being a musician for you?
Darius Koski- "It’s hard to say, because I’ve been one my whole life, and can’t really imagine not playing music. It’s just something that comes naturally to me, writing songs that is. I guess that’s my favorite part, just being able to write songs. I also love traveling, so being in a touring band is great too."

HID- What's next for Swingin' Utters?
Darius Koski- "Hopefully we’ll be heading into the studio again in the next few months to record a new record, then more of the same… Touring, etc."


Thanks to Black Iris Booking, we are giving away one pair of tickets to this show. To enter to win, send your name to hipindetroit@gmail.com with #utters. We will draw one lucky winner on Thursday morning and will send them details on how to claim their prize. 

Doors are set to open at 7 p.m. on Thursday. This lineup is awesome from start to finish, so get there early and stay late! 


~C

Free Opening at The Red Bull House of Art this Friday

Every three months the Red Bull House of Art holds an opening for the latest group of artists that they have brought into town and housed for approximately three months. While in town, each of these artist gets a chance to connect to the city and let it influence their work. The results are usually interesting and the openings are always fun. This Friday the gallery will hold its last opening for the year. This round will feature the work of Judith Supine, Julie Schenkelberg, and Lucien Shapiro as well as some sounds by Secret Shower.

Before the opening, it's important to get a little background on each of the artists. This time the show will feature Judith Supine who is known for taking old magazines and books and turning them into art. The artist has been spending a lot of time at John. K King Books, which means this gallery was literally created using materials he found in Detroit. Lucien Shapiro created masks out of found materials. He has been walking the streets of Detroit, a place that is filled with tons of little street treasures, including the occasional tumble weave. We can only imagine what kind of items he has found and what he will create with them. Julie Schenkelberg will also be showing her stuff at the show. She is known for her installations that she builds with "scrap metal, industrial paints, and concrete". Her background is in theatre sets, so her work is known to be very theatrical in nature.

Doors for this Friday's gallery will open at 7 p.m. and close promptly at 10 p.m. It is free to get in and all are welcome, but these shows are known to get crowded, so make it a point to get there early. The RBHOA is located at 1551 Winder in the Eastern Market district of Detroit. If you miss the opening, you can stop by and see the show during open hours. Learn more about that here

~S

Monday, November 13, 2017

Go Behind the Lab Coat and Learn More About Bill Nye The Science Guy at Cinema Detroit this Weekend

Do you remember waking up on the weekend and hearing the words "Bill, Bill, Bill Nye the Science Guy" sung from your television?  I vividly remember making a point to catch the science show every Saturday, unable to realize that I was actually learning all the things that my teacher had tried to get me to pay attention to in school all week. There was something about Bill's enthusiasm and fun experiments that would make me care about how the thing worked and why things were the way that they were. Because of this, I grew up loving Bill and respecting his input.

Last year he released a new version of his Saturday morning show on Netflix and I'm not ashamed to say that once again I woke up and watched every episode as fast as I could. He was just as charming as I remember, but this time he was tackling some big issues, like climate change. He applied the same passion as he did to the experiences that he talked about when I was a kid, but his message was a lot more important and meaningful. If you haven't seen that show, make sure to watch it the next time you think, "there's nothing worth checking out on Netflix". You won't be disappointed and you can learn a lot about the world that we are currently living in.

But, if you want to know more about the man behind the big brain you can check out a new documentary that is being released at the Cinema Detroit this weekend. The documentary tells the story of Bill's life and explains how he became the science guy. It won awards at all of the big festivals this year and the trailer looks killer. Plus, he takes a deeper look at what he feels is the biggest problem facing our world today, climate change.


There will be 8 showings over three days this weekend (Friday, November 17th through Sunday the 19th) and you can get tickets in advance here. There is a very limited amount of seats so if you want to be one of the first people to see this film, you want to get your tickets in advance! If you miss these screenings, you will have to wait till the film goes into wide release. Cinema Detroit is located at 4126 3rd St., Detroit, Michigan 48201.


~S

Win Tickets to See St. Vincent at The Fillmore

This time of year it's easy to get sucked into the couch and stay inside to escape the cold weather outdoors. But, there is so much going on in and around this city, sometimes you have to make yourself break that pattern and brave the cold. There isn't a much better reason to hit pause on your Netflix binge than a great live show, but free tickets to a great show definitely should seal the deal!

This Tuesday night Live Nation Detroit and The Fillmore are bringing St. Vincent to town for the Fear the Future Tour. St. Vincent, a.k.a. Annie Clark,  just released her latest album Masseduction last month. Since its release, she has performed on The Graham Norton Show and The Ellen Show and now you can see her perform live and in person.

St. Vincent will be hitting the stage at The Fillmore this Tuesday, November 14th. Tickets to the show start at $36 a piece, you can pick yours up here. You can also enter to win a pair of tickets to the show courtesy of Hip in Detroit and Live Nation Detroit. To enter to win, send your name to hipindetroit@gmail.com with #TuesdayNight in the subject line. We will draw one lucky winner on Tuesday morning and will send them details on how to claim their prize.

Doors are set to open at 7 p.m. for this one. For more info, click here.



~C