Concert of Colors celebrates 25 years this summer
Press release: Arab American National Museum
It began as a modest yet highly ambitious one-day event at a single venue on Detroit’s east riverfront. Now, the Concert of Colors returns to multiple venues in Midtown Detroit July 12-16, 2017, for its landmark 25th annual celebration of music from around the world.
Produced by the Arab American National Museum (AANM) with its partners Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO), Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA), Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, ACCESS and University of Michigan-Detroit Center, Concert of Colors is a highly anticipated and beloved summer event and one of few remaining free-admission music festivals in the city.
Amplifying the festivities for the 25th birthday bash are new venues Third Man Records, Michigan Science Center and Detroit Historical Museum. Third Man Records will kick off the festival on the evening of Wednesday, July 12, 2017, while the DIA teams up with The Wright Museum and Michigan Science Center for a lively outdoor presentation on Friday, July 14, 2017. Detroit Historical Museum is set to host an afterparty that evening.
The five-day indoor/outdoor event has always sought to unite the region’s diverse communities and ethnic groups by presenting global music acts. Against the backdrop of today’s political climate of fear and division, this year’s festival takes on greatly increased significance in its effort to unite, not divide, through the power of music.
“That the 25th anniversary Concert of Colors celebrating the diversity of metro Detroit and the 50th anniversary of the 1967 Detroit Rebellion will take place so closely seems almost poetic,” says Ismael Ahmed, who, as then-leader of human-services agency ACCESS founded the event with New Detroit, Inc.
“Music and culture have always been an important part of who we are and what we can become. We hope that this year’s Concert of Colors will remind us all of the hard lessons, the hope, the music and the sacrifices that pushed us all forward.
Taking place at the Arab American National Museum the evening of Thursday, July 13, 2017, at AANM is the annual Forum on Community, Culture & Race. The forum will highlight the 1967 rebellion and feature presentations and discussions among artists, community leaders and cultural institutions dealing with topics on race and ethnicity in a political climate.
“On this milestone anniversary, coupled with the historic 50th anniversary of the 1967 Rebellion, AANM reaffirms its commitment to building a greater, more inclusive community through the arts,” says AANM Director Devon Akmon. “At a time of deep divisions in our nation, we believe arts and culture are a powerful tool that empowers people and instills community pride.”
In addition, Detroit’s own Don Was will use the 10th anniversary of his Detroit All-Star Revue at 8 p.m. Saturday, July 15, to present his always compelling lineup of single-song performances by classic and contemporary Detroit acts on the theme of “Music of Rebellion.”
“To celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the Detroit All-Star Revue, we’re going to raise the ante of soul and inspiration and commemorate the city’s history of musical rebellion. It’s shaping up to be the Mother of All Revues! I can’t wait,” Was says.
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25TH CONCERT OF COLORS
Wednesday, July 12, 2017: Third Man Records, 441 W. Canfield Street, Detroit
Thursday, July 13, 2017: Forum on Community, Culture & Race at Arab American National Museum, 13624 Michigan Ave., Dearborn; theme: 50th anniversary of the Detroit Rebellion
Friday, July 14, 2017: Joint outdoor musical presentations on John R Street by
Detroit Institute of Arts
Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History
Michigan Science Center
Followed by an after-party at Detroit Historical Museum, 5401 Woodward Ave.
Saturday + Sunday, July 15-16, 2017:
Max M. & Marjorie S. Fisher Music Center, 3711 Woodward Ave.
University of Michigan – Detroit Center, 3663 Woodward Ave. (outdoors)
Detroit Institute of Arts, 5200 Woodward Ave.
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Established in 1993, the concert originally began as a one-day event at Chene Park Amphitheatre. Several years after its kick-off, the festival expanded to become a multi-day, multi-stage event to accommodate the larger crowds flocking in to enjoy the expertly curated lineup. The concert was eventually relocated to the Max M. & Marjorie S. Fisher Music Center and in recent years, has expanded to include Detroit’s major cultural institutions.
The complete 2017 lineup and performance schedule will be published later this spring at www.concertofcolors.com. All performances and the Forum are free and open to the public. Due to limited seating, Forum attendees will be asked to RSVP online.
