DETROIT – Concert of Colors began as a modest, yet highly ambitious, one-day event at a single venue on Detroit’s east riverfront. Now, the popular annual event returns to multiple venues in Midtown Detroit July 12-16, 2017, for its landmark 25th anniversary celebration of music from around the world. In recent years, attendance has reached 80,000 people.
“On this milestone anniversary, coupled with the historic 50th anniversary of the 1967 Rebellion, Arab American National Museum reaffirms its commitment to building a greater, more inclusive community through the arts,” says Museum Director Devon Akmon. “At a time of deep divisions in our nation, we believe arts and culture are powerful tools that empower people and instill community pride.”
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Concert of Colors is one of the few remaining free-admission music festivals in the city. It’s produced by the Arab American National Museum with its partners Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Detroit Institute of Arts, Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services, and University of Michigan-Detroit Center.
“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,” said Ismael Ahmed, the former head of human-services agency ACCESS, who founded the event with New Detroit, Inc.
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 a 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.
25th Concert of Colors venues:
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 and 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.