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$25 tickets, stadium spectaculars highlight 2024 concert season in metro Detroit

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 tickets, stadium spectaculars highlight 2024 concert season in metro Detroit


The days are getting longer. The temperatures are getting warmer. And the nights are about to get a lot louder.

For millions of music fans across metro Detroit and Michigan, summertime spells prime concert season, and there’s another bonanza of stuff on the way for 2024.

The summer schedule will feature acts from across the spectrum — rock, country, hip-hop, pop, R&B, electronic music and more — as part of the humming array of live music at big venues, small clubs, major festivals and community events.

At Pine Knob Music Theatre, the state’s leading summer music hot spot, the roasted-almond stands and drink machines have already revved up for a season that will feature nearly 50 concert nights.

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On Thursday, the Clarkston amphitheater — which traditionally has ranked among the most-attended summer venues in the U.S. — notched the earliest start in its half-century history with a rock bill featuring the bands Primus, Puscifer and A Perfect Circle.

The Pine Knob action will resume May 22 with Neil Young, part of a five-month season scheduled to wrap up Sept. 28 with WRIF-FM’s Riff Fest, headlined by the veteran hard rock band Godsmack.

The 2024 season doesn’t wield quite the firepower that ruled in 2023, when Detroit’s summer calendar was loaded with mega draws such as Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Morgan Wallen, Drake and Ed Sheeran. Ford Field, the region’s largest venue, hosted nine shows and more than half a million concertgoers for the busiest stretch of music in the stadium’s 22-year history.

Indeed, last year was the biggest ever for the North American concert business, as the live-events industry continued to revel in a post-pandemic rebound: The top 100 tours alone generated $6.63 billion in grosses, according to data collected by the trade magazine Pollstar, with at least $1 billion of that coming from Swift’s Eras Tour.

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This summer is teeming with hot shows, and here we break out some highlights for what’s coming through October. Note that these bullet points — along with the assorted venue schedules we’re providing at freep.com — are just a taste: There’s plenty more notable and compelling stuff ahead at spaces big and small across southeast Michigan.

Concerts galore: Long list of artists coming to metro Detroit venues this summer

$25 concert tickets

The 10th edition of Live Nation’s Concert Week promotion will start Wednesday and run through May 14, with more than 170 Michigan shows offering $25 seats. Dates include shows at Comerica Park, Little Caesars Arena, Pine Knob and other metro Detroit amphitheaters, along with theaters and clubs across the state. Details: livenation.com/concertweek

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Promoter AEG Presents is offering its own $25 tickets, on sale Tuesday through May 15, for shows at the Masonic Temple Theatre and Royal Oak Music Theatre, including Sum 41 (Sept. 14), Lyle Lovett (July 23) and Daryl Hall’s coheadlining visit with Elvis Costello (July 8).

More: Live Nation’s $25 concert ticket sale starts this week

For both promotional events, the discounted tickets are billed as “all-in” — meaning $25 flat, with no service fees or other charges.

Stadium spectaculars

Ford Field will follow its record-setting concert year with a trifecta of country nights, starting with Zach Bryan on June 20. It’s part of a fast, remarkable rise for the Oklahoma artist and U.S. Navy veteran, whose only Detroit show until now was a Majestic Theatre gig in 2021.

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He’ll be followed at the downtown stadium by George Strait (July 13) and Kenny Chesney with the Zac Brown Band (Aug. 10).

For Chesney, this will be the 12th headlining performance in the Lions’ den, the most for any artist since the stadium’s 2002 opening. His August visit with Zac Brown will feature Detroit’s Uncle Kracker in the opening slot.

At Comerica Park, there are two shows on the docket: Def Leppard and Journey will serve up rock hits July 18, while Green Day will bring its Savior Tour with guests Smashing Pumpkins and Rancid on Sept. 4.

Welcome back

The summer schedule includes a handful of folks we haven’t seen in a while, including the reunited rock band Creed, which will play Pine Knob on July 31 before returning Nov. 20 for a night at LCA. Those will be the first Creed shows here in 12 years for Scott Stapp, Mark Tremonti and company.

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Smooth-singing George Strait, a pioneer of country music stadium concerts, will make his first Michigan appearance since his avowed retirement tour in 2014. Strait is now firmly back in the saddle and headed to Ford Field on July 13 with Chris Stapleton and Little Big Town in support.

Hip-hop veteran and freshly minted Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Missy Elliott, meanwhile, will play the first Detroit headlining show of her career when she hits LCA on Aug. 15 with Busta Rhymes and Ciara. Her last major Motor City performance came as part of Eminem’s Ford Field stand in 2003.

Neil Young has been no stranger to Michigan venues in recent years, but his May 22 Pine Knob visit will be the first with his band Crazy Horse since 2004.

Festival feats

The Movement festival will hold down its traditional Memorial Day weekend spot on Detroit’s riverfront as the much-loved techno event returns to Hart Plaza, May 25-27. Performers on six stages will include headliners Fatboy Slim, Richie Hawtin and Solomun, part a lineup of international acts and Detroit veterans — including hometown musical pioneer Kevin Saunderson in a set with actor-DJ Idris Elba.

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On Michigan’s west side, Electric Forest will kick into action June 20-23, presenting another sprawling lineup of electronic artists and jam bands, with headliners to include Pretty Lights, String Cheese Incident, Disco Biscuits, Charlotte de Witte and more.

Faster Horses, July 19-21 at Michigan International Speedway, will reassert its status as one of the biggest country music events in the U.S., this time with a country-rock crossover bill led by Hardy, Jelly Roll and Lainey Wilson.

Concert of Colors, set for Midtown Detroit, July 15-21, will unveil full details this week, including the fest’s artist lineup, an expanded venue list and a new series of neighborhood events happening throughout the summer.

For Labor Day weekend, a pair of local traditions will return: The Detroit Jazz Festival will take over downtown with a four-day lineup led by drummer great Brian Blade, the 2024 artist-in-residence. Arts, Beats & Eats will be back in Royal Oak for its 27th installment, with performers to be announced later this summer.

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More: Detroit Jazz Festival unveils 2024 artist lineup, led by artist-in-residence Brian Blade

And the latest edition of Willie Nelson’s Outlaw Music Festival, boasting a heavyweight lineup that includes Bob Dylan and John Mellencamp, will make its way to Pine Knob Sept. 15.

Big crop of country

Country music has wrangled an increasingly significant role on the summer touring circuit, and that will play out this season in amphitheaters such as Pine Knob, where highlights include the top-notch Tyler Childers and a doubleheader from Luke Bryan as part of the WYCD Hoedown (June 28-29).

Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre in Sterling Heights is brimming with country offerings, including Parker McCollum (June 8), Billy Currington (June 14) and Brothers Osborne (June 15), along with several acts of the outlaw variety: Whiskey Myers (July 6), Jamey Johnson (July 18) and Cody Jinks (Aug. 17).

Top of the pops

Irish singer-songwriter Hozier, who broke big with “Take Me to Church” in 2013 and just topped charts across the world with “Too Sweet,” will headline Pine Knob on May 31. Other biggies at the amphitheater include Maroon 5 (June 21), Janet Jackson (July 2), Imagine Dragons (Aug. 12) and Glass Animals (Aug. 24).

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LCA will also welcome brotherly trio AJR on June 30 and Jennifer Lopez on July 31. Billie Eilish, fresh off another round of Grammy and Oscar wins, will arrive Oct. 7 for the second Detroit arena performance of her career, while Pink will serve up a twofer there Oct. 14-15.

Meghan Trainor, playing metro Detroit for the first time in eight years, will wrap up Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre’s season when she performs Sept. 30.

R&B treasure trove

The Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre will fill Detroit’s riverfront with soulful sounds and smooth jazz, kicking off its season June 5 with Lalah Hathaway and a summer of Motor City favorites including the Isley Brothers (June 16), Kem (Aug. 2) and Sheila E (Aug. 14). More shows at the Aretha will be announced in coming weeks.

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Following his big comeback moment at the Super Bowl halftime show, Usher is headed to Little Caesars Arena for a Sept. 12-13 doubleheader on his Past Present Future hits tour.

Also at LCA, Jhené Aiko will bring her Magic Hour Tour on June 19, Xscape and SWV will summon ’90s energy Aug. 9, and Maxwell will serenade audiences Oct. 11.

A Latin phenomenon

Last month, Puerto Rican star Bad Bunny notched a milestone show at a sold-out Little Caesars Arena, drawing 16,000-plus for a night of all-Spanish-language pop music. There’s some broader context to that Detroit breakthrough: The Recording Industry Association of America, which tracks streaming stats and album sales, recently reported that Latin music revenues in the U.S. hit $1.4 billion last year, up 16% from 2022.

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Now, less than a year after his own local sellout at Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre, Mexican singer Peso Pluma is poised to headline LCA on June 1 as Latin music’s growth accelerates in Detroit. Following the summer concert season, Colombia’s Shakira will play the same downtown arena Dec. 15 as part of her Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran world tour.      

Homegrown hot nights

Beyond the array of local talent you’ll find nightly across metro Detroit’s clubs and bars, there are some notable homecoming performances in store: Gladwin-bred rapper NF will play the biggest Michigan show of his career with a May 14 visit to LCA, while Detroit metalcore quintet I Prevail is set for a July 13 headlining spot at Pine Knob.

Motown mainstay Kem will light up the Aretha amphitheater on Aug. 2, and there’s an exciting new jazz project from some well-pedigreed local veterans: Don Was, Dave McMurray and Luis Resto will make their Motor City debut as the Pan-Detroit Ensemble on May 24 at Orchestra Hall.

A swan song

There’s always an end of the road, and this summer’s most notable goodbye will come from Jeff Lynne’s ELO, whose Over and Out Tour plays LCA on Oct. 9, putting a bow on a 54-year run for the adventurous pop-rock project once known as Electric Light Orchestra.

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Contact Detroit Free Press music writer Brian McCollum: 313-223-4450 or bmccollum@freepress.com.



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Detroit, MI

2 killed, 6 shot during house party in Detroit

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2 killed, 6 shot during house party in Detroit


No arrests have been made at this time

Police lights (WSLS 10)

DETROIT – Two people were killed and four others were injured during a shooting in Detroit over the weekend, police said.

The shooting happened at 1:34 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 3, at a home in the 6300 block of Devereaux Street.

When officers arrived, they discovered that six people had been shot during a house party, with two of them being killed.

Police say the circumstances surrounding the shooting and suspects are unknown at this time.

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An investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP or the Detroit Police Department’s Homicide Division at 313-596-2260.


About the Author
Sara Powers

Sara Powers joined WDIV as a digital content producer in Oct. 2024 and has been covering Metro Detroit news since 2021.



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NFL results & week 9 round-up: Detroit Lions and Baltimore Ravens win again

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NFL results & week 9 round-up: Detroit Lions and Baltimore Ravens win again


Not only did the Cowboys lose at the Atlanta Falcons, but they lost quarterback Dak Prescott with injury and, at 3-5, have had as many defeats after eight games as they had in each of the past three full seasons.

After stunning the Ravens last week, the Cleveland Browns were brought back down to earth by the Los Angeles Chargers, while Joe Burrow threw five touchdown passes to earn the Cincinnati Bengals their first home win of the season, against the Las Vegas Raiders.

The Minnesota Vikings responded to successive defeats with a 21-13 win over the Indianapolis Colts, while Bryce Young helped Carolina to a first home win in 322 days, but it may not be enough to keep his job for the Panthers’ trip to Germany next week.

The Panthers became the first team in the Super Bowl era to win a game despite gaining under 250 yards, allowing more than 425 and not getting a turnover as the New Orleans Saints somehow managed to lose despite their statistical dominance.

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Saints starter Derek Carr also grabbed an unwanted record as the first quarterback to lose to 31 different teams.

The improving Arizona Cardinals are a team to watch out for as they won 29-9 against the Chicago Bears, who had not allowed more than 21 points in their previous 13 games.



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Insider Believes Detroit Tiger Should Target This Veteran Free Agent Pitcher

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Insider Believes Detroit Tiger Should Target This Veteran Free Agent Pitcher


The Detroit Tigers have a lot of strong suits, but they will still look to upgrade the roster all over the place. One of the most important parts of the team that needs a boost is the rotation. Although Tarik Skubal is a bonafide ace, Casey Mize’s future is unknown and they shipped Jack Flaherty off. The Tigers will likely be in the running for some of the big names, but they made need to look at a different tier of pitcher.

The Athletic’s Cody Stavenhagen threw a name out recently on the ‘Tiger Territory’ poscast in Nick Pivetta.

“A name that I believe the Tigers just might like a ton, none other than Nick Pivetta from the Boston Red Sox. He’s going to be a free agent this winter. You might hear that name and you might think ‘Ok, he was kind of supposed to be good in like 2018 or something, right?’” the beat writer began.

Pivetta was a pretty highly touted prospect, but has never had an ERA under four, underperforming quite a bit. There is a lot to like below the surface numbers, including his 10 K/9 in his career.

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He’s coming off of a season in Boston in which he started 26 games with a 4.14 ERA and 103 ERA+ in 145.2 innings. Pivetta would be a bit of a project, but something the Tigers should look into.

“He dominates the strike zone, 6.1 percent walk rate, that’s really good. Strikes out a lot of guys, 28.9 percent strike out rate, more than 10 K’s per nine. His walks have decreased, his strike outs have increased, or stayed steady over the years,” Stavenhagen explained.

He then goes on to mention Pivetta’s Stuff+, an advanced pitching metric that essentially comes down to how good a pitcher’s stuff is when the results are taken away. The 31-year-old had the best rating in the league last season.

Currently, Spotrac has Pivetta’s market value at a four year deal around $60 million. It would be a less expensive deal than signing a pitcher like Luis Severino or Walker Buehler, which could help them to bolster the team in other areas.

While his surface stats might not be exciting, what’s under the hood is. It might be a big of a project for Detroit, but one that could pay huge dividens. Now that they have made the playoffs, they will need to look for more upgrades in all aspects of the team.

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