Detroit, MI

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

Published

2 years ago

May 5, 2024

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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

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Detroit Tigers 2026 roster prediction 2.0: Is Kevin McGonigle ready?

Published

11 hours ago

March 5, 2026

Press Room

Detroit Tigers 2026 roster prediction 2.0: Is Kevin McGonigle ready?

LAKELAND, FL – Opening Day is 21 days away.

The Detroit Tigers are deep into spring training in TigerTown. Pitchers and catchers reported Feb. 11, position players arrived Feb. 15, and the first game took place Feb. 21.

After three weeks of camp, including one and a half weeks of games, leaders have emerged in the battles for roster spots among pitchers and position players – but nothing is guaranteed.

Here’s a look at our second version of how the Tigers should fill their 26-man 2026 Opening Day roster, with exactly three weeks until the first game of the regular season.

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Right elbow arthroscopy in late January has limited Dingler in the early weeks of spring training, but he is expected to be fully healthy by Opening Day as the starting catcher.

The only question is how the Tigers will deploy their two catchers.

It could make sense for backup catcher Jake Rogers to catch left-handers Tarik Skubal and Framber Valdez, even though Dingler caught 25 of Skubal’s 31 starts last season. The reasoning is simple: The Tigers will need more offense from their catcher when their other three starters are pitching – and Dingler is the better hitter.

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Torkelson is locked into the Opening Day roster after hitting .240 with 31 home runs in 155 games last season, ranking 14th among 25 first basemen with a .789 OPS.

He has experienced ups and downs in his four-year MLB career, including two demotions to Triple-A Toledo and two seasons with 31 home runs. The next step is becoming an All-Star-caliber player.

This spring, Torkelson is hitting .250 (3-for-12) with four strikeouts in five games. He also went 1-for-2 with one walk (and two hit by pitches) in two games against Team Dominican Republic in a two-game exhibition series.

The Tigers retained Torres when he received and accepted the one-year, $22.03 million qualifying offer. He will be relied upon as the everyday second baseman in the lineup and a reliable on-base presence near the top of the batting order.

In 2025, Torres hit .256 with 16 home runs, 85 walks and 101 strikeouts across 145 games.

This spring, Torres is hitting .286 (4-for-14) with one walk and three strikeouts in five games. He left the Tigers to represent Team Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic, which runs from March 5-17.

McGonigle hasn’t played above Double-A Erie, but his performance against Team Dominican Republic in the first game of the exhibition series showed why he belongs on the Opening Day roster.

The 21-year-old shortstop hit a first-pitch 98.1 mph fastball from right-hander Luis Severino for a leadoff home run in the first inning, pulling it 461 feet to right field with a 110.4 mph exit velocity – making noise in a new environment at the electric Estadio Quisqueya Juan Marichal in Santo Domingo. After the homer, he added a two-run single, five-pitch walk and leadoff single to finish his four plate appearances.

McGonigle has passed every on-field test in camp.

He also looks comfortable around big leaguers behind the scenes.

This spring, McGonigle is hitting .400 (6-for-15) with two walks and four strikeouts across seven games. He also went 3-for-5 with two walks and two strikeouts in two games against Team Dominican Republic.

The Tigers are prepared for Keith to serve as the primary third baseman.

In 2024-25, Keith hit .237 with a .660 OPS during the months of March/April and May, then improved to .269 with a .744 OPS during the months of June, July, August and September/October.

If Keith starts slowly again, utility player Zach McKinstry could handle third base until he heats up. McGonigle could also slide over to third while McKinstry handles shortstop.

This spring, Keith is hitting .154 (2-for-13) with two walks and seven strikeouts across six games. He also went 3-for-6 with one strikeout in two games against Team Dominican Republic.

If McGonigle secures an Opening Day spot, the Tigers will need to cut one of four outfielders: Vierling, Wenceel Pérez, Jahmai Jones or Parker Meadows.

Among them, Vierling has performed the best in spring training (with a track record of success when healthy), Pérez provides value off the bench as the only switch-hitter (with experience at all three outfield positions) and Jones is the top option against left-handed pitchers (without any minor-league options remaining).

That leaves Meadows on the outside looking in.

Last season, Meadows hit .215 in 58 games while posting minus-1 defensive runs saved over more than 450 innings in center field. This spring, he is hitting .059 (1-for-17) with one walk and five strikeouts in six games. He also went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts against Team Panama in an exhibition game.

The Tigers plan to use Greene at designated hitter more often after just 21 starts there last season. As a result, Carpenter has spent more time in left field this spring, in addition to his primary position in right field.

Even so, Carpenter should still receive most of the starts at designated hitter. Injuries have limited him from completing a full season during his four-year MLB career, and the designated hitter role helps keep his bat in the lineup while reducing wear and tear on his body.

This spring, Carpenter is hitting .235 (4-for-17) with six strikeouts in six games, making three starts in right field, two in left field and one at designated hitter. He also went 1-for-3 with one home run against Team Panama, starting in left field.

If McGonigle starts at shortstop, Meadows gets demoted to Triple-A Toledo and Báez takes over in center field, the Tigers would have McKinstry, Pérez and Jones as their three position players on the bench, not including Rogers as the backup catcher.

Who is next in line?

McKinstry and Rogers should be secure, but Pérez and Jones could find themselves on the hot seat if they struggle early in the season because neither has an established track record of success.

Pérez could be replaced by Trei Cruz, a switch-hitter who plays center field and shortstop, offering more defensive versatility than anyone else in the organization. Jones could be replaced by Hao-Yu Lee, a right-handed-hitting infielder who crushes left-handed pitchers, balancing the roster with above-average defense at second and third base.

Both Cruz and Lee joined the Tigers’ 40-man roster in mid-November, protecting them from the Rule 5 draft.

This spring, Cruz is hitting .308 (4-for-13) with three walks and one strikeout in seven games. He also went 0-for-3 with one strikeout against Team Panama, starting at shortstop.

The Big Five is locked in.

The Tigers bolstered their rotation by signing Valdez and Verlander in the 10 days leading up to spring training, helping offset the loss of right-hander Reese Olson to season-ending shoulder surgery. Right-hander Troy Melton could also miss significant time after being shut down from throwing with right elbow inflammation.

Moving from Olson to Verlander is a downgrade, but the Tigers still boast the best one-two punch in baseball with Skubal and Valdez at the top of the rotation. If another injury occurs, right-hander Drew Anderson is expected to shift from the bullpen into the rotation.

Five relievers are locked in with Jansen, Finnegan, Vest, Holton and Anderson, leaving three openings.

The Tigers already thinned the competition by optioning right-handers Keider Montero, Ty Madden and Dylan Smith to Triple-A Toledo, with Montero and Madden providing starting depth. The Tigers also lost right-handed reliever Beau Brieske to right ribcage tightness this spring, though the severity of the injury remains unknown.

Both Hurter and Hanifee have been key bullpen pieces in the past, making them top candidates for two of the three openings. But Hanifee has a notable flaw: He has thrived against right-handed hitters as a ground-ball specialist with his sinker-slider approach, but left-handers have hit .307 with an .857 OPS.

If the Tigers carry three left-handed relievers, Sommers could have the inside track on the final spot in the bullpen, especially with Bailey Horn still rehabbing from left elbow arthroscopy.

Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.

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Detroit, MI

Report: Lions tender K Jake Bates ERFA offer

Published

23 hours ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

Report: Lions tender K Jake Bates ERFA offer

The Detroit Lions are starting to take care of their own ahead of free agency, and it begins with one of the easier decisions to make. According to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, the Lions have tendered kicker Jake Bates an exclusive rights free agent offer. What that means is Bates now has a one-year contract offer at the minimum salary ($1,075,000 for Bates). He can choose to sign it or sit out the season.

The reason the Lions can offer this ERFA tender is because Bates’ contract is expiring after just two accrued seasons in the NFL. All players with fewer than three years of experience who are on expiring contracts could be offered these ERFA tenders. In fact, the Lions did so with three other ERFAs earlier this offseason, all of whom already signed the deals: OL Michael Niese, RB Jacob Saylors, and CB Nick Whiteside.

Bates is coming off a season where he took a step back after an outstanding 2024. After making 89.7% of his field goals in his first year with the Lions, Bates slid back to just 79.4% accuracy. That said, five of his seven misses all season were from 50+ yards, and he was a perfect 14-of-14 from 39 yards or shorter. Additionally, he increased his extra point accuracy from 95.5% to 96.4%. He also steadily improved at the new NFL kickoff, which requires a lot more precision from kickers to boot the ball as close to the goal line without going into the end zone.

It’s unclear if the Lions intend on bringing in competition for Bates this offseason, but special teams coordinator Dave Fipp made it abundantly clear all last season that they value Bates, despite some struggles in 2025.

“Clearly, we have a very, very good player,” Fipp said in December. “If you put him on the streets, there would be a bunch of teams claiming him right away. And the truth is, we’d have a really hard time finding a guy even near the same player as him.”

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Detroit Pistons’ loss to Cavs shows weaknesses before playoffs

Published

1 day ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

Detroit Pistons’ loss to Cavs shows weaknesses before playoffs

CLEVELAND – In just five days, the Detroit Pistons faced the Cleveland Cavaliers twice.

They split the games to finish their season series against the Central Division rivals, but with a potential reunion looming in the second round of the NBA playoffs, the Pistons came away from both games unsatisfied.

On Friday, it was the Pistons needing overtime to overcome a Cavaliers team missing James Harden and Donovan Mitchell at Little Caesars Arena. On Tuesday, March 3, in Cleveland, however – with Harden back in the lineup – the Pistons struggled in the areas they usually thrive, for a 113-109 loss.

The Pistons’ first loss on the road since Jan. 29 didn’t feature their usual fire for much of the night.

“I’m frustrated with the effort level, the attention to detail that we played on that end of the floor,” coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “The times and opportunities where we did do the right thing, did get stops, we let people outwork us to come up with offensive rebounds. We can’t afford to not play at maximum effort. That’s been our superpower all year long and, tonight, I felt like there were times where we were outworked. If we’re outworked, this isn’t going to be the results that we want.”

The Pistons work at being the league’s most disruptive team via turnovers has given them a top-three defensive rating. They force turnovers on 17.2% of possessions – best in the NBA –and only trail the Houston Rockets in offensive rebounding percentage. They also lead the league in steals and blocks per game. Getting out in transition and capitalizing on second-chance opportunities has created an above-average offense despite struggles on 3-point shooting.

For three quarters against the Cavaliers, little of that materialized – as least until the Pistons grabbed seven steals in the final period (after just two in the first three). Overall, the Pistons were beat on the offensive glass (11-10), mustered just 10 fastbreak points (their lowest total since Jan. 27) and picked up 11 second-chance points (their least since Feb. 6).

It was, in all, a lackadaisical defensive performance, with the Pistons repeatedly losing shooters behind the arc as the Cavs knocked down 17 3-pointers – eight more than the Pistons.

“Obviously they’re a good team, but we haven’t been playing to our standard on that side of the ball,” Pistons wing Javonte Green said. “Coach talked about the effort we need to bring every game. We just need to play harder. We can’t get outworked on offensive rebounds and 50-50 balls, that’s our identity. I feel like we needed to pick up that slack.”

The Pistons also were hurt by a poor shooting performance by Cade Cunningham; he finished with 10 points and 14 assists but shot 4-for-16. Cleveland threw multiple defenders at him all night, and he obliged by passing the ball and setting up his teammates. It led to a big second half for Tobias Harris, who scored all 19 of his points in the last two quarters.

But it wasn’t enough.

“On the defensive end we just couldn’t put up a wall, couldn’t get a stand going,” Cunningham said. “Personally, I had a lot of bad closeouts; just off the ball, I didn’t feel sharp. Just gotta clean all that stuff up.”

With 22 games remaining, the Pistons are focused on cleaning up the margins so they’ll be ready for postseason play. These two games against the Cavaliers have given them a list of areas to clean up.

Friday, they needed an extra period to win after rallying from a late nine-point deficit despite losing Cunningham late after he fouled out with just under two minutes left in the fourth quarter. Jalen Duren and Daniss Jenkins stepped up in overtime after Duncan Robinson also fouled out.

Mostly, the Cavaliers have proven they can pounce during soft stretches on defense. Thursday brings another rematch with a contender, as the Pistons wrap up a three-game road trip against the San Antonio Spurs (another opponent from last week).

“We didn’t play our best basketball the other night,” Bickerstaff said of the Cavaliers’ game on Feb. 27. “Give our guys credit because we played 53 minutes and were able to pull it out in some adverse conditions. Cade fouls out, Duncan fouls out, our guys still figure out a way to get it done.

“We need to be better. We need to be better defensively, we need to impose ourselves on the game a little bit more than we did last game. I thought the last two quarters of the Orlando game [on Sunday] were the best quarters we’ve played defensively since New York [on Feb. 19]. I hope, and told our guys, that we can continue to build off that, because that’s where it always starts for us. You can tell the tone by how we are defensively and how we’re getting after it.”

Contact Omari Sankofa II at osankofa@freepress.com. Follow him on Bluesky and/or X @omarisankofa.

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