The days may be getting shorter, but Detroit knows how to make the most of wintery weather. From finding the perfect gift during Small Business Saturday, to strolling through breathtaking light displays with a loved one, here’s how to kick off your holiday season in metro Detroit.

Plus, indoor entertainment to keep you warm. Read on to learn more. 

Upcoming events

Wayne County Lightfest

Hines Drive

  Thursday, Nov. 20 – Wednesday, Dec. 24

  $5-50 cash, depending on vehicle 

Every Wednesday through Sunday from 6-10 p.m. Hines Drive goes full winter-wonderland with miraculous light displays! En route there’s also food trucks, hot chocolate, and plenty of opportunities to snap the perfect photo. 

Sunset: A Cyber-Lament

  Andy Arts in Detroit

  Thursday, Nov. 20 through Tuesday, Nov. 25

  $11.63–$64.15

A music-driven work inspired by medieval retellings of the Orpheus myth and our collective internet-driven madness. The production weaves technologies old and new to mythologize our relationship with technology and how it has changed and shaped our imagination. This performance runs approximately 80 minutes with no intermission.

Art for the Holidays

  Detroit Artists Market

  Friday, Nov. 14 through Saturday, Dec. 20

  Free

Detroit Artists Market’s Art for the Holidays exhibition is open Tuesday-Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Peruse and purchase unique pieces from almost 100 local artists, perfect for the gift-giving season! 

Detroit Tree Lighting

Campus Martius 

  Friday, Nov. 21

  Free

The 22nd annual tree lighting will be accompanied by live entertainment, holiday shopping, food trucks, and giveaways. It’s a great time to watch professional ice skaters hit the ice and make a visit to Santa! 

Light Up Beacon Park

 City Bird and Nest

  Friday, Nov. 21

  Free

Watch as Beacon Park brings a massive White Fir to life with ornaments and listen to carolers as the park lights up with festive cheer. Beacon Park celebrates the start of the holiday season from 5-9 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 21. 

Black Friday and Small Business Saturday

City Bird and Nest

  Friday, Nov. 28 and Saturday, Nov. 29

  Free

Visit City Bird and Nest for special deals and events during extended hours from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Free gifts will be available, as well a DJ set, a locally crafted photo-op and Midtown Holiday Bingo. For those unable to attend in person, a coupon code is available from Friday to Cyber Monday. 

CatVideoFest 2025

Detroit Film Theatre

  Friday, Nov. 28 through Sunday, Nov. 30

General Admission $11.50, Senior/Student/DIA Member $9.50

Cat videos are a long-standing gem of the internet era, and the Detroit Film Theatre invites you to enjoy the cutest and goofiest of them on the big screen. There are 4 showings over the weekend of this 80 minute compilation. The DFT recommends purchasing tickets in advance. A part of the proceeds will be donated to local shelters. 

A legendary Detroit band has been recognized with one of music industry’s highest honors. 

The White Stripes were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame earlier this month. With that distinction, the band is now alongside some of Detroit’s greats, like Stevie Wonder, Bob Seger, and Aretha Franklin.

The duo exploded onto the national scene in the early 2000s and  released six studio albums across ten years. Songs like “Blue Orchid,” “Icky Thump,” and the iconic stadium banger “Seven Nation Army” are examples of the raw textures and driving beats that characterize their approach to garage-punk. 

Meg and Jack eventually split after 2011 but their contributions to music in Detroit and America will be forever recognized.  Mike Latulippe, host of The Detroit Move on WDET, played with Jack White back in the day. He joined the program to discuss the band’s legacy.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on demand.

Subscribe to The Metro on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

More stories from The Metro

From design to fashion, all art can act as a vehicle for larger themes impacting society. Some art makes you laugh and puts you in whimsical mood, while some are built on justice.

Local experimental theater A Host of People prides itself in being a collective that brings justice to the forefront, making sure all people see themselves on stage.  The theater company explores a range of topics in their productions, including how American politics intersect with personal lives. 

Recently, A Host of People got a permanent location on Detroit’s West Side, further cementing its mission in a city that has no issue fighting back against injustice.  

Sherrine Azab is the co-director of A Host of People. She spoke with The Metro’s Tia Graham about the move and using theater to speak justice to power. 

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on demand.

Subscribe to The Metro on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

More stories from The Metro

In this week’s episode of Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music, some great covers  and originals from Mavis Staples’ new album “Sad And Beautiful World.” Plus some other songs Mavis chose by the original artists!

Also, the Detroiter who started the iconic Bloodshot Records in Chicago, new Sampa The Great, Detroit’s Nick Behnan, the late Motown artist Ted Lucas and lots more.

See the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the media player above.

Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music Playlist for November 15, 2025

HOUR ONE:

• “Sad And Beautiful World” – Mavis Staples
• “God Speed” – Frank Ocean
• “Cold At Night” – Mountain Goats
• “Stay In Your Lane” – Courtney Barnett
  
• “The Line” – Nick Behnan
  
• “What A Racket” – Joe Jackson (as Max Champion)
  
• “Hit Single’” – Joe Jackson
  
• “Can’t Hold Us” – Sampa The Great
  
• “Hold On To The Light” – Jack Johnson & Hermanos Gutiérrez
• “Ain’t Nobody Making Me High” – Bartees Strange
• “Evelyn Wood” – The Hangabouts
• “Hater’s Anthem” – Infinity Song
• “I’ll Find A Way (To Carry It All) – Folk Bitch Trio
  
• “It’s So Easy (When You Know What You’re Doing)” – Ted Lucas
  

• “Chicago” – Mavis Staples
• “We Got To Have Peace” – Curtis Mayfield
• “Trixies, Pt. 1” – Squeeze
• “From The Cradle To The Grave” – Squeeze (Acoustic Cafe performance)
• “The Last Day I Went Crazy” – Kate Hinote Trio
  
• “Ivy” – Old 97’s (Acoustic Cafe performance)
• “Castanets” – Alejandro Escovedo (Acoustic Cafe performance)
• “To Be Young” – Ryan Adams (Acoustic Cafe performance)
• “Rock Bottom, Population 1” – Robbie Fulks (Acoustic Cafe performance)
• “New Rochelle (1 AM)” – Cautious Clay
• “Change A Life” – St. Paul & The Broken Bones
  
• “Everybody Needs Love” – Mavis Staples
• “Satisfied Mind” – Jeff Buckley & Gary Lucas
  

Listen to Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music every Saturday from 2-4 p.m. ET on Detroit Public Radio 101.9 WDET and streaming on-demand at wdet.org

On this week’s episode of Acoustic Café, Madi Diaz returns as our guest, telling the second half of the story started on last year’s album “Weird Faith”. Her new one, “Fatal Optimist,” chronicles the relationship coming apart!

Also, some archived performances from Wilder Woods, Ben Taylor, I’m With Her, Bobby McFerrin and much more!

See the playlist below and listen to the episodes on-demand for two weeks after it airs using the media player above.

Acoustic Café Playlist for November 16, 2025

• “Million Dollar Intro” – Ani DiFranco
• “Joni” – Brandi Carlile
• “Free Man In Paris” – Joni Mitchell
• “Flip A Coin” – Cautious Clay
• “Offering” – Wilder Woods (in-studio performance)
• “The Joker” – Fruit Bats
• “Take The Joker And Run” – The Steve Miller Band
• “Haevy Matal” – Madi Diaz (in-studio guest)
• “Lone Wolf” – Madi Diaz (in-studio guest)
• “Night And Day” – Ringo Starr
• “Song For Arthur” – Natalie Bergman
• “Run It Back” – Madison McFerrin
• “Every Time” – Bobby McFerrin (in-studio performance)
• “First Timer” – Elliott Smith
• “Everybody Cares, Everybody Understands” – Brad Mehldau
• “You Can Close Your Eyes” – Jacob Collier
• “Nothing I Can Do” – Ben Taylor (in-studio performance)
• “Tonight, Tonight” – Leslie Odum, Jr.
• “Thirty Three – Smashing Pumpkins
• “Tie You Down” – HAIM ft. Bon Iver
• “Mother Eagle (Sing Me Alive)” – I’m With Her (in-studio performance)
• “Partita No. 3 in E Major – Preludio ” – Chris Thile
• “If Time Does” – Madi Diaz (in-studio guest)
• “Fatal Optimist” – Madi Diaz (in-studio guest)

Listen to Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music every Saturday from 2-4 p.m. ET on Detroit Public Radio 101.9 WDET and streaming on-demand at wdet.org

WDET’s Liz Warner appeared on All Songs Considered, New Music Friday discussing the best albums for November 14.

View the entire article and listen to the broadcast.

It’s Friday, it’s mid-November, and the weekly deluge of new albums felt like it was finally starting to slow down as we approach the holidays — until we looked at our Nov. 14 list of LPs, EPs, compilations and reissues and saw triple digits. There’s no offseason in this business.

The most anticipated album out this week is Summer Walker’s Finally Over It … which we did not get to hear in advance, but that didn’t stop us from marveling at the Atlanta R&B star’s promo acumen. With 26 featured guests across 18 tracks, it’s going to challenge Taylor Swift for the top spot on the Billboard 200.

Each week, we welcome a different DJ from the NPR Music network of public radio stations, and this episode’s guest is the esteemed Liz Warner from WDET in Detroit, where she hosts an eclectic program called Alternate Take.

View the entire article and listen to the broadcast.

As the weather gets colder, we’ve got some cozy events to keep you warm — including intimate performances, accessible art sales and seasonal celebrations.

Plus, the Dance Theatre of Harlem returns to Detroit. Read on to learn more.

Upcoming events

Sweet Tooth exhibition

  Hatch Art Center in Hamtramck

  Ongoing through Dec. 7

  Free

An art exhibition centered around the idea that we need sweetness in our lives to counteract the bitterness around us. The exhibit features works by 18 artists in a variety of mediums, including paintings, photography, sculptures and more. Hatch Art Center is open to the public on Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m., and on Thursdays and Fridays from 6–9 p.m.

Royal Oak Market: Art Fair Edition

  Royal Oak Farmers Market

  Thursday, Nov. 13 and Friday, Nov. 14

  Free

An indoor fine art fair featuring 60 juried artists showing a wide variety of works, including painting, jewelry, ceramics, glass, photography and more. There will also be live musical performances, food vendors and adult beverages. The fair is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. both days.

Jalasat / جلسات: Victor Ghannam, Roger Kashou and Noon

  Adeni Tea Room in Dearborn

  Friday, Nov. 14

  Free

A new pop-up performance series from the Arab American National Museum that celebrates Arab and Arab American expression through intimate performances of poetry, music and conversation in accessible environments. The first show features musical performances by Victor Ghannam, Roger Kashou and Noon (Farah Afra and Layan Srour). Admission is free and open to the public, and the show goes from 7–9 p.m.

Winter at The Station

  Michigan Central in Detroit

  Friday, Nov. 14 through Dec. 28

  Free, $15–$88

A family-friendly celebration of the season featuring festive decor, interactive exhibits, holiday shopping, live music and more. Special programming will also take place throughout the month, including dance performances, artist workshops and more. General admission is free and open to the public, but some of the special programming is ticketed, ranging from $15 to $88. Parking is $5 per vehicle. The Station is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. unless otherwise noted.

Sugar Hill Clay’s 2025 Seconds Sale

  Sugar Hill Clay in Detroit

  Saturday, Nov. 15

  Free

The third annual ceramic seconds sale from Sugar Hill Clay, where experiments, tests and imperfect pieces from the studio are available for discounted prices, starting at $5. This sale is a fundraiser to help the studio purchase new shared tools and create new programming for their members to improve their community experiences. The sale goes from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Ferndale Underground Holiday Market

  Underneath the doT Parking Garage in Ferndale

  Saturday, Nov. 15 and Sunday, Nov. 16

  Free

An underground holiday market featuring unique gifts from over 90 local artists, makers, authors and bakers. Admission is free but canned food donations are welcome. The market is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Dance Theatre of Harlem

  Detroit Opera House

  Saturday, Nov. 15 and Sunday, Nov. 16

  $70–$150

A highly-anticipated Detroit performance by the Dance Theatre of Harlem, with a program featuring iconic works by Robert Garland, Jodie Gates and more. Performances take place at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday and at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday. Limited tickets remain for the Sunday show.

Detroit has changed a lot in the last two decades. 

There’s more investment in the downtown and midtown areas. There are more people milling about the city. The parks and public areas have improved. 

Stephen McGee witnessed those changes up close.The photographer and award-winning filmmaker came to Detroit decades ago and began photographing the city for the Detroit Free Press. He aggregated a lot of that work into his documentary, “Resurgo.”

In it, he focuses his lens on decaying infrastructure, new investments injected into the area, and the people who never left.

Who gets credit for all these changes? And, how can the investments in Detroit be more inclusive of those that have always been here?

These are some of the questions that McGee’s “Resurgo,” asks. It will be playing at the Emagine theater Thursday, Nov. 12 in Royal Oak at 7 p.m.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.

Subscribe to The Metro on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or NPR or wherever you get your podcasts.

More stories from The Metro

Darren Revell’s Big Sonic Heaven ruled Sunday night radio in Detroit for over 8 years, beginning in 1995. After leaving the airwaves, the show continued to develop a fervent international following of folks looking for shoegaze, dream pop, brit pop, trip hop, and electronic music with online streaming shows.

WDET is proud to introduce the next chapter in this groundbreaking program with a new weekly radio show every Sunday night from 9 p.m. to midnight. Darren will also be joining the on-air talent team as a support host.

Big Sonic Heaven will begin broadcasting on WDET this Sunday, November 16, at 9 p.m., replacing rebroadcasts of the Don Was Motor City Playlist and Sound Opinions.

More jazz on Saturday nights, and farewell to The New Music Show on WDET

WDET listeners will have more opportunity to enjoy Kaleigh Wilder’s Visions (Monday 8-10 p.m.), with rebroadcasts every Saturday night from 8-10 p.m. beginning November 15.

The New Music Show wrapped up a fantastic run of shows with its last broadcast on Saturday, November 8. We want to thank Shigeto for an amazing 19-month run on WDET.

Fans of the Don Was Motor City Playlist (Friday 8-10 p.m.) will now find an encore broadcast every Monday night from 10 p.m. to midnight (replacing the rebroadcast of Acoustic Café).

The Progressive Underground (Saturday 6-8 p.m.) with Chris Campbell rebroadcasts Wednesday nights, 10 p.m. to midnight.

Download our updated program schedule to see the new layout.

“Old Man” – N’dea Davenport (Acoustic Cafe recording, 1998)

On this week’s episode of Acoustic Café, the trio from Australia’s Northern Beaches, Sons Of The East, return as our in-studio guests. During their first time in America in 2018, they had only an EP to their name… now, on their second full-length release called “SONS,” they are making their second appearance!

Also, some archived performances from Richard Thompson, Arlo Parks, Joy Clark and much more!

See the playlist below and listen to the episodes on-demand for two weeks after it airs using the media player above.

Acoustic Café Playlist for November 9, 2025

• “Million Dollar Intro” – Ani DiFranco
• “Petrichor” – Jon Batiste
• “Time In A Bottle” – Lucy Dacus
• “Just A Stranger” – Diana Silvers
• “Die Alone” – Marcus King
• “Black Dog” – Arlo Parks (in-studio performance)
• “Mellow Out (demo)” – Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats
• “It’s Alright” – Sons Of The East (in-studio guests)
• “Pour The Wine” – Sons Of The East (in-studio guests)
• “A River Runs Through” – R.T. & The Sessionmen
• “Instead Of Calling” – Flock Of Dimes
• “Fluorescent Light” – Haley Heynderickx & Max Garcia Conover
• “Falling For Me” – Johnnyswim (in-studio performance)
• “The Highway Knows” – Molly Tuttle
• “Over” – Robert Glasper ft. Yebba
• “Wilderness” – Sarah McLachlan
• “Nevermind” – Tyler Ramsey & Carl Broemel
• “Shine” – Joy Clark(in-studio performance)
• “Keep Your Distance” – Danny Burns
• “Lotteryland – Richard Thompson (in-studio performance)
• “The Best of You” – Amber Mark
• “After The Ball” – Waylon Jennings
• “Time Will Tell” – Sons Of The East (in-studio guests)
• “Sweet Thing” – Sons Of The East (in-studio guests)

Listen to Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music every Saturday from 2-4 p.m. ET on Detroit Public Radio 101.9 WDET and streaming on-demand at wdet.org

In this week’s episode of Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music, some songs from, and covers of Neil Young as he approaches his 80th birthday next week!

Also, the great Mavis Staples with a new single, nighttime music from Cautious Clay, The Accidentals kick off the holiday season and more.

See the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the media player above.

Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music Playlist for November 8, 2025

HOUR ONE:

• “Love Is A Rose” – Neil Young
• “Old Man” – N’dea Davenport (Acoustic Cafe recording, 1998)
• “Human Mind” – Mavis Staples
• “You Are Not Alone” – Mavis Staples
  
• “A Hazy Shade Of Winter” – The Accidentals
  
• “Dry The Rain” – The Beta Band
  
• “Stone Rollin’” – Raphael Saadiq
  
• “Lady” – D’Angelo
  
• “No Kings” – Jesse Welles
• “The World’s Gone Wrong” – Lucinda Williams ft. Brittney Spencer
• “shut up” – Royel Otis
• “Half Asleep” – Twin Shadow
• “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” – Maia Sharp
  

• “Broken Arrow” – Neil Young, live at Canterbury House, Ann Arbor, 1968
• “Harvest Moon” – Cassandra Wilson
• “Runnin'” – GoldFord
• “Fade To Blue (11 PM)” – Cautious Clay
• “Lover Killer” – My Brightest Diamond
• “Southern California Brings Me Down” – National Lampoon
  
• “Open Your Umbrellas” – Sloan
• “Tanana” – Portugal. The Man
  
• “Party Pack” – Trombone Shorty
  
• “Another Life” – Alabama Shakes
  
• “Pajarito” – Jose Gonzalez
• “Old Man” – Lizz Wright (Acoustic Cafe recording, 2005)
• “Keep On Rockin’ In The Free World” – Neil Young

Listen to Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music every Saturday from 2-4 p.m. ET on Detroit Public Radio 101.9 WDET and streaming on-demand at wdet.org

This week, we’re highlighting ways to celebrate Native American Heritage Month, experiences that celebrate Detroit excellence and local markets to kick off your holiday shopping.

Plus, an opportunity to support arts education on the dance floor. Read on to learn more.

Upcoming events

Hockeytown Centennial FanFest

  MotorCity Casino Hotel in Detroit

  Thursday, Nov. 6 through Sunday, Nov. 9

  $17.60 and up

A four-day celebration honoring a century of Red Wings hockey featuring alumni appearances, interactive exhibits, exclusive merchandise and more. General admission day passes start at $17.60, and 4-day passes and VIP tickets are also available starting at $125. The festival is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

Guest Artist Demonstration: Kelly Church

  DIA Art-Making Studio in Detroit

  Friday, Nov. 7

  Free with museum admission (free for residents of Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties)

A drop-in workshop led by Pottawatomi/Ottawa/Ojibwe artist and educator Kelly Church as part of the Detroit Institute of Arts’ celebration of Native American Heritage Month. Participants will help create a collaborative woven black ash basket while learning about Church’s process and the history of the materials. The workshop goes from 1–5 p.m.

Carmina Burana featuring Detroit’s Audivi Choir

  DSO Orchestra Hall in Detroit

  Friday, Nov. 7 through Sunday, Nov. 9

  $20.95 and up

A performance of Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and Detroit’s Audivi Choir. The cantata, composed in the mid-1930s, is based on a famous medieval collection of poems about worldly pleasures and the ups and downs of fortune. Performances take place at 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and at 3 p.m. on Sunday.

We’re Still Here: Fighting Indigenous Erasure in the Media

  Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn

  Saturday, Nov. 8

  Free with registration

A discussion about how to combat anti-Indigenous racism featuring award-winning journalist and citizen of the Cherokee Nation, Rebecca Nagle. She’ll break down the lack of accurate representation of Native Americans in pop culture, how that impacts Indigenous rights and how ordinary people can push back. The talk takes place at The Henry Ford’s Anderson Theater and doors open at 12:30 p.m.

Underground Music Academy Fundraiser

  Spot Lite in Detroit

  Saturday, Nov. 8

  $23–$29

A fundraiser to support ongoing construction at Underground Music Academy’s headquarters in Detroit’s North End, featuring DJ sets by Kindle, Disc Jockey George and WDET’s own Waajeed (host of The Boulevard). The party goes from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. and is 21+.

All Things Detroit Holiday Shopping Experience & Food Truck Rally 2025

  Eastern Market Sheds 3, 4 and 5 in Detroit

  Sunday, Nov. 9

  $7–$15

A holiday shopping market featuring over 200 small businesses, including local artists, handmade gifts, craft goods and one-of-a-kind pieces. There will also be food trucks on site, Detroit DJs in every shed and photo ops with Santa. VIP ticket holders also get two hours of private shopping, an All Things Detroit tote bag and a surprise holiday gift while supplies last. VIP access starts at 10 a.m. and is $15 online. General admission starts at noon and is $7 at the door.

Downtown Detroit Markets & The Cadillac Lodge

  Cadillac Square in Detroit

  Wednesday, Nov. 12 through Jan. 4, 2026

  Free

A holiday shopping market featuring a curated collection of over a dozen Detroit vendors selling everything from apparel and accessories to snacks and skincare. The market area also includes the Cadillac Lodge, a heated tent that offers warm food and seating. Both the market and the lodge are open Wednesdays through Sundays starting at 11 a.m.

In this edition of 5-on-5, we shine a light on one of the most vital soul bands of the modern era, Durand Jones & The Indications.

Formed in Bloomington, Indiana in 2012, the group began as a side project among Indiana University music students Durand Jones, Aaron Frazer and Blake Rhein. What started as a dorm-room experiment with old tape recorders and stacks of vintage 45s evolved into one of the defining acts of the contemporary soul renaissance. With a sound that channels Curtis Mayfield’s falsetto grace, the Dells’ harmony stacks, and the grit of southern gospel, the Indications stand at the crossroads of then and now.

Their music resonates deeply with the retro-soul community and has found special embrace within the Chicano lowrider movement, a testament to the timeless reach of their sound. Ahead of their tour stop in Detroit tonight, let’s trace their evolution in five songs that capture their essence.

Five essential tracks by Durand Jones & The Indications

1. “Make a Change” (Durand Jones & The Indications, 2016)

We begin with a spotlight of a track from their self-titled debut album found on Colemine Records, a label founded in 2007 and dedicated to putting out timeless sounding music. The project was recorded on a Tascam 4-track in the band’s Bloomington basement and reintroduced the urgency of late-’60s era protest soul, anchored by Jones’ preacher-like vocal delivery and Frazer’s dynamic percussion.

The album would draw parallels to Stax and Daptone artists, but the Indications would bring a Midwestern humility to their message.

“Make a Change” was one of the heartbeats from the album, which was a call for empathy and social transformation framed in the language of classic rhythm and blues. The album would earn underground acclaim, prompting a reissue by Dead Oceans record label in 2018 and launching the band on a new trajectory.

2. “Too Many Tears” (American Love Call, 2019)

Up next, we move from the grassroots of activism to the elegance of reflection with a standout from their 2019 sophomore album, American Love Call.

Recorded in Brooklyn, the album fused lush strings, vocal duets and spiritual undertones reminiscent of The Impressions and The Delfonics. This album marked a leap in craftsmanship – a full band statement produced with the care of a lost Atlantic Records session. “Too Many Tears” finds Jones and Frazer trading vocals over a slow-burn arrangement that captures heartbreak and endurance in equal measure.

3. “Witchoo” (Private Space, 2021)

Next up, the group trades melancholy for groove, diving headfirst into the dancefloor of the 1970s with “Witchoo,” a track that made them music festival favorites. If American Love Call was candlelight and confession, then their 2021 album release Private Space was mirror ball and liberation. This album expanded their sonic reach, blending Philadelphia-style strings with disco basslines, congas and synth textures. Recorded at the Diamond Mine studios in New York, Private Space showcased the full bloom of the Jones-Frazer partnership, a balance between Jones’ grit and Frazer’s falsetto shimmer.

4. “Lovers’ Holiday” (Flowers, 2025)

From the dancefloor, we move to their latest phase – a sonic bouquet that reaffirms the band’s devotion to melody, message and emotional truth. The 2025 release of their album Flowers presents the band’s most refined and contemplative work to date. Recorded after an extended break that included Jones’ acclaimed solo album and two solo albums by Frazer, the group reunited with a sound steeped in maturity and grace.

“Lovers’ Holiday” channels the sensual restraint of early-’70s Marvin Gaye and the craftsmanship of Thom Bell. The production is more panoramic complete with harps, horns and gospel textures woven seamlessly. The lyrics celebrate intimacy as a spiritual act, signaling a band confident in its evolution.

5. “Been So Long” (Flowers, 2025)

From a 4-track in an Indiana basement to world stages and cross-cultural resonance, Durand Jones & The Indications embody the revival and reinvention of true soul music that speaks to the conscience while keeping you moving. They have been able to move effortlessly through the genre, painting timeless tracks that feel both authentic and effortless, while they forge a path in their own lane.

Our final track, “Been So Long,” epitomizes the emotional centeredness of the Flowers album, a masterwork that bridges nostalgia with modern perspective. The song’s bittersweet melody and layered harmonies present the sound of a group that’s lived through change, while still believing in the redemptive power of soul music.

If you dig artists who embody the spirit of true soul music, keep listening to The Progressive Underground every Saturday at 6 p.m. on 101.9 FM and wdet.org. See you next time.

Durand Jones & The Indications will perform at St. Andrew’s Hall in Detroit on Wednesday, Nov. 5.

More from The Progressive Underground:

• Pick of the Week (May 6): ‘Flower Moon’ by Durand Jones & The Indications
• 5-on-5: Snoh Aalegra, the cinematic songstress who feels every note
• After the silence: What D’Angelo’s life and music taught us about soul and survival

On this week’s episode of Acoustic Café, two legends of song, Mike Reid and Joe Henry, join us in the studio to play songs from their first album together “Life And Time.”

Also, some archived performances from Teddy Thompson, Aimee Mann, Amythyst Kiah, Lianne La Havas and much more!

See the playlist below and listen to the episodes on-demand for two weeks after it airs using the media player above.

Acoustic Café Playlist for November 2, 2025

• “Million Dollar Intro” – Ani DiFranco
• “Goodbye Mr. Blue” – Father John Misty
• “Deja Vu” – aron!
• “Hold On To You” – Belle Canyon
• “Walking The Floor Over You” – Teddy Thompson (in-studio performance)
• “I Can’t Make You Love Me” – Mike Reid
• “Sleeper Car” – Mike Reid & Joe Henry (in-studio guests)
• “The Bridge” – Mike Reid & Joe Henry (in-studio guests)
• “Boombox” – Charlie Parr
• “Disarray” – Lianne La Havas
• “Is Your Love Big Enough” – Lianne La Havas (in-studio performance)
• “Morning Morgantown” – Joni Mitchell
• “These Days” – Muireann Bradley
• “Pour The Wine” – Sons Of The East
• “Thunderbird” – Josh Ritter
• “Silk And Petals” – Amythyst Kiah (in-studio performance)
• “Best Guess (Wedding Version)” – Lucy Dacus
• “My Full Name” – Madison Cunningham
• “Dead Flowers” – The Rolling Stones
• “You’re With Stupid Now” – Aimee Mann (in-studio performance)
• “Martins Ferry” – Mike Reid & Joe Henry (in-studio guests)
• “History” – Mike Reid & Joe Henry (in-studio guests)

Listen to Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music every Saturday from 2-4 p.m. ET on Detroit Public Radio 101.9 WDET and streaming on-demand at wdet.org

In this week’s episode of Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music, a new month brings a new set of album anniversaries, including classics from The Miracles, Four Tops, L.L. Cool J and more.

Also, lots of new music from Brandi Carlile, Jalen Ngonda, Lucinda Williams with Brittney Spencer and Sloan!

See the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the media player above.

Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music Playlist for November 1, 2025

HOUR ONE:

• “What Good” – Arkells
• “Call On Me” – Daniel Caesar
• “Keeper” – Courtney Marie Andrews
• “All About Me” – Jalen Ngonda
  
• “What It Is” – Will Sessions ft. Dames Brown
  
• “I Can’t Live Without My Radio” – LL Cool J (November 1985)
  
• “Something About You” – The Four Tops (November 1965)
• “You Sexy Thing” – Hot Chocolate (November 1985)
• “Unpopular Ideas” – The Mammals
  
• “k.i.s.s.” – keiyaA
• “The Bridge” – Mike Reid & Joe Henry (Acoustic Cafe preview)
• “Ain’t Nobody Making Me High” – Bartees Strange
  
• “Let It Bleed” – Rolling Stones (November 1995)

• “Unshielded Desire” – John Abercrombie, Dave Holland & Jack DeJohnette
  
• “Straight, No Chaser” – Bruce Hornsby, Christian McBride & Jack DeJohnette
• “If You Want Me” – The Womack Sisters
  
• “Chicken Wings” – Samm Henshaw
• “Back To The Land” – JR JR
• “Hey Lover” – LL Cool J ft. Boyz II Men (November 1995)
• “Good Day” – Tally Hall (November 2005)
• “Give Me One Reason” – Tracy Chapman (November 1995)
• “Witch Dance” – Florence & The Machine
• “Heathcliff” – Snocaps (Katie & Allison Crutchfield)
• “The World’s Gone Wrong” – Lucinda Williams ft. Brittney Spencer
  
• “Night In” – Brittney Spencer
• “shut up” – Royel Otis
• “Going To A Go-Go” – Smokey & The Miracles (November 1965)

Listen to Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music every Saturday from 2-4 p.m. ET on Detroit Public Radio 101.9 WDET and streaming on-demand at wdet.org

Happy Halloweekend! Below are four free celebrations happening around the city this week, from public trunk-or-treating to EDM dance parties. Plus, new exhibitions highlighting world-renowned artists and niche local legends. Read on to learn more.

Upcoming events

DaVinci: The Exhibition

  The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn

  Sunday, Oct. 26 through May 2026

  $25.50–$34 (free for museum members and children 4 and under)

A detailed exploration of Leonardo da Vinci’s discoveries in art, engineering, science, flight and more. The 7,500-square-foot exhibition features 65 full-scale models of his inventions, 20 fine art studies of his masterpieces like “Mona Lisa” and “The Last Supper,” in-depth explanations of his discoveries, interactive machines, and multimedia materials that illuminate his creative and scientific processes. The exhibition is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is included in museum admission.

Halloween Programming on WDET

  Online and on the air

  Friday, Oct. 31

  Free

Let WDET be the soundtrack to all your Halloween festivities this year. You can listen to special episodes of The Detroit Move (aired Oct. 28), Alternate Take (aired Oct. 30) and more on-demand using the WDET mobile app. Plus, tune in live on Oct. 31 from 6–8 p.m. to hear an encore broadcast of Jon Moshier’s award-winning Halloween Radio Special on 101.9 FM.

Halloween at The Station

  The Station at Michigan Central in Detroit

  Friday, Oct. 31

  Free

An outdoor Halloween celebration featuring trunk-or-treating, spooky science demonstrations, arts and craft stations, photo booths, and cider and donuts. Complimentary parking is available in the Bagley Mobility Hub and the event is free and open to the public. Festivities are rain or shine and go from 5–9 p.m.

Fridays at The Station: Halloween Edition

  The Station at Michigan Central in Detroit

  Friday, Oct. 31

  Free

An indoor Halloween-themed edition of Fridays at the Station, curated by DJ Dez Andrés, featuring live performances by Gabriel Duran Band, DJ Cisco, Motor City Street Dance Academy and painter demaciiio. Costumes are encouraged, but masks are not permitted inside The Station. Space is limited so admission will be granted on a first-come, first-served basis. Festivities go from 5–10 p.m.

Harloween: A Filipino Day of the Dead Party

  Detroit Public Library – Main Branch

  Saturday, Nov. 1

  Free

A celebration blending Halloween with Day of the Dead, featuring a dance party and DJ sets from Filipino EDM artist With Love, Harlow and Erika.Irie. This joyful event is a time to hold space for ancestors and lost loved ones while enjoying music and community. Festivities go from 2–5 p.m.

Mythic Chaos: 50 Years of Destroy All Monsters

  Cranbrook Art Museum in Bloomfield Hills

  Sunday, Nov. 2 through March 2026

  $8–$12 (free on Thursdays and for children 12 and under)

An exhibition highlighting the wide-ranging works of Ann Arbor-based artist collective Destroy All Monsters, formed by Cary Loren, Mike Kelley, Jim Shaw and Niagara in 1974. The collective served as an outlet for young creatives to explore rebellious interests in the post-hippie, pre-punk era. The exhibit features iconic posters, zines, photographs, collages, films, drawings and banners selected from the DAM archive. The exhibition is open Wednesdays through Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (8 p.m. on Thursdays) and is included in museum admission.

Haas Brothers: Uncanny Valley

  Cranbrook Art Museum in Bloomfield Hills

  Sunday, Nov. 2 through February 2026

  $8–$12 (free on Thursdays and for children 12 and under)

The first mid-career survey for artistic duo and twin brothers Nikolai and Simon Haas, whose work combines art, craft, design and technology. The exhibition includes examples of their artistic journey over the last 15 years, exploring themes related to nature, fantasy, the subconscious and the human experience. The exhibition is open Wednesdays through Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (8 p.m. on Thursdays) and is included in museum admission.

After taking time away to focus on her health, Kaleigh is doing great and ready to return to the music that inspires her and so many others. Starting Nov. 3, listeners can once again join her every Monday from 8 to 10 p.m. as she explores the vanguard of postmodern jazz from 1969 to today.

“I’m really excited to be coming back to Visions,” Kaleigh says. “It’s been a challenging recovery process, but knowing I’ll get to return to the airwaves and to my listeners is one of the things that kept me pushing through.”

Kaleigh’s perspective has always made Visions special. She created a space where listeners can hear jazz in new ways and connect through sound.

We’re also very grateful to Sam Beaubien, Liz Warner and Kim Heron for filling in during Kaleigh’s time away and keeping Visions on track.

Welcome back, Kaleigh. Monday nights just got wilder!

Listen to Visions on Monday nights from 8 to 10 p.m. 

Capturing love through photography

Elonte Davis is a Detroit-based photographer and a 2025 Kresge Fellow. His work has been featured in Forbes Magazine, the Detroit Institute of Arts, and the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History.

For Elonte, photography is a powerful tool to spread love and joy, helping people see themselves differently and with greater appreciation.

On this week’s episode of Acoustic Café, Jonah Kagen makes his national debut with the album “Sunflowers & Leather,” an album he created entirely himself, traveling the country in an Airstream trailer last year.

Also, some archived performances from Rosanne Cash, Eels, Fountains Of Wayne and much more!

See the playlist below and listen to the episodes on-demand for two weeks after it airs using the media player above.

Acoustic Café Playlist for October 26, 2025

• “Million Dollar Intro” – Ani DiFranco
• “Already Dead” – Beck
• “Everybody Laughs” – David Byrne
• “Thank You, Love You, All Better” – Olivia Barton
• “Oh Wide World” – Mon Rovia
• “Hurricane” – Rosanne Cash (in-studio performance)
• “Soul Of A Man” – Robert Plant & Suzi Dian
• “Sunflowers & Leather” – Jonah Kagen (in-studio guest)
• “You Again” – Jonah Kagen (in-studio guest)
• “Things Done Changed” – Jerron Paxton
• “Parting Gift” – Fiona Apple
• “I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man” – Eels (in-studio performance)
• “Favorite Place” – John Gorka
• “Nowhere Is Where” – Margo Price
• “At All” – Jon Batiste
• “Hate That It’s True” – Ivy
• “Fire In The Canyon” – Fountains Of Wayne (in-studio performance)
• “Hollywood (Unerthed Version)” – Toro y Moi
• “Here To Forever (acoustic)” – Death Cab For Cutie
• “Planting By The Signs” – S.G. Goodman
• “Lovestruck” – The Heavy Heavy (in-studio performance)
• “Moon” – Daniel Caesar
• “God Needs The Devil” – Jonah Kagen (in-studio guest)
• “The Roads” – Jonah Kagen (in-studio guest)

Listen to Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music every Saturday from 2-4 p.m. ET on Detroit Public Radio 101.9 WDET and streaming on-demand at wdet.org