This week, we’ve got excuses to shop local and performances across genres. Plus, some upcoming events you won’t want to miss. Read on to learn more.

Shop local

Saturday, April 12 is Record Store Day, a chance for artists to release limited-edition pressings and for vinyl collectors to show some love to their favorite record stores. You can check out some of our favorite local stores here. To celebrate the incredible independent record stores in and around the Motor City, we’re offering an exclusive Record Store Day member drawing! Anyone who makes a gift to WDET on April 11 or April 12 will be automatically entered into the drawing to receive a swag bag filled with gift certificates from participating record stores, vinyl from Third Man Records and more. To learn more, visit wdet.org/events.

Sunday, April 13 is the 11th Annual All Things Detroit Day at Eastern Market. This unique shopping experience brings 200 small businesses together for your convenience, each offering Detroit-made goods from handcrafted treasures to delicious treats. Doors open at noon and general admission is $7. For more information, visit allthingsticketing.com.

See a show

Wayne State’s Maggie Allesee Department of Theatre & Dance is doing a production of Morgan Lloyd Malcolm’s captivating play, “Emilia,” at the Hilberry Gateway April 11-19. Set in Elizabethan England, the play follows trailblazing poet Emilia Bassano on her journey from obscurity to empowerment as she navigates a society dominated by men. With a blend of humor, passion and raw emotion, “Emilia” celebrates female resilience and the power of women’s voices throughout history. Tickets are $27 for the general public, $22 for seniors, WSU Alumni, and WSU Employees, and $17 for students. For more information, visit theatreanddance.wayne.edu.

On Saturday, April 12, Miss Eva’s in Detroit is hosting poet, author, educator and Spirit of Detroit Award recipient Joel Fluent Greene for their Saturday Night Unplugged series. Greene will perform some of his raw, soulful poetry while accompanied by musician Al Bettis onstage. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show begins at 9 p.m. Tickets are $15 online or $20 at the door. For more information, visit their Eventnoire page.

On Monday, April 14, Aretha’s Jazz Café is honoring legendary blues singer Bessie Smith with a tribute show as part of their Preservation of Jazz series. This special event features Detroit’s own “Queen of the Blues,” Thornetta Davis, as she performs an evening of classics by the pioneering “Empress of the Blues.” Doors open at 6 p.m., music starts at 7 p.m. and tickets are $50. For more information, visit jazzcafedetroit.com.

Mark your calendar

On Saturday, April 19, join us at the historic Garden Theater in Detroit to celebrate the life and legacy of Judy Adams, a remarkable musician, radio host and educator. This free event is open to all, and will feature live music, original artwork and light refreshments. Please RSVP on Facebook if you plan to attend. For more information, visit wdet.org/events.

Then on Sunday, April 20, we’re heading over to Harpos Concert Theatre in Detroit to celebrate Gospel and Blues music as part of the Concert of Colors’ “In the Neighborhood” series. This free event is open to all, and will feature live performances from Thornetta Davis, Rev. Robert Jones and the Jones Family, and Nikki D. and Sisters of Thunder. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and music starts at 6 p.m. For more information, visit wdet.org/events.

Best part of today’s In The Groove is hearing from you about some of the first records you ever bought ahead of Record Store Day, including the B-52’s, Primus and others. Plus new music from Hello Mary, John Roseboro, Dummy, Yannis & the Yaw and more.

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

In The Groove with Ryan Patrick Hooper playlist for April 10, 2025

• “Hungry Are We” – Beak>
• “BIRDS OF A FEATHER (Live from BBC Maida Vale)” – English Teacher
• “Three” – Hello Mary
• “Planet Claire” – The B-52’s (listener pick for Record Store Day)
• “Rock Lobster” – The B-52’s (listener pick for Record Store Day)
• “Prologue” – Kamasi Washington
• “Mahal” – Glass Beams
• “Sunday” – Annahstasia
• “i no u no” – James Tillman
• “Dream Police” – Mk.gee
• “Don’t Get Me Started” – The Smile
• “I Forgot To Be Your Lover” – The Black Keys
• “On Tonight” – Rosali
• “Freedom” – Jordan Rakei
• “American Life” – Primus (listener pick for Record Store Day)
• “Jerry Was A Race Car Driver” – Primus (listener pick for Record Store Day)
• “Touch Me (feat. Clara La San & Aidan)” – Jam City
• “My Love” – Metronomy & Nourished by Time
• “The Evidence” – Yaya Bey
• “Ramble In The Rainbow” – TAMTAM
• “Musica” – Mildlife
• “Workin’ On It” – Brijean
• “Volume” – Caribou
• “Thrown Around” – James Blake
• “Crumb” – John Roseboro & Liana Flores
• “80 Summers” – John Roseboro
• “Vento a Favor (Instrumental)” – Sessa
• “Side By Side” – Crumb
• “Sunday Morning” – The Velvet Underground & Nico
• “For The Time Being” – Erlend Øye & La Comitiva
• “Queztal” – Los Hermanos
• “Run (feat. Andreya Triana) [Sofia Kourtesis Remix]” – Quantic
• “Lo Dudo” – Ëda Diaz
• “Rain Can’t Reach Us (feat. Tony Allen)” – Yannis & the Yaw
• “Nullspace” – Dummy
• “Blue Dada” – Dummy

Listen to In the Groove with host Ryan Patrick Hooper weekdays from noon-3 p.m. ET on 101.9 WDET or stream on-demand at wdet.org.

Each year, Record Store Day keeps getting bigger than the year before.

Since 2007, when a group of indie record shops decided they should have their own day, it’s become an international celebration of the brick-and-mortar shops that end up playing critical roles in cultural scenes — not just in Detroit — but well beyond.

Consider it a vinyl holiday. It’s a massive economic boon for those indie shops. Musicians make it easy — releasing new material, rare b-sides, re-issues of albums you never thought would be pressed again, you name it. In the shops themselves, in-store performances have become a standard.

The list of releases this year is massive. You can scope out the full list here.

WDET is doing its part to showcase the incredible independent record stores in and around the Motor City by offering an exclusive RSD member drawing!

Anyone who makes a gift to WDET via wdet.org/give on April 11 or April 12 will be automatically entered into the drawing to receive a swag bag filled with gift certificates from participating record stores, Third Man Records vinyl and more.*

And if you’re curious what record shops you should check out, we’ve made a list. And we’d love to see this list grow, so if you don’t see your favorite record store listed, drop us a line and let us know what we should add. We happily will extend it!

Listen: Ryan Patrick Hooper talks Record Store Day, WDET member drawing

Here’s a few of our favorites, plus picks we received from you:

• Third Man Records – 441 W Canfield St, Detroit | 313-209-5205

  

• Peoples Records – 1464 Gratiot Ave, Detroit | 313-831-0864
• Found Sound – 234 W Nine Mile Rd, Ferndale | 248-565-8775
• Flipside Records – 3099 Coolidge Hwy, Berkley | 248-585-4090
• Melodies & Memories – 23013 Gratiot Ave, Eastpointe| 586-774-8480
• Spot Lite – 2905 Beaufait St #4, Detroit| spotlitedetroit@gmail.com
• The Sound Explosion – 3751 Middlebelt Rd, Inkster | 734-890-9320

  

• Hello Records – 4165 Fort St, Lincoln Park | 313-300-5654
• Dearborn Music – 22501 Michigan Ave, Newman St, Dearborn | 313-561-1000
• Dr. Disc Records – 471 Ouellette Ave, Windsor, ON | 519-253-9744
• UHF Records – 512 S Washington Ave, Royal Oak | 248-545-5955
• Weirdsville Records – 61 Macomb Pl, Mount Clemens | 586-468-2665
• Encore Records – 208 N 4th Ave, Ann Arbor | 734-662-6776
• Underground Sounds – 120 E Washington St, Ann Arbor | 734-327-9239
• Street Corner Music – 26020 Greenfield Rd, Oak Park | 248-967-0777

*You must make a donation through wdet.org/give between 12 a.m. on April 11 and 11:59 p.m. on April 12 to be entered into the drawing. Winner will be notified on Monday, April 14, via telephone. For full WDET contest rules, visit wdet.org/rules.