Looking for something fun to do this week? Metro Detroit is packed with free festivals, family activities, and cultural events — from art fairs and workshops to live music and delicious food. 

Drop-In Workshop: Doodle Art

Detroit Institute of Arts

Wednesday 8/20 – Sunday 8/24

Free with general admission

*General museum admission is FREE for residents of Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties.

Many people doodle as a fun, spontaneous way to express ideas. Grab some drawing materials and see where your creativity takes you! Event time varies; check the website for details. 

Novi Taco Fest

44275 W 12 Mile Rd d134, Novi, MI 48377

Friday 8/22, Saturday 8/23 and Sunday 8/24

Tickets start at $7 online. Military free with proper ID.

Get ready for a weekend of flavor and fun at the Novi Taco Fest! Enjoy authentic Mexican-American dishes, sip refreshing margaritas, and celebrate Hispanic culture with live music and entertainment all around.

Back-to-School JAM!

Motown Museum on Rocket Plaza

Saturday 8/23

Free

The Motown Museum and Enjoy Detroit are hosting a Back to School Jam with free school supplies, live performances by local artists and Lyric Project singer-songwriters, giveaways, and family fun. Supplies are limited, so come early to enjoy the music, treats, and positive vibes to kick off the school year.

SIP and Beyond: 2025 Summer Alumni Performance

Detroit Public Theatre, 3960 3rd Ave, Detroit, MI 48201

Saturday 8/23 – Sunday 8/24

Free with RSVP.

This weekend, celebrate the powerful work of Shakespeare in Prison at the Alumni Performance at Detroit Public Theatre. Experience stories of resilience, creativity, and community as former ensemble members share their voices on stage.

Hazel Park Art Fair

Green Acres Park – Hazel Park, MI

Saturday 8/23 and Sunday 8/24

Free

The Hazel Park Art Fair is back! Free and family-friendly in Green Acres Park with local art, live performances, tasty eats, and a craft beer tent. Don’t miss this celebration of creativity in Hazel Park!

Are we becoming artificial? Perhaps we are, and in more ways than one! That’s one of the topics I covered this week on MI Local, with in-studio guest Gwendolyn Dot. Her second solo LP, “Psyche”, comes out August 21 and she’s doing a show to celebrate next Saturday, August 30 at Leland City Club.

Gwendolyn Dot has been part of the Detroit music scene for seven years, now, having written and performed music for much of her life growing up in Indiana.

After relocating to Detroit, she began recording and performing as a duo with R. Solomon in Torus Eyes. In 2018 Dot wrote and recorded her debut solo LP, “Mystic Responsibility” which you can find on bandcamp.

Her new release “Psyche” is a stellar and ambitious work that ruminates on the struggle to attain a fully realized sense of self when many of us are stuck within repressive structures, both externally and internally. It’s not as simple as pondering what’s necessary to activate one’s full potential, but that’s at least a starting point.

The album blends techno, ambient-electronica, cyberpunk and darkwave,  sweetened with a strong sensibility for melody delivered through Dot’s dazzilng vocals that glide ghostily over her dynamic arrangements. “Psyche” is officially available this Thursday on bandcamp!

If you’re looking to listen to our interview while streaming the show, jump to the 40-minute mark. We spun the album’s debut single, “Becoming Artificial,” and gave WDET listeners a sneak preview of a yet-to-be-released track titled “Terraform.”

Along with interviewing, we looked ahead to the upcoming Hamtramck Labor Day Festival, sampling songs by artists you can catch performing live on Joseph Campau,  across that weekend-long event (Aug. 30-Sept. 1), including Mod Lang and Pretty Island.

Some of the very latest tracks released this week include new cuts from longtime prog-rockers Discipline, who just released a new full-length album, and a chamber-pop ballad from Pas/Cal’s Craig Benedict Valentine Badynee, titled “I Walked Away from the Firing Squad.”

The goth-tinged industrial trio known as Ritual Howls also have new music out this week; we heard “Follow The Sun,” the lead single from their forthcoming album Ruin. Ritual Howls will also be joining Gwendolyn Dot next Saturday at Leland City Club.

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

MI Local Playlist for August 19, 2025

• “Without You” – Mod Lang
• “Bong Song” – Pretty Island
• “Exhausted” – B’Witches
• “Urnotalone” – Rebecca Goldberg
• “MOTORCYCLE” – FEN FEN
• “I Walked Away From the Firing Squad” – Craig Benedict Valentine Badynee
• “When The Night Calls to Day” – Discipline
• “Days of Falling” – The Microplastics
• “Follow The Sun” – Ritual Howls
• “Terraform” – Gwendolyn Dot
• “Becoming Artificial” – Gwendolyn Dot

The Brightmoor community in the city of Detroit has had its battles, from blight to vacant lots, the community has found a way to remain resilient through the years.

The Brightmoor Music Series began in 2019 and wasn’t an instant hit. After a few weeks of word-of-mouth testimonies from community members, there was a demand for another one the next year. 

Now, the event continues to thrive at Etheldra Mae Williams Park. Located on Burgess between Lyndon and Acacia Streets in Detroit, the once blighted 11acre grassland is now renovated and beautiful.

“Puttin on the Ritz” is a celebration of the 100th birthday of the park’s namesake, Etheldra Mae Williams.

The park will be transformed into a 1920’s speakeasy, along with classic cars and vendors.

Michael Williams is a manager of the William Park Alliance who organizes the Brightmoor Series, and Flint native songstress Pia Broden-Williams is headlining the upcoming celebration. They joined The Metro to talk more about the music series and uplifting the Brightmoor community.

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

Picture this: you’re on Mackinac Island having a grand old time at the Grand Hotel, and then boom, a mystery is a foot.

Someone has been murdered during the Mackinac Policy Conference and treachery begins—and if you’re familiar with Mackinac Island, you know you’re not leaving unless it’s by boat or ferry.  

That’s the premise of a new book called “The Grand Secret” that depicts schemes, betrayal, and, of course, a high profile murder. The book also highlights the beauty of Michigan and its landmarks while going through the twists and turns of a murder-mystery.

“The Grand Secret” is the work of author Ed McKenna. The Downriver native and Michigan State Graduate has been writing for more than 20 years. 

The father of two joined The Metro to talk more about “The Grand Secret” and why writing matters.

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

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

More stories from The Metro

In this week’s episode of Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music, what’s the point of the Dream Cruise without cruising music? We’ll provide.

Also, a lovely new duet from Detroit’s Lilly Macphee with Mike Leslie, new music from IVY, Durand Jones & The Indications, Chance the Rapper with Jazmine Sullivan 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 August 16, 2025

HOUR ONE:

• “If She Could See Me Now” – Lorde
  
• “Lucky Stars” – HAIM
  
• “Flower Moon” – Durand Jones & The Indications
• “‘Heartbreak” – IVY
• “Someone I Knew” – Lilly Macphee & Mike Leslie
• “White Mustang” – Lana Del Ray
• “My Mustang Ford” – Chuck Berry
  
• “Mustang Sally” – Wilson Pickett
• “Mustang Sally & GTO” – John Lee Hooker
  
• “Peaceful Place” – Leon Bridges
• “Lonestar” – Charley Crockett
  
• “Southern Man” – Kashus Culpepper w/Marcus King
  
• “Save Your Tears” – Jade Bird
• “Immigration Man” – The Roamers
• “Immigration Man” – David Crosby & Graham Nash
  

• “Express Yourself” – N.W.A.
• “Foreign Bird” – Folk Bitch Trio
• “Always On My Mind” – Chrissie Hynde
• “Boots Of Chinese Plastic” – The Pretenders
  
• “Muddy Shores'” – Moonrisers
  
• “Sunday Driver” – The Raconteurs
  
• “Baby Driver” – Simon & Garfunkel
  
• “One Piece At A Time” – Johnny Cash & The Tennessee Three
• “Motor City” – The Satintones
• “Being A Woman” – Lake Street Dive
• “I Want You Back” – Lake Street Dive
• “All My Ex’s Live In Texas” – George Strait
• “Motor City Steel” – The Dandy Warhols

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, it’s Jon Muq telling an amazing story of coming from Uganda, to Austin, TX, then on to Nashville to work with The Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach on his debut album.

Also, the return (for the first time) of the Buckingham/Nicks album from 1973, new songs from Folk Bitch trio, Alison Krauss & Union Station, Jade Bird and 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 August 17, 2025

• “Million Dollar Intro” – Ani DiFranco
• “32 Flavors” – Ani DiFranco
• “God’s A Different Sword” – Folk Bitch Trio
• “Broken Wing Bird” – Kashus Culpepper & Sierra Ferrell
• “Holy” – Mac Demarco
• “For What It’s Worth” – Martin Sexton (in-studio performance)
• “Whiplash (acoustic)” – Kristen Ford
• “Hello Sunshine” – Jon Muq (in-studio guest)
• “Run Away” – Jon Muq (in-studio guest)
• “Who Wants” – Jade Bird
• “You Called Me Kid” – Pete Droge
• “Crying In The Night” – Buckingham Nicks
• “Races Are Run” – Cunningham Bird (in-studio performance)
• “Way Up To the Sky” – Patty Griffin
• “Truth #2” – The Chicks
• “16 Military Wives” – The Decemberists (20th anniversary of “Picaresque”)
• “California” – Natalie Bergman
• “This Love Is Real” – John Prine (in-studio performance)
• “Youth Gone Wild” – Alex Williams
• “One Ray Of Shine” – Alison Krauss & Union Station
• “Redemption Song” – Bob Marley
• “Old Soul” – Stephen Marley
• “Bend” – Jon Muq (in-studio guest)
• “One You Love” – Jon Muq (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.

It’s hard to find a more home-grown Detroit artist than Beth. You can tell the second she lays her silky-sultry vocals on the track that the singer-songwriter is a direct descendent of the Motown sound.

From touring around the world as a backup vocalist for legendary artists KEM and Anita Baker, to her time in the music competition show The Voice, it’s clear that Beth’s sound is widely sought after. 

Today, Beth joined The Metro and shed light on her experiences navigating the entertainment industry.  

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

Activation: Music

Bryce Detroit is a poet, an artist, a social justice organizer and a musician. And with so many titles on his name, it’s hard to pinpoint what creative endeavor he may be working on at that particular moment, but it’s ALWAYS safe to say he’s doing it for the culture…he’s doing it for Detroit. 

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

CONTAINER On The Metro is a new WDET-produced storytelling series that brings Detroit’s creative heartbeat to the airwaves.

CONTAINER is a program created by The Love Building to showcase Detroit’s most promising creative talent across music, fashion, fine arts and food. Done in collaboration with WDET Public Radio with major support from the Gilbert Family Foundation. 

This week, we’ve got a global spread of celebrations, from Afrobeats to K-Pop. Plus, bringing it back home to the Motor City with the Woodward Dream Cruise and more. Read on for details.

Upcoming events

Techno In The Parks

  Riverside Park in Detroit

  Friday, Aug. 15

  Free

An outdoor concert celebrating techno music, featuring DJ Deep Sequence with special guests Hazmat Live and Room 131. There will also be food trucks, face painting, games and inflatables. The concert goes from 5–8 p.m.

K-Pop Culture Experience — Dance, Games and Flavors

  The Detroit Institute of Arts

  Saturday, Aug. 16

  Free with museum admission

An immersive celebration of Korean culture, featuring a dance performance by PRISM Cru, games with prizes, food samples, and a tour of the DIA’s Korean Gallery. Registration starts at 10:30 a.m. and activities go through 2:30 p.m. Museum admission is free for residents of Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties.

AfroFuture Detroit

  Bedrock’s Douglass Site in Detroit

  Saturday, Aug. 16 through Sunday, Aug. 17

  $95–$327

The U.S. debut of a globally-successful two-day music festival showcasing African and diasporic talent. Headliners include Afrobeats superstars Asake and Davido, genre-defying Kaytranada, Brazil’s Ludmilla and Detroit’s own Tee Grizzley. Doors open at 2 p.m. each day.

R&Beach

  The Beach at Campus Martius Park in Detroit

  Saturday, Aug. 16

  Free with RSVP

An downtown beach party featuring R&B music, tequila samples, vinyl record decorating and concert ticket giveaways. The party goes from 6–10 p.m.

Fraser Lions Club Carnival

  Steffens Park in Fraser

  Thursday, Aug. 21 through Sunday, Aug. 24

  Free

An annual fundraiser for the Fraser Lions Club, a local nonprofit that supports blind community members by providing resources like leader dogs. The four-day event features family-friendly activities like carnival rides, games, live music, a petting zoo, fireworks and more. Festivities start at 5 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, and at noon on Saturday and Sunday. Admission is free, parking is $10 and ride wristbands are $30.

New music discovery from Rogê, Ista, Larry June & 2 Chainz, The Marias, Anderson East and more, plus lots of your voicemails and picks for your favorite discoveries from 2025 (so far).

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 August 14, 2025

• “Get Sun (feat. Arthur Verocai)” – Hiatus Kaiyote
• “Life Is Beautiful” – Larry June, 2 Chainz & The Alchemist
• “No Bad Vibes (feat. MARISA DARGAHI & Joe Webb)” – Bluewerks & DARGZ
• “Road to Nowhere” – Rogê
• “Waves” – Ista
• “Human Behaviour (feat. Underworld) [Underworld Mix]” – Björk
• “Closer” – Mr. Fingers
• “SPACE INVADER” – KAYTRANADA
• “Love Is a Natural Magical Thing” – Laurie Miller
• “17 Days (Piano & a Microphone 1983 Version)” – Prince
• “Plasty” – LL Burns
• “Nobody New” – The Marias
• “Strange” – Celeste
• “Yeah Yeah” – Blackrock
• “All Your Love” – Magic Sam
• “You’ve Got A Woman” – Lion
• “Ruler Of My Heart” – Irma Thomas
• “You Are Mine” – Jay Robinson
• “Knife” – Grizzly Bear
• “West Side” – Studio
• “The Seize” – Jordan Rakei
• “Dispose of Me” – Omar Apollo
• “Star Blanket River Child” – Brightblack Morning Light
• “Three More Days” – Ray LaMontagne
• “Will O the Wisp” – Armando Young
• “Someone (feat. Jamila Woods) [Armando Young Remix]” – Gabriel Garzón-Montano
• “É Preciso Dar um Jeito, Meu Amigo” – Erasmo Carlos
• “1968” – Bill Frisell
• “Anyway” – Anderson East
• “Go Home” – Angel Olsen
• “The Joke” – Brandi Carlile

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.

New music from Khaled Al Reigh, Francis Bebey, Yttling Jazz, Jimi Tenor, Africa Express and more of your listener picks highlighting your favorite new music and music discoveries from 2025!

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 August 13, 2025

• “Constellation” – The Circling Sun
• “Rolling With A Planet (Vocal Mix)” – Ari Roze
• “Zannik” – Khaled Al Reigh
• “Le Grand Soleil De Dieu (Psychemagik Remix)” – Francis Bebey
• “Illegal Hit” – Yttling Jazz
• “Ikuchi” – Jimi Tenor & Cold Diamond & Mink
• “Pit Stop (Take Me Home) [feat. Mike Patton, Jennifer Charles, Kid Koala & Dan the Automator]” – Nathaniel Merriweather
• “Fallen Again” – Matthew Herbert & Momoko Gill
• “7/4 (Shoreline)” – Broken Social Scene
• “Collage” – The Three Degrees
• “Love Is a Hurtin’ Thing (12″ Version)” – Gloria Ann Taylor
• “Heaven Scent (feat. Chloe Sevigny) [DEEWEEDUB]” – Soulwax
• “Invocation (feat. Onipa, Jupiter & Okwess, Otim Alpha, Damon Albarn & Joan as Police Woman)” – Africa Express
• “MISK” – Roundabout
• “Don’t Listen” – Corto.alto
• “Back On 74” – Jungle
• “Seu João” – Gabriel da Rosa
• “Don’t Call It Love (12″ Version)” – Zero 7
• “Siesta Freestyle (Frisco version)” – Lewis OfMan & Alicia te quiero
• “Safe And Sound” – Justice
• “Enything” – Quickly, Quickly
• “I Don’t Live Here Anymore” – War On Drugs
• “Moonshine” – Joviale
• “How Come U Don’t Call Me Anymore (“1999” B-Side)” – Prince
• “Glory” – Sault
• “Let Go” – Sonic Interventions
• “Down (feat. Dames Brown) [Natasha Diggs Extended Remix]” – The Vision
• “God Gave Me Feet For Dancing (feat. Yazmin Lacey)” – Ezra Collective
• “Garden” – Maria Somerville
• “Alone (Four Tet Remix)” – The Cure

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.

Tariq Gardner grew up in Detroit surrounded by music. His mother is renowned bassist Marion Hayden. Jazz was in the house and his hands from an early age.

He studied jazz and contemporary improvisation at the University of Michigan. Gardner has played everything from straight-ahead jazz to neo-soul, hip-hop, gospel, and Afro-Cuban. He’s performed at the Detroit Jazz Festival, the Cape May Jazz Festival, and with artists across the country.

He leads Evening Star, a band of longtime collaborators who blend Detroit’s jazz tradition with global rhythms and modern grooves.

The band is a featured artist in WDET’s 2025 Sounds Like Detroit Music Showcase.

Tariq Gardner joined the show to discuss his musical journey.

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

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

More stories from The Metro

New music from Domenique Dumont, Wu-Lu, Erykah Badu, Joviale and more of your listener picks highlighting your favorite new music and music discoveries from 2025!

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 August 12, 2025

• “Cos-Ber-Zam Ne Noya (Daphni Mix)” – Daphni
• “You Wanted A Hit” – LCD Soundsystem
• “Punkrocker (feat. Iggy Pop)” – Teddybears
• “Alemania” – Twin Shadow
• “Desert Raven” – Jonathan Wilson
• “Josh Tillman and the Accidental Dose” – Father John Misty
• “Enchantia” – Domenique Dumont
• “Sun Is Shining (Yes King Remix)” – Bob Marley
• “The Beach Party” – Hot Chip
• “Carry Me” – Nubiyan Twist & Seun Kuti
• “The Seer” – Nubya Garcia
• “O Telefone Tocou Novamente” – Jorge Ben Jor
• “Transporter” – Wu-Lu, Leif Maine & Jackson Mathod
• “Next To You” – Erykah Badu & The Alchemist
• “end of the world (feat. Nigel Hall & Butcher Brown)” – Yaya Bey
• “Firestarter (Jitwam Remix)” – The O’My’s & Jitwam
• “Through Your Soul (feat. Bubz Fiddler & J Dilla)” – Amp Fiddler
• “Hush (Still Woozy Remix)” – The Marias
• “Sad Cowboy” – Goat Girl
• “Diving Woman” – Japanese Breakfast
• “Ann Wants To Dance” – Papooz
• “In My Craft (feat. Miryam Solomon)” – Huw Marc Bennett
• “Everything Is Peaceful Love” – Bon Iver
• “Summer Sweat” – Hannah Cohen
• “HARK!” – Joviale
• “Morning Light feat. Andreya Triana (Extended Version)” – Andreya Triana & Quantic
• “Home (Tom Sharkett Edit)” – LCD Soundsystem
• “Someone Great” – LCD Soundsystem
• “Flutes” – Hot Chip

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.

Kicking off with Afrobeat from Antibalas, playing your messages left on the Groove hotline suggesting Josi Devil and Gold Brother, plus lots 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 August 11, 2025

• “Sáré Kon Kon” – Antibalas
• “Ice Breaker” – Bubaza
• “The Same Love That Made Me Laugh” – Bill Withers
• “Ondas (Kiko Navarro Motor City Jazz Remix – Radio Edit)” – John Beltran
• “Restless Sleep” – Josi Devil
• “Lose My Faith” – Gold Brother
• “D’Evils” – SiR
• “Sol” – musclecars
• “Spanish Joint” – D’Angelo
• “Didn’t I (Dave Allison Rework)” – Darondo
• “Undo The Blue (Beyond the Wizards Sleeve Re-Animation)” – Iraina Mancini
• “In the Waiting Line (Dorfmeister con Madrid de los Austrias Dub)” – Zero 7
• “Little Child Runnin’ Wild” – Curtis Mayfield
• “The Path Less Travelled” – Vegyn
• “Hurts To Be Alone” – Norah Jones
• “Cigarettes And Coffee” – Otis Redding
• “Nothing Compares To You” – Britti
• “Over When Its Over” – Lucy Rose
• “Sonny Jr. (Dreams) [feat. Robert Glasper & Dwele]” – Black Milk
• “On Jupiter” – Sun Ra & Sun Ra and His Arkestra
• “Favourite” – Fontaines D.C.
• “Dreams Tonite” – Alvvays
• “Swimmers” – Broken Social Scene
• “Pulling Our Weight” – Radio Dept.
• “Supersad” – Suki Waterhouse
• “Comfort Eagle” – Cake
• “TURBULÊNCIA” – Ibelisse Guardia Ferragutti & Frank Rosaly
• “Sombras” – Daniel Villarreal

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.

On this week’s episode of Acoustic Café, it’s a special show, featuring The American Songbook classics re-interpreted by today’s artists… songs from almost 100 years ago, interpreted by folks whose grandparents weren’t even born when the songs were first popular!

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 August 10, 2025

• “Million Dollar Intro” – Ani DiFranco
• “Summertime” – Zee Avi (in-studio performance)
• “Strange Fruit” – Bettye Lavette
• “Orange Colored Sky” – Emm Gryner (in-studio performance)
• “But Not For Me” – Grant Perez
• “The Glory of Love” – Patty Griffin (in-studio performance)
• “The Nearness Of You” – Norah Jones (in-studio performance)
• “Don’t Know Why” – Pat Metheny (in-studio performance)
• “I’ve Grown Accustomed To her Face” – Andrew Bird
• “Moon River” – Melody Gardot
• “Gee Baby Ain’t I Good To You” – Taj Mahal
• “I Don’t Know Why (I Just Do)” – Jeff Goldblum, Mildred Snitzer Orchestra, Ariana Grande
• “September Song” – Lukas Nelson (in-studio performance)
• “Night & Day” – Willie Nelson (in-studio performance)
• “Over The Rainbow” – Judy Collins (in-studio performance)
• “Both Sides Now” – Allison Moorer (in-studio performance)
• “I’ve Never Been In Love Before” – Amos Lee
• “Goodnight My Love” – Rachael & Vilray
• “What A Wonderful World” – Victoria Williams (in-studio performance)
• “I Fall In Love Too Easily” – Susan Werner (in-studio performance)
• “Old Devil Moon” – dodie
• “I Get A Kick (Out Of You)” – Jamie Cullum (in-studio performance)
• “Let’s Do It (Let’s Fall In Love)” – Alanis Morrisette
• “Dream A Little Dream Of Me” – Judith Owen (in-studio performance)
• “Rocks in My Bed” – Allen Toussaint & Rhiannon Giddens
• “Nature Boy” – Gregory Porter (in-studio performance)

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.

Before you read any further, I just want to invite you to a little party we’re hosting at Batch Brewing Company this Thursday! The Sounds Like Detroit Showcase 2025 is sponsored by Henry Ford Health and tickets benefit WDET. Come hang out with me as we enjoy performances by Beth, Samuel Nalangira, Corazon Szell and Tariq Gardner.

Now then…

Each week on MI Local, I do my best to bring you, well, as the title of the show implies: the latest in local! Also implied by the title of the show is a fun lil’ pun that plays off of my last name—and trust me, you probably know someone who hasn’t figured that out yet, so impress them with that trivial tidbit at your next dinner party.

Anyway! I was so excited to shuffle in quite a few new tracks by Metro-area musicians that just dropped, including a fantastic and charming pop-rock cut from John Krautner off of his latest album Cinnamon Lake, along with the Northwest-Michigan-based folk-rock songwriter May Erlewine’s hopeful ballad “Lemonade.”

My guest this week were the indie-rockers known as Long Square. They joined me live in-studio to premiere a new song, “Ate,” which also just had its music video premiere online.

Long Square in studio with Jeff Milo. Photo by Mike Milo

They played their first show about a year ago, but audiences can already anticipate a high-energy performance with an intricate and often frenetic playing style, which we music journalists used to like to refer to as “math rock.” Niche-sub-genre talk aside, the reason you’ll already get a potently realized indie-rock package with a veritably new band is that several of these players have been in a handful of previous projects.

You can see Long Square live this Saturday night in Hamtramck at The High Dive with Second Body and The Feat. Follow on Instagram for more.

Also, make sure to stream the show above if you missed it, because Long Square also gave you a sneak peak of an unreleased track off of their upcoming album!

Other highlights from this week’s show include a new track from heavy-rockers Edison Hollow, who have an album release show on Friday night at Small’s. We also heard new indie-rock from singer/songwriter Taylor Brown, who writes and records under the moniker of Sock Jock! Splashing in some genre variety, we heard some reggae/ska from Detroit Riddim Crew, and a dip into post-hardcore ferocity with Big Life.

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

MI Local Playlist for August 12, 2025

• “Storm Clouds” – John Krautner
• “Lemonade” – May Erlewine
• “Rolling Like a Stone” – Edison Hollow
• “Sticker” – Dusty Rose Gang
• “Trained Behaivor” – Detroit Riddim Crew
• “Out of Breath” – Big Life
• “Not So Bad” – Middle Out
• “Lock & Key” – Sock Jock
• “Nothing Left to Say” – The Broken Strings
• “Butterflies Can’t Hide” – Tariq Gardner & Evening Star
• “Ate” – Long Square

In this week’s episode of Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music, some anniversary re-issues from Common, John Prine and Natalie Cole.

Also, new music from Disclosure with Anderson Paak, Detroit’s Thornetta Davis, Kate Hinote Trio, Jack Spivey 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 August 9, 2025

HOUR ONE:

• “GO!” – Common (20th anniversary re-issue of “Be”)
  
• “Hey, Ah, Nothin'” – John Prine (30th anniversary re-issue of “Lost Dogs & Mixed Blessings”)
• “I Gotta Sang The Blues” – Thornetta Davis (cover of Living Blues magazine!)
• “‘Heartthrob” – Indigo De Souza
• “Closer” – Tegan & Sara
• “luther” – Kendrick Lamar & SZA
• “luther” – Iron & Wine & Ben Bridwell
  
• “If This World Were Mine” – Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
  
• “Fletchers” – Craig Finn
• “Kissing Other People” – kissing other ppl
  
• “Forever Never Lasts” – Rachael & Vilray
  
• “Time After Time” – Benny Sings
• “But Not For Me” – Amos Lee
  

• “Pink Cadillac” – Natalie Cole Common (75 birthday anniversary re-issue of “Everlasting”)
• “Fire” – The Pointer Sisters
• “Witness” – The Wood Brothers
• “I Can See The Devil” – S.G. Goodman
  
• “Over & Over'” – Jack Spivey
  
• “Upside” – Southern Avenue
• “Philosophy” – Ben Folds Five (debut released 30 years ago this week)
• “NO CAP” – Disclosure w/Anderson Paak
• “It’s My Toy” – Kate Hinote Trio
• “Ordinary Creature” – Of Monsters & Men
• “El Molestoso” – Eddie Palmieri
• “Revolt El Libertad Logico – Eddie Palmieri

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

New music from Yves Tumor & NINA, Cecily & Tall Black Guy, Ruby Rushton and Paul Cornish’s loving tribute to the late great Detroit pianist Geri Allen.

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 August 4, 2025

• “People Get Up and Drive Your Funky Soul (Remix)” – James Brown
• “Life Goes On (feat. Sampa the Great)” – Ezra Collective
• “We Don’t Count” – Yves Tumor & NINA
• “Bloco da Harmonia” – Carlos Dafé & Adrian Younge
• “’Cause I Love You (Remix by Tall Black Guy)” – Cecily & Tall Black Guy
• “I Couldn’t Love You More (Jam Master’s Deep Rework)” – Sade
• “Walk to Regio’s” – Ruby Rushton
• “Queen Geri” – Paul Cornish
• “Sherylamazing” – Terrence Parker
• “Sad Piano Music” – Daphini
• “The Field (feat. The Durutti Column, Tariq Al-Sabir, Caroline Polachek & Daniel Caesar)” – Blood Orange
• “Otro Atardecer” – Bad Bunny & The Marías
• “Me Pasa (Piscis)” – Bomba Estéreo, Rawayana & ASTROPICAL
• “Cumbia Sampuesana” – Abelardo Carbono & Radio Malembe
• “Me Gustas Tú” – Manu Chao
• “Sun Is Shining” – Bob Marley & The Wailers
• “Bam Bam” – Sister Nancy
• “Police And Thieves (Dub)” – Lee “Scratch” Perry, Bob Riddim & Xana Romeo
• “Ghetto Defendant” – The Clash
• “Rabbit Run (From the “Caught Stealing” Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)” – IDLES
• “Spiral” – Wye Oak
• “It’s All Around You” – Tortoise
• “My Last Chance (SalaAM ReMi LP Mix)” – Marvin Gaye
• “Hold Me” – SAULT
• “Thinking Bout You” – Flo Morrissey & Matthew E. White
• “The Garden” – Papooz
• “Pit Stop (Take Me Home) [feat. Mike Patton, Jennifer Charles, Kid Koala & Dan the Automator]” – Nathaniel Merriweather
• “Squares” – Beta Band
• “The Darkness That You Fear” – The Chemical Brothers
• “Carry Me Higher (7 Inch Version)” – The Blessed Madonna, Joy Anonymous & Danielle Ponder
• “Super Strut” – Deodato
• “31 Bloom” – Four Tet

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.

On this week’s episode of Acoustic Café, we revisit our 2005 interview with Death Cab For Cutie’s Benjamin Gibbard and Chris Walla to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their game-changing album Plans.

Also featured, archived stuff from Sting, Rachael & Vilray, Aimee Mann 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 August 3, 2025

• “Million Dollar Intro” – Ani DiFranco
• “Under the Milky Way” – The Church
• “Jubilee” – The War & Treaty
• “The Farm” – HAIM
• “Love And Hate” – Natalie Jean
• “Even In The Evening” – Rachael & Vilray (2021 in-studio performance)
• “That’s Gonna Leave A Mark (acoustic)” – Molly Tuttle
• “Crooked Teeth” – Death Cab For Cutie (in-studio guests, 2005)
• “Brothers On A Hotel Bed” – Death Cab For Cutie (in-studio guests, 2005)
• “Sisters” – Southern Avenue
• “Can’t Win For Losing” – Cedric Burnside & Tierinii Jackson
• “Progress Of Man (Bitcoin & Cattle)” – Hayes Carll
• “You’re With Stupid Now” – Aimee Mann (2006 in-studio performance)
• “Keep On Tryin'” – Poco
• “I Need The Answer” – Durand Jones & The Indications
• “The Way Of The World” – Noah Cyrus
• “These Days” – Tanner Usrey
• “California Zephyr” – Ben Gibbard & Jay Farrar (2009 in-studio performance)
• “Moon Over Bourbon Street” – Sting
• “Shape Of My Heart” – Sting (2024 in-studio performance)
• “In Good Trouble” – India Arie
• “The Flyboy & The Kid” – Willie Nelson
• “Photobooth” – Death Cab For Cutie (in-studio guests, 2005)
• “Soul Meets Body” – Death Cab For Cutie (in-studio guests, 2005)