July 1-5, 2009

Buddy Guy at Cityfest 2009

Last year, hundreds of stoked and soaked festival-goers took cover in the Fisher Building when a torrential summer downpour cut the opening day short. Little did they know that Cityfest Staff were already planning Rain Check Wednesday for 2009.

The festival plans for clear skies on Wednesday, July 1 for a belated kick-off performance by hip-hop veterans De La Soul, while local stars The Silent Years, Jazzhead, Magic Shop, The Hentchmen, and others will reprise their ’09 schedules on the three other stages.

Five-time Grammy-award winning blues guitarist Buddy Guy will close the festival on Sunday, July 5. Buddy will play selections from his recent Grammy-nominated album Skin Deep and old favorites such as Damn Right I’ve Got the Blues, Feels like Rain and First Time I Met the Blues.

Cityfest 2009, formerly Tastefest, is the place to get a serving of cool Kids Stuff and Culture Galore. Kid bands will rock the New Center Park Stage each afternoon, Hardcore Detroit will try their newest break-dancing tricks and the Cityfest Art Gallery will feature some of the area’s best emerging and established artists.

Kids Stuff Galore sponsored by Meijer
Comerica Cityfest 2009’s Kids Stuff Galore is sponsored by Meijer and will be the ultimate place to rock kids’ worlds. The afternoon session will have three workouts with Punk Rock Fitness, where kids can hula-hoop their way to a mini six-pack. In between workouts, Farmer John’s Barnyard Express will bring out a gaggle of animals for demonstrations and petting. Each day will end with “Kids Rock Cityfest,” featuring performances from local kid bands RipChord and Paul Green School of Rock House Band on the New Center Park Stage.

New this year, kids can challenge each other to oversized old-school games including checkers, a rope maze, connect four, tic-tac-toe and hightower. Comerica Cityfest is also bringing back Par Tee nine-hole put-put golf course after its three-year hiatus. Other family favorites will fill the festival including Kevin Collins and the African Drummers, Pistons Shoot-out, rock climbing, and the Modern Skate Park.

Culture

The Cityfest Art Gallery presents “Detroit id” Curated by Gwen Joy

Comerica Cityfest is a celebration of city life and all of the great cultural aspects provided by local artists, jewelers and merchandisers.

The Cityfest Art Gallery presents “Detroit id,” billed as a division of the psyche that is totally unconscious and serves as the source of instinctual impulses and demands for immediate satisfaction of primitives needs. Basically, it is an outstanding gallery show in the Second Avenue entrance of the Fisher Building. Detroit id is curated by Gwen Joy and will feature 16 artists including Carl Oxley III, Johnny Bee Badanjek, Kristin Beaver, Leni Sinclair, Rico Africa, Robert Sikora, Scott Allen, Sean Bieri, Matt Gordon and Niagra.

The Detroit LISC Second Avenue Street Market will give a festival-goers a sampling of Detroit’s diverse merchants such as 323 East – An Art Boutique, By Worjloh, D’jenne Beads & Art, Exclusive Styles, Flo Boutique, Middle Kingdom, Modern Skate and Surf, Offin River, Perfect Touch massages, and Vaidehi Design henna tattoo artists.

New Center Council sponsors a City Living tent offering visitors a glimpse of city life with housing sale and rental booths and community development organizations. Stop by to learn about properties in Historic Boston Edison or join organizations such as Detroit Synergy, Motown Soup, or Transportation Riders United.

Back by popular demand, Hardcore Detroit will drop a mat and show-off some of their newest break-dancing routines throughout the festival.

The full artist line-up for Comerica Cityfest 2009 is below:

New Center Main Stage
Platinum Pied Pipers – De La Soul – Handsome Furs – The Avett Brothers – Erin McCarley – Matt Kearney – Todd Rundgren – 21:03 wsg Chris Clark – Bettye LaVette –The Veronicas- Ray Parker Jr. – Buddy Guy-Paula Valstein

Pure Detroit Stage
Mean Mother – Electric Firebabies – Bear Lake – Mike Posner – The Silent Years – Jason Croff Family Band – Uncle Paulie’s Block Party – Will Sessions – Michna – Rogue Satellites – Childbite – Deastro – Silverghost – 1592 – DJ Subtonic – Millions of Brazilians – Girls Girls Girls with Carolyn Striho, Rachael May and Vivian George – Lightning Love – Bump – For the Love of Mojo – a Tribute to the Electrifying Mojo feat. Rick Wilhite, Marc Duncan, Kenny Dixon JR. and Carl Craig

Grand Boulevard Jazz Stage
In The Tradition – Jazzhead – The Macpodz – Green T – The Spangler / Tope Organ Trio wsg Detroit sax legend George Benson – Joey Spina Band – Lola Morales wsg Sean Blackman – The Motor City Horns with The Brothers Groove and special guest Johnny Bassett – The Courville Concert Choir – The Angelo Primo – bugs Beddow band – Tricia Moore Quartet – Kimmie Horne – GEQ – Sandra Bomar & The Jazz Experience with The Paul Keller Trio – Tumbao Salsa – Dennis Coffey Quartet – The Party Stompers wsg Gino Washington – Musique Noire – The Rumpshakers – Jesse Palter and the Alter Ego featuring Sam Barsh – Rodney Whitaker Quartet featuring vocalist Rockelle Whitaker

New Center Park Stage
Jenny Knaggs and the Sureshots – Madison Opera – Magic Shop – The Hentchmen – The Hosts – Citizen Smile – Charlie Slick – I Crime – Lies Unknown – Bootsey X and the Lovemasters – The Ruiners – The Wrong Numbers – Ben Cyllus – Dooley Wilson – Inside Outlaws – Hayley Jane – Gretchen Wolff – Silent Violet – Blue Flowers – Electric Lions

Comerica Cityfest 2009 will maintain its extended hours offering a great time in Detroit’s Historic New Center from 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday, and 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday. For updates and additional information about Comerica Cityfest 2009, please visit www.comericacityfest.com or call (313) 872-0188.

http://www.newcenter.com/cityfest/2009/home.html

For more information:

New Center Council, Inc.
3011 West Grand Boulevard – Suite 301
Detroit, MI 48202
(313) 927-2700 / recorded festival information
(313) 872-0188 / phone
(313) 872-2330 / fax
www.NewCenter.com
www.ComericaCityfest.com