On Saturday, July 31st, prepare to be blown away 3D-style at The Crofoot Ballroom in Pontiac, MI.  The third annual Phonotropical musical mayhem will lift off in another dimension, thanks to the creative works of artist Dan DeMaggio (free 3D glasses for everyone).  Freshtight Designs has a handful of tickets to give away right here on our site, so let the contest begin!  Performances by: Dale Earnhart, Jr. Jr., Bars of Gold, Lettercamp, Bear Lake, The Victorious Secrets, Jessica Hernandez and many more.

To enter the ticket giveaway, become a fan of Freshtight Designs on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and leave a comment below explaining why we should pick you… it’s as easy as that!  Five winners will be chosen at random at 12:noon on 7/31 and we will see everyone Saturday at PhonoFest!

Also happening on Saturday is Freshtight Design’s featured artist, Jaclyn Schanes‘ first solo exhibition/performance called Show Pony, at the Re:View Contemporary Gallery in Detroit.  She is the epitome of “life as art” and “art as life” and has created everything herself from the soundtrack/score of the event to the watercolor paintings.  This is one exhibit you don’t want to miss.  One woman, two hours, a hundred layers of meaning.  Click here for more information.

At the center of the exhibit are approximately 35 small to medium watercolor self-portraits, which will be uniquely mounted and displayed in a strategic way as to facilitate performance by including the attendees into the experience. Schanes has recently embraced the often forgotten medium of watercolor, bringing both beauty and brutal directedness to her Neo-Expressionism influenced portraits, which will provide one layer of meaning in this two-hour art event.

The Detroit hip hop scene has always been about originality, passion and dedication.  But today it’s being misrepresented.  Radio no longer looks to the streets to find a hit; they choose tracks based on what they can position in retail… and then they call it hip hop.

We’re flipping the scales so they weigh in favor of the artists… to represent ourselves, our culture and measure our own success.

Join us, every first Saturday of the month, as The Crofoot and Freshtight Designs combine forces and bring to you some of the most influential voices, minds and styles in the hip hop community.

Aug 7th
Detroit CYDI
Sidenotes
Almighty Dreadnaughtz
Stoopz ‘n Breeze
Of Mice and Musicians
live graffiti by SAM SRSLY

RSVP on Facebook for a chance to win free tickets

DJs, emcees, graffiti writers, breakdancers, artists, networking and more…

Check out past months’ photos and contact us to get involved.

Detroit’s latest record label, Motorcity Special Records (a collaboration between MOTORCITYBLOG and Product of Detroit) will have its official record label launch show on Saturday, May 8th at the Music Hall of the Performing Arts in downtown Detroit.  The label was established in March 2010 and will release limited edition vinyl pressings of unique Detroit sounds.  Check out The Wrong Numbers, Duende!, Electric Fire Babies, Canja Rave, Mr. Shz, and DJ Savage Matt at the Jazz Cafe in Music Hall Center, 350 Madison Ave., Detroit, MI on Saturday, May 8th from 7pm – 2am.

December 31, 2009 – January 3, 2010
The Elbow Room
6 South Washington Street
Ypsilanti, Michigan

A benefit for 826michigan, a nonprofit writing and tutoring center serving approximately 2,000 local students at their downtown Ann Arbor location as well as at numerous classrooms, community centers and elsewhere. Their free programs are based on the understanding that writing is important for every child, and that one-on-one attention is key to building academic skills and confidence in the classroom and beyond.

Thursday, December 31, 2009

Doors 4 p.m. $9. 18+

Semi-formal attire encouraged!

“Champagne” toast courtesy of Quite Scientific!

5:00-5:30 HALLWAY – Ypsilanti, MI

5:50-6:20 STARGRAZER – Lansing, MI

6:40-7:10 THIS IS DEER COUNTRY – Houghton, MI

7:30-8:00 ELLE AND THE FONTS – Detroit, MI

8:20-8:50 ANNIE PALMER – Ypsilanti, MI

9:10-9:40 THE FERDY MAYNE – Ypsilanti, MI

10:00-10:30 ELECTRIC FIRE BABIES – Detroit, MI

10:50-11:20 WHITE PINES – Akron, OH

11:40-12:10 CHRIS BATHGATE – Ann Arbor, MI

12:30-1:00 MATT JONES & THE RECONSTRUCTION – Ypsilanti, MI

DANCEPARTY UNTIL 4 AM w/ DJ TODD OSBORNE!

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Friday, January 1, 2010

Doors 4 p.m. $7. 18+

5:00-5:30 TIMOTHY MONGER – Ann Arbor, MI

5:50-6:20 GHOST HEART – Grand Rapids, MI

6:40-7:10 FIELDS OF INDUSTRY – Lansing, MI

7:30-8:00 GHOSTLADY – Ann Arbor, MI

8:20-8:50 THE JULIETS – Ypsilanti, MI

9:10-9:40 PRUSSIA – Detroit, MI

10:00-10:30 SILVERGHOST – Detroit, MI

10:50-11:20 LIGHTNING LOVE – Ann Arbor, MI

11:40-12:10 CHAMPIONS OF BREAKFAST – Detroit, MI

12:30-1:00 GREAT LAKES MYTH SOCIETY – Ann Arbor, MI

w/ DJ CHUCK SIPPERLEY!

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Saturday, January 2, 2010

Doors 4 p.m. $7. 18+

5:00-5:30 NATHAN K. – Ypsilanti, MI

5:50-6:20 ETHAN MILNER – Ann Arbor, MI

6:40-7:10 SPITTING NICKELS – Detroit, MI

7:30-8:00 GREGORY MCINTOSH – Ypsilanti, MI

8:20-8:50 JIB KIDDER – San Francisco, CA

9:10-9:40 BLACK JAKE & THE CARNIES – Ypsilanti, MI

10:00-10:30 JIM ROLL – Ann Arbor, MI

10:50-11:20 DRUNKEN BARN DANCE – New York, NY

11:40-12:10 FRIENDLY FOES – Detroit, MI

12:30-1:00 CHILD BITE – Detroit, MI

w/ DJ WILL YATES!

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Sunday, January 3, 2010

10 a.m-4 p.m. Brunch at Beezy’s!
8.26% of sales go to 826michigan!

* * * * *

Doors 4 p.m. $7. 18+

5:00-5:30 WHISKEY BOTTLE – New York, NY

5:50-6:20 ALEX GREINER – Brooklyn, NY

6:40-7:10 LANDFILL MOUNTAIN BOYS – Ann Arbor, MI

7:30-8:00 SMALL HOUSES – Lansing, MI

8:20-8:50 PHOTOGRAPHERS – Traverse City, MI

9:10-9:40 ANNA ASH – Oakland, CA

10:00-10:30 SECRET TWINS – Ann Arbor, MI

10:50-11:20 MISTY LYN & THE BIG BEAUTIFUL – Ann Arbor, MI

11:40-12:10 FRED THOMAS – Ypsilanti, MI

12:30-1:00 FRONTIER RUCKUS – Lansing, MI

w/ (DJ) ACTUAL BIRDS!

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Discount 4-day wristbands* available for $25 at Liberty Street Robot Supply & Repair, 115 East Liberty Street, Ann Arbor.

Presented by The Detroit Red Wings. Exclusive tickets to the Open Skate section at upcoming Wings games and limited edition Red Wings merchandise designed by local artists will be available, in addition to raffles of autographed Red Wings gear, tickets, and other items. All proceeds will be donated to 826michigan.

With additional support from The Elbow Room, Quack! Media, Quite Scientific Records, VGkids, Beezy’s, Angela Duncan, and Diamonds in the Rough.

Special thanks to all allies of 826michigan and the extended Michigan independent music community.

*wristband does not guarantee admission if venue is at capacity. For best results, arrive early!

In 1969, the 14-year-old Jerry Levitan, armed with a reel-to-reel tape recorder, snuck into John Lennon’s hotel room for a chat.

It went like this…

I Met the Walrus!

Living statistics – showing how active & dynamic the Social Web is.

Personalize Media

tUnE-yArDs is the singular musical project of New England native Merrill Garbus. Possessing an expansive sound that marries a coarse folk ingenuity with the bold pop sensibility of an R&B siren, BiRd-BrAiNs was assembled with a staunch DIY aesthetic.

Recording herself using a digital voice recorder and assembled using shareware mixing software, she was described by Stereogum as “a self-contained Sublime Frequencies compilation, jumping between blues, African tunes, shiny reggae-esque sprawls, and lo-fi folk”, infusing the worldly sonic palette of M.I.A. or post-punk pioneers The Raincoats.

Tune-Yards played this past October at The Crofoot with powerhouses Wildcatting, Prussia and Starring.

Tune-Yards on MySpace

Tune-Yards Website

Photos by: Elaine Lok | Christy King | Lisa Lord | Jamie Karosa | Mo Traylor | Metromix Detroit

More to come | Check back in for videos and new images

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