Detroit Institute of Arts celebrates 25th anniversary of Concert of Colors with live music, movies DIA, Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History and Michigan Science Center team up to present outdoor performances Friday, July 14

Updated Jun 22, 2017

June 22, 2017 (Detroit)—They’ll be dancing—and listening—in the streets of Detroit for the 25th anniversary of Concert of Colors, Detroit’s free diversity-themed music festival. On July 14 beginning at 5:30 p.m. John R St. will be closed from Farnsworth St.  to Warren Ave. for performances presented by the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA), Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History and Michigan Science Center. Additionally, the DIA’s Detroit Film Theatre will show music-related movies on Saturday and Sunday.

Events are free.

Schedule

Friday, July 14

John R. Stage

on the sidewalk at the entrance to the Science Center and John R.

5:30 p.m.

Onyx Ashanti (electronic/experimental)

6:15 p.m.

De’Sean Jones – Underground Resistance/Knomadik (electronic/experimental)

7 p.m.

Efe Bes (African fusion)

7:30 p.m.

Kuumba (jazz/Latin/African)

9 p.m.

Aurora Harris (spoken word)

9:30 p.m.

Griot Galaxy (avant-garde jazz)

Saturday, July 15

2 p.m.

Sita Sings the Blues

This animated movie is a modern retelling of the ancient Indian epic Ramayana. Three bickering shadow puppets act as comedic narrators as they tell the stories of Sita, a goddess separated from her husband, and Nina, an animator whose husband moves to India, then dumps her via email. Recommended for ages nine to adult.

4:30 p.m.

Mali Blues

This documentary follows four artists as they attempt to use music to inspire tolerance and peace. The West African country of Mali is one of the birthplaces of the blues, a musical tradition later carried by the transatlantic slave trade to America. Today the music and musicians of Mali are in danger as dance and secular music is prohibited, musical instruments are destroyed and musicians are forced to flee their homeland

Sunday, July 16

2 p.m.

Sita Sings the Blues

(see July 15)

4:30 p.m.

Chasing Trane: The John Coltrane Documentary

Saxophonist and composer John Coltrane was an outside-the-box thinker whose boundary-shattering talent continues to impact and influence not only musical culture, but also the world at large. This new documentary is set against the social and political landscape of its time, bringing Coltrane’s music to life. Narrated by Denzel Washington with commentary from Carlos Santana, Common, Cornell West, Bill Clinton and others.

For a complete Concert of Colors schedule, visit http://concertofcolors.com/events/

Museum Hours and Admission

9 a.m.–4 p.m. Tuesdays–Thursdays, 9 a.m.–10 p.m. Fridays, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. General admission (excludes ticketed exhibitions) is free for Wayne, Oakland and Macomb county residents and DIA members.

Beginning July 1, admission is $14 for adults, $9 for seniors ages 62+, $8 for college students and $6 for ages 6–17. For membership information, call 313-833-7971.

June 22, 2017 (Detroit)—They’ll be dancing—and listening—in the streets of Detroit for the 25th anniversary of Concert of Colors, Detroit’s free diversity-themed music festival. On July 14 beginning at 5:30 p.m. John R St. will be closed from Farnsworth St.  to Warren Ave. for performances presented by the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA), Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History and Michigan Science Center. Additionally, the DIA’s Detroit Film Theatre will show music-related movies on Saturday and Sunday.

Events are free.

Schedule

Friday, July 14

John R. Stage

on the sidewalk at the entrance to the Science Center and John R.

5:30 p.m.

Onyx Ashanti (electronic/experimental)

6:15 p.m.

De’Sean Jones – Underground Resistance/Knomadik (electronic/experimental)

7 p.m.

Efe Bes (African fusion)

7:30 p.m.

Kuumba (jazz/Latin/African)

9 p.m.

Aurora Harris (spoken word)

9:30 p.m.

Griot Galaxy (avant-garde jazz)

Saturday, July 15

2 p.m.

Sita Sings the Blues

This animated movie is a modern retelling of the ancient Indian epic Ramayana. Three bickering shadow puppets act as comedic narrators as they tell the stories of Sita, a goddess separated from her husband, and Nina, an animator whose husband moves to India, then dumps her via email. Recommended for ages nine to adult.

4:30 p.m.

Mali Blues

This documentary follows four artists as they attempt to use music to inspire tolerance and peace. The West African country of Mali is one of the birthplaces of the blues, a musical tradition later carried by the transatlantic slave trade to America. Today the music and musicians of Mali are in danger as dance and secular music is prohibited, musical instruments are destroyed and musicians are forced to flee their homeland

Sunday, July 16

2 p.m.

Sita Sings the Blues

(see July 15)

4:30 p.m.

Chasing Trane: The John Coltrane Documentary

Saxophonist and composer John Coltrane was an outside-the-box thinker whose boundary-shattering talent continues to impact and influence not only musical culture, but also the world at large. This new documentary is set against the social and political landscape of its time, bringing Coltrane’s music to life. Narrated by Denzel Washington with commentary from Carlos Santana, Common, Cornell West, Bill Clinton and others.

For a complete Concert of Colors schedule, visit http://concertofcolors.com/events/

Museum Hours and Admission

9 a.m.–4 p.m. Tuesdays–Thursdays, 9 a.m.–10 p.m. Fridays, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. General admission (excludes ticketed exhibitions) is free for Wayne, Oakland and Macomb county residents and DIA members.

Beginning July 1, admission is $14 for adults, $9 for seniors ages 62+, $8 for college students and $6 for ages 6–17. For membership information, call 313-833-7971.