Chaka Khan, Macy Gray To Headline Detroit River Days
DETROIT (WWJ) - The Detroit RiverFront Conservancy announced Thursday this year's musical lineup for the 5th Annual Detroit River Days festival.
The lineup features an outstanding mix of iconic and Grammy-winning artists, Chaka Khan, Macy Gray and WAR, along with some of metro Detroit's best musical acts. The festival kicks off on Thursday, June 23 at 4 pm and runs through Sunday, June 26.
Two of metro Detroit's best rock bands, Reefermen and The Muggs, will kick-off the entertainment on the Main Stage, which is located just west of Rivard Plaza, on Thursday, June 23.
Echoes of Pink Floyd will close out the evening with their Pink Floyd tribute and one of the largest laser shows in the country.
On Friday night, Detroit favorite Stewart Francke and Jessica Hernandez and the Deltas, a local band quickly raising in popularity across the country, will get the crowd going before classic rock veterans WAR take to the main stage to perform their hits, "Low Rider," "Why Can't We Be Friends," "Summer" and others.
Headlining Saturday night's live entertainment is funk singer and songwriter Chaka Khan, who was recently honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame last month, culminating a more than 40 year singing career which won her ten Grammy awards.
Khan's signature hits, include "Tell Me Something Good", "Sweet Thing", "Ain't Nobody" and "I'm Every Woman."
Khan will have a number Detroit's favorites to help kick off the evening's sounds, including the Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit's internationally-acclaimed Mosaic Singers, Kimmie Horne and Dave McMurray. In addition, the Detroit Academy of Arts and Sciences High School Choir will perform their hit song, "Detroit State of Mind," before the packed crowd.
On Sunday, June 26, R&B and soul singer-songwriter Macy Gray will help close out the festival with her award-winning and distinctive raspy voice. Gray has sold more than 15 million albums and is best known for her song, "I Try." In 2010, she released a new album "The Sellout."
Prior to Gray's performance, festival-goers can dance to the sounds of the Toppermost Beatles Tribute and Detroit R&B band HotSauce.
For the entire musical entertainment schedule, click here.
Other events going on during River Days include the Parade of Lights, jet ski demonstrations, Ultimate Air Dogs, sand sculptures and of course, the Taste of Detroit Food Court.
For more information on Detroit's River Days Festival, visit www.riverdays.com.
