Community Calendar

The Preservation of Jazz Monday Night Music Series Tributes proudly presents a Bessie Smith Birthday Celebration, honoring the legendary Empress of the Blues with a powerful tribute by Detroit’s Queen of Blues, Thornetta Davis. This special event takes place on Monday, April 14, 2025, at Aretha’s Jazz Café (350 Madison, Detroit, MI).

Doors open at 6:00 PM, and the show starts at 7:15 PM.

Honoring the Legacy of Bessie Smith

Born on April 15, 1894, Bessie Smith remains one of the most influential blues vocalists in history. With her deep, soulful voice and unmatched storytelling, she helped shape American music with classics like Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out, Downhearted Blues, and St. Louis Blues. Known for her bold presence and fearless artistry, Bessie Smith broke barriers and set the stage for generations of blues and jazz musicians.

Internationally recognized and celebrated as Detroit’s Queen of Blues, Thornetta Davis is a Detroit Music Award-winning powerhouse vocalist with a style deeply rooted in blues, soul, and gospel. With a voice that captivates and a stage presence that electrifies, Davis brings the spirit of Bessie Smith to life in this unforgettable tribute performance.

Hosted by ​James Anderson

Every Wednesday at 6pm, Lansing Live Open Stage invites you to showcase your musical talent! Whether you're experienced or just starting, the stage is open to all. Not a performer? Enjoy dinner, drinks, and live music from local artists. No cover charge and all ages are welcome.

Sign ups are first come, first serve. Come early as sign-ups are limited and fill up quickly!

Bob Dylan’s career has lasted the better part of 50 years now. He has never gotten by on sentimentality or nostalgia. He has never repeated his successes. Dylan has always pushed his work ahead.

This show will be a phone-free experience.

From the sweet refrains of Alicia Keys to the earth-shaking vocals of Whitney Houston, LaKisha Jones and Nova Payton channel the charisma and charm of some of the greatest legends of disco, pop, and R&B. Relive the songs you know and love, with chart-topping hits from Gloria Gaynor, Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Tina Turner, Diana Ross, Alicia Keys, and more!

Conductor: Timothy Muffitt
Featured Artists: LaKisha Jones/Vocalist, Nova Payton/Vocalist

Tickts: $30-$65

Join the villagers of Hollygrove as they invite one and all to the magical 16th Century European village featuring 17 stages of exciting entertainment including: musicians, magicians, jugglers and jousting. Over 100 artisans will fill the Festival marketplace to display and sell their handcrafted goods for a truly fabulous and endless shopping experience. Patrons will interact with memorable characters and enjoy full-contact live armored jousting, 7 theme weekends, and fabulous food fit for royalty!

Join us at our Bloomfield Hills location every Sunday from 10am-2pm for our Gourmet Sunday Plated Brunch. Indulge in a carefully curated, made-to-order menu featuring elevated dishes such as our Muer omelet, lobster and spinach frittata, shrimp & cajun risotto grits, steak frites, and more. Plus enjoy live music by Keith Ferguson and Friends. Each plate is crafted to deliver the signature Joe Muer experience with every bite.

Every Wednesday at 6pm, Lansing Live Open Stage invites you to showcase your musical talent! Whether you're experienced or just starting, the stage is open to all. Not a performer? Enjoy dinner, drinks, and live music from local artists. No cover charge and all ages are welcome.

Sign ups are first come, first serve. Come early as sign-ups are limited and fill up quickly!

Known for unique interpretations of classical works, French pianist Hélène Grimaud will perform masterworks by Bach, Beethoven, Brahms. Accepted at age 13 into the Paris Conservatoire, Grimaud won first prize in piano performance there just three years later. In 1987, she was invited by Daniel Barenboim to perform with the Orchestre de Paris, marking the launch of her musical career. An exclusive Deutsche Grammophon recording artist, her recordings have earned her the Cannes Classical Recording of the Year, Choc du Monde de la musique, Diapason d’or, Grand Prix du disque, and the Echo Klassik Award. Her most recent recordings, released in 2023, are “Silent Songs” and “For Clara.”

Concert Preview · 6:30 pm · Dr. Sophié van der Westhuizen

Join the villagers of Hollygrove as they invite one and all to the magical 16th Century European village featuring 17 stages of exciting entertainment including: musicians, magicians, jugglers and jousting. Over 100 artisans will fill the Festival marketplace to display and sell their handcrafted goods for a truly fabulous and endless shopping experience. Patrons will interact with memorable characters and enjoy full-contact live armored jousting, 7 theme weekends, and fabulous food fit for royalty!

When it comes to Creole culture and Zydeco music, two-time Grammy award-winning Terrance Simien and the Zydeco Experience represent well, with the past, the present, and the future of Black roots music. This six piece, multigenerational, and multicultural group is highly skilled, formally trained, and are very experienced performers, and in every profession, experience still matters—a lot!

True to himself and his deep Creole roots, Simien personifies authenticity as he pushes the boundaries of his genre to elevate its visibility. Now enjoying OG (legendary) status of an accomplished 40+ year career, Simien—with his loyal bandmates and creative collaborators—has toured to more than 40+ countries and performed over 7,500 concerts. Their Creole for Kidz and the History of Zydeco educational program and performance developed 24 years ago for K-12 and college students has helped raise the cultural IQ of more than 250,000 students, parents, and teachers around the globe.

In 2009, Simien was called by the head of music at Disney to collaborate with the legendary songwriter Randy Newman on a song for an historic animated film The Princess and the Frog set in New Orleans. This movie featured Disney's first ever Black princess, Princess Tiana: an aspiring chef. The word zydeco was actually spoken in the film by Ray the Firefly, a main character who stole our hearts.

Media Partner: WKAR