Stephen Burks is one of the most recognized American industrial designers of his generation. His New York studio
Readymade Projects has been responsible for creative direction and design strategy on projects ranging from retail interiors and events to packaging, consumer products, lighting, furniture, and home accessories. He has developed innovative concepts for the renowned international brands Artecnica, B&B Italia, Boffi, Calvin Klein, Cappellini, Missoni, and others, as well as continuing his commitment to sustainable design in the developing world through his association with the American non-profits Aid to Artisans and the Nature Conservancy. All good stuff and FilterD endorsed.
Burks' work has been published and exhibited internationally. He is a member of the Cologne Furniture Fair international trend board and is a recipient of the Illinois Institute of Technology Alumni Professional Achievement Award, the US Artists Target Fellowship Grant, and the Audi Mentor Prize. He is currently working on a documentary of his work in the developing world entitled Made On Earth.
Come here this impressive design wunderkind talk Wednesday, Nov. 18 6 - 7 p.m., at the Anderson Auditorium, inside the Walter B. Ford Building, College for Creative Studies Cultural Center Campus, 201 E. Kirby, Detroit.
Violinist Jean Luc Ponty was born in a family of classical musicians in Avranches, France. His father taught violin, his mother taught piano. At 16, he was admitted to the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris, graduating two years later with the institution's highest award, Premier Prix.
Soon, the music of Miles Davis and John Coltrane inspired him to cultivate his newfound jazz voice using his talents on the violin.
So it was that Ponty found himself leading a dual musical life: rehearsing and performing with the orchestra while also playing jazz at clubs throughout Paris. By 1969, Ponty's voracious musical appetite veered him toward experimental rock and the same year Frank Zappa composed the music for Jean-Luc's solo album
King Kong on Blue Note. At the urging of Zappa and the Mothers of Invention Ponty moved to America.
1n 1996 he recorded
Live at Chene Park in Detroit. It was released in February 1997 by Atlantic Records. The 2009 US tour includes side players William Lecomte (keyboards), Damien Schmitt (drums) and Baron Browne (bass). Get a taste of Jean-Luc Ponty live
here.At the Music Hall, 350 Madison St., downtown Detroit. Thursday, Nov. 19. 8 p.m. For ticket info go
here.
In 1999, a former bank at the corner of Conant and Caniff in Hamtramck was transformed into a stylish neighborhood bar with Art Deco features. A few years later, a stage with a state of the art sound system was added in the back.
Small's, one of our favorite neighborhood corner bars and premier rock venues rolled into one fabulous space, has been hosting great shows by local, national and international performers ever since. And when it doesn't happen live, the jukebox fires up with some of the best jams in the city. The bar boasts over 50 beer choices and top self liquor selections.
Maxim magazine included Small's in its "Best Live Music Venues" list, its been featured in Blender and Travel and Leisure and co-owner gave Melody Baetens gave
Model D this insightful interview earlier this year.
This Thursday through Saturday, head over to Hamtramck for Small's 10-Year Anniversary weekend. On Thursday, Nov 19, Motor City Blog Presents Haf/Life, The Luckouts and Devilfish; on Friday, Nov. 20, it's the Almighty Lumberjacks of Death, Grommet and Blacklist; and Saturday, Nov. 21 rock to the Hentchmen, The Muggs (pictured) and Shakey Jakes. Doors are 8 p.m. each night. Covers vary.
Small's is at 10339 Conant Avenue, Hamtramck.
It's that most wonderful time of the year once again. That's right, it's time to head down to the annual tree lighting party at
Campus Martius Park, not to mention find your favorite place to imbibe or get something good to eat while you're downtown. And bring your skates. The rink at the park at the intersection of Woodward, Michigan and Monroe officially opens the same day.
Detroit 300 Conservancy and DTE Energy present the 2009 Detroit Tree Lighting Ceremony Friday, Nov. 20, 5 p.m. to midnight. There will be skating performances by the Detroit Skating Club, the Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign Kick-Off, and performers including: Bomshel, Hot Sause, MOT Children's Chorus and Legendary Saxman Alto Reed of Bob Seger's Silver Bullet Band fame.
Join
Inside Detroit at 5 p.m. at The Well, 1228 Randolph for a cocktail tour before going over to the ceremony. Tickets for the tour are $10 in advance and $15 the day of the event.
When we talk about Detroit music, we can talk about a range of styles that include rock, techno, hip hop, house,, soul, jazz, funk and everything in between. Most of the scenes here concentrate on one or two specific genres. Not
the Few Records, which has given itself the eye- and ear-catching tag:
No Genres, Just Good Music. We Are the Few. We like it.
To celebrate working behind the scenes to create one vision dedicated to quality product, the Few is inviting all music lovers to its one-year anniversary bash this Saturday at Midtown's the Majestic Theatre Center.
The night is headed by Grammy nominated and Movement 2010 Creative Director Carl Craig (pictured), who will be distributing the label's product. Also on the bill: Will Sessions Funk Big Band, New Music Detroit, Kevin Reynolds, DJ Patrick Russell, Silverghost, Zoos of Berlin, the Replicas, Adieu, DJ Steven Robert with art installations by
ACCESS Arts. The program is curated by the Few Records' label founder Dominic Arellano. Promotional Support by the
Greening of Detroit.Tickets are $8 before 11:30 p.m., $10 after. The event is open to 18 and over.
Nov. 21, 9 p.m - 3 a.m. Magic Stick and Majestic Cafe, 4140 Woodward Avenue, Detroit.
Just as the weather is cooling down in late fall, the temperatures are rising in Detroit's techno and house music scenes. That might be true in general each year around this time, but now it's getting a formal organizational push form some heavy hitters in the Detroit (read that as international) electronic music communities.
A group calling itself
W.A.R.M.T.H. -- an acronym for We Are Revolutionizing the Movement of Techno and House -- has created a network of dedicated individuals, united to preserve the
integrity of Detroit electronic music. They say, and there is no argument here at FilterD, that Detroit plays a pivotal role in
the global Dance music scene, and is home to some of the world's more
innovative producers, DJs and recording artists. "Our history must not
be ignored," they write in their manifesto. Hear, hear, we chime in.
The group's CEO is Aaron-Carl, who has been performing and recording since the mid-1990s, and has a strong career overseas and a faithful local following. A-C hosts a weekly Internet radio show, also called, also called
W.A.R.M.T.H., that features new and
exclusive music made in Detroit and from around the
world. The group is planning on purchasing a building in Detroit to locate it's HQ, serve as a base for parties and other events, and contain a shop for merchandise and memorabilia. More on that to come later.
First comes an introductory party featuring Quentin Harris (pictured), Aaron-Carl, DJ Bone, Eric Jounson, Tink Thomas, Karl Lucas, with a closing set by John Collins. Wednesday, Nov. 25, 9 p.m. - 3 a.m.. Oslo, 1456 Woodward Avenue, Detroit. $10 before midnight, $15 after. drink specials, food and exclusive
W.A.R.M.T.H. merchandise will be available. Cameras, social
networking, blogging and
tweeting all encouraged.