Detroit, April 3, 2019 – 2019 marks the inaugural season for The Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre, Detroit’s premiere summer concert venue located along the Detroit River. Formerly known as Chene Park, the venue was renamed as a permanent honor to the Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin. The Right Productions, who manage and operate The Aretha, announces the lineup for the renowned Wednesday Jazzy Nights series plus select weekend shows. Tickets go on sale Friday, April 5 at 10 a.m. EDT.
Detroit, April 3, 2019 – 2019 marks the inaugural season for The Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre, Detroit’s premiere summer concert venue located along the Detroit River. Formerly known as Chene Park, the venue was renamed as a permanent honor to the Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin. The Right Productions, who manage and operate The Aretha, announces the lineup for the renowned Wednesday Jazzy Nights series plus select weekend shows. Tickets go on sale Friday, April 5 at 10 a.m. EDT. Music lovers can purchase tickets for the best summer concerts in the “D” at The Aretha Box Office and through www.ticketmaster.com. Regular Box Office hours start April 5th.
The Wednesday Jazzy Nights series at The Aretha will include an all-star lineup including: Damien Escobar (June 5); Jonathan Butler and Kirk Whalum (June 12); Kenny G (June 19); Black Violin (June 26); Loose Ends and Rahsaan Patterson (July 3); Superstars of Jazz Fusion featuring Roy Ayers, Miki Howard and Lonnie Liston Smith (July 10); Robert Glasper and Christian Scott (July 17); PJ Morton and Dwele (July 24); Najee (July 31); Rose Royce and Con Funk Shun (August 7); DOUBLE VISION REVISITED featuring Bob James, David Sanborn & Marcus Miller with guests Billy Kilson and Larry Braggs (August 14); and Michael Franks (August 21). The Jazzy Nights series kicks off Wednesday, June 5th and continues through Wednesday, August 21st. Many Detroit artists will be showcased. Tickets are available starting at $19.* Music lovers who purchase a Season Ticket get 12 shows for the price of 11 at $268 – the best entertainment value of the summer.*
A variety of weekend shows at The Aretha will also go on sale April 5th. On June 15th and 16th, The Aretha will celebrate Father’s Day with a doubleheader weekend featuring 13-time Grammy® Award nominated vocalist Charlie Wilson and special guests including five-time Grammy® Award Winner Lalah Hathaway. Grammy® Award nominated vocalist Maxwell will take The Aretha stage with Corinne Bailey Rae on July 27th. Grammy® Award winning singer Anthony Hamilton will be joined by 12-time Grammy® Award nominated vocalist Ledisi and singer-songwriter Tweet on August 10th. Seven-time Grammy® Award WinnerGladys Knight and soulful vocalist Will Downing will appear on August 11th.
Famous reggae band UB40 will bring its 40th Anniversary Tour to The Aretha and will be joined by roots reggae band Steel Pulse on August 2nd. In September 2018, UB40 released their 19th studio album and first studio album in five years, “For The Many”, and have embarked on a 38-date world tour starting March 2019. UB40’s August 2nd performance at The Aretha in Detroit will be the band’s first U.S. tour stop.
Steel Pulse will release its first album in 15 years, “Mass Manipulation” in May. Marking the 40th anniversary of their debut album, the “reggae revolutionaries” set out on a multi-city world tour beginning March 2019.
"We are so very excited to bring music lovers a fantastic lineup for this inaugural season at The Aretha!” says Shahida Mausi, president and CEO of The Right Productions, Inc. “This beautiful waterfront venue offers an unmatched experience to enjoy live music during the summer in Detroit. We have great seats available for our loyal opening day box office customers, and we welcome our new fans, who can purchase online at Ticketmaster or at our box office.”
There are many shows already on sale. On June 1, Tom Joyner marks his 25th anniversary in radio syndication with the “One More Time Experience” bringing Detroit’s own KEM to The Aretha stage. Grammy® Award-Winning Platinum Hip Hop Artist Snoop Dogg together with Warren G and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony will perform July 5th. On August 9th, music lovers can step back into the 80’s as the Lost 80’s Live tour returns featuring A Flock of Seagulls, The Tubes, The Motels, Bow Wow Wow, The Vapors, Wang Chung, Real Life, Animotion, Farrington + Mann (Original members of When In Rome UK), Boys Don’t Cry and The Escape Club. Additional shows will be announced soon.
“My Seat” licenses are also on sale. A great option for music lovers, a seat license allows license holders to select and secure their preferred seats for all 2019 The Aretha shows. With the purchase of a seat license, selected seat(s) will be held under the name of the license holder for up to three weeks before the show. If the license holder does not purchase the seat(s), those seats will be released for sale to the public. The cost of each seat license starts at $300.
The Aretha Box Office, located at 2600 Atwater, will be open on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Aretha Box Office is located at 2600 Atwater in Detroit. Phone: 313-393-7128.
Concertgoers can download The Aretha mobile app in the iTunes App Store or Google Play to be the first to receive news about The Aretha events. For more details, visit www.TheAretha.com and follow The Aretha on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.