Hi Everybody.
Yesterday I was at Grillin’ 08, the signature warm weather fundraising event for Food Gatherers, Washtenaw County’s food bank and food rescue group. Hot temps and a brief thunderstorm did not deter over 1000 folks from showing up to this ‘picnic with a purpose’ to benefit those in need in the greater Ann Arbor area. Thanks one and all for stopping by and lending support for an important cause!
I’ve got just enough time to catch my breath before the first of three 107one Top of the Park free concerts at the Ann Arbor Summer Festival. These take place on Ingalls Mall, right next to Hill Auditorium and Burton Tower, and are always a fun and relaxing way to enjoy some fine music.
Our first night is Monday, June 16, when The Ragbirds and The Terraplanes will take the stage, then on Friday, June 20 it’ll be Money Mark and Mason Jennings, then we’ll close it out on Friday, June 27 with Bump and Serena Ryder. Please stop on by, enjoy some free tunes and say hello – as always, I’ll be the guy in the grey straw hat!
I had a terrific time at the Tom Petty/Steve Winwood show at the Palace a week or so ago. Have to admit I got a bit misty when Winwood played Blind Faith’s Can’t Find My Way Home and Traffic’s Dear Mr. Fantasy back-to-back. Astounding to think I last heard him do Can’t Find My Way Home with Blind Faith at the old Olympia in Detroit some 39 years ago – damn!
Just around the corner is a must-see performance by Calexico at the Comerica CityFest in Detroit’s New Center area on Friday, July 4, and how about Van Morrison coming back to Detroit again for a show on July 9 at the Fox – wow, Van in Motown 2 out of the last 3 years after not playing here for over 25 years – wonders never cease! Here’s to the start of summer!