Day Trip in the D: RawSounds Route
Music. The soul of Detroit. It is best to take this tour in the afternoon, so as to save time to experience some Detroit sounds in one of our world renowned clubs.RawSounds
Live Music | Detroit
the route.
Start in New Center, namely West Grand Blvd. and Second Ave.
After spending an hour in New Center, head to Midtown. To do so, take Lothrop west to Third Street. Turn on Third Street and head south, one block, to W. Grand Blvd. Turn on the Blvd., heading east to Cass Ave. Turn on Cass Ave., heading south about 6 blocks to Palmer. Turn left on Palmer to get to Woodward. Park on or near Woodward on Kirby in a parallel spot.
After the Cultural Center breakout, head further south on Woodward to the Majestic Complex. Find a spot to parallel park on the Majestic block.
To head to Downtown Detroit, take Woodward 14 blocks south to Campus Martius. Take the traffic circle around to Monroe. Any spot along Monroe, Farmer or Library is a good place to park.
why not try?
Checking out Detroit Electronic Quarterly. Detroit Electronic Quarterly is a slick new print magazine covering Detroit's electronic music scene with style. It is a showcase for Detroit's DJs, producers, promoters, and journalists in this genre. Not only that, the layout and photography are also provided by hometown faves as well. Interviews, playlists, fashion, cool city life all included in this 8*8 package called DEQ.
To experience DEQ, click here.
Click here to purchase your issue of DEQ.
- Point of Departure - West Grand Blvd and Second Ave (3011 W. Grand Blvd). Take Second Ave. north to Lothrop. Take a left on Lothrop to park. Plenty of meter space is available on Lothrop.
Click here to create detailed directions to get to the point of departure. - New Center Breakout - Grand Blvd. at Second Ave. Start the day in the Fisher Building (3011 W. Grand Blvd), home to radio stations, the Fisher Theater and more. But more importantly, it is home to Pure D Vinyl, a record gallery above the Pure Detroit store featuring records by Detroit musicians. Be sure to explore the rest of the Fisher Building and New Center One to experience unique boutiques and stores. Cost: free. Suggested time: 1 hour. Stores open at 10 pm and are open until 6 pm.
Click here to create detailed directions to get to the Fisher Building. - Cultural Center Breakout - Woodward at Palmer (5564 Woodward). Park at a meter on Woodward, Ferry Street or Kirby Street. Walk down Woodward to the main branch of the Detroit Public Library and check out the
E. Azalia Hackley Collection of Negro Music, Dance and Drama. Established in 1943 when original materials were presented to the Detroit Public Library by the Detroit Musicians Association, the collection serves as the nucleus for a special black music collection. Costs: entrance to the library (free), access to the collection, $10.00. Time: 1 hour. And then head across Kirby Street to the Detroit Historical Museum to check out their "Reflections" exhibit. "Reflections: The Mary Wilson Supreme Legacy Collection," is an exhibit featuring more than 50 Supremes' costumes and rare memorabilia. The exhibition was created by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland, Ohio. Cost: $5.00/adult, $3.00/youth and senior for admission. Time: 1.5 hours.
Click here to create detailed directions to get to the Cultural Center.
To experience The Detroit Historical Museum, click here. - Midtown Breakout - Take Woodward five blocks south to the Majestic Theater complex (4120 Woodward). This super block is home to galleries, record stores, restaurants and music performance venues. The Majestic Theater (4120 Woodward) is home to some of the Midwest's best rock concerts. Hear the best up and coming bands there first. Young Soul Rebels Records, located in the C-Pop Gallery building next to the Majestic complex, carries an awesome and extensive variety of records and CD's from these and other bands. Check it out. Cost: free. Suggested time: .5 hours.
- Downtown Breakout - Head further south on Woodward to the heart of it all, downtown Detroit. Its pulsating clubs, its raw performance spaces, its energy. All add to a vibrant after-hours music scene. Park at a meter east of Woodward. Meters off of Monroe, Farmer and Library Streets are your best bet. Walk your way back to Woodward and head up to the corner of Woodward and John R. to experience OSLO Sushi Bar (1456 Woodward). A restaurant. A lounge. A club. OSLO has taken the world by storm and established itself as the world's place to experience Detroit techno. And the sushi is awesome, too. Enjoy a late lunch or snack. Cost: $13.00/person for the meal. Time: 1 hour. And then walk down John R. Street to check out the Broadway entertainment district. Head north on Broadway. Note the awesome renovation of the Detroit Opera House. Check out the shows playing at 1515 Broadway, a cutting edge gallery, theater and cafe next to Small Plates. After touring Broadway, head back south to Grand River Ave. Go east on Grand River to the Harmonie Park area. Check out Spectacles (230 Grand River), Detroit's leader in providing creative fashion to the music industry. Head through Harmonie Park and to Randolph. Continue south on Randolph until you reach The Rhino Harmonie Park (1407 Randoph), home to fine jazz, blues, soul and food. Get a light meal or dessert on the patio. Enjoy the live music. Cost: $13.00/person for the meal. Time: 1.5 hours.
- Xtra Time? - Party the night away at one of downtown's clubs. For cutting edge techno, try Club Bleu (1540 Woodward) or Club Envy (234 Larned). For a smooth and chill atmosphere, head to Elysium Lounge (625 Shelby). For a variety of live music and free concerts, head to Campus Martius Park.
- Get the cosmopolitan Detroit. It's all about us. Now is the time to Get in the Game.
Young Soul Rebels Records | Midtown
OSLO | World Renowned
1515 Broadway | Detroit
Spectacles | Uniquely Detroit
The Rhino | Harmonie Park
the inside scoop.
Detroit is a culture exporter. Need proof, check out de-tro-it.blogspot.com. Part of the German government funded Shrinking Cities project, this web site argues that despite population decline, Detroit is growing through its exportation of music, art and culture. It incorporates research regarding media impressions and compares those impressions with those of New York, Tokyo and other cities to find that Detroit is driving the world's cultural scene.motown legacy
Experience the legacy of Motown at the Motown Museum. It's mission: to preserve the legacy of Motown Record Corporation through educating and mobilizing people, especially youth, via exhibitions and programs that
promote the values of vision, creativity and entrepreneurship.
The museum exhibits trace the roots of Motown’s remarkable story and chronicle its impact on 20th century popular culture and musical styles.
No tour of Detroit's music legacy is complete without a visit.
Crowds at Fuse-In | May 2005