Artelize - Detroit's Music Hall Center: A Year of Unforgettable Performances in 2025
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Detroit's Music Hall Center: A Year of Unforgettable Performances in 2025

In 2025, the Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts in Detroit promises to be a vibrant hub of cultural and musical brilliance. From the soul-stirring Jazz Jams and the raw energy of Rio Da Young OG's homecoming to the legendary tunes of The O’Jays and the mesmerizing ballets of Swan Lake, this year's lineup is set to captivate audiences. Each event uniquely contributes to the artistic tapestry of Detroit, ensuring an unforgettable year of experiences for every attendee.

Jul 11, 2025
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1. Aretha's Jazz Jam 2025
The jam session has always occupied an important place in the history of jazz education, giving young musicians the open-access training they need to develop their craft while learning from more experienced peers. Students develop the confidence needed to survive the night, playing different tunes in unfamiliar keys, with difficult tempos, in front of an audience, oftentimes alongside virtual strangers – they begin to speak the language that only other jazz players understand. As the experienced and new musicians mingle socially and musically, they carry on the legacy of a ‘bandstand education’ that has nurtured the art form for ages. Bebop, credited largely to Charlie Parker, was actually developed and refined by the group of players at Minton’s Playhouse in Harlem – Dizzy Gillespie and others passing along to the next generation the wisdom that they gathered from those before them. Directed by the renowned musician and educator Scott Gwinnell, Aretha’s Jazz Café hosts Jazz Jams every Sunday evening at 6pm. It’s our way of keeping jazz in the present instead of the past.
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Feb 26 - Oct 26, 2025
Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts

Detroit, MI · Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts

2. Rio Da Young Og
The wait is over. Flint’s own Rio Da Young OG is back and hitting the stage for a homecoming you won’t forget. Raw, real, and unapologetic—Rio’s bars shook the streets, and now he’s bringing that same energy live. This is more than a concert. It’s a comeback.
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Jul 17, 2025
Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts

Detroit, MI · Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts

3. THE ZAPP BAND – In Concert Honoring Bootsy Collins in person
Join the legendary Zapp Band, along with Kern Brantley and D-Town Funk, One Way, and Lil Asmar, as they bring the heat to honor the one and only Bootsy Collins – in person!
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Aug 8, 2025
Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts

Detroit, MI · Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts

4. Michael Franks
Antonio Carlos Jobim, in 1995. His best known works include: “Popsicle Toes,” “The Lady Wants to Know,” “Tell Me All About It,” “Antonio’s Song,” “Rainy Night in Tokyo,” “ Island Life,” “Soul Mate,” and “Dragonfly Summer.” Radio hits include “When Sly Calls (Don’t Touch That Phone)” from the album Passionfruit, “Your Secret’s Safe with Me,” from Skin Dive, and “Island Life” from The Camera Never Lies. His recording of “Let It Snow” featuring Carla Bley and Steve Swallow, was the most played Christmas song on Smooth Jazz Radio for many years. The album benefited Special Olympics. He recorded his own holiday CD of original songs, Watching the Snow, to benefit Hearts United for Animals. It was later rereleased by Rhino. And he recorded a cover version of “Christmas Time is Here” with pianist David Benoit on Benoit’s album, Remembering Christmas. He recorded a live album in Australia in 1980, called Michael Franks with Crossfire Live.
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Aug 16, 2025
Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts

Detroit, MI · Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts

5. The O’Jays
The O’Jays are touring history, a connection to an era and a sound that formed the soundtrack for the lives of several generations. In 1972, Gamble & Huff, a team of producers and songwriters with whom the O’Jays had been working for several years, signed the group to their Philadelphia International label.
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Aug 30, 2025
Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts

Detroit, MI · Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts

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Sep 6, 2025
Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts

Detroit, MI · Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts

7. A Solo Evening with Richard Marx
Richard Marx has sold more than 30 million albums worldwide, starting with his self-titled debut which went to No. 8 on the Billboard Top 200 chart. The album spawned four Top 5 singles, including “Hold on to the Nights” and “Don’t Mean Nothing,” which earned him a Grammy nomination for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance. His follow-up, 1989’s Repeat Offender, was even more successful, hitting No. 1 and going quadruple-platinum with two No. 1 singles, “Satisfied” and “Right Here Waiting.” He has since made history as the only male artist whose first seven singles reached the Top 5 on the Billboard charts.
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Sep 19, 2025
Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts

Detroit, MI · Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts

8. The Great Gatsby Ballet
Immerse yourself in the jazzy world of flappers and champagne with this new and entirely original production from World Ballet Company. Experience the glitz, glamor, and tragic romance of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s timeless novel LIVE on stage, featuring a multinational cast, lustrous hand-crafted costumes, and sweeping Art Deco-inspired sets, brought to life by WBC’s all-star creative team.
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25 - 26 Sep, 2025
Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts

Detroit, MI · Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts

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Sep 27, 2025
Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts

Detroit, MI · Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts

10. Swan Lake by International Ballet Stars
Experience the world’s most in-demand ballet, Swan Lake, presented by Classical Arts Entertainment and performed by International Ballet Stars. This full-scale production features Tchaikovsky’s legendary score and brings the masterpiece choreography by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov to life.
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Oct 4, 2025
Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts

Detroit, MI · Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts

Conclusion
As 2025 unfolds, the Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts stands as a testament to the cultural vibrancy of Detroit. The events scheduled offer more than entertainment; they are a celebration of art in its multifaceted forms. From nurturing young talent to honoring musical legends, the Center’s lineup promises to enrich audiences and foster a deeper appreciation for the arts. Whether you're a jazz aficionado, a funk devotee, or a ballet enthusiast, there's something for everyone this year, making it an unmissable journey into the world of performance.
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