The 2008 Detroit Summer Smash raised monies for a CAID-sponsored grant for Detroit-area musicians! Thanks again to everyone who participated this year, which was August 21-23. Your performances and attendance was appreciated and did make a difference!
check out the CAID at http://www.myspace.com/thecaid ! The official Summer Smash site is at http://www.thecaid.org/summersmash .
The Contemporary Art Institute of Detroit is a community based non-profit organization. CAID fosters and promotes the essential link between contemporary arts and contemporary society through its exhibitions, performances, critical and public discourse and the funding of contemporary arts and art related activities.
More info at http://thecaid.org/information/about.htm
CAID is a 501(c)(3) certified non-profit organization.
The Detroit Summer Smash is a music festival with roots back to 1999. The festival also doubles as a charity event, raising money since 2001 for worthy Michigan-based organizations such as the CAID's nonprofit mission , C.O.T.S. , Gift of Life , Alternatives for Girls , the Michigan Lupus Foundation , the Chris Kempa Memorial Art Scholarship Fund , and the CAID's Got Art? program. The Summer Smash is known for featuring up-and-coming Michigan bands alongside more established Michigan acts, and performers from out-of-state on tour. No two nights are the same, just as no two years of Summer Smash are the same. Summer Smash is constantly evolving.
The Detroit Summer Smash music festival began in 1999 when a group of Detroit-area music fans decided to organize a three-day music festival in the city of Detroit. That year’s festival was at the Magic Stick on Woodward Avenue, in the legendary Majestic Theater Complex. 1999's festival showcased local legends-in-the-making Red Shirt Brigade, The Sights, Moods for Moderns, Slumber Party, and Outrageous Cherry, along with national touring bands like the Pacific Ocean, Whysall Lane, Por Avion, and Andrew Beaujon.
The following year, in 2000, the festival moved to the Detroit Contemporary Art Gallery. 2000’s Summer Smash expanded to a four day festival, starting on June 15th, ending with a day-long concert on Sunday, June 18th. That year’s festival included performances by Michigan’s Pop Project, The Recital, Cornish in a Turtleneck, W-Vibe, Action Tiger, My Brain, and Remainder, as well as national acts like Mascott, Elizabeth Elmore, Tourister and Vehicle Flips. A picnic, dance party and pot-luck lunch added to the festival's allure.
In 2001, the festival alternated between the Detroit Contemporary and the Lager House, a bar in the Corktown district of Detroit. A wealth of local bands returned to the Summer Smash, including Lovesick, Adam’s Castle, They Come in Threes, Scott Allen, Judah Johnson, Showshane, and Saturday Looks Good To Me. Louisville, Kentucky’s My Morning Jacket and Chicago’s Detachment Kit rounded out the lineup. The 2001 Summer Smash donated nearly $500 in proceeds to the Detroit Contemporary’s Got Art? program, which brings art programs to inner-city children.
In 2002 the most ambitious Summer Smash to date alternated between the Detroit Contemporary, Magic Stick and C-Pop Art Gallery. That August weekend saw the first Summer Smash hip hop performance by Occasional Detroit, and a slew of Michigan bands made their Smash debut, including the Rants, In Door Park, Kinetic Stereo Kids, the Icicles and El Boxeo. Chicago was represented by the Scotland Yard Gospel Choir, Italo and the Detachment Kit, while Volta do Mar, the Love Scene and Apollo Sunshine also made Summer Smash the Detroit stop for their national tours. The Summer Smash proudly donated nearly $1000 to the Chris Kempa Memorial Art Scholarship fund.
In 2003, the fifth annual Summer Smash moved to the Detroit Art Space, on E. Baltimore in the New Center area. The Elevations, Kalkaska, Midwest Product, The Riots, The Singles, Like Tigers, The Great Iron Highway, Tenley and Thunderbirds Are Now made their Summer Smash debuts. 2003's edition of the festival raised $1,000 for the Michigan Lupus Foundation, a charity close to the heart of Summer Smash organizer Monday Busque, whose sister is afflicted with the condition.
In 2004, Summer Smash returned to the Detroit Art Space for our 6th celebration of music, both from Detroit and abroad. Northwestern bands Shoplifting and Parenthetical Girls added some left-coast flavor, and Music for America registered voters for the fall election. 2004's proceeds of more than $700 went to Alternatives for Girls, a progressive, Detroit-based nonprofit assisting disadvantaged girls and young women with vocational guidance, educational support, and counseling. Summer Smash newcomers included The Pizazz, Emily Powers & Eliza Beatrix Godfrey, Showdown at the Equator, I Am Providence, Jason Voss & Patrick Elkins, The Casionauts, Genders, Ten Words for Snow, Ryan Powell, and Lee Marvin Computer Arm. Fred Thomas, El Boxeo, The Kinetic Stereo Kids, The Recital and A Thousand Times Yes returned to the Summer Smash stage. For the first time, a limited edition Summer Smash compilation CD was sold, with bands from throughout Summer Smash history donating tracks. Copies can still be purchased from Asaurus Records, with proceeds going to Alternatives for Girls. Good times were had by all, as Summer Smash completed its first half decade.
In 2005, Summer Smash returned to its Lager House roots, spanning across 3 hot August nights at the Detroit hot spot. 20 bands from near and far were tapped to raise over $1,000 for the Chris Kempa Scholarship fund, Gift of Life, an organ-donation program, and Detroit-based COTS, a temporary shelter for the city’ homeless. DJ’ Brer Jef, Eugene Strobe and WE R DJ entertained the crowds at Smash 7 from early til late. Bands such as Dr. Rosenrosen, Oblisk, Red China, Deadstring Brothers, Pants Yell!, Johnny Headband, Soltero, Racetrack, Javelins, Picastro, Avatars, Red Pony Clock, and others made their Summer Smash debuts, and old friends Kelly Jean Caldwell, the Trembling, Kiddo, the Pop Project, Tiny Steps and New Grenada graced us with their charms yet again.
In 2006, Summer Smash hosted what was thought to be its last festival from August 24-26, 2006 in Detroit. Organizer Stephen Cramer had organized 2 Summer Smash festivals from Athens, Georgia, and the festival had seemed to run its course. 2006’s festivities were exceptional, though, with Summer Smash t-shirts being sold, along with another highly-engaging and diverse lineup. Nicole and John Nelson of New Grenada opened the first night at the Lager House, while Slumber Party, Black Tiger, Canada and Great Lakes Myth Society rounded out the evening. The final two nights were held at the Contemporary Art Institute of Detroit, a vital lifeline in the Detroit’s arts community that served as this year’s beneficiary. Oblisk, the Pizazz, and Emily Jane Powers graciously returned to Summer Smash in 2006. The exciting addition of bands like Fifth Period Fever, Siddhartha, The Low hello, Pinkeye, Wildcatting, The Silent Years and The Cyril Lords to our history made the year a unique and satisfying send-off. Each night ended with a dance party (the legendary Funk Night and Athens’ own Bamboozeled). At this point, Summer Smash took a well-earned hibernation. Nearly $1000 was raised for CAID’s non-profit mission.
In 2007, Summer Smash dreamed of summers past and summers future.
In 2008, a small group led by the Contemporary Arts Institute of Detroit put a group together to bring Detroit Summer Smash back to life, and did so from August 21-23, 2008. This was our 9th festival. The performers were: Bird Gang, 4 hour Friends, Friendly Foes, Sons of the Gun, Hotness, Beggars, Whistling School for Boys, OHTIS, Elle & The Fonts, Always 17, Prussia, Electric Fire Babies, Goudron, Dead Bodies, The High Strung and Silverghost! Details are still being worked out about the new Detroit Musicians Grant Fund, which Summer Smash 2008 raised $784 for. Foundation and Corporate Sponsorships will be sought. Details TBA. The fund will be, at least in part, modeled after the Regional Artist Project Grant Program at The Arts & Science Council of Charlotte, NC (www.artsandscience.org).
detroit summer smash 2008
