FORWARD ARTS

ArtRide 2014 | The Big 3 On 2 Wheels
Detroit Opera House | Detroit Institute of Arts | Detroit Symphony Orchestra
Tickets and Tour Details: Coming Soon!

Architectural History | Performance | Art Education | Bikes
“ArtRide is exactly the type of community engaging activity the DSO aspires to each time we open our doors,” said Anne Parsons, DSO President and CEO. “We are honored to welcome the riders to Orchestra Hall and to join our fellow arts organizations in helping to deepen Detroiters’ connection with their cultural gems.”

There are clearly bike and creative movements in Detroit, and beyond. Both are growing. ArtRide will be taking place in 3-5 cities next year. The locations will be announced in early 2014. Onward and Upward!

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Thank you to everybody who came out for Detroit’s 312th Birthday Party at Rodin. Six organizations came together for the event including Belle Isle Conservancy Emerging Patrons Council, D:hive, HistoricDetroit.org, Detroit Harmonie and YNPN Detroit (Young Nonprofit Professionals Network), and Forward Arts. Close to 200 people came out on short notice and we raised over $1,000 in donations to Belle Isle Conservancy.

Hopefully you got to enjoy Ronin Chef Kate Williams’ Rabbit Chili Coney (Winner of Top Chef Detroit: Coney Edition by Detroit Harmonie) and a Rodin 75. Both were good in our book. Right on par with, author and professional toast maker, Amy Elliott Bragg’s Official Birthday Toast. She was great.

Many thanks for all the help and support given by everybody for the event. Especially, Matt Elliot, Dan Austin, DJs Jen Rohde (Dorkwave!), Hairy Nilsson, and Linnsanity, Michelle Srvbonavich, and lastly our friends at Rodin.

Fun times. Good cause. Great city.

We’re already getting asked about next year, and all we can say is, well, we’re already working on it! If you would like to get involved, email us at info@ForwardArtsDetroit.org. Gonna be big! See you soon for ArtRide September 14th!

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FA took some time over the 4th of July week to look back at the first 6 months of music of 2013 and we picked out some favorite tracks. While we didn’t put the tracks into any “best of” order, we did list some of our favorites and some with great videos up top.

But it’s all here. Rock, Hip-Hop, RnB, electronic, Classical, even a lil Gospel. “No Genres, Just Good Music”, has always been our motto around here. Maybe we should change it to “No Mediums, Just Good Art.” Either way, take a listen and enjoy!

Lion Babe | Treat Me Like Fire on Treat Me Like Fire - Single
Crazy video (rawr!) for a really good track. Dig it! Listen Here.

Alpine | Hands on A Is for Alpine
Nice video and track. Listen Here.

Valerie June | You Can’t Be Told on Pushin' Against a Stone
Jack White would enjoy this. Listen Here.

James Blake featuring RZA | Take a Fall For Me onOvergrown (Deluxe Edition) So, so good. Listen Here.

Snowden | So Red on No One In Control
One of our summer jams. Did you see them at The Loving Touch? Listen Here.

The Loi-Toki-Tok | Ware Wa on Kenya Special (Selected East African Recordings From the 1970s & '80s)
Perfect slice of vintage African Funk. Listen Here.

Pusha T | Numbers On the Boards Numbers
Makes us hype in the office. Gangsta productivity. Listen Here.

Iron & Wine | Singers and the Endless Song on Ghost On Ghost Listen Here.

Night Beds | Even If We Try on Country Sleep
Beautiful. Listen Here.

Mount Kimbie | Made To Stray on Cold Spring Fault Less Youth
It’s a monster. Listen Here.

Billband | Sparkle
Combination of saxophone, bass clarinet, violin, cello, piano and glockenspiel. Delicate, haunting and bittersweet. Grand Valley State University REPRESENT! Listen Here.

Thundercat | Oh Sheit It's X on Apocalypse
Holy bass line. Listen Here.

Tyler, The Creator featuring Coco O & Erykah Badu) | Treehome95 on Wolf Listen Here.

Koreless | Sun on Yugen EP Listen Here.

Moire & Lessons featuring Heidi Vogel | Lose It on Never Sleep - EP
Work it out now... Listen Here.

José James featuring Hindi Zahra | Sword + Gun on No Beginning No End
Loving the feel of this one. Listen Here.

Ciara | Body Party on Ciara
Reminds us of a 90s sex jam. Sweaty and satisfying. Listen Here.

Atoms For Peace | Before Your Very Eyes on XL
We know they’ve landed on almost every list of ours, but man they're good. Listen Here.

Coco O. | Where The Wind Blows on The Great Gatsby
Danish Soul! She’s popping up everywhere... Listen Here.

Jaimeo Brown feat. JD Allen and Chris Sholar | Power Of God
Detroit pianist Geri Allen warms it down after the start, solo style. Listen Here.

Fat Tony feat. Kool A.D. and Despot | Hood Party Listen Here.

Dirty Beaches | Casino Lisboa on Drifters / Love Is the Devil Listen Here.

Eric Dolphy | Springtime on Jazzman Records
Something big here. Listen Here.

J. Cole feat. Miguel | Power Trip on Born Sinner Listen Here.

Honorable Mentions

Archie Pelago | Avocado Roller (feat. Becca Stevens) on Sly Gazabo - EP
Lots of people digging this one. Listen Here.

Disclosure feat. AlunaGeorge | White Noise
Modern. Listen Here.

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