LIVE MUSICAL ENTERTAINMENT TO FLOW NONSTOP DURING GM RIVER DAYS
National and local acts to fill six stages with free concerts throughout the festival, June 20-23

DETROIT – Organizers of GM River Days are pleased to announce the list of performers from across the country and metro Detroit that will provide free musical entertainment on six different stages to festival-goers all four days of the festival.

BANK OF AMERICA STAGE
Located along the RiverWalk just west of Rivard Plaza, the Bank of America Stage will feature some of the nation’s best musical acts from classical to country, alternative to good ol’ fashioned rock ‘n’ roll from Friday, June 20 to Monday, June 23. GM River Days’ national music lineup includes:

Pathé Jassi
Before recently moving to the United States, Pathé Jassi spent half of his career playing and recording alongside legendary West African singers Youssou N’Dour of Senegal and Cheikh Lo of Burkina Faso. Jassi is known among jazz musicians for his rare ability to combine hard bebop with a polyrhythmic African sound.

Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO)
For the second year in a row, the DSO will bring its world-renowned musicians to GM River Days for a free concert called “Music that Changed Music.” The DSO will present well-known works by classical and pops artists who have made a tremendous impact on their genres, including Tchaikovsky’s Suite from Swan Lake, the Overture from Wagner’s The Flying Dutchman, a George Gershwin Medley, the Star Wars main titles by John Williams and Sousa’s patriotic favorite “The Stars and Stripes Forever.” The concert will be conducted by Carolyn Kuan who, at 29, was named the first female assistant conductor of the Seattle Symphony.

Rick Springfield
Most famous for the ’80s pop-rock hit “Jessie’s Girl,” Grammy award-winning Rick Springfield continues to be described as one of the greatest songwriters of his generation. After over 30 years as a musician, Springfield is still going strong after the release of his latest album in 2004, the critically acclaimed “shock/denial/anger/acceptance.”

Taproot
Since leaving Atlantic Records in 2006, Ann Arbor-based alternative metal band Taproot has returned to tour in promotion of their independent venture Our Long Road Home, due in stores August 5th. They first gained mainstream success in 2002 with their single “Poem,” from the gold album Welcome. Since then, they have worked with numerous alternative metal bands, such as Korn, Staind, and Linkin Park.

The Hard Lessons
Michigan State University-grown rock band The Hard Lessons are known for their high-energy live shows and original sound. Having toured the globe with bands such as The Killers and Motion City Soundtrack, The Hard Lessons have shown the world true rock & roll with their albums Gasoline and Wise Up. Recently, the band has won a Detroit Music Award for Best Live Band and is now touring in promotion of their new 4 CD collection B & G Sides, due in July.

Michelle Branch
Michelle Branch has once again returned to her pop-rock solo career after almost four years of pursuing a side project, The Wreckers, and starting a family. One of the premiere female singer/songwriters of her genre, she is known for her singles “Everywhere,” “All You Wanted” and “Are You Happy Now?” off her platinum-selling albums The Spirit Room and Hotel Paper. Her new solo album, Everything Comes and Goes, will be released later this year.

The Verve Pipe
A post-grunge rock band from Lansing, Mich., The Verve Pipe has reunited from a seven-year break to write a new album and perform select shows, one of which is GM River Days. The Verve Pipe made their mark on the music world in 1996 with their single, “The Freshmen,” which caused their album Villains to go platinum. In addition, the song peaked at #5 in the United States and #1 on the Modern Rock chart.

Gospel on the River II
Gospel comedian and singer Terell McCoy will serve as the Master of Ceremonies as a fantastic lineup of gospel acts and choirs kickoff the live performances on Sunday, June 22. The concert will feature Sean Hardin, Greater Bethesda Healing Springs Ministry, Seasons, Joe Smith Chorale, Chiffon McNeil, Apostolic Church of Christ, Breath of Praise, Detroit Revival Choir, CPR and a special guest recording artist Lydia Wright.

Jack Ingram
Texas-born country music singer Jack Ingram recently won the American Country Music award for top new male vocalist. His latest album, This Is It, contains the Billboard-climbing singles “Wherever You Are” and “Love You,” as well as his popular cover of rock band Hinder’s “Lips of an Angel.”

Larry Lee and Back in the Day
Formed by former Detroit Lions player and executive Larry Lee, Back in the Day has been nominated three times for Band of the Year at the Detroit Music Awards. Back in the Day includes former members of groups such as The Temptations, 4 Tops, Spinners, Parliament/Funkadelic, and Gospel Hall of Famers Bill Moss and The Celestials. The band has gained a large and quickly spreading fan base in Detroit due to its urban funk sound.

Brian McKnight
Multi-instrumentalist/vocal performer Brian McKnight has released 10 albums since 1992, and has been nominated for 16 Grammy awards. A pop and R&B musician, he is known for being able to mimic the timbre and style of other singers such as Prince, Nat King Cole and Stevie Wonder, from whom much of his inspiration comes. His singing style continues to wow audiences, his last album Ten being hailed as his greatest work in years.

Shirock
Having been on the independent scene for quite some time, Shirock has just finished recording their official debut record, slated for release this fall. Three songs from this album have been featured on MTV’s hit show “The Hills.” Some have compared them to bands such as U2, while others have described them as being “a mix between Radiohead and Our Lady Peace.”

Dave Mason
Originally the lead singer of the band Traffic, folk-rock singer Dave Mason has played and recorded with some of the world’s greatest artists over the years, including Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton and George Harrison. His most well-known work is Traffic song “Feelin’ Alright,” which was made a major hit in 1969 when it was covered by Joe Cocker.

Bank of America Stage Performance Schedule:
 

SPRINT R&B STAGE
Metro Detroit’s hottest jazz, techno, funk, soul and R&B acts will fill the Sprint R&B Stage, located on the GM Promenade from Friday, June 20 through Sunday, June 22.

Sprint R&B Stage Performance Schedule:
 

EDS INTERNATIONAL/AMERICANA STAGE
Located within the heart of the festival, the EDS International/Americana Stage will bring together sounds from across the globe to entertain all ages during GM River Days from Friday, June 20 through Monday, June 23.

EDS International/Americana Stage Performance Schedule:
 

COMPUWARE ROCK & BLUES STAGE
Located east of the GM Promenade, the Compuware Rock & Blues Stage will have festival-goers dancing day and night during GM River Days on Friday, June 20 through Sunday, June 22.

Compuware Rock & Blues Stage Performance Schedule:
 

CHEVY STAGE
Located among the many GM Cool Events, the Chevy Stage will bring festival-goers an exciting lineup of country music on Sunday, June 21 that will lead up to a performance from Jack Ingram, named this year’s “Top New Male Vocalist” at the 43rd Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, on the Bank of America Stage at 7 p.m.

Chevy Stage Performance Schedule:

Sunday, June 21st
11:00 a.m. J3
12:45 p.m. David Shelby
2:30 p.m. Whitey Morgan
4:15 p.m. REDHILL
6:00 p.m. Willie Nash


BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF MICHIGAN STAGE
Located within the Discovery Zone at Rivard Plaza & Pavilion, the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Stage will be filled with live music and entertainment for children during GM River Days. A full lineup of performances will be announced in the coming weeks.

About GM River Days

GM River Days kicks off Friday, June 20 and culminates on Monday, June 23 with the 50th Annual Target Fireworks. Spanning from Rivard Plaza & Pavilion to the GM Plaza & Promenade and beyond, River Days will be free to the public and will take advantage of the natural assets the Riverfront provides. It will feature family-friendly entertainment including the DTE Energy Parade of Lights, GM Cool Events, the Discovery Zone, Pure Michigan Fun on the Water, MEDC Green Days, Highlander Sea tall ship, Ultimate Air Dogs, Detroit River Cruise, Coast Guard Days, Detroit Open Bass Fishing Tournament, Diamond Jacks River Tours, incredible live music including a special performance by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and some of Detroit’s best restaurants and much more.

Sponsors include General Motors, Compuware, Sprint/Nextel, Bank of America, Pure Michigan, Health Alliance Plan of Michigan, DTE Energy, EDS, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Budweiser, Detroit Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau, Detroit Medical Center, Michigan.org, Pepsi, NBA Year-Round Hoops, Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center and Stroh River Place. GM River Days is co-produced by the Detroit RiverFront Conservancy, The Parade Company and General Motors.

GM River Days will run on Friday from 11 a.m. – 11 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. – 11 p.m., Sunday from 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., and Monday from 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. For up-to-date information on schedules and events, please visit www.gmriverdays.com.