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Star Wars, live jazz, a Joumana drag contest and more: Your weekend in metro Detroit

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Star Wars, live jazz, a Joumana drag contest and more: Your weekend in metro Detroit

The perfect fall weather, the leaves turning, that evening chill in the air… Fall has definitely descended upon Southeast Detroit, and the weekend’s arts and entertainment options are ripe for picking. Here are just a few suggestions for good trouble you can get into this weekend.

“Before I Let Go”

Detroit Public Theatre’s “Fat Ham,” running through Nov. 3, won a Pulitzer Prize for playwright James Ijames and centers on a young, Black, queer man. A family cookout becomes a compelling examination of love and loss, joy and pain and a strange and surprising journey. The New York Times called it “a hilarious yet profound tragedy smothered in comedy.” Directed by Brian Marable.

Detroit Public Theatre, 3690 Third Ave., Detroit. 313-974-7918. detroitpublictheatre.org. Tickets $49, with rush tickets for $25.

She’s always watching

Saturday night, Detroit’s Old Miami Bar is hosting possibly the most Detroit event ever to exist, “Night of 1000 Joumanas.” A Halloween-ish event centered around the ubiquitous public persona of billboard-loving legal eagle Joumana Kayrouz, the fete will feature a night of Joumana drag, including a “Best Joumana Costume Contest” – the prize includes $100 and a Bacardi basket. Joumana-themed trivia and games are also on deck, along with a one-time-only set by Mike Morse and the Bernsteins. The action kicks off at 9 p.m.

Old Miami Bar, 3930 Cass Ave., Detroit. 313-831-3830. $5 cover.

Duel of the fates

Feel the force of the entire Star Wars saga as the Detroit Symphony Orchestra performs the best of John Williams’ film music from every episode in the epic “Star Wars” series of films. Plus, selections from Michael Giacchino’s score for “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.” Performances are at 8 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday.

Orchestra Hall, 3711 Woodward Ave., Detroit. dso.org. Tickets start at $20.

Ann Arbor’s jazz festival

The four-day A2 Jazz Fest, which began Thursday, continues through Sunday and is spread across five venues: The Ark, Blue Llama Jazz Club, Kerrytown Concert House, Canterbury House and Raven’s Club. Of particular note is the nearly sold-out pair of sets on Sunday at Blue Llama headlined by legendary vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater and renowned pianist Bill Charlap. The duo performed together for 2021’s all-virtual Detroit Jazz Festival in an awe-inspiring set, and Sunday’s gig promises to be stellar as well.

Downtown Ann Arbor. a2jazzfest.com. Prices vary.

The Dead, arisen

Also in Arbor — on Saturday evening — Detroit-based, globally revered saxophonist Dave McMurray will perform at Blue Llama, playing songs from his two-volume “Grateful Deadication” albums released in recent years on the Blue Note Records label. McMurray’s diverse career includes collaborations with legends like B.B. King, The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, and Herbie Hancock, cementing his reputation as a genre-defying musician.

Blue Llama Jazz Club, 314 S. Main St., Ann Arbor. 734-372-3200. bluellamaclub.com. Tickets start at $35.

Free, outdoor concerts in Woodbridge

Park your car and walk, bike or scooter through the Woodbridge neighborhood on this beautiful fall Saturday for the Woodbridge Porch Concerts, an afternoon-long series of short performances from primarily artists and performers with connections to the neighborhood. It runs from 1 – 6 p.m., and the shows are free to take in.

Woodbridge neighborhood, Detroit. woodbridgendc.org. Free to attend.

Party in the Cut

The Detroit Riverfront Conservancy’s fourth annual Detroit Harvest Fest & Food Truck Rally will be held Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. along the Dequindre Cut Greenway. The event will feature three music stages and a kids stage that includes music, karaoke, magic, dance and more. Trick-or-treating will be available, and a free pumpkin patch, inflatable bounce houses and hands-on activities for kids, and a “Cirque du Freight Yard” carnival experience for adults. There’s even a costume contest for pets on Saturday — and, of course, more than 50 food trucks.

Dequindre Cut Greenway, Detroit. detroitharvestfest.com. Admission $5 for online advance, $8 at gates. Children under 3, seniors over 65, active-duty military and veterans free.

A classic crooner

Hailing from the heart of Detroit, singer Smoke Jones has emerged as a luminary figure in the city’s rich musical landscape, and his talents will be on full display at historic Detroit jazz club Cliff Bell’s on Saturday during 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. sets. An emotive guitarist, award-winning bandleader and soulful crooner, Smoke weaves together elements of jazz, blues and soul to create a musical tapestry that resonates deeply with audiences.

Cliff Bell’s, 2030 Park Ave., Detroit. 313-961-2543. cliffbells.com. Tickets $25.

Smooth Jazz Fall Fest

Saturday night at 7 p.m., Detroit’s Fox Theatre will host the Smooth Jazz Fall Fest, featuring a star-studded lineup including acclaimed artists Najee, Alexander Zonjic featuring Keiko Matsui, and Jazz Funk Soul featuring Jeff Lorber, Everette Harp and Paul Jackson, Jr. WJZD radio’s Don Allen emcees.

Fox Theatre, 2211 Woodward Ave., Detroit. 313presents.com. Tickets start at $35.

Honoring the Buffalo Soldiers

The Detroit Parks Coalition’s Freedom Arts Festival series connects — and reconnects — Detroiters to their neighborhood parks through music, art and storytelling that reflect Detroit’s history through arts and culture. Saturday from 1 – 5 p.m., they’ll present an event honoring the history of the Buffalo Soldiers, the all-Black United States Army unites that distinguished themselves during westward expansion in the 19th century. The event will include pony rides, museum and barn tours, live blues music from Big Peat and Friends, African drumming from Nanou Djapo and food provided by Marichona’s Cuisine. Family-friendly lawn games including horseshoes and cornhole will also be available.

Rouge Park Horse Barn, 8886 Lahser Road, Detroit. rougepark.org. Admission free with online registration.

Contact Free Press arts and culture reporter Duante Beddingfield at dbeddingfield@freepress.com.

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