Yes we all come to Detroit, the birthplace of more than a few distinctly American musical styles, to celebrate the music of elsewhere.
Identity is important, especially in this age of omni-culture and accelerating hegemony. Identity is more important in the long run than being just another venue, and it's certainly of inescapable importance when it comes to Detroit. Imagine a blues festival set in the Mississippi Delta, the birthplace of the blues, with a line-up dominated by Stevie Ray Vaughn and BB King style blues? I'm sure some locals would be excited to see some "exotic" music, good for them, but that sentiment is rather worthless in the face of preserving and celebrating the area's preeminent culture and identity. The festival has become a celebration of popular (dance music) culture, which is an obvious move. It's understandable. It's easier. It's safer. However I don't think the approach has borne out better results than the old Festivals which were actual celebrations of Detroit style dance music. But I'm glad they are managing the festival competently, unlike previous incarnations, so that it can continue and perhaps find it's own identity and mojo again. On Wed, Mar 12, 2008 at 11:24 PM, Thomas D. Cox, Jr. <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > On Wed, Mar 12, 2008 at 6:52 PM, /0 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > i'm sure it will f most of you off, but I'd rather it be this way. detroit > > pretty much caters only to itself, which means the festival is a rare > chance > > to catch some of the stuff that would never get a booking or a decent > > venue/audience otherwise. > > why are you on this list again? please, move, unsub, just get away. > > tom >
