See Arts, Beats & Eats music schedule as Royal Oak fest gets underway
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In 1998, the Arts, Beats & Eats festival came to life with three music stages, free admission and $375,000 in sponsorship support.
This weekend, the Oakland County fixture will notch its 25th edition, bringing more than 200 performers, 150 artists and 50 food vendors to downtown Royal Oak, with a four-day weather outlook that — at the moment — is mercifully free of rain.
What began as an off-the-cuff idea from late Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson has since cemented its place as Michigan’s biggest Labor Day weekend festival, drawing tens of thousands daily. Officially called Soaring Eagle Arts, Beats & Eats Presented by Flagstar Bank, the fest will rev up at 11 a.m. Friday and continue through Monday.
On the music front, the newly anointed Jim Beam National Stage will feature headliners Fitz & the Tantrums (9:30 p.m. Friday), 311 (9:30 p.m. Saturday), Sponge (9:45 p.m. Sunday) and Flo Rida (7:45 p.m. Monday).
They’re part of a main-stage lineup that also includes hard rock band Chevelle, a joint performance by rapper Rob Base and singer Montell Jordan, funk group Average White Band, country artists Chase Rice and Jackson Dean, and Boston lead singer Tommy DeCarlo.
Eight other stages will be teeming with a genre-crossing array of local music and children’s entertainment, with Martin Chaparro MC3, Autumn Kings, Sunset Blvd. and Aston Neighborhood Pleasure Club making their premieres as stage headliners.
House of Dank, the Michigan chain in its second year as AB&E’s cannabis sponsor, will reprise its Performance Pit area featuring DJs.
Last year’s AB&E, which featured headliner Stone Temple Pilots, boasted the biggest music budget in the festival’s history. This year’s event has topped that, with $650,000 spent on bookings at the national stage alone, said producer Jon Witz.
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Arts, Beats & Eats got through 2020’s pandemic limitations with a scaled-down, drive-in event. Last year brought the full-scale return, and crowds certainly turned up: The 2021 AB&E drew more than 365,000 people over four days, generating $400,000 in charitable donations, drawn from a cut of ticket proceeds and concession sales.
“We’re expecting another big crowd,” Witz said of this weekend. “The timing of COVID taking a step back and people getting more comfortable being back together, especially outside, gets us back to the way things used to be.”
The roster of restaurateurs and food trucks include first-timers Pita Way, Cousins Maine Lobster, Galindo’s A Taste of Mexico and Peace Love & Tacos.
Last year, Witz and company dropped the festival’s longtime ticketing system, which required attendees to buy vouchers that were then exchanged for food and other concessions, instead moving to direct cash and credit purchases.
That’s in place again in 2022.
“We hit new highs in beverage sales (last year), and I know in my heart it’s something our guests appreciated,” Witz said. “Financially it worked, and our customers were thrilled, so there’s no turning back to tickets now.”
AB&E will also feature its traditional juried fine art show, with more than 150 arts and craft vendors vying for $7,000 in prizes.
Witz has been a familiar sight around AB&E since he founded the festival in Pontiac in 1998. This year, he’ll be roaming the streets of Royal Oak in a slightly different way: As he recovers from a recent cycling accident, the fest director will get around in a powered scooter.
The vehicle was donated to him by his ostensible competitors at the Michigan State Fair, which kicked off Thursday and runs through Monday at Novi’s Suburban Collection Showcase.
“That’s the best metro Detroit festival camaraderie you could ask for,” Witz said.
Arts, Beats & Eats
11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday
Downtown Royal Oak
$10. (Admission is free before 5 p.m. Friday. Admission is $5 before 3 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and Monday.)
Arts, Beats & Eats 2022 music lineup, stage schedule and band times
(Artist descriptions as provided by festival organizers.)
Jim Beam National Stage
Friday
- 4:30-5 p.m.: Frame 42 (Classic Rock/Rock)
- 5:30-7 p.m.: Tommy DeCarlo — Singer of Boston (Rock)
- 7:30-9 p.m.: Average White Band (Funk/Soul)
- 9:30-11 p.m.: Fitz & The Tantrums (Indie Pop)
Saturday
- 10-11:30 a.m.: ZUMBA (Zumba)
- 4:30-5 p.m.: Jack’s Revenge (Rock)
- 5-7 p.m.: Beatlemania Live! (Beatles Tribute)
- 7:30-9 p.m.: Band Chevelle (Rock)
- 9:30-11 p.m.: 311 (Alt Rock)
Sunday
- 5-5:30 p.m.: Kira Blue (Country/Pop)
- 5:45-6:45 p.m.: Jackson Dean (Country)
- 7:30-9 p.m.: Chase Rice (Country)
- 9:45-11 p.m.: Sponge (Alt Rock)
Monday
- 3:30-4 p.m.: Polish Muslims (Polka Rock)
- 4-6 p.m.: Your Generation in Concert (Tribute/Covers)
- 6:30-7:15 p.m.: Rob Base & Montell Jordan (Hip Hop/R&B)
- 7:45-9 p.m.: Flo Rida (Hip Hop/R&B)
Soaring Eagle Rock Stage
Friday
- 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.: The Detroit School of Rock and Pop Music (Pop/Rock)
- 3:30-4:30 p.m.: No Requests (Indie Rock)
- 5-6 p.m.: Kougaran (Rock/Hard Rock)
- 6:30-7:30 p.m.: Spiral Crush (Rock)
- 8-9 p.m.: The Santana Project (Santana Tribute)
- 9:45-11 p.m.: Sunset Blvd (Tribute Band)
Saturday
- 12:15-1:15 p.m.: Brett Mitchell & the Mitchfits (Indie)
- 1:45-2:45 p.m.: All Grown Up (Rock/Soul)
- 3:15-4:15 p.m.: Slowfoot (Blues/Rock)
- 4:45-5:45 p.m.: The Ruiners (Garage/Punk)
- 6:15-7:15 p.m.: Johnny Bee & The Murder Hornets (Rock & Roll)
- 7:45-9 p.m.: Eliza Neals (Blues/Rock)
- 9:45-11 p.m.: Tino G’s Dumpster Machine (Blues)
Sunday
- 12:15-1:15 p.m.: Five Ninety Five (Acoustic/Pop)
- 1:45-2:45 p.m.: Delta Twins (Blues/Rock)
- 3:15-4:15 p.m.: George Aneed (Rock)
- 4:4-5:45 p.m.: The Science Fair (Rock/Indie)
- 6:15-7:15 p.m.: Visitor (Rock)
- 7:45-9 p.m.: Cast Iron Cornbread (Rock)
- 9:45-11 p.m.: Stone Clover (Celtic/Rock)
Monday
- Noon to 1 p.m.: Nick & Keelan (Acoustic Variety Top 40 Covers)
- 1:30-2:30 p.m.: J Michael & The Heavy Burden (Acoustic/Folk Rock)
- 3-4 p.m.: BandWagon (Alternative/Classic Rock)
- 4:30-5:30 p.m.: Chris Canas Band (Blues/Soul)
- 6-7 p.m.: Standing Room Only (Rock/Classic Rock)
- 7:45-9 p.m.: The Reefermen (Rock)
Michigan Lottery R&B/Jazz Stage
Friday
- 12:30-1:30 p.m.: JonPaul Wallace (Pop)
- 2-3 p.m.: Kirby Lashae (Alternative/Soul)
- 3:30-4:30 p.m.: The Further Adventures of FatBoy and JiveTurkey (Jazz/Blues)
- 5-6 p.m.: Gwenyth Hayes (Neo-Soul/Jazz)
- 6:30-7:30 p.m.: The Brett Lucas Band (Blues/Rock)
- 8-9 p.m.: Laura Rain and the Caesars (Soul)
- 9:45-11 p.m.: Thornetta Davis (R&B/Soul)
Saturday
- 12:30-1:30 p.m.: Rick Hicks (Blues/Soul)
- 2-3 p.m.: Steely Bran’s Dreamboat Lovers (Jazz)
- 3:30-4:30 p.m.: Ryn Scott (Rock/Hip Hop)
- 5-6 p.m.: My Detroit Players (Jazz/Funk)
- 6:30-7:30 p.m.: Damon Terrell (Jazz/Funk)
- 8-9 p.m.: Valerie Barrymore & Foundation of Funk (Funk/Soul)
- 9:45-11 p.m.: Larry Lee & Back in the Day Band (R&B/Funkl)
Sunday
- 12:30-1:30 p.m.: DXRYK (R&B/Soul)
- 2-3 p.m.: Mason Bays Quintet (Jazz/Funk)
- 3:30-4:30 p.m.: Emmanuelle Jacob (Pop/R&B)
- 5-6 p.m.: Sky Covington (Jazz)
- 6:30-7:30 p.m.: Funkwagon (Funk/Soul)
- 8-9 p.m.: Drey Skonie and The kLouds Band (Pop/R&B)
- 9:45-11 p.m.: Alise King (R&B/Soul)
Monday
- 12:15-1:15 p.m.: Kenyatta Rashon (R&B)
- 1:45-2:45 p.m.: The No Boundaries Quartet (Jazz/Funk)
- 3:15-4:15 p.m.: Weebone Entertainment (Neo-Soul/R&B)
- 4:45-5:45 p.m.: Denise Davis and the Motor City Sensations (Motown)
- 6:15-7:15 p.m.: Nique Love Rhodes & the NLR Experience (Alternative/Hip Hop)
- 8-9 p.m.: The Persuasion Band (Party Music)
Baker College Country Americana Stage
Friday
- 12:15-1:15 p.m.: Phoebe Holmes (Americana)
- 1:45-2:45 p.m.: Corey Dakota (Americana/Alt Rock)
- 3:15-4:15 p.m.: Jennifer Westwood & Dylan Dunbar (HonkyTonk/Soul)
- 4:45-5:45 p.m.: Cold Tone Harvest (Americana/Roots)
- 6:15-7:15 p.m.: Audrey Ray (Country)
- 7:45-9 p.m.: Alan Turner (Country/Rock)
- 9:45-11 p.m.: Taylor Tucky (Country/Rock)
Saturday
- 12:15-1:15 p.m.: Nick Fugedi (Acoustic/Americana)
- 1:45-2:45 p.m.: Midnight Proof (Americana)
- 3:15-4:15 p.m.: The Steve Taylor Three (Americana)
- 4:45-5:45 p.m.: Matthew James Adkins & The High Hillcrest Band (Country)
- 6:15-7:15 p.m.: Billy Gunther & The Midwest Riders(Country/Rock)
- 7:45-9 p.m.: Joe Jaber and The Last Divide (Americana/Rock)
- 9:45-11 p.m.: Shiatown (Country)
Sunday
- 12:15-1:15 p.m.: Mike Leslie (Singer-Songwriter/Americana)
- 1:45-2:45 p.m.: Creature of One (Americana)
- 3:15-4:15 p.m.: The Wrenfields (Americana)
- 4:45-5:45 p.m.: Katelynn Corll & The Cripple Creek Band (Americana)
- 6:15-7:15 p.m.: One Ton Trolley (Americana/Rock)
- 7:45-9 p.m.: Joey Vee (Country)
- 9:45-11 p.m.: Julianne Ankley & The Rogues (Americana/Country)
Monday
- Noon to 1 p.m.: Leonardo (Acoustic/Americana)
- 1:30-2:30 p.m.: Hard Luck Pete & The Wrong Way Streets (Country)
- 3-4 p.m.: Jacki Daniels Show (Pop/Country)
- 4:30-5:30 p.m.: Kate Hinote Trio (Alternative/Folk)
- 6-7 p.m.: Tyler Roy (Country/Rock)
- 7:45-9 p.m.: Orbitsuns (Old School Country/Outlaw Country)
Shorts/Old Nation Alternative Stage
Friday
- 12:30-1:30 p.m.: Ameera Bandy (Acoustic Variety)
- 2-3 p.m.: Lee Cleaveland & The Lefthand Band (Rock/Indie)
- 3:30-4:30 p.m.: Aaron Lewys (Singer-Songwriter/Pop)
- 5-6 p.m.: Mama Yaya (Acoustic/Pop)
- 6:30-7:30 p.m.: Griffin Benton (Alternative)
- 8-9 p.m.: Bryan Hugo Iglesias (Alternative/Indie)
- 9:45-11 p.m.: Killer Flamingos (Top 40 Cover Band)
Saturday
- Noon to 12:45 p.m.: Stevie Soul wsg James Linck (Pop/R&B)
- 1:15-2:15 p.m.: Marquette (Alternative)
- 2:45-3:45 p.m.: Lyons (Rock/Rockabilly)
- 4:15-5:15 p.m.: Syd Burnham (Indie)
- 5:45-6:45 p.m.: Lochaven (Rock)
- 7:15-8:15 p.m.: If Walls Could Talk (Pop/Alternative)
- 8:45-9:45 p.m.: Jackson & The Pool Sharks (Alternative/Indie)
- 10:15-11 p.m.: Eva Under Fire (Alternative/Rock)
Sunday
- 12:30-1:30 p.m.: Ella X (Pop)
- 2-3 p.m.: Wake Up Jamie (Singer-Songwriter/Americana)
- 3:30-4:30 p.m.: Rachel Curtis (Singer-Songwriter/Pop)
- 5-6 p.m.: Edison Hollow (Rock/Classic Rock)
- 6:30-7:30 p.m.: In Flow (Dan Tillery) (Acoustic Variety)
- 8-9 p.m.: Hacky Turtles (Alternative)
- 9:45-11 p.m.: Lewis “Louie Lee” Hensley (Country Hip & Roll)
Monday
- 12:15-1:15 p.m.: Good Greene (Alternative/Hip Hop)
- 1:45-2:45 p.m.: Remnose (Alternative/Indie)
- 3:15-4:15 p.m.: Reuther (Rock/Punk)
- 4:45-5:45 p.m.: Those Legs (Alternative/Indie)
- 6:15-7:15 p.m.: Nadim Azzam (Alternative/Hip Hop)
- 8-9 p.m.: Autumn Kings (Alt Rock)
Flagstar Bank International Stage
Friday
- 12:30-1:30 p.m.: Edna Reilly (Celtic/Folk)
- 2-3 p.m.: Ironwood (Celtic/Folk)
- 3:30-4:30 p.m.: Black Murray (Celtic/Folk)
- 5-6 p.m.: Aaron Parrott & Milenium Heat (Steel Drum)
- 6:30-7:30 p.m.: Hya Level (Reggae/Rock)
- 8-9 p.m.: HWT (Half Way There) (Reggae/Rock)
- 9:45-11 p.m.: Martin Chaparro MC3 (Latin/Reggae)
Saturday
- 12:30-1:30 p.m.: Gerard Smith (Celtic/Folk)
- 2-3 p.m.: Victor Samalot Duo (Latin/Jazz)
- 3:30-4:30 p.m.: Tri-County Bollywood Ensemble (Popular Indian)
- 5-6 p.m.: On the Lash (Celtic/Folk)
- 6:30-7:30 p.m.: Raion Taiko – Great Lakes Taiko Center (World Music)
- 8-9 p.m.: Leaving Lifted (Reggae/Rock)
- 9:45-11 p.m.: Roots Vibration (Reggae/Soca)
Sunday
- 12:30-1:30 p.m.: Bossa Fresca Trio (Brazilian/World Music)
- 2-3 p.m.: Desert Island (World Music)
- 3:30-4:30 p.m.: Trio Urena (Jazz/Fusion)
- 5-6 p.m.: Os Clavelitos (Brazilian/World Music)
- 6:30-7:30 p.m.: The Z Cats (Bill Harrison) (Zydeco)
- 8-9 p.m.: King Mellowman and Mellow Runnings (Reggae/Soul)
- 9:45-11 p.m.: Sean Blackman’s In Transit (World Music)
Monday
- 12:15-1:15 p.m.: Celtic Isles (Celtic/Folk)
- 1:45-2:45 p.m.: Ammy Amorette (World Music)
- 3:15-5:15 p.m.: Uprizin Band (Reggae/Calypso)
- 4:45-5:45 p.m.: El Duo Escobar (Cumbia)
- 6:15-7:15 p.m.: Groupo Illusion (Conjunto/Tejano)
- 8-9 p.m.: Harper and Midwest Kind (World Roots)
House of Dank Performance Pit
Friday
- Noon to 4 p.m.: CTYHOP® Silent Disco Presents DJ Kaely Kellz (House & Energetic) and DJ QURL (Electronic)
- 5:30-6 p.m.: Movement Detroit Presents
- 7:30 -8 p.m.: Movement Detroit Presents
- 9:30-10 p.m.: Movement Detroit Presents
Saturday
- Noon to 4 p.m.: CTYHOP® Silent Disco Presents DJ Rue (Hiphop/Pop)
- 5-5:30 p.m.: Movement Detroit Presents
- 7:30-8 p.m.: Movement Detroit Presents
- 9:3-10 p.m.: Movement Detroit Presents
Sunday
- Noon to4 p.m.: CTYHOP® Silent Disco Presents Presents DJ Rue (Hiphop/Pop)
- 4:45-5:15 p.m.: Movement Detroit Presents
- 6:15-6:45 p.m.: Movement Detroit Presents
- 7:45-8:15 p.m.: Movement Detroit Presents
- 9:45-10:15 p.m.: Movement Detroit Presents
Monday
- Noon to 4 p.m.: CTYHOP® Silent Disco Presents DJ Kaely Kellz (House & Energetic) and DJ QURL (Electronic)
- 4-4:30 p.m.: Movement Detroit Presents
- 6:30-7 p.m.: Movement Detroit Presents
- 7:45-8:15 p.m.: Movement Detroit Presents
Oakland Community College Acoustic/Cultural Stage
Friday
- Noon to 12:30 p.m.: ABE Visual Art — Artist Demo
- 12:4-2:45 p.m.” Royal Oak Children’s Choir w/ Mayflower Music MI (Pop)
- 3-4 p.m.: Sweet Season (Acoustic Variety)
- 4:15-4:45 p.m.: ABE Visual Art – Artist Demo
- 5-6:15 p.m.: Djangophonique Duo (Gypse Jazz)
- 6:45-8 p.m.: Birds of prey (Bluegrass)
Saturday
- Noon to 12:30 p.m.: ABE Visual Art — Artist Demo
- 12:45-1:45 p.m.: Tifani VanDenBerg (Folk/Americana)
- 2-2:15 p.m.: Stage Crafters — Little Shop of Horrors
- 2:30-3:30 p.m.: The Real Dan Minard (Acoustic Variety)
- 3:45-4:15 p.m.: ABE Visual Art – Artist Demo
- 4:45-6 p.m.: Jake Allen (Acoustic/Indie)
- 6:30-8 p.m.: The Aston Neighborhood Pleasure Club (Modern Vintage)
Sunday
- Noon to 12:30 p.m.: ABE Visual Art — Artist Demo
- 12:4-1:45 p.m.: Rob Massard (Folk Rock)
- 2-3 p.m.: Dan Hazlett (Acoustic Variety)
- 3:15-4:15 p.m.: Mark Reitenga Duo (Folk Rock)
- 4:30-5 p.m.: ABE Visual Art — Artist Demo
- 5:30-6:30 p.m.: Raven Grey (Folk/Americana)
- 7-8 p.m.: Voxanna (Acoustic Variety)
Monday
- Noon to 12:30 p.m.: ABE Visual Art — Artist Demo
- 12:45-1:45 p.m.: Taylor DeRousse (Acoustic Variety)
- 2-3 p.m.: AcousticAsh (Acoustic Variety)
- 3:30-4:30 p.m.: Acoustic Madness (Americana)
Detroit Institute of Arts Kids Stage
Friday
- 11:15-11:45 a.m.: Amazing Clark Magic Show
- 11:55 a.m. to 12:35 p.m.: Authentic Native American Dance Ho Chunk Nation
- 12:45-1:15 p.m.: Michigan Science Center Presents
- 1:30-1:45 p.m.: Filipinix
- 2-2:30 p.m.: Amazing Clark Magic Show
- 2:45-3:15 p.m.: Juggler Tim Salisbury
- 3:30-4 p.m.: Michigan Science Center Presents
- 4:15-4:45 p.m.: Magic w/ Randyl Lee
- 5-5:30 p.m.: Juggler Tim Salisbury
- 5:45-6:15 p.m.: Michigan Science Center Presents
- 6:30-7 p.m.: Magic w/ Randyl Lee
- 7:30-8:30 p.m.: Konundrum (EDM)
- 8:30-9:30 p.m.: Versace James (House)
- 9:30-11 p.m.: Detroit Techno Militia
Saturday
- 11:30 a.m. to noon: Zippity 2Dads: 2 Guys & A Guitar
- Noon to 12:45 p.m.: Ballet Folklorico
- 12:53-1 p.m.: Revolution Chinese Yoyo
- 1:15-1:45 p.m.: Michigan Science Center Presents
- 1:53-2 p.m.: Revolution Chinese Yoyo
- 2:15-2:45 p.m.: Zippity 2Dads: 2 Guys & A Guitar
- 2:53-3 p.m.: Revolution Chinese Yoyo
- 3:15-3:45 p.m.: Michigan Science Center Presents
- 4-4:30 p.m.: Mathangi Dance Company
- 4:45-5:15 p.m.: Cool Tricks & Funny Stuff
- 5:30-6 p.m.: Michigan Science Center Presents
- 6:15-6:45 p.m.: Cool Tricks & Funny Stuff
- 7:30-8:30 p.m.: DJ Katalyst (Funk)
- 8:30-9:30 p.m.: DJ Dav
- 9:30-11 p.m.: 5th Dimension (Dance Music)
Sunday
- 11:30 a.m. to 12:10 p.m.: “The Adventures of Kitty Montellier” by “Flying Cardboard Theater”
- 12:30-1 p.m.: Michigan Science Center Presents
- 1:15-1:45 p.m.: Jo-Jo Fish Puppet Show
- 2-2:30 p.m.: Cool Tricks & Funny Stuff
- 2:30-3 p.m.: Michigan Science Center Presents
- 3:30-4 p.m.: Jo-Jo-Fish Puppet Show
- 4:15-4:45 p.m.: Nat Spinz
- 5:15-5:45 p.m.” Michigan Science Center Presents
- 6-6:30 p.m.: Cool Tricks & Funny Stuff
- 6:30-7 p.m.: Nat Spinz
- 7:30-8:30 p.m.: DJ Gina Marie (House)
- 8:3-9 p.m.: Dru Ruiz (Open Format)
- 9:30-11 p.m.: DJ Seoul (Techno)
Monday
- 11:30 a.m to 12:10 p.m.: “The Adventures of Kitty Montellier” by “Flying Cardboard Theater”
- 12:30-1 p.m.: Kevin Devine’s Rollicking Music Show
- 1:15-1:45 p.m.: Magic w/ Randyl Lee
- 2-2:30 p.m.: Nat Spinz
- 2:4-3:15 p.m.: Kevin Devine’s Rollicking Music Show
- 3:30-4 p.m.: Magic w/ Randyl Lee
- 4:15-4:45 p.m.: Nat Spinz
- 5-5:30 p.m.: Cool Tricks & Funny Stuff
- 5:45-6:15 p.m.: Kevin Devine’s Rollicking Music Show
- 6:30-7 p.m.: Cool Tricks & Funny Stuff
