UFO FACTORY’S TRIUMPHANT RETURN: GRAND RE-OPENING WEEKEND!
When I first moved to Corktown a little over a year ago, one of the spot’s best amenities was as follows: “It’s right down the street from UFO.”
Even before I started living in the city proper, I recognized UFO Factory as a refuge for a thriving subset of Detroit’s underground music scene. From album releases to art shows, karaoke to casual drinks, UFO provided a space that hosted an impressive array of reasons to gather, not the least of which was Laika Dog’s reliably innovative spins on Detroit culinary staples.
But alas, mere days after my first time closing out the bar on a Monday night, a series of unfortunate and suspiciously-timed events forced UFO to abruptly shutter its doors. While the context of said events is up for speculation, there is no debating the response that followed. Collaborators and fans alike rallied around the venue, eventually resulting in an exciting and surprising announcement that UFO would one day return. That day has now come, and in proper celebratory fashion, the UFO team has curated an impressive series of events to commemorate this long overdue return of one of Detroit’s staple supporters of local talent.
FRIDAY, 10/26: PROTOMARTYR / DEADBEAT BEAT / DOUBLE WINTER
While a bill that includes both Deadbeat Beat and Double Winter is enough satisfy most fans (on the night of UFO Factory’s grand-reopening no less), excitement reached an all-time high when the super secret guests for the show were announced earlier this week. Heroes of Detroit post-punk Protomartyr will headline UFO’s triumphant return, kicking off a non-stop flurry of events that will continue for weeks to come.
SATURDAY, 10/27: N.Y. NIGHT TRAIN SOULD CLAP and DANCE OFF w/ DJ Jonathan Toubin
On UFO’s second night back, the venue will host a Halloween-themed dance party for the ages, hosted by the inimitable DJ Jonathan Toubin out of NY.
“NEW YORK NIGHT TRAIN’S DJ JONATHAN TOUBIN is the premier 50s+60s rock’n’roll, soul, r+b, Motown DJ in the US. He DJs and hosts dance contests across the globe!”
There will be a $100 prize for the winner of this legendary dance off, judged by a special collection of Detroit music’s finest, as well as a ONE WOLF.
SUNDAY, 10/28: Laika Dog Grand RE-Opening & Karaoke Return to UFO Factory
There’s only one way to properly welcome back the purveyors of some of the best damn dogs in the land: an all day party, noon-10pm, featuring menu classics and new favorites, kicking off a return to Laika Dog’s weekly residency at UFO Factory on weekdays from 4-10pm and weekends from noon-10pm.
If you needed more convincing, here’s this video:
As if that wasn’t enough, from 8pm-2am karaoke will at last return to the hallowed halls of UFO Factory, hosted by local vocal legends Jen and Nat:
“yep, UFO is BACK! therefore SUNDAY NITE KARAOKE is BACK at UFO!!!
this one is gonna be REAL special so we are bringing out the big guns! the ultimate KJ DREAM TEAM of NATTY G. and JENNY J. are gonna co-HOST ALL NITE LONG!
STARTING AT 8PM (just this once) SO THAT EVERYONE CAN SING! COME EARLY! CALL IT NATTYOKE… or JENNYOKE… or UFOKE ???? WHATEVER… JUST DON’T CALL ME LATE FOR MY SONG!!!”
The post UFO FACTORY’S TRIUMPHANT RETURN: GRAND RE-OPENING WEEKEND! appeared first on PLAYGROUND DETROIT.