For the first time, Waking Windows Festival is coming to Detroit after its origins in Vermont. After it’s debut pit-stop in the Motor City it will soon continue to Portland, Oregon. 

El Club will host the new three-day music festival in Southwest Detroit from July 21st-23th 2017.  To help navigate through this incredible weekend line-up, check out our top picks for the weekend’s essential performances starting with Day One.

View the full festival lineup here .

Margaret Glaspy

This candid California native is bringing her folk  rock sound to El Club’s stage on day one of Waking Windows. Her stripped down music and genuine lyrics showcase her songwriting aptitude while narrating tales of heartbreak, conviction, ‘Emotions and Math’. This earnest crooner is sure to pull on your heart strings with her guitar heavy and emotive songs.

The Drinkard Sisters

Caitlin and Bonnie Drinkard are familiar faces in Hamtramck and local music scene playing  spots like Hamtramck Music Festival, Outer Limits Lounge and  PJ’s Lager House in the past. The singer – songwriter sisters perform both classic and original tunes employing their ghostly and resounding harmonies over live instrumentation by band members Nick Landstrom, Dan Clark and Ryan Harroun. The resulting songs have a unique drifting and soothing country folk feel characterized by the sisters’ deep and robust voices which dance over minimalist guitar drums and bass.

Moonwalks

This Detroit trio can also be found all around the local circuit. With dynamic songs, a hallucinogenic tinge and hard hitting rock power, The Moonwalks take audiences on an electrifying journey with each performance. With Kerrigan Pearce on drums, Jacob Dean on guitar/vocals and Kate Gutwald on bass/vocals the witchy, esoteric, talented, glitter wearing group conjures original psychedelic rock with abstract rhythms and raw guitar riffs. This tight knit group is well toured both locally and internationally and are sure to bring it at their Waking Windows performance.

Whitney

Based in the windy city, Whitney fuses elements of indie rock and pop to tell stories of love,  heartbreak,  and life’s highs and lows. Members Max Kakacek and Julien Ehrlich formed the group after the fallout of their previous band Smith Westerns in 2014. Adding more members to the mix, Whitney released their breakout album “Light Upon the Lake” in 2016 and have been a touring sensation ever since, wowing local and international crowds with their soothing melodies, airy vocals,  catchy lyrics accompanied by a variety of live instruments. Geared up for another touring season in 2017, Whitney is ready to give Detroit a taste of Chicago with their stop at El Club.

Julie Byrne

Hailing from from Buffalo, New York, singer, songwriter and guitarist Julie Byrne grew up around music and continues to immerse herself in a life of writing and performing. With a calm, pensive and powerful voice, Byrne uses  visceral and reflective lyrics to describe places, emotions and relationships over soft acoustic guitar. Coming off her well received second  album Not Even Happiness, Byrne will be taking her contemporary folk music on tour all summer, making an appearance at El Club’s Waking Windows festival.

Craig Brown Band

Photo Credit, Doug Coombe, www.dougcoombe.com

Third Man Records’ Craig Brown Band brings pure Americana to the Waking Windows festival.  Melding genres of  country and rock and roll, the Craig Brown Band brings some southern flavor to the Motor City. With a down home vibe and humorous disposition, the Craig Brown Band’s live performance encompasses  live instrumentation from band members Jeff Perry (drums) Eric Allen (guitar) and backup from siren sisters Caitlin and Bonnie Drunkard who will also perform on day 1. Although many band members are local and Craig Brown used to be a punk performer, the band cleverly creates a twangy reminiscent niche for their original Detroit country music.

Purchase Tickets for Day ONE HERE.

Purchase a weekend pass (Admission for Friday, Saturday, Sunday) HERE.

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