All the bands that will perform during The Whitney's garden party summer concert series

May 23: Jill Jack & Sprint for the Spirits

You may have heard Jill singing on numerous commercial jingles, or seen her playing a club, headlining colleges, and opening for a slew of national acts; twice for Bob Seger, and on a 7-date East Coast tour with John Waite. At Detroit's major music venues, she has performed in support of Dan Fogelberg, Duncan Sheik and many more at DTE Energy Music Theatre, Meadowbrook Music Festival, and the State Theatre. With the Jill Jack Band, she consistently sells out The Ark in Ann Arbor year after year, and you can find her performing at music festivals from Michigan to Florida.

A woman with a strong drive and ambition, Jill Jack has a unique voice, with a distinct timbre that sets her apart. Fusing folk, rock, and country, Jill draws comparisons to such singers as Emmylou Harris, Sheryl Crow, Natalie Merchant, "and any other chick with a guitar", she laughs. The intuitive sensitivity of Jill's songwriting is often compared to Woody Guthrie and even John Mellencamp.

Jill recently opened the doors of Dream Big, Incorporated which guides people of all walks of life to pursue what really makes their souls soar. Their dreams become reality with Jill’s guidance and encouragement to do whatever their heart desires! Catch Jill’s weekly radio show on Empower Radio, Dream Big with Jill Jack, to get inspired!

Photo Credit: Michael Hacala

May 30: Brunswick Brawlers

The Brunswick Brawlers is a Detroit based group of musicians who came together to play the music they love and admire. They play a mix of early American popular music including jump blues, Western swing, early rock n roll and rhythm and blues. They can be found performing throughout the city of Detroit.
Photo Credit: cupcakedetroit

June 6: Billy Brandt and the Sugarees

Billy Brandt and the Sugarees is the latest in Billy Brandt’s Americana projects. Billy is the winner of two Detroit Music Awards for Best Americana Recording and the Sugarees are a jam band, a country band and a rock band all rolled into one. The lineup includes Detroit’s finest in John Holkeboer (the Sequins, Ryan Dillaha, Honky Tonk Tuesdays and Sundays) on Bass, Chris Degnore (the Blackdrops, Jill Jack) on guitar, and John Porter (The Blackdrops and many others) on Drums.
Photo courtesy of Billy Brandt and the Sugarees

June 13: Joe Jaber and The Last Divide

In every struggle, there lies a gem of wisdom, a universal truth that both shines and blinds. But you have to dig for it, and dig deep is exactly what singer-songwriter Joe Jaber did when he wrote the songs for his new album, “Made It on My Own.”
Confessional and cathartic, “Made It on My Own” is Jaber’s third album, and perhaps his most comprehensive in its approach to storytelling. The record is a collection of six songs that offer soulful snapshots of Jaber’s personal journey from childhood to manhood and beyond. He attacks themes of loss and survival with honesty and authenticity, and delivers a strong performance packed with beautiful harmonies and lingering melodies.
Photo Credit: Robert Sommerville

June 20: Jennifer Westwood and The Handsome Devils

Jennifer Westwood and the Handsome Devils, with 7 Detroit Music awards to the band's credit for songwriting, vocals, live performance, songwriting, recording and musicianship, bring to you Rock and Roll with Honky Tonk Soul. Based in Detroit yet touring relentlessly, Jennifer Westwood and guitarist Dylan Dunbar are at the helm, taking their music across the country 6 months a year or more. Guitarist Dylan Dunbar has served as axman for two top honor Handy Award/International Blues Challenge awardees and country artist Whitey Morgan.
Photo Credit: Bryan Mitchell

June 27: Macy Krew

Macy Krew is a 22-year-old singer/songwriter from Nashville, originally from Grand Rapids, MI. You might recognize her from American Idol, where she made it to Hollywood and is a recognized alumni of the show. She sings country pop music and her debut single to radio, "Wherever You Are," made a large first impact in the music industry. The song has been added to radio stations where it hit Top 40, featured in Nashville's Lyric Magazine, recognized as "the next big hit" by Nashville's Next Women of Country, and has been acknowledged by talk shows around the country. She is widely recognized on social media, with her pages reaching almost 10,000 fans. She has performed many shows in Nashville, all around the states, and has opened for Idol winner Kris Allen, Dan+Shay, and other artists. She has headlined music festivals and fairs country-wide. Her powerhouse vocals and country twang pair well with the original songs she pens with honesty and attitude. Macy Krew is bringing the sparkles and sass to country music in a way never seen before, bringing the stage to life with contagious energy. She brings a large crowd with her everywhere she goes and gives a concert you won't ever forget. You can follow along with her at www.macykrew.com.
Photo Credit: Abby Jeanne Photography

July 11: The Firewalkers

The Firewalkers are a vintage blues and popcorn R&B group from Detroit, Michigan. The Firewalkers began when vocalist, Laura Mendoza, was asked by bassist, Rudy Varner, to sit in with one of his bands for a night. Drummer, Loney Charles and Varner were impressed and had hoped to start a band in the styles of blues and R&B with a strong female lead and it looked like they finally found it. Thus, the Firewalkers were born. David James was selected on guitar to round out the sound and in February 2019 they debuted to an ecstatic audience at the Erotic Poetry and Music Festival in Detroit. The Firewalkers plan on continuing to form their sound by creating their own songs and covering classic vintage blues and R&B hits.
The Firewalkers are Laura Mendoza (vocals), David James (guitar), Rudy Varner (bass), and Loney Charles (drums).
Photo Credit: Matthew Dolinar

July 18: Olivia Millerschin

Olivia Millerschin captivates audiences with her celestial voice and gossamer blend of vintage folk and modern pop. Her latest record Look Both Ways was nominated for a 2018 Independent Music Award. Millerschin has won two John Lennon Songwriting Awards, the Great American Song Contest, and was a quarter-finalist on America’s Got Talent.
Photo courtesy of Olivia Millerschin

July 25: JC and the Royal Keys

The Royal Keys is a musical entity made up of five handsome yet approachable gentlemen, each masters of their respective instruments. Together they create an energetic and undeniably authentic sound that hearkens back to an age when jazz became blues, blues became swingin', and it all came together to form a little thing called Rock 'n' Roll. Hang on to your seats and prepare to be swooned, swirled, jumped, and jived...JC and the Royal Keys have arrived.
Photo courtesy of JC and the Royal Keys

August 1: Crashing Cairo

An anthemic indie-rock band based in metro Detroit, Crashing Cairo is like a well-blended Radiohead, U2 and Coldplay smoothie; ultra tasty, yet unique with a style and sound that is all their own. The band is amidst a flurry of single releases that began in 2016 and will continue through this year. Songs picked up by college radio stations around the country were produced by Peter Katis (Interpol, The National, Guster) and Tim Palmer (David Bowie, U2, Pearl Jam). Some of their works can be previewed in their entirety directly on their website, www.crashingcairo.com.
Photo courtesy of Crashing Cairo

August 8: John Holk & the Sequins

John Holk & the Sequins were formed to be the world’s first psychedelic honky tonk band. Drawing equal inspiration from Hank Williams and Revolver-era Beatles, the Sequins helped galvanize a burgeoning Detroit honky tonk scene as hosts of the legendary “Honky Tonk Tuesday” series at Club Bart in Ferndale, MI from 2008 to 2011. Their self-released 2010 CD "If You See Her" (Hole-Key) was described as "The twang-pop record of 2010" by absolutepowerpop.com, and earned a Detroit Music Awards nomination for Best Country Album. Comprising some of the area’s finest working musicians, John Holk & The Sequins released their second CD, “Where You Going” in October 2016, which was described by powerpoaholic.com as "consistently excellent". John Holk & the Sequins are known for putting on great shows wherever they roam and are in demand as a concert, night club or private party band. The band’s stripped-down alter-ego, John Holk & the Kinfolk, play a rootsy blend of bluegrass, old time honky tonk country western and murder ballads.
Photo Credit: Chuck Marshall

August 15: The High Strung

The High Strung are an indie pop tour de force with many notable successes and stories along the way. Their song, ‘The Luck You Got’, is the theme song for the Showtime hit series Shameless and Singer Josh Malerman's book Bird Box has been made into a motion picture/Netflix sensation. Quiet Riots, the band’s newest full-length album, was released in January 2019 and is a powerful, witty, and harmony laden masterwork.
Photo Credit: Doug Coombe

August 22: Atmig

ATMIG also known as After the Money Is Gone is a male/female fronted indie folk rock band. Their debut album Wishes was independently released January 19th onto white vinyl pressed at Third Man Pressing. Their sound consists of a blend of strong and delicate harmonies, driving rhythms, impassioned guitars, orchestral strings and more.
Photo Credit: Amanda Mattila

August 29: The Aston Neighborhood Pleasure Club

The Aston Neighborhood Pleasure Club bring the sounds of New Orleans street bands to every place they play. This acoustic ensemble is equally at home in your living room, in a club, or on the street. Whether providing hot horn lines, gritty guitar comping, or sultry singing, the ANPC evoke the festive spirit of New Orleans whenever they perform.
Photo Credit: CE Anderson

September 6: The Wrong Numbers

It's a shame that the dudes who make up the Wrong Numbers weren't born in another decade — like the '50s, say. Then they would have taken their passion for skintight early Detroit rhythm and blues (think the Falcons, Nolan Strong & the Diablos, Mr. Pickett) and gone on to form highly influential, nay, legendary rock outfits, and they would be godfathers of the current Detroit scene. Lucky for us, though, we get to experience them in the throes of their R&B-worshipping enthusiasm — and damned if they don't do the genre proud. Between Thibodeau's razor-sharp ax work, a buttoned-down rhythm section, and the blazing vocals of frontman Clark, these cats know where it's at. —Chris Handyside Metro Times
Photo Credit: Doug Coombe