Press Release | Office of the Mayor | Musical Greats Will Take the Stage at Westland's Blues, Brews and BBQ

For Immediate Release | Official Press Release

PRESS RELEASE

OFFICE OF THE MAYOR

36300 Warren Road | Westland, Michigan | 48185

Office 734.467.3200 | Fax 724.721.2310

WWW.CITYOFWESTLAND.COM

Musical Greats Will Take the Stage at Westland's Blues, Brews and BBQ

Westland, MI - Westland's Blues, Brews and BBQ event is known around the region for bringing together some of the greatest musical talent the metro Detroit area has to offer. Sure to rock the socks off the crowd, this year's event features not one, but THREE headlining acts in honor of the City's 50th Anniversary.

On Friday night, the Dirty Basement Blues band will kick off the night of Blues music at 5:30 p.m. They are among some of the area's most notable Blues acts featured at Blues, Brews and BBQ. Kenny Parker and Jim Mccarty take the stage from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and then Friday's headlining act Lil' Ed and the Blues Imperials will wrap it up from 8:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Lil' Ed and the Blues Imperials were among the premier party bands to come out of Chicago during the 70's and 80's and have built up a loyal following. The band has a fiery lead guitarist and has continues to play rough-edged, rocking dance music which has allowed them to establish an international reputation that has lasted into the new millennium. They have appeared multiple times at the Chicago Blues Festival and in festivals and clubs around the world. The band has been nominated for eight Blues Music Awards as Band of the year and has taken home to honor twice.

The fun rolls right into Saturday afternoon with Jeff Hoagland Band playing at noon. From 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. the event will showcase performances by Roadside Rick and the Breakdowns, followed by Detroit Blues Legends with the Boa Constrictors from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and then Thornetta Davis takes the stage from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Thornetta Davis is a Detroit Blues and R&B singer who has opened for world renowned artists, such as Bonnie Raitt, Gladys Knight, Ray Charles and Etta James. She sang back up vocals on Bob Seger's 1991 album, The Fire Inside and has also worked with Michigan native Kid Rock. For over 25 years this multi-talented international singer and songwriter has excited and wowed audiences all over the world. Her voice is strong, commanding, melodic and smooth. Davis was voted Outstanding Blues Artist in 2006 and 2006 and Outstanding Blues/R&B Vocalist in 2004, 2006, 2010, 2011 and 2014 at the Detroit Music Awards. She was also crowned "Detroit's Queen of the Blues" by the Detroit Blues Society in 2015.

The final act is the highly anticipated return of Westland's own American Idol finalist Josh Gracin who will perform from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Saturday evening. Josh Gracin is a country music singer who first gained public attention when he was a finalist on the hit talent competition, American Idol in 2003. His debut album, Josh Gracin was certified gold and the first three singles all reached the top five on the Billboard Hot Country Singles and tracks Chart. he has released 3 studio albums and continues to tour worldwide. Gracin was raised in Westland ans inspired by artists such as Garth Brooks, George Strait and Randy Travis.

For more information, contact Aubrey Berman, Administrative Secretary, at (734) 467-3200.

Westland, Michigan is the state's 10th largest municipality, with a population of over 84,000 people who exhibit a great deal of pride in their All-American City. Westland has a thriving business community along with beautiful residential areas. The citizens enjoy a wide array of amenities and a quality of life that is second to none.

In 2014, Westland was rated as one of 24/7 Wall Street's America's Best 50 Cities to Live, offering residents and visitors an ideal blend of single-family affordable homes, apartments and condominiums, great schools, and access to numerous outdoor activities. Public safety is delivered by full-service, professional law enforcement and firefighting personnel. Westland Police Department, whose motto is protect and serve, provides emergency dispatch services to four cities and over 100,000 residents; the Western Wayne Fire Association firefighters collaboratively serving the Cities of Wayne and Westland are licensed paramedics who responded to over 13,000 calls for service last year, about 85% being medical based. They never forget their mission of preserving life and property.

Westland is well-known as the premier destination for shopping and dining in Wayne County with hundreds if shops and restaurants anchored by the Westland Shopping Center, on of the country's original four regional malls.

Infinite opportunities are available in Westland for the recreation aficionado including, more that 40 parks and 1,500 acres of trails, a 9-hole golf course, hockey arena, athletic fields, playscapes, a Farmers and Artisans Market and more. One of Michigan's most environmentally friendly cities, Westland has a progressive curbside recycling program with one of the highest participation rates in the nation and the City is raising the bar for cultural experiences with the placement of public art throughout the City.

The City is served by two public school districts; Wayne-Westland Community Schools serving 12,000 youth was recently named one of the Best School in Michigan by WXYZ-TV and is the proud recipient of 14 Golden Apple and two Michigan Blue Ribbon Exemplary School Awards. Livonia Public Schools, educating nearly 15,000 students, is proud of their MEAP/MME scores that exceed state averages and the District has also earned Golden Apple and Michigan Blue Ribbon Exemplary School Awards.

Westland's philosophy is that government should embrace good business principles. Providing oversight over the City's operating budget of $60 million dollars, Westland is the only community in Wayne County with a 3-year balanced budget and an approximately 10 percent budget surplus.

The City provides competitive incentives for those who are interested in investing in Westland, making it one of the hottest investment markets in the region. Our Fast-Track to Business Team, which consists of key decision makers who work diligently on a development plan will "cut the red tape" and expedite the approval process for new business development.