Ralph Valdez Previews This Year’s Concert of Colors

“The Concert of Colors has seen Detroit through its ups and downs” with 25 years of diverse music.

Laura Weber Davis/WDET

The annual Concert of Colors held here in Midtown Detroit turns 25 this year. As we’re also reflecting this summer on the 50th anniversary of the uprising of 1967 in Detroit, so too will the Concert of Colors have a reflective tone.  The festival highlights panel discussions on 1967 and the movements that were born out of that era.  Not to mention the festival will showcase a wide array of gifted musicians.  The Concert of Colors kicks off at Third Man Records on Wednesday July 12th and the main stages will be underway outside the Fisher Music Center on Saturday, July 15th.

Ralph Valdez, festival coordinator, joins Stephen Henderson on Detroit Today to discuss the “Music of the Rebellion” and the festival’s impact on the city.

“The Concert of Colors has seen Detroit through its ups and downs and has always been there as a real staunch supporter and a real positive influence on the city,” says Valdez.

As it is the 50th anniversary of the uprising of 1967 in Detroit, the music in the show reflects the idea of rebellion.

“The theme is music of rebellion, art of rebellion, just the idea of working against the establishment in a positive way and seeing the growth and the change and upheaval in a way that shows a line of growth and positive development.”

Valdez discusses the power music has to unite people and  to celebrate both similarities and differences.

“It started as a grass roots kind of neighborhood way to bring people together through their diverse cultures in Detroit and to show how similar we really are and at the same time, showing the profound differences we see in each other.”

Click on the audio player above to hear the full conversation.

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  • Detroit Today
    Dynamic and diverse voices. News, politics, community and the issues that define our region. Hosted by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Stephen Henderson, Detroit Today brings you fresh and perceptive views weekdays at 9 am and 7 pm.