The Metro: Concert of Colors festival wants ‘peace, love and understanding’

Summer in Detroit is the time and place where dancing in public is very welcomed when live music is involved. That’s especially true for the Concert of Colors. Celebrating its 33rd birthday, the festival’s theme this year is “Peace, Love and Understanding.”

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The first Concert of Colors was held in 1991 at Chene Park — now the Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre — a day-long festival with a relatively small crowd. But by 1999, nearly 10,000 fans began making it a ritual to attend Detroit’s diversity music festival. By 2019, the concert had expanded to nine days.

The 33rd edition of Concert of Colors kicked off Wednesday. Festival founder and host of This Island Earth, Ismael Ahmed, joined The Metro to reflect on the festival’s early days, how it’s grown and its future.

By bringing music from around the world, the Concert of Colors aims to represent different cultures and communities. The theme of Peace, Love and Understanding was chosen to show just that, especially with all of the global turmoil happening right now.

Current global events compelled festival organizers to pivot on this year’s theme.

“And he’s [Don Was] disturbed about what he sees going on, as all of us are. And we adopted the theme for the entire Concert of Colors because it’s the right thing to do,” Ahmed expressed. “You know, we need to be together, we need to love each other, we need to express that love.”

Ahmed explained how the festival “provides real access to real people” to global and local music because it’s a free six-day event at several locations.

Concert of Colors programming is held at multiple venues across Detroit, including the Charles H. Wright Museum, the Detroit Institute of Arts, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the Scarab Club, the Dequindre Cut, Spot Lite Detroit and more.

The Concert of Colors this year is funded by many sponsors, such as art and cultural institutions, to help the festival bring Detroiters together using the power of music.

“And so every culture gets represented…all of the dance music, all of the love, of the culture in one place,” Ahmed explained. “And Detroit is a great place, but it still has that history…of segregation. And this is a way to break through — bring people from all of those communities together, to party with each other — and eventually to love each other.”

Ahmed revealed a major funding milestone that will help secure the future of Concert of Colors.

“Next year, we will receive legislative money for a million dollars,” Ahmed stated. “But that’s not the end of the good news. They got it ongoing.”

The state funding will help grow the Concert of Colors by expanding the artists and by improving the children and family activities. Ahmed said that they’ll have a better chance “to bring in just about anyone we want to bring in.”

In fact, the Michigan Science Center is partnering with the Concert of Colors again this year to offer free museum days for concert goers. MSC’s programming will include a laser show, and arts and crafts projects.

Dr. Christian Greer, president of the Michigan Science Center, explained how the center will have a short film, an exhibit to teach aerospace with hands-on design activities and flying simulations, a laser show and more.

“We have a 60-minute dance lesson with the African dance on Thursday and Latin dance on Friday. So there’s gonna be a ton of stuff for people to really see during this period. And we’re just excited to participate in it,” Dr. Greer shared.

The Michigan Science Center is just one of many venues where Concert of Colors attendees can celebrate peace, love and understanding this weekend.

“The vibe is exactly that. It’s peace, love and understanding. But it’s also fun, and get to know each other and get to know each other’s cultures,” Ahmed said. “I don’t know what more you could ask for.”

The full Concert of Colors lineup and schedule can be found at concertofcolors.com. 

More headlines from The Metro for July 18, 2024:

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• Aaron Dworkin is no stranger to facing obstacles and challenges along his journey overcoming stereotypes and outcasting due to the color of his skin. In his new memoir “Lessons of Gratitude: A Memoir on Race, the Arts and Mental Health,” Dworkin explores his biracial background and growing up with white, Jewish parents. Dworkin is known for being a concert violinist. He is currently a professor of Arts, Leadership & Entrepreneurship at the University of Michigan, a member of President Biden’s Art Policy Committee, and the host of “Arts Engines.” Dworkin joined The Metro to discuss his new memoir.