Crossroads concert tonight

By Charnika Jett
Jun. 5, 2009    ·    10:16 a.m.

Music lovers rejoice! The Crossroads Summer Music Festival is back.

The fourth annual music festival that features many local bands will have their opening tonight.

The opening night headliner is the blues band, “The Martindales,” with special guests “The Mobsters,” a southern rock group. Although the festival usually has their opening day outside, this year things are different.

To accommodate the cast and crew of the Robert DeNiro and Edward Norton movie “Stone,” which will be filming at multiple locations in Downtown Ypsilanti, Crossroads will now have their opening day in-doors at Club Devine, a non-smoking venue.

David Austin, chairman of the Downtown Association of Ypsilanti and owner of the “What is That Gallery of Fine Art and Craft,” helped negotiate with Stone Productions to accommodate both parties involved.

“They requested us to change the venue because it would affect their sound recording devices,” Austin said.

“We of course had to go back to the DAY organization and talk to them about this. We discussed different options that would be appropriate and collaborative effort between our needs and their needs,” Austin said.

The solution to the problem, Austin believed, helped benefit the Crossroads music festival a lot.

“The production company is helping us with some permanent signing as part of the deal,” Austin said. “We have directional board signs that we can use in the future. Their staff will also let people know where they can park.”

Just in case some guests thought about not coming out to the opening day event because of the non-smoking venue, Stone productions purchased $500 worth of gift certificates from a variety of downtown Ypsilanti retailers. Each certificate, which is worth $50, will be given away as door prizes only on opening day. No purchase or donation is required, but guests muse be present at Club Devine to win.

Austin said by offering the gift certificates, the Stone productions company showed their appreciation of the Ypsilanti community.

“They are trying to be sensitive to our needs and to help promote our business here,” he said. “They have made it clear to me that they enjoy Ypsilanti and think it’s a welcoming community in general.”

Although some people are not happy about the production company forcing change in the Ypsilanti community, Austin remains optimistic.

“As a business owner, I think it’s an interesting thing,” he said. “It adds vibrancy and interest in Ypsilanti. “

“It may bring people in that may not have already been here before. I’m actually very curious this Friday to see how it goes.”

Club Devine is located at 23 N. Washington St. This family friendly music festival is free and open to all.

Remember, only the opening night will be in doors at Club Devine, while the rest of the festival will be outside (if weather permits) on Washington Street between Pearl Street and Michigan Avenue. To see the Crossroads event schedule, visit www.ypsicossroads.org.