Detroit may have the deepest musical bench of any city in America. Motown, Detroit jazz, garage rock, punk, techno and hip-hop all carry the Motor City's fingerprints, and its jam session culture is alive and well: a historic jazz club that turns its stage over to players every week, a Sunday jam at Aretha's Jazz Café and a 1960s blues lounge where anyone brave enough can grab the mic. This guide covers Detroit's history, its music scene and venues, and where to find open mics and open jams.
A Brief History of Detroit
In 1701, French officer Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac founded Fort Pontchartrain du Détroit on the narrow river ("détroit" means strait) connecting Lake St. Clair and Lake Erie, on land long used by the Anishinaabe, Wyandot and other nations. The settlement passed to the British in 1760 and to the United States in 1796. After a fire destroyed the town in 1805, Detroit adopted its motto, which translates as "We hope for better things; it shall rise from the ashes." Because Canada lies just across the river, Detroit became one of the most important final stops on the Underground Railroad.
In the 20th century, Henry Ford's moving assembly line and the rise of General Motors and Chrysler made Detroit the Motor City and the center of the global auto industry. During World War II it became the "Arsenal of Democracy." The Great Migration brought hundreds of thousands of Black Southerners to neighborhoods like Black Bottom and Paradise Valley, which became hubs of business and music.
Decades of deindustrialization, the 1967 uprising and population loss culminated in the city's 2013 bankruptcy, the largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history. Since then, Detroit has seen a striking revival downtown and in Midtown, Corktown and beyond, while its neighborhoods continue to fight for a fair share of the comeback.
The Detroit Music Scene
Detroit's musical legacy is staggering. In the 1940s and '50s, Hastings Street and Paradise Valley were alive with jazz and blues, and John Lee Hooker recorded "Boogie Chillen'" there. Detroit produced a remarkable generation of jazz musicians, including Yusef Lateef, Kenny Burrell, Donald Byrd, Ron Carter, and the Jones brothers, Hank, Thad and Elvin.
In 1959, Berry Gordy founded Motown in a modest house he named Hitsville U.S.A., creating the "Sound of Young America" with the Supremes, the Temptations, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder and Smokey Robinson. Aretha Franklin grew up singing in her father's Detroit church. The city also gave birth to the proto-punk of the MC5 and the Stooges, the rock of Bob Seger and Alice Cooper, the techno of the Belleville Three, the hip-hop of J Dilla and Eminem, and the garage revival of the White Stripes.
Today, the Detroit Jazz Festival over Labor Day weekend is one of the largest free jazz festivals in the world, and the city's jazz clubs and jam sessions are some of the most respected in the country.
Popular Live Music Venues in Detroit
Big Stages
- Little Caesars Arena and Ford Field – The city's arena and stadium for the biggest tours.
- Fox Theatre – A spectacular 1928 movie palace.
- Masonic Temple and The Fillmore Detroit – Historic halls for touring acts.
- Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre – A riverfront outdoor venue.
- Orchestra Hall – Home of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.
Jazz and Blues Rooms
- Cliff Bell's (Park Ave., downtown) – A 1935 art deco jazz club that reopened in 2006 and is now internationally recognized, with regular jam sessions.
- Baker's Keyboard Lounge (Livernois Ave.) – Opened in 1934 and often called the world's oldest operating jazz club.
- Aretha's Jazz Café at Music Hall (350 Madison St.) – An intimate jazz room inside the Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts.
- The Raven Lounge & Restaurant (5145 Chene St.) – A blues and soul lounge on the east side, open since the 1960s.
- Dirty Dog Jazz Café (Grosse Pointe Farms) – An upscale jazz club just outside the city.
Rock and Indie Clubs
- El Club, Magic Stick and the Majestic, Saint Andrew's Hall and PJ's Lager House – Essential rooms for local and touring bands.
- Cadieux Café (4300 Cadieux Rd.) – A Belgian bar famous for feather bowling and roots, blues and rock shows.
Open Mics and Open Jams in Detroit
Detroit's jam scene is defined by serious musicianship and generous mentorship, with jazz clubs actively inviting students and young players to sit in. Below are the standout events, followed by a schedule.
Before you go: Open mics and jams change hosts, nights and venues often, and clubs occasionally cancel a jam for private events. Always check the venue's website or social media before heading out with your gear.
Jazz Jams
- Session Nights at Cliff Bell's – Weekly (most recently on Wednesdays). A featured band such as the Houston Patton Quartet, DICHI or Jauron Perry's group plays the first set; the second set is an open jam session, with free admission for participating musicians. During special events like Wayne State faculty nights, the jam kicks off around 9:30 p.m. and students with instruments pay no cover. Cliff Bell's also hosts a monthly Swing Syndicate big band night featuring a high school jazz band, followed by an open jam. Reservations are recommended.
- Aretha's Jazz Jam (Music Hall, 350 Madison St.) – Sunday nights, around 7:00–10:00 p.m. A jam where jazz veterans and the next generation play together, supported by Music Hall's education program.
- Friday Night Jam at The Wildermere (17032 Wildermere St.) – Fridays, 8:00 p.m. to midnight, anchored by the Jerome Clark Trio. Free. Has run as a seasonal summer series, so check for current dates.
Blues
- Thursday Blues at The Raven Lounge (5145 Chene St.) – Thursday nights. Ben Moore and the Blues Express hold down the house band and back whoever is brave enough to pick up the mic. Free on Thursdays; Fridays and Saturdays feature booked blues bands with a cover. A true piece of Detroit history.
- Detroit Blues Society – Hosts events and tributes, often at the Cadieux Café; check its calendar for jams.
Open Mics
- Dessert Oasis Coffee Roasters Open Mic (1220 Griswold St., downtown) – Mondays at 6:30 p.m., hosted by Samuel of Dirt Room. Music and poetry. Check @dirtroommusic on Instagram.
- Songwriter Open Mic at Ghost Light (2314 Caniff St., Hamtramck) – Tuesdays at 8:00 p.m., hosted by Dave Toennies. One of the region's most popular songwriter nights, just minutes from downtown.
- The Congregation Open Mic – Periodic open mics in the café with PIPE Detroit, open to singers and poets; sign-up starts at 6:00 p.m.
- Circuit Sessions (Casablanca Dry, 6366 Gratiot Ave.) – A community open mic and networking night for musicians; donation encouraged.
Detroit Open Jam & Open Mic Schedule at a Glance
| Day | Event | Venue | Style |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday | Aretha's Jazz Jam (7 p.m.) | Music Hall | Jazz |
| Monday | Open Mic (6:30 p.m.) | Dessert Oasis Coffee Roasters | Music / Poetry |
| Tuesday | Songwriter Open Mic (8 p.m.) | Ghost Light, Hamtramck | Singer-Songwriter |
| Wednesday | Session Night (second set jam) | Cliff Bell's | Jazz |
| Thursday | Blues Night with Ben Moore & the Blues Express | The Raven Lounge | Blues |
| Friday (seasonal) | Friday Night Jam (8 p.m.) | The Wildermere | Jazz / R&B |
Tips for Playing Detroit's Open Mics and Jams
- Know your standards. Detroit jazz jams are high-caliber; come prepared with a few tunes, and listen before you sit in.
- Bring your instrument for the discount. Several jazz nights waive the cover for musicians who play.
- Visit the history. The Raven Lounge and Baker's Keyboard Lounge are living pieces of Detroit music history.
- Plan for winter. Michigan winters are cold and snowy; check for cancellations.
Helpful Local Resources
- WRCJ 90.9 FM (wrcjfm.org) – Detroit's jazz and classical station, with an events calendar.
- Detroit Metro Times (metrotimes.com) – Weekly music listings.
- Cliff Bell's (cliffbells.com) – Jam session calendar.
- Detroit Jazz Festival (detroitjazzfest.org) – Labor Day weekend festival and year-round programming.
