Music · Weekend

From Motown to techno: where Detroit's music lives

Motown, Aretha's church, the city's oldest studio, techno landmarks and jazz rooms: a music weekend in the capital of soul.

stops: 10
length: Weekend
areas: 9

Few cities have given the world's ears more than Detroit: soul, blues, jazz, garage rock and techno all started here. Saturday covers New Center and Midtown's studios, record shops and concert halls; Sunday runs from Aretha Franklin's church to a legendary Livernois jazz club and a Sunday-night jam session. Bring headphones so the rides in between have a soundtrack too.

Saturday: studios and records

10:00
Motown Museum
New Center
Hitsville U.S.A.: Berry Gordy bought this West Grand Boulevard house in 1959, and Motown's early hits were cut right here in Studio A. The modest size of the place makes its worldwide impact even more striking. Tours are paused, but standing out front still gives you goosebumps.

A short drive east to Second Avenue.
11:00
United Sound Systems
Detroit – New Center
Detroit's oldest working recording studio, running since 1939: John Lee Hooker cut Boogie Chillen' here in 1948, Tamla held its very first session here in 1959, and Parliament-Funkadelic and Death recorded here too. It's a working studio, so admire it from Second Avenue.

A short drive over to East Grand Boulevard.
12:00
Submerge / Exhibit 3000
Detroit – New Center
An unmarked 1910 brick building that houses Underground Resistance and Submerge Records. The main floor is Exhibit 3000, the world's first techno museum, full of record sleeves and flyers, and the basement holds the Somewhere in Detroit record shop. Book the museum ahead.

Drive back to Midtown, to West Canfield Street.
14:00
Third Man Records Cass Corridor
Midtown (Cass Corridor / W Canfield)
Jack White's label has had its Detroit store here since 2015: records and novelties, a small stage for in-store shows, and windows into the Third Man Pressing vinyl plant. In-store concerts and signings are occasional, so check ahead.

A few minutes' walk north on Cass Avenue.
15:30
Gretchen C. Valade Jazz Center
Detroit – Midtown
Wayne State's jazz house opened on August 29, 2024, in the former Hilberry Theatre. It's named for Gretchen C. Valade, the Angel of Jazz, who rescued the Detroit Jazz Festival in 2006, and the basement holds the Dee Dee Bridgewater Jazz Club. See if there's a show that day.

Walk to Woodward and take the QLINE south to MLK / Mack, or make it a short drive.
20:00
Detroit Symphony Orchestra — Orchestra Hall
Midtown
Designed by C. Howard Crane and opened in 1919, the room's acoustics are part of the show. In its Paradise Theatre years it played a big part in jazz history, and today it belongs to the Detroit Symphony Orchestra again. Double-check that your concert is actually in Orchestra Hall.

Sunday: soul, jazz and techno

10:30
New Bethel Baptist Church
Detroit – Dexter-Linwood
Rev. C. L. Franklin's church, where Aretha Franklin sang as a child and, at 14, recorded her first album in 1956. Since 1963 it has filled the remodeled Oriole Theater, and the Supremes' Florence Ballard was mourned here in 1976. Ask the church office, open on weekdays, about Sunday worship.

Drive north to Livernois Avenue.
13:00
Baker's Keyboard Lounge
Livernois / Avenue of Fashion
A jazz club on Livernois since 1934, serving soul food and American classics. Its own history lists Miles Davis, Billie Holiday and John Coltrane among past performers. Confirm the schedule and hours, a phone call helps.

Drive back toward downtown, to Gratiot Avenue by Eastern Market.
15:30
Transmat Records
Detroit – Eastern Market
Derrick May, one of the fathers of Detroit techno, opened his label here in 1986, and this stretch of Gratiot was nicknamed Techno Alley because Juan Atkins's Metroplex and other early labels worked here too. Spot it by the colorful chevron brick base; it's a working label, so view it from the sidewalk.

A short drive downtown to Harmonie Park and the Music Hall building.
18:00
Aretha's Jazz Cafe
Downtown (inside Music Hall, Harmonie Park)
Close out the weekend at an intimate jazz club named for Aretha Franklin, its walls lined with photos of Detroit music legends. Sunday evenings bring a jazz jam session, so your timing's perfect; check the lineup ahead.

Good to know

Motown Museum's guided Hitsville tours have been paused since January 20, 2026, during construction, with reopening planned for spring 2027; check what's open before you go.
Exhibit 3000 is open by appointment, and the Somewhere in Detroit record shop downstairs keeps regular Saturday hours; there's no sign on the building.
Several stops are working studios, labels or congregations: admire them from the sidewalk and respect the people inside.
For concerts, jam sessions and the symphony, always check each venue's own calendar for lineups and tickets.