2013 Blowout Music Festival Schedule Released

The 2013 Metro Times Blowout schedule was released Wednesday and, for the first time, the local music showcase will span two weekends and include venues in Ferndale.

The 16th annual Blowout kicks off April 25 in Detroit, continues April 26-27 in its traditional Hamtramck home and wraps up May 2-4 in Ferndale. The event, which bills itself as "North America's Largest Local Music Festival" is expected to attract more than 5,000 fans.

The High Strung, Dutch Pink, Duende, Audra Kubat, The Hounds Below, Deastro, Jeecy and the Jungle, Wall Clocks and Jessica Hernandez and the Deltas are among the performers scheduled to play in Ferndale, where the Blowout will be held at the following venues.

• Como's
• Ferndale Public Library
• Found Sound
• Go Comedy!
• Loving Touch
• New Way Bar
• One Eyed Betty's
• Rust Belt Market
• Sakana Sushi Lounge
• Woodward Avenue Brewers

[Click here to view the complete Ferndale schedule.]

"Metro Times wanted to elevate Blowout within the metro Detroit community, and Ferndale was a logical choice due to its multiple appropriate venues in close proximity," Metro Times publisher Chris Sexson said in a press release. "By expanding to two weekends, Blowout can showcase even more extraordinary talent."

The change has ignited a debate among local music fans.

"Cultural concern: Spreading it over two weekends loses the draw of the common music fan, i.e., the fan that doesn't usually attend shows regularly but still goes to Blowout," musician and Ferndale resident Eric Allen told Patch in January. "Ferndale is lovely. But Blowout is Hamtramck. It's Small's. It's Hamtramck-Steve (Paljusevic). It's the Painted Lady. It's snow. It's Jean's. It's the drunk trolley. It's Kelly's. It's Augie (Visocchi of The Hard Lessons) jumping from the upper deck of The New Dodge. It's the K(nights) of C(olumbus) Hall."

But, Ray Hayosh, who manages Blowout venue Found Sound in Ferndale, can see an upside to the festival's expansion.

"There's some people who think it takes the spirit away from it," he said. "The point is to spotlight local music. Younger kids can come because we're not a liquor venue."

Jeff Milo contributed to this article.

[What do you think about Blowout's expansion? Leave a comment!]