Trying to balance beer-garden time with Pride performances? It's a daunting task, we know. So, here, we've devised a handy li'l list of the talent gracing the downtown Ferndale stages. We, of course, can't tell you what and when to do it (we're not your mom) – but if you pass up the doggies in drag for alcohol, we will hunt you down.
Main Stage
12-1 p.m.
Julie Nager. Sure, she's young – but her soul is ageless. With an ethereal vocal style and a stream of original songs (think Tori Amos), Nager has been performing since her early teens. She has recorded two albums and is currently working on a third.
1-1:30 p.m.
Blair. As an author, local queer writer/musician Blair has written a one-man show called "Burying the Evidence" and been published in Black Renaissance Noire (NYU Press). "I think that staying in the closet, burying that evidence about yourself on a daily basis, can deform your character," he told BTL in 2006. "It deprives you of the pleasure of being your authentic self."
1:45-2:30 p.m.
Tatiana. Growing up in the '80s, Tatiana rocked out to an earlier musical legacy – and joined a '70s cover band while still in high school to prove her love of soulful and southern rock. By 18, she was a veteran of the local music scene, leaving Detroit to tour the world as a singer and keyboard player. She is currently working on a new album.
2:45-3:45 p.m.
Where's Betty? Not your ordinary female band, Where's Betty? is an eclectic mix of rock and blues. With Andrea on vocals/guitar, Gretchen on bass, Mindy on keyboards and Dede keeping the beat, these women represent over a decade in rock-'n'-roll, both in Detroit and throughout the country.
4-4:30 p.m.
Eric Himan. A veteran Motor City Pride player, Eric Himan was 8 when his father bought him his first guitar. Beginning his musical career in high school, he carried his love of performing on to college and beyond, touring and recording all the while studying at Penn State. To read more about him, see our in-depth interview on page ??
4:30-5 p.m.
Alex Winston. Barely out of her teens, musician Alex Winston is a Metro Detroit native who's performed with everyone from rock legend Chuck Berry to hometown favorites Electric Six. Winston has had her music played on both "One Tree Hill" on the CW and on FX's "Dirt."
5-5:15 p.m.
Doggie Drag Show. If we're really lucky, maybe they'll do a li'l dance, too!
5:15-6:45 p.m.
Into the Groove. Our own Madonna seems to conveniently forget she still has fans in her hometown – so, we've got, to quote her 2000 comedy, "the next best thing": Julie Nugent, who heads Into the Groove, a tribute to the Material Girl. To read more about the cover band, see our story on page ??
6:45-7:30 p.m.
Natalie Cole & Friends. One of Motown's premiere entertainers, Natalie Cole was recently named "Best Talent" AND "First Alternate" at 2007/2008 Miss Tri-State USA Classique. She and her friends will provide sexiness, humor and talent galore with their uniquely Detroit brand of entertainment.
7:30-8 p.m.
Joan Stevenson. This Pride-performing pro is already familiar with the gays: She performs at Gigi's, Stilettos and the Rainbow Room – or, as she calls it, "home sweet home." With musical influences ranging from Judy Garland to Cher, she's practically a gay man herself. "The women that I've idolized and worshiped all through my (life) are pretty much gay icons," she told BTL in 2006.
Second Stage
12-12:30 p.m. Ryan Mintz (See story on page ??)
12:30-1 p.m. Aaron Moore and Karl Wolf
1-1:30 p.m. Lainey and Lynette
1:30-2 p.m. In Harmony
2-2:30 p.m. Natasha Miller
2:30-3 p.m. Prince Vince and Songbird
3-3:30 p.m. Ryan Mintz
3:30-4 p.m. Carly Knox
4-4:30 p.m. Broadway Showcase
4:30-5 p.m. Noe and Angelica Zamudio
5-5:30 p.m. donde
5:30-6 p.m. Jules and Potter
6-6:30 p.m. Joe Parton and Michael Champagne
6:30-7:30 p.m. Secret, Sir Walt and The Fagulous Dr. Ray Ray
