Attend Affirmations' Prom, Get Political at LGBTQ+ Capitol Day, Get Kesha Tickets, Ride the Michigan Drag Bus
There’s a very specific kind of spring energy happening right now. Don't you want to dance, organize, dress up, speak out and maybe also sit quietly with your people and remember you’re not alone? This week’s lineup leans into all of it. You can reclaim a prom like you're the main character from "Footloose," dance to drag on the road with a mobile main character energy-mobile, take your voice to the Capitol and scream-sing with a pop icon. Let’s get into it.
1. Reclaim Prom Night
If your original prom experience ranged from “well, um, that happened" to “actively not built for me,” this is your do-over. And probably your glow-up as well.
Affirmations’ annual Prom ReDeux transforms the entire center into a full fantasy: dancing, drag performances, photo booths and the kind of joyful chaos that happens when everyone shows up exactly as themselves.
Come solo, bring a date or arrive with your chosen family and a dramatic outfit that deserves its own lighting design. There’s even a low-sensory space if you need a breather. It’s prom, but this time you’re in charge of the playlist and the narrative. In addition to the prom itself, there's also a pre-prom dinner option and a post-prom party, so make sure you check the website carefully to design your perfect evening.
May 9, 8 p.m., Affirmations (290 W. Nine Mile Road, Ferndale). Tickets at bit.ly/goaffprom.
2. Lobby Like You Mean It at Michigan LGBTQ+ Capitol Day
There are moments when “someone should really say something” quietly turns into, “Oh, it’s me, hey, I'm the someone, it's me.” Capitol Day is that moment — with backup. You’ll meet with lawmakers alongside other advocates from your district (no solo wandering required), get a clear briefing on what to say and spend the day ensuring LGBTQ+ voices are heard where decisions are actually made. Whether you’re a seasoned organizer or a first-timer who is bravely doing the thing anyway, this is a powerful way to turn concern into action. Collective voices land louder.
May 13, 8 a.m.–2 p.m., Michigan State Capitol (Lansing). Registration required for directions, orientation and all the details: bit.ly/micd26.
3. Belt It Out at Kesha’s Freedom Tour
Kesha’s Freedom Tour promises big feelings, big anthems and the kind of crowd energy where strangers become your temporary choir. The sexually fluid singer’s message is all about survival, but also the realization that you are, in fact, magnificently yourself. "I’ve lived through the fire. This tour is about what comes after,” Kesha posted in the tour announcement. “Freedom isn’t just leaving something behind — it’s discovering that what you have lived through has made you magnificently who you are." If you’ve ever needed a reason to scream-sing your way into a new era, this might be it.
June 5, 7 p.m., Pine Knob Music Theatre (33 Bob Seger Drive, Clarkston). Reserve tickets at bit.ly/keshamichigan.
4. Ride Along With Fabulous Chaos
Imagine a party bus. Now add professional drag performers, lip-sync battles, games and a level of charisma that could power a small city. The Michigan Drag Bus turns Detroit into a moving runway — equal parts show, celebration and “how did this become the best two hours of my month?” You’ll laugh, you’ll cheer, you’ll absolutely take too many photos and you’ll likely leave with at least three new friends and one new catchphrase. Buckle up: the journey is the event.
Ongoing dates including May 2 at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m., Detroit Shipping Company (474 Peterboro St., Detroit). Reserve your space at bit.ly/detroitdragbus.
5. See Gladie at Lager House
A fixture in the DIY queer punk scene, Philadelphia's Gladie, set to play Detroit's Lager House with Noun (the solo project of Screaming Females lead guitar player Marissa Paternoster) on May 1, has been writing songs that hold the contradiction of feeling completely wrecked and stubbornly hopeful at the same time. Their new album "No Need to Be Lonely" was produced by punk artist Jeff Rosenstock. Think dreamy, measured melodies that open up into something rawer and louder before you've had time to brace for it, with an undercurrent of unapologetic queer energy.
May 1, 8 p.m., Lager House (1254 Michigan Ave., Detroit). Buy tickets at bit.ly/GladieTix.
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