Opens July 1 with Rain Check Wednesday’s De La Soul

Closes July 5 with Blues Legend Buddy Guy

Comerica Cityfest 2009, formerly Comerica Tastefest, will celebrate its 21^st Birthday, Wednesday, July 1 – Sunday, July 5. Michigan’s largest neighborhood festival is back with al fresco dining and a four stage extravaganza presenting one of its most diverse and powerful line-up of musical acts to date.

The festival will kick off with Rain Check Wednesday bringing back the bands that were rained-out last year, including headlining NYC hip-hop veterans De La Soul. The New Center Main Stage presented by Metromix Detroit will also feature up-and-coming folk/alt/roots/rock band The Avett Brothers, timeless pop/rock performer and  producer TODD RUNDGREN, Aussie electro-pop sister duo The Veronicas and five-time Grammy award-winning blues guitarist, Buddy Guy.  Comerica Cityfest returns with a Saturday afternoon show featuring Grammy-nominated Gospel band 21:03 with special guest Chris Clark.  Other Main Stage acts include neo soul/hip hop troubadours Platinum Pied Pipers, electro rock duo Handsome Furs, songstress Erin McCarley, singer/songwriter Matt Kearney, blues goddess Bettye LaVette and Detroit native and hit-maker Ray Parker Junior.

The Grand Boulevard Jazz & Blues Stage presented by Hour Detroit magazine will feature a world-famous trifecta of The Motor City Horns with Detroit-loved The Brothers Groove wsg Johnny Bassett, vintage rock n’ roll all-star blues band The Party Stompers wsg Gino Washington, jazz icon Rodney Whitaker and jazzy chanteuse, Kimmie Horne. The stage will also feature Rain Check Wednesday band Jazzhead.

On Second Avenue and Lothrop, the Pure Detroit Stage presented by Real Detroit Weekly, will continue its tradition as one of Detroit’s best local venues.  The Silent Years will kick-off the festival on Wednesday, followed by four days of quality “all over the map” acts such as Ghostly International DJ Michna with Raw Paw, Girls! Girls! Girls! featuring Carolyn Striho, Racheal May, Vivian George and local heroes Bump.  On Sunday, the stage will be taken over by local legends performing A Tribute to the Electrifying Mojo curated and played by Carl Craig with performances by Rick Wilhite, Marc Duncan and Kenny Dixon Jr.

Stirling has assembled another Detroit underground line-up for the New Center Park Stage.  Headliners include Rain Check Wednesday band The Hentchmen with additional local stars including I Crime, The Wrong Numbers, Doop & the Inside Outlaws and Blue Flowers.

The full artist line-up for Comerica Cityfest 2009 is below:

New Center Main Stage

Platinum Pied Pipers – De La Soul - Handsome Furs - The Avett Brothers - Erin McCarley - Matt Kearney - Todd Rundgren - 21:03 wsg Chris Clark - Bettye LaVette –The Veronicas- Ray Parker Jr. - Buddy Guy-Paula Valstein

Pure Detroit Stage

Mean Mother - Electric Firebabies - Bear Lake – Mike Posner - The Silent Years - Croff Family Band - Uncle Paulie’s Block Party - Will Sessions – Michna - Rogue Satellites – Childbite – Deastro – Silverghost -  1592 - DJ Subtonic - Millions of Brazilians - Girls Girls Girls with Carolyn Striho, Rachael May and Vivian George - Lightning Love – Bump - For the Love of Mojo - a Tribute to the Electrifying Mojo feat. Rick Wilhite, Marc Duncan, Kenny Dixon JR. and Carl Craig

Grand Boulevard Jazz Stage

In The Tradition – Jazzhead - The Macpodz - Green T - The Spangler / Tope Organ Trio wsg Detroit sax legend George Benson - Joey Spina Band -  Lola Morales wsg Sean Blackman - The Motor City Horns with The Brothers Groove and special guest Johnny Bassett - The Courville Concert Choir - The Angelo Primo - bugs Beddow band - Tricia Moore Quartet - Kimmie Horne – GEQ - Sandra Bomar & The Jazz Experience with The Paul Keller Trio - Tumbao Salsa - Dennis Coffey Quartet - The Party Stompers wsg Gino Washington - Musique Noire - The Rumpshakers - Jesse Palter and the Alter Ego featuring Sam Barsh - Rodney Whitaker Quartet featuring vocalist Rockelle Whitaker

New Center Park Stage

Jenny Knaggs and the Sureshots - Madison Opera - Magic Shop - The Hentchmen - The Hosts - Citizen Smile - Charlie Slick - I Crime - Lies Unknown - Bootsey X and the Lovemasters - The Ruiners - The Wrong Numbers - Ben Cyllus - Dooley Wilson - Inside Outlaws - Hayley Jane - Gretchen Wolff - Silent Violet - Blue Flowers – Electric Lions

Comerica Cityfest 2009 will maintain its extended hours offering a great time in Detroit’s Historic New Center from 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday, and 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday.

Founded in 1989 as a fundraiser for New Center Council, the annual music, food and cultural event has been continually improved and reinvented.  It was renamed Comerica Cityfest in 2007 to reflect the event’s maturing into a celebration of city life: a locally and nationally recognized cultural experience offering a diverse mix of restaurants, musicians, merchants, artists and children’s activities.

Admission to Comerica Cityfest is free. “Taste” tickets are $10 for 16 tickets. For updates and additional information about Comerica Cityfest 2009, please visit www.comericacityfest.com or call 313.872.0188.

Comerica Cityfest could not happen without the generosity of its sponsors which include Comerica Bank, Budweiser, Pure Detroit, HAP, Farbman Group, Henry Ford Health System, Jones Lang LaSalle, FOX WJBK-TV, Meijer, Caesars Windsor, Trenton Ice Cream Shoppe and Detroit LISC.

Additional details, including the local and headlining national music acts that have become the hallmark of Comerica Cityfest, new restaurants and brand new attractions, will be announced as they are confirmed.