Chelsea Sounds & Sights Festival.
July 26-28. The festival (formerly known as SummerFest) features a food court on South Street (Thurs. & Fri. 5-9 p.m. & Sat. noon-9 p.m.) with food from several Chelsea restaurants and a social tent behind the Common Grill (6:30-11 p.m.) with beer & wine and live music (7-11 p.m.). Also, a KidZone (10 a.m.-6 p.m.) with a variety of activities at the Clocktower, a juried art market (10 a.m.-6 p.m.), and a classic car show (3-8 p.m. on July 27 only). Live music and other entertainment on July 26 at the regular Sights & Sounds stages (see listing). The social tent music schedule: The Juliets (July 26), a local postpunk chamber pop quintet that features violin and cello, with opening sets by the Rochester (MI) electroacoustic pop-rock band Bear Lake and The Hard Lessons, a nationally acclaimed Detroit trio fronted by vocalist Korin Louise Visocchi that plays soulful, swaggering guitar- and organ-driven rock ’n’ roll. Whitey Morgan & the 78s (July 27), a Detroit classic country, honky-tonk, and retro rock band, with an opening set by the Blue River Band, an Indiana country-rock quintet fronted by the husband-and-wife singer-songwriter duo Chuck and Renee Crull. Billy Mack & the Juke Joint Johnnies (July 28), a local roots-rock quartet whose repertoire includes originals and rockabilly, early rock ’n’ roll, western swing, and hillbilly bop covers, with an opening set by 50 Amp Fuse, a popular Detroit 70s and 80s classic rock band, Also, a classic car show (3-8 p.m.) on July 27 and a pet parade (10 a.m.) on July 28. Complete schedule available at chelseafestivals.com.
5-11 p.m. (July 26) & 10 a.m.-11 p.m. (July 27 & 28), Main, Middle, & Park Sts., downtown Chelsea. Free, except for social tent, which is $5 (ages 13–20, $3; age 12 & under, free). No one under age 21 admitted to the social tent after 9 p.m. 475–1145, 433-2787.
