Julianne Ankley - Country singer/songwriter

This is a wonderful blog written by an excellent photographer named Christopher M. Bjornberg, regarding the Detroit Music Scene. Thank you for your kind words, Christopher! It's people like you that help us keep going.

"Those of you that know me or at least know of me will know I support this town 100 percent. That includes not only the professional sports scene, Which I love as well. We are blessed with the Wings, Tigers, Lions, Pistons and a great college and high school sports scene. But what I really support is a scene that a lot of people only know exists because people like me and other friends post about. I used the word blessed a few sentences ago and I will use it again. We are more than blessed to have some of the finest entertainment, entertainers, arts and artists this country has to offer. I am not talking about big name acts, the Bob Segers, Kid Rock's etc that have come from this area. Just as Motown made a lot of local talents famous we still have that thriving spirit that made Motown and the city of Detroit at one time the talk and center of the entertainment world. In the economy that we all find ourselves living in these days it is a very expensive evening when a big name act comes to town. Dropping a few hundred dollars or more is easy and most of the show is spent watching that act on a huge video screen because we lack the funds or connections to be close enough to the action to feel like we are apart of it. This brings me to the point of this note, for the C note you drop on a single ticket for a big name national act you could take that C note and take a date out to dinner, catch a local show and still have some money left over for breakfast. Part of that C note will find its way into the pocket of a local musician, act or help keep a band from calling it quits. I can honestly say this, a lot of people wont see an act because they are unfamilier with a bands music or haven't heard them "on the radio". Most of us grew up in an era where bands were made or broken by there songs being included on a radio stations play list. That is no longer the case, mainstream radio these days is based on listener's numbers and most shows are preprogramed based on those numbers. When I first became involved with the local scene I thought much the same way. Not knowing what to expect, not knowing a bands sound or songs. I am glad that has changed. Without that change I would have never went to see a punk act such as Glittertrash or the Crashdollz. Or met the greatest guys in local rock and roll Brian Milne and Sheldon Kaye and so many others. Not being a big country fan or crossover fan I would have never discovered such wonderful talent such as Julianne Ankley or Delilah DeWylde and Jill Jack. And rockabilly, its back stronger than ever. The local mainstays the Twistin' Tarantulas are now starting to be joined by such acts as the Phantom Shakers and Rio and the rockabilly revival. And if metal is your taste, Mound road engine, 60 second crush, Crud, Bloodline Riot and many others will make your ears ring. Even electronic music and DJ's are represented well, Ill never forget the 1st time I saw Cybertrybe live.

I mentioned a few bands but the point being is there is something out there for any musical taste and all close enough to home that seeing them should be no problem. Choosing to support local music and acts is like choosing to support your neighbor or friend. 90 percent of the people who make up the local scene work regular jobs like you and me, have mortgages and maybe even families to support. We may see them everyday but we do not see the hard work and hours put in for what amounts most of the time to mere pennies. They do this because they believe in and love what there doing. So next time you think about dropping big money on an artist who could really care less that you came to the show, think about spending the night with someone who is grateful you showed up and doesn't mind having there photo taken with you or sharing a beer after the show. And if your brave enough get up close to the stage. Close enough to see the artist sweat, You may be lucky enough someone as fun as Jenna Talia or Colleen Caffeine will throw a water bottle at you, and if you ask nicely im sure they will have no problem signing it after the show, all for less than a hundred bucks...Support Whats going on in Detroit, please be my guest you wont be disappointed...

Christopher M. Bjornberg..."