More than 200 acts will perform on nine stages at this year’s edition of Arts, Beats & Eats, topped by a national stage roster that includes rock band 311, rapper Flo Rida, country singer Chase Rice and Detroit alt-rock mainstay Sponge.
Details for the Labor Day weekend festival were announced Tuesday, including a lineup of 50-plus participating restaurants with offerings from pierogi to lobster rolls.
The festival, formally known as Soaring Eagle Arts, Beats & Eats Presented by Flagstar Bank, will run Sept. 2-5 in downtown Royal Oak as the event marks its 25th year.
Because it pulled off a scaled-down, drive-in event during 2020’s pandemic lockdown, AB&E is one of the few long-running festivals in the area — even in the nation — that can still claim to have taken place annually since inception.
Other national performers this year will include soul-pop outfit Fitz and the Tantrums, hard rock band Chevelle, rapper-singers Rob Base and Montell Jordan, funk group Average White Band, country artist Jackson Dean and Boston lead singer Tommy DeCarlo.
They’re part of a music lineup otherwise dominated by a genre-crossing array of metro Detroit performers, including first-time stage headliners Martin Chaparro MC3, Autumn Kings, Sunset Blvd. and Aston Neighborhood Pleasure Club.
House of Dank, the dispensary chain that last year became AB&E’s first cannabis sponsor, will present a Performance Pit area with electronic-music DJs.
The food side of this year’s festival features 50 vendors from a mix of metro Detroit restaurants, food trucks and caterers.
The lineup includes everything from barbecue and Italian fare to pierogi, sweets and fine dining.
Several new food options are joining the festival lineup including Pita Way, a metro Detroit chain that offers Mediterranean cuisine, and Cousins Maine Lobster food truck. The latter is a national chain known for its Maine (served cold) and Connecticut (served with warm butter) lobster rolls. Other offerings are lobster bisque, New England clam chowder and lobster tail.
Galindo’s food truck is also new to the festival. An offshoot of a Southgate restaurant, it serves Mexican cuisine, including street tacos, quesadillas and burritos.
Last year, AB&E scrapped its longtime practice of selling tickets that festivalgoers exchanged for food items. Now food vendors accept cash or credit.
AB&E will also feature its traditional juried fine art show, with more than 150 arts and craft vendors vying for $7,000 in prizes.
Standard festival admission will be $10, with free access before 5 p.m. on Sept. 2. Admission will be $5 before 3 p.m. on the remaining three days.
A food drive sponsored by Flagstar Bank in conjunction with Forgotten Harvest will let patrons get $5 admission discounts with the donation of three or more canned goods. The campaign will run Aug. 15-30. Full details and drop-off locations can be found at artsbeatseats.com.
Arts, Beats & Eats 2022 music lineup and schedule
(Artist descriptions as provided by festival organizers.)
Jim Beam National Stage
Friday, Sept. 2
4 p.m. -4:30 p.m.: Frame 42 (Classic Rock/Rock)
5:30 p.m. -7 p.m.: Tommy DeCarlo, singer of Boston (Rock)
7:30 p.m. -9 p.m.: Average White Band (Funk/Soul)
9:30 p.m.-11 p.m.: Fitz & The Tantrums (Indie Pop)
Saturday, Sept. 3
10 a.m.-11:30 a.m.: ZUMBA (Zumba)
4 p.m.-4:30 p.m.: Jack’s Revenge (Rock)
5 p.m.-7 p.m.: Beatlemania Live! (Beatles Tribute)
7:30 p.m.-9 p.m.: Chevelle (Rock)
9:30 p.m.-11 p.m: 311 (Alt Rock)
Sunday, Sept. 4
4:30 p.m.-5 p.m.: Kira Blue (Country/Pop)
5:45 p.m.-6:45 p.m.: Jackson Dean (Country)
7:30 p.m.-9 p.m.: Chase Rice (Country)
9:45 p.m.-11 p.m.: Sponge (Alt Rock)
Monday, Sept. 5
3 p.m. -3:30 p.m.: Polish Muslims (Polka Rock)
4 p.m.-6 p.m.: Your Generation in Concert (Tribute/Covers)
6:30 p.m. -7:15 p.m.: Rob Base & Montell Jordan (Hip Hop/R&B)
7:45 p.m.-9 p.m.: Flo Rida (Hip Hop/R&B)
Soaring Eagle Rock Stage
Friday, Sept. 2
11 p.m.-3 p.m.: The Detroit School of Rock and Pop Music…
Read More: Arts, Beats & Eats reveals music lineup that includes 311, Flo Rida