The Awesome Mitten Attends Mo Pop Festival at Detroit Riverfront
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Michigan is the Great Lakes State, but we’ve also got a lovely gem of a riverfront in downtown Detroit. The stages were set with the scenic bridge and Canadian coast in the view. Mo Pop Festival celebrates Michigan businesses, and internationally-known musicians.
The Awesome Mitten contributor Sarah Spohn attended the festival, which took place the weekend of July 29-30 at the 20-acre West Riverfront Park in Detroit.
Within the sunny festival grounds, there were Citizen Yoga classes, artist autograph sessions, hammock areas, riverfront pianos, and the Detroit Dart Club. Other mobile attractions included food truck rally alley, craft beers and cocktails, craft vendors, merch customization, live screen printing station, and an on-site air conditioned arcade.
Michigan pride was on full-display with free Faygo pop tastings, (check out our love for the soft drink here) Stroh’s brewed-in-Detroit Bohemia style beer, and Jack White’s Third Man Records store-on-wheels. Oh, and of course, music. Lots and lots of live music, including headliners Foster the People, Run the Jewels, Alt-J, Solange, and Tyler the Creator. Supporting acts included Wavves, Middle Kids, White Reaper, Arkells, Vance Joy, and Pup. Statewide talent included supporting acts from Prvis, Michigander, Stef Chura, Humons, and Heaters.
Sarah spoke with Arkells frontman Max Kerman about their MO POP performance, a Motown after party, the infamous Ann Arbor deli Zingerman’s, and Detroit sports teams. The band’s headlining tour will make another Michigan stop in November at The Majestic in Detroit. Check out their conversation below.
Did you attend MO POP? If so, what was your favorite part?