Winterfest at Odd Fellows Concert Lounge brought together art and music for a full-day holiday celebration that raises money for charity.
Winterfest at Odd Fellows Concert Lounge
Just before the holidays, we spent our day at the Odd Fellows Concert Lounge in Wyandotte for their first Winterfest. If you haven’t been to this space yet, be sure to make time in the new year. Located on 81 Chestnut in downtown Wyandotte, the Odd Fellow Concert Lounge is located within the Downriver Council For The Arts.
For Winterfest, the main art gallery served as an art store, with several vendors offering a variety of handmade items. Upstairs, within the concert lounge, more vendors were set up around the perimeter of the room. There were plenty of unique offerings, including a mobile record store called Swindle Records. They had an excellent selection.
All proceeds from ticket sales, as well as from a bake sale and beverages, went to Be Well My Friends. During the Winterfest event, they were specifically raising money to help a blind local resident with funding a new furnace. An anonymous donor chipped in a whopping $1800 to help cover the cost.
Detroit Music Scene Mixer – Winter Edition
The concert lounge also hosted the Detroit Music Scene Mixer – Winterfest edition. Jennifer Westwood once again spearheaded a gathering of folks who care deeply about the Detroit music scene and shared their stories together. Attendees included Chris Simpson (Catch & Play Songs / Michigan Music Alliance), Lori Stratton (Stratton Setlist, Michigan Music Alliance, GIG – The Art of Michigan Music Foundation), Jason Pfaffinger (Grove Studios), Chris and Tim (Passenger / Passenger Radio), Guitar Hi-Fi, Sonic Coast, and WAKT Toledo.
The music mixer also included a demo of Static Effectors pedals. Dylan played his guitar to demonstrate these magnificent effects as Kyle Burris (owner and pedal builder at Static Effectors) gave a rundown on each of them. Let me tell you, these pedals are amazing. You can get yours at Guitar Hi-Fi or by contacting Kyle at Static Effectors.
Greater Detroit Music Census – Kevin Kay
Kevin Kay (K2 Artist Management and Detroit Music Collective) was on hand to fill everyone in on the upcoming Greater Detroit Music Census. The goal of the census is to examine the music scene in Detroit and identify what is working and what could be improved. Kevin shared insights on what other cities, such as Nashville, Austin, and Cleveland, have discovered thanks to the census. The information has helped musicians, businesses/venues, and local governments find ways to bolster the music community and economy in each area. The prospect is that we can do the same with the Greater Detroit census.
There was an excellent round of questions and answers. Overall, it appears that people are optimistic that the census will help us develop this area into a music mecca. Life In Michigan is a community partner, and we’ll be sharing links to the census once it begins in early February 2026.
Winterfest Music
Throughout the day, music filled the air at the Odd Fellows Concert Lounge Winterfest 2025. We arrived in time to first catch Mike Ward playing a solo acoustic set. The music was warm and inviting, with Mike’s rich voice elevating the holiday cheer.
Dary is a duo composed of two friends, Dave and Gary. They played a variety of cover songs that were both energetic, fun, and funky.
Blockhouse Valley
After the music mixer, we were treated to a concert. Opening up was Blockhouse Valley. Think of this band as Detroit-style Americana with touches of bluegrass. Mandolin, guitar, and upright bass provide the harmonic core for deeply melodic, vibrant, and evocative vocals. Their original music touches the cornerstones of life. To keep us on our toes, Blockhouse Valley sprinkled in some fun and inventive covers, including “Kiss” by Prince and “Thank You” by Alanis Morissette.
Jennifer Westwood and the Handsome Devils
I’m always blown away by the power, presence, and soulful energy of Jennifer Westwood and the Handsome Devils. While Jennifer and Dylan make for an exciting duo, the music bristles with an electric spark when performed with the entire band. The rhythm section adds a vibrant punch to songs such as “How Am I Supposed to Live This Way.” With the robust guitar work of Will Fogle in the mix, Dylan gets to let it rip without sacrificing any sonic mojo. As you would expect, Jennifer’s vocals were superb and powerful. This band is one of the finest in the land.
Night Sky Alumni
Closing out Winterfest at the Odd Fellows Concert Lounge was Night Sky Alumni. I’d caught an acoustic set by this band at the Detroit Music Scene Mixer this summer at Guitar Hi-Fi. They sounded great. In this amplified edition, their alt-rock glory shone like the sun. If you are in need of a frame of reference, their music is akin to Toad the Wet Sprocket, The Wallflowers, and Collective Soul. Their set was a sublime culmination to a most excellent day in Wyandotte.
Pictures
We’ve got more pictures from Winterfest 2025 at Odd Fellows Concert Lounge.
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