00:00We're off for rock and road trips and what a view, what a magnificent view.
00:03There's only one venue in all of Detroit, maybe in all the world, definitely in all the world,
00:08that has this view of Canada and that is the Aretha Franklin Amphitheater.
00:12From its beginnings as Shane Park to becoming one of the city's premier concert destinations,
00:18this riverfront venue has welcomed generations of music fans and some of the biggest names in entertainment.
00:23No one knows that story better than Malik Mousy.
00:26His family has helped shape the amphitheater's legacy for more than two decades
00:30and today he's taken us behind the scenes of one of Detroit's most iconic stages.
00:35When it was originally opened, my mother, she was the director of the Council of the Arts for the city
00:40of Detroit
00:40under the Komen A. Young administration.
00:42So when they first had the plan to do this venue, she was over-programming it.
00:48Me and my brother would just roll down the hill and pick up trash.
00:532004, when our family business had taken over, fully the venue, I've been here every day since.
01:00Wow.
01:01Originally, the Aretha was only like 2,000 seats and you said it was just like a grass hill?
01:05It was just a grass hill.
01:06You were rolling down it.
01:07No roof, yeah.
01:07No roof, nothing.
01:09Yep.
01:09Today, the Aretha Franklin Amphitheater holds 6,000 people.
01:12Correct.
01:13You said another 1,000 up on the lawn and has this amazing tarp and is more than just a
01:18lid on the Aretha.
01:19What else do you use this amazing tarp for?
01:23We actually project the concert on the ceiling to create this immersive experience.
01:27You have to be here to witness it.
01:28So what we do is we project on the smooth area.
01:30So this whole smooth area here is a large, like 80 by 80 foot screen, same thing over there.
01:37Crazy.
01:38Yeah.
01:39Here, you never have to leave the show.
01:40Unless you're in the urinal or the stalls.
01:43At which point, we thank you for leaving the show.
01:44We need you to focus.
01:45Yeah, we need you to focus on what you're doing at that point.
01:47But meanwhile, in between, well, you know, you have plenty of areas to go get food, beverage,
01:53sit down and...
01:55Feel the water.
01:56Hear the sound and still feel like you're not missing something.
02:00Yeah.
02:00And then you can see it, you know.
02:02The setup of the venue, like it's very open.
02:05Like you feel like you're not that far away from the artist.
02:07There's not a bad seat in the house.
02:09It's really, really an intimate setting.
02:11And how low the stage sits, you know, you're right there.
02:16So as we just had with Babyface, we did the walkthrough with security.
02:20Do you think he's going to go into the crowd?
02:21No, he's not.
02:22He doesn't go into the audience.
02:23I'm like, when they see how easy it is to get from here to the fans, they take that step
02:28down and they go.
02:29Yep.
02:29Which makes it even more of an experience, you know.
02:32So, very cool story.
02:34Malik was telling me.
02:35What are some of the bands that have had come together moments here at the Aretha on stage?
02:41Some of the hip-hop acts as far as like EPMD and Salt and Pepper, Earth, Wind & Fire, New
02:47Edition.
02:48Quite a few people were able to get their full groups back together here in Detroit on this stage.
02:53For whatever reason.
02:54It had to be tempting with that view.
02:56I'm telling you, I'm telling you, man.
02:57That had to be tempting.
02:59Yep.
03:00Yeah, you know, and the graduations that happen here and that boat pulls fast and they hit the horn.
03:04Boom, boom.
03:05And that's the tip of the iceberg, man.
03:06The Aretha Franklin Amphitheater.
03:08If you haven't already seen a show here, you need to.
03:10And if you have, you know what we're talking about.
03:12Rockin' Road Trips with WCSX.
03:14Don't miss it.
03:16Don't miss it.
03:16Come experience it if you haven't already.
03:19The Weird, the Wild, the Wonderful Rockin' Road Trips with 94.7 WCSX.
03:26This Rockin' Road Trip is brought to you by Faygo.
03:28This summer, when you're looking for zero sugar, go with the flavor.
03:30Go with Faygo Zero Sugar.
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