Residents, businesses and visitors to Dearborn are encouraged to reserve Friday evenings to attend a free outdoor mini-concert series sponsored by the West Dearborn Downtown Development Authority (WDDDA).

All concerts take place in the Muirhead Plaza, adjacent to the Bryant Library on Michigan Avenue. The concerts will begin at 6:30 p.m. and conclude at 9 p.m., unless otherwise noted.

Here is this year’s lineup:

• June 17: The first concert features the Big Band Sound of Al Tedrick Combo Featuring Bill Heart.

• July 1: Concert goers will be entertained by a return performance of the “Beat Club,” a Beatles Tribute Band. This band looks like and sounds like the lads from Liverpool.

• July 15: Big Will and the 360 Degree Band with be entertaining. Big Will is the former lead sing of the Sun Messengers.

• July 29: Justine Blazer’s Modern Country Sound will be featured.

• August 12: Metro Jazz Voices will perform selections from all eras of the Great American Songbook .From standards like “Pennies from Heaven” and “Over the Rainbow” to modern classics like “Me and Julio, Down by the Schoolyard.” The sound is comfortable and yearning, the harmonies sweet and fascinating.

• August 26: “Crush,” bringing the sounds of classic rock and more, will entertain from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

In case of rain, the concerts will be held in the Henry Ford Centennial Library auditorium.

The WDDDA recommends that concert-goers bring chairs and blankets for outdoor seating while they relax and enjoy the music.

Maps and other information are also available online on the WDDDA’s web site at www.DearbornwestOnline.com

Motor City Brass Band (MCBB), a metro Detroit British-style brass band, will take audiences on a musical journey from Hudson Bay to Tierra del Fuego with Music of the Americas on Sunday, May 22, 2011 at 3:00 p.m. The concert will be presented at the Michael Guido Theater in Dearborn’s Ford Community & Performing Arts Center.

The concert begins in the United States with “America” from West Side Story by Leonard Bernstein and arranged by Craig Strain. Vocalists Michele Marszalkowski (soprano), Kim Lange (mezzo-soprano), John Martin (tenor) and Steve Martin (tenor) will bring Stephen Sondheim’s words to life.

The band will head north to Canada with Morley Calvert’s Canadian Folk Song Suite. Leroy Anderson’s Blue Tango travels to the dance halls of Buenos Aires. Heitor Villa-Lobos’ Bachianas Brasileiras blends folk and popular Brazilian music to create a haunting melody. Soprano Michele Marszalkowski will perform the vocals.

The rhythm of Puerto Rico gets an energetic interpretation in Rafael Hernández Marin’s El Cumbanchero. Craig Strain’s arrangement of Tito Puente’s classic Oye Como Va demonstrates how Afro-Cuban rhythms can take on a Mexican interpretation thanks to guitarist Carlos Santana. William R. Reddick’s ode to Spanish Harlem, Espanharlem, paints a musical portrait of that iconic neighborhood.

The Yellow Rose of Texas, a traditional folk song, will feature Dr. Kenneth Kroesche on euphonium. The concert will close with America, the Beautiful. The audience will join with the four vocal soloists in celebration of the conclusion of this North & South American journey.

Ticket Information

Tickets can be purchased from the FCPAC Box Office – $15 for adults and $12 for students & seniors.

The FCPAC Box Office can be reached at 313-943-2354. For group rates call 248-788-6618.

Modeled after the traditional British brass band, Motor City Brass Band represents an American take on a beloved British custom. The group’s unique blend of innovation and authenticity has earned it a reputation for musical excellence and high-quality entertainment, ensuring a constant demand for performances. More information is available at www.mcbb.org.