Charivari is a one-of-a-kind festival. Founded by fans and funded by the same, Charivari has brought some incredible line-ups to Detroit in the summertime – dream line-ups of DJs that likely hadn’t all played together since they were kids coming up in the scene.
There has been some consternation however as Charivari first announced their intention to crowdsource this year’s festival (making the event free for everyone), and then moved the date relatively late in the game.
Charivari Detroit will now be held on August 17 2018, August 18 2018 and August 19 2018. And Charivari Detroit, according to Todd Johnson, will go on.
“It was an unfortunate situation,” Todd told us, “but given the funding shortcomings our group was going back and forth whether to push ahead or cancel all together. When we finally pulled the trigger to proceed – the timing between securing approvals and permits with various City of Detroit departments and the State of Michigan required changing the dates. The move has created many obstacles but at the same time opened the possibility of survival.”
Charivari has a GoFundMe page for crowdsourcing the festival’s expenses (the amount is ridiculously small for a three day event). Charivari’s organizers are also still fundraising “in the street, at our friends and relatives front doors and at the festival until the festival is over.”
But the festival will remain free he says, “fully funded or not.”
“Support is a elusive beast. Do you deserve it? Did you earn it? The danger of the end run is everyones possibility. Time passes. Trends change. Music continues to play. Passion is forever! Charivari Detroit is still standing!”
The line-up is still being confirmed, he told us, but “to name a few” coming to West Riverfront Park are Rick Wilhite, DJ Minx, Stacey Hale, Bruce Bailey, Detroit Techno Militia, Twin Cousin, Thomas Barnett, Sonic Natives and Gruv Detroit.
