If you grew up on Rock & Roll in Michigan in the 70s thru the 90s, there’s a good chance you have major musical memories of ‘Pine Knob Music Theatre’ near Clarkston, North of Detroit.
Maybe it was your first “big show.” Perhaps the first time you saw a favorite music artist. Or just a great time with friends (some of them now departed)–three or four hours of your life that you’ll never forget!
For the last 20 years, you may not have heard much about ‘Pine Knob.’ The concerts continued. But they wanted you to call it “DTE Energy Music Center.” The electric company in Detroit wrote a big check and signed a 20 year contract to have Pine Knob named for DTE.
Most music fans just grumbled under their breath and in many conversations still called it Pine Knob. Gradually, some younger people started to refer to ‘DTE.’ But never with the passion their parents or older siblings had when they said, “Yeah, I heard them at Pine Knob… it was sold out. Incredible!”
The music industry–even artists themselves– feel the same way. In 2019, the amphitheater was voted the best outdoor concert venue in the World, beating out dozens that have been built more recently. And it’s a favorite of many artists, led by Michigan’s own Bob Seger, who performed his final Michigan show there in June, 2019.
Fast forward to today. 2022. The big old outdoor music venue will celebrate its 50th Anniversary in June. And–best of all– it will once again be known officially by its “real name”: ‘Pine Knob Music Theatre’.
313 Presents, the promoter that operates the venue, announced Friday that ‘DTE’ is done. Actually, the contract expired during the downtime caused by the COVID pandemic and was not renewed. The venue will go forward as Pine Knob, having sold some smaller sponsorships of certain entrance and exit gates or VIP areas to several Detroit area companies. But no commercial name will supplant the venue name ‘Pine Knob.’
Trigger some memories with the Pine Knob Returns Video Link: https://youtu.be/itvbCvmDYg4
It’ll be a star-studded lineup at Pine Knob for the 50th Anniversary season, including the following artists:
Miranda Lambert & Little Big Town June 3
Robert Plant & Alison Kraus June 6
Styx, REO Speedwagon & Loverboy June 8
Matchbox Twenty & The Wallflowers June 14
Tears For Fears & Garbage June 15
Steely Dan & Steve Winwood June 18
& other dates through July and Auguest
