Chasing rhythms in Detroit—a look inside the city's vibrant music scene

Thanks to the revolution of the motorcar assembly line, Detroit became the beating heart of American industry in the 20th century — ranking among the richest cities in the world. Beyond industry, the Motor City has long been a beacon of creativity, with a conveyor belt of musical talent that never stopped rolling. From soul-stirring legends such as Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder to modern icons such as Eminem and The White Stripes, this Midwestern city gifted the world some of its brightest musical stars. Today, that creative energy still pulses through Detroit — not just in music, but in the bold flavours of its burgeoning restaurant scene and a flourishing street art movement that draws in visitors from around the world. Through it all, the Motor City keeps on moving and grooving to the rhythms that live on in its storied bars, dance floors and legendary live venues. Here’s how to get down to the sound.

Motown

More than just a label, Motown — short for Motor Town — was a cultural phenomenon that changed the sound of America. Founded in Detroit in 1959 by Black musician and producer Berry Gordy Jr., it blended R&B, soul and pop in a boundary-breaking new style. Resonating across racial lines during the civil rights movement, Motown launched the careers of icons such as Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross & The Supremes, Marvin Gaye and The Temptations. Many of their hits were recorded in Studio A at Hitsville U.S.A., a white-and-blue house on Detroit’s West Grand Boulevard. It's now home to the Motown Museum, where curated exhibits, photographs and memorabilia celebrate the label’s legacy. Visit for the chance to sing a few favourite lines in the very place where history was made.

Jazz and blues

Before Motown, there were jazz and blues. Both styles took root in early 20th-century Detroit as thousands of African Americans arrived from the South during the Great Migration — fleeing oppressive Jim Crow laws and seeking work in the booming auto industry. They brought their music with them, and neighbourhoods like Black Bottom and Paradise Valley — where smooth sounds spilled out of Black-owned clubs — helped shape the city’s soul. Nowadays you can catch live jazz at Baker’s Keyboard Lounge on the Avenue of Fashion. It’s said to be the world’s oldest jazz club and is where legends like Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis and Nat King Cole once played. Elsewhere, speakeasy-style Cliff Bell’s pairs nightly sets with an elevated dinner menu surrounded by dark mahogany and velvet walls. Every Labor Day weekend, the Detroit Jazz Festival — the world’s largest free jazz event — brings over 60 performances to downtown, along with pop-up jam sessions that keep the city swinging around the clock.

Techno

During the 1980s, a trio of Detroit high schoolers — now known as The Belleville Three — fused funk, futuristic synths and machine-driven beats, channelling the city’s industrial edge into a high-energy sound that laid the foundation for modern electronic music. Discover Detroit’s techno heritage at the annual Movement Music Festival, a three-day celebration held every Memorial Day weekend in downtown’s Hart Plaza. Running from 23-25 May 2026, it promises a stellar line-up of local legends and internationally acclaimed DJs. Throughout the year, late-night venues such as TV Lounge and The Marble Bar keep the beats pulsing with high-energy sets, while Exhibit 3000 — the world’s first dedicated techno museum — offers an immersive look at the genre’s roots and revolutionary rise.

Rock 'n' roll

Detroit goes by many names — the Motor City, The D, the 313. But in 1976, rock band Kiss gave it another: Detroit Rock City. Written by frontman Paul Stanley, the song paid tribute to the city’s rebellious energy — a loud, proud rock ’n’ roll spirit that fuelled garage rock pioneers like MC5 and Iggy Pop’s The Stooges in the 60s. This gritty, thunderous sound also paved the way for fellow Detroiters Jack and Meg White of The White Stripes. While many of the venues that once hosted these acts have since closed, rock lovers can feel that electric energy at Saint Andrew’s Hall, where bands like Nirvana and the Red Hot Chili Peppers cut their teeth. Nearby in the Cass Corridor district, Third Man Records — owned by Jack White — stages intimate gigs for local and national artists. Just around the corner, The Old Miami supports local bands and travelling musicians inside its eclectic space complete with a koi pond and bonfire area.