My Article for Metro Times

music-a-groove

Kindred Media & Entertainment founder Leah Hill just wants Detroit to dance. Thus, A Groove, a new dance night with DJ Deon Jamar, was born.

"It's a chance to put on the outfit you've been waiting to bring out the closet," says Hill. "By the end of the night, people should be lighter, as if they've danced their worries away."

Jamar, a Detroit native, says that there should be a little something for everyone, including house, hip-hop, disco, and reggae. "Since I'm playing all night, I plan to bring a few different tempo ranges and songs from different eras," he says. "Some modern and some old school, but expect funk and expect soul."

Hill, a graduate of the University of Michigan, created Detroit-based Kindred Media & Entertainment in 2017 as a platform for local artists of color. The company held its first event, the Kindred Music & Culture Festival, in August at Detroit's Roosevelt Park, featuring a lineup of talent like Payroll Giovanni, Bevlove, and Monalyse, among others. Hill says she hopes the Kindred Music & Culture Festival and A Groove will become annual events.

A Groove marks Jamar and Hill's first event working together. "I met Leah on a night I called 'Healin' Session,'" Jamar says. "I was familiar with her work with Kindred Fest, but this was the first time we got to connect. She heard me play my first set and approached me afterward. We talked about her idea of wanting to throw a dance party at the Garden and wanting me to play. I was down since then."

Jamar says his expectations for the event are high. "The Garden Theater is really a beautiful place and I expect to see a very beautiful crowd," he says. "Good music, good people, and good times is what to expect."

A Groove begins at 9 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 9 at the Garden Theater; 313-832-0888; thegardendetroit.com; Tickets start at $15.

Get our top picks for the best events in Detroit every Thursday morning. Sign up for our events newsletter.