New Firm Launches Live Music Events At Michigan Metal Venues

A Detroit-area corporate relations and nonprofit executive and a local veteran metal musician have teamed up to form Metal City Entertainment, LLC, an entertainment firm focused on promoting the Michigan heavy metal music scene through a series of indoor, festival-type "parties" and showcases that are designed to attract and retain the growing number of fans of the genre.

The showcases, dubbed "A Metal City Party" will match the area's most popular metal acts with amazing performances by burlesque dancers, pyrotechnic performers, sideshow acts, and heavy metal-themed game shows that will be offered to the audience between musical sets, bringing the summer festival experience to local venues throughout SE Michigan. The first Metal City Party will be held April 19 at the Token Lounge in Westland, a venue synonymous with up-and-coming hard rock and metal entertainment since 1971.

"With the commercial success of national metal acts such as LAMB OF GOD, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, SLAYER and others, heavy metal has broadened its audience base tremendously. Metal music is no longer the exclusive domain of male teenagers. The metal audience has become older (college and career-aged) and more increasingly more female," says Velda, of Metal City Entertainment. "Metal City wants to invite the growing base of local metal fans to a Metal City party so that they can experience the feel, attention and excitement of a national, outdoor metal festival, but in a more intimate setting where they can meet the band, like-minded friends, and see cool performances usually only afforded to them at high-ticket priced festivals."

Realizing the potential for companies and media outlets to get their branding and messaging in front of the fans of heavy metal music, Metal City Entertainment will use its corporate relations, marketing and promotions expertise to partner with the growing number of clothing stores, terrestrial, satellite and internet radio stations, music magazines, and tattoo shops that want to reach out to target this specific demographic through sponsorships and cross-promotion opportunities with Metal City. "It's a win-win situation for the metal community. Retail and media will get to target a desirable demographic, local metal bands will get more exposure and the fans will have a unique, live metal music experience" adds Garcia. Metal City will also provide accommodations and marketing kits featuring each Metal City Party acts to record labels and music executives in hopes that they too will participate in these showcase events as well.

Already generating buzz through the local online music community, Metal City is planning ahead. "Local venues and metal bands have approached us about participating in a Metal City Party," says Garcia. "We hope to see a lot of metal shows, talk to fans and gather some market research and give these talented performers the professionalism and expertise that they deserve." Local veteran metal musician Dan Fayz, drummer of AS THEY SLEEP, will head Metal City's artistic direction and talent scouting, bringing over 15 years of experience and relationships with Detroit's diverse musical community. "Local bands work hard and put their lives into their music, they deserve to play to packed shows and benefit by good marketing and promotions." adds Fayz.

Metal City Entertainment will host a Metal City Party monthly, commencing with the first Metal City Party on April 19 at Westland's Token Lounge featuring AS THEY SLEEP, SOLDIERS of SCRAPE, BATTLECROSS, I DECAY and SIN THEOREM.