The Picture Of The Day

Ann Arbor native/neo-soul singer Mayer Hawthorne is on a roll. Currently he’s touring the world, hot on the heels of his well reviewed sophomore album “How Do You Do”.

Over the last year he’s appeared with personal hero Daryl Hall on an episode of Live From Daryl’s House, had Mayer fan Snoop Dogg sing on “Can’t Stop” on the new record and even landed a cameo on a recent episode of the ressurected TV show 90210.

At his sold out Majestic Theater show last week none other than Kid Rock was in the house, checking out Mayer while WDIV ran a feature asking if he could be the next Madonna or Kid Rock (the next Jack White might be a better analogy). It was no surprise that new Detroit resident Kid Rock and Mayer Hawthorne hit it off immediately backstage (pictured) – both are DJs turned performers after all.

The good news is that Mayer Hawthorne will have his first hometown concert since he played The Blind Pig over 2 years ago on July 26th – when he plays Sonic Lunch at Liberty Plaza FOR FREE.

The popular free lunch time concert series that runs from June 7th to August 30th has stepped up it’s game considerably for this year – on top of the Mayer Hawthorne date Mitch Ryder, Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. as well as a Frontier Ruckus/Chris Bathgate double bill will be appearing. Ann Arbor’s 107one’s Tree Town Sound host Matt Altruda put together the stellar lineup and says with a grin “I want to see to it that people in Ann Arbor don’t work on Thursday afternoons.”

Just make sure you get there early for the Mayer Hawthorne show, they’re already talking about closing Liberty Street for the show.