Downtown Ypsilanti's Crossroads summer music series continues growing, prepares for finale

In its sixth year, the free Friday night concert series on downtown Ypsilanti’s Washington Street between Michigan Ave. and Pearl Street offers a wide variety of genres from jazz to country to rockabilly to world music.

The city closes off the street and the concert takes place in an intimate setting, which Heikkinen partly attributed its growing popularity.

“It’s just very intimate when the sun sets behind the buildings. As the night gets darker, and you have all the lights from the stage, it makes for a really nice environment,” Heikkinen said. “People are sitting on chairs, on the concrete flower beds and it just gets hopping. It’s so much fun to see that kind of energy in downtown Ypsilanti.”

Crowds are up from last year and have counted anywhere from 350 to 600 people, but Heikkinen expects even higher figures for the final two weeks. Week six, called the “Ann Arbor/Ypsi Legends Night” starts at 7 p.m. Friday and features local artists George Bedard and Steve Nardella.

Nardella is a rockabilly artist who has performed since the late 1960s in bands such as the Boogie Brothers, Vipers and Silvertones. Bedard, the evening’s second act, also played in the Silvertones and most has a long stint leading the Kingpins. He was described by Goldmine Magazine as “one of the best rockabilly pickers on the planet.”

Crossroads used to start in early June each summer, but faced several challenges with the closing of Pub 13 last fall. The Pub, which was located on Washington Street, allowed Crossroads to use its electricity, storage space and stage.

That meant a shortened year, which Heikkinen said has improved the series because it is more focused on quality instead of quantity, and that has led to bigger and better crowds.

The crowd and musicians alike are treated to a high quality sound system. Heikkinen said it adds to the audience’s experience and several performers have remarked on how good the shows sounded.

“The sound guys do a great job here,” Heikkinen said. “After last week’s concert, Harper (of Harper Midwest Kind), said ‘Man, that was good sound - I should have recorded this one!’"

Aside from the musicians, several local artists and jewelry makers set up tables while local restaurants sell food and drinks.

The series is organized and put on by the Downtown Association of Ypsilanti. Heikkinen, the group's chairperson, said it’s an all-volunteer team that makes Crossroads happen each week. Money is raised through several fundraising efforts, charity gaming and donations. The event has also received support from the Ypsilanti Area Visitors and Convention Bureau, and Déjà Vu provides storage space and electricity.

Crossroads' growth reflects the improvements experienced by all of downtown Ypsilanti in recent years, Heikkinen said. Several popular shops, including Mix, The Rocket, B-24’s and the area’s bars all are open late on Fridays, offering visitors a bigger experience.

“We do this every year, and it gets progressively better,” Heikkinen said. “People are getting more comfortable coming to downtown Ypsilanti, there are more stores people are aware of and want to go to. They know it’s easy to get to here, easy to park here, and there’s more to do."

The series concludes on Aug. 19 starting at 6 p.m. with performances by jazz musician John E. Lawrence, the Washtenaw Community College Jazz Youth Ensemble and rock/fusion trio Jungle.

For more information, visit www.ypsicrossroads.org.