ROYAL OAK, Mich. – Organizers of the 24th annual Soaring Eagle Arts, Beats & Eats presented by Flagstar Bank, Southeast Michigan’s premier Labor Day festival, are excited to announce that the American rock band Rise Against has been added to the musical lineup as the headlining act on Sunday, Sept. 5. Rise Against joins Stone Temple Pilots, Neon Trees, Justin Moore Bobby Brown and many other top-tier, all-star musical acts performing at this year’s festival, and now completes the Michigan Lottery National Stage music schedule.
“We said we wanted to ‘rise’ to the occasion this year to deliver a big-time event, and with the addition of Rise Against as the final headlining musical act to fill the last slot on the national stage, I’d say we’ve accomplished our goal,” said Jon Witz, Soaring Eagle Arts, Beats & Eats festival producer. “With up to 200 musical acts scheduled across nine different stages and featuring all genres of music, festivalgoers are going to experience an unparalleled lineup with all-star performances the entire Labor Day weekend.”
The critically acclaimed band – Tim McIlrath, Joe Principe (bass), Brandon Barnes (drums) and Zach Blair (lead guitar) – just released in June their ninth album, “Nowhere Generation,” featuring the blazing and aggressive anthems for which they’re known, as well as lyrics that shine a spotlight on the social and economic challenges younger generations face in their pursuit of The American Dream. The album is Rise Against’s first release under a new agreement with Loma Vista Recordings and debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Rock chart, while the title track single reached No. 1 at Rock radio and into the top 10 at Alternative radio.
Their 2001 debut, “The Unraveling,” was hailed by Canada’s Exclaim! as “hardcore salvation.” Rise Against continued its run of success with 2006’s “The Sufferer & The Witness” and 2008’s “Appeal To Reason.” The latter brandished the Gold Certified hit single “Savior” that to date has garnered half-a-billion streams and become one of the band’s six top ten singles on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart. Known for their outspoken social commentary, issues of LGBTQ rights, animal rights, voting rights, environmental causes and modern warfare often infuse their lyrics, leading UK rock bible NME to herald Rise Against as “maybe the most important punk band on the planet.”
“Power performer” Laith Al-Saadi, originally scheduled to perform on the Michigan Lottery National Stage on Sunday, Sept. 5, has been moved to a different day and time on the music schedule. The legendary veteran of Michigan’s music scene and Season 10 (2016) finalist of NBC’s “The Voice,” will deliver his authentic blend of blues, soul and classic rock to Arts, Beats & Eats’ audiences on Monday, Sept. 6.
The following is an updated music schedule for the Michigan Lottery National Stage, with the inclusion of Rise Against.
MICHIGAN LOTTERY NATIONAL STAGE
| Friday, Sept. 3 | |
| 6:00 p.m. | Thornetta Davis |
| 8:00 p.m. | The Guess Who |
| 10:00 p.m. | Stone Temple Pilots |
| Saturday, Sept.4 | |
| 5:30 p.m. | Beatlemania Live! |
| 8:00 p.m. | Starship |
| 10:00 p.m. | Neon Trees |
| Sunday, Sept. 5 | |
| 5 p.m. | Mac Watts |
| 6 p.m. | Frank Ray |
| 7:30 p.m. | Justin Moore |
| 10:00 p.m. | Rise Against |
| Monday, Sept. 6 | |
| 3:30 p.m. | Laith Al-Saadi |
| 4:30 p.m. | Your Generation In Concert |
| 6:30 p.m. | The Gin Blossoms |
| 8:30 p.m. | Bobby Brown |
INFLATABLE PLAYSPACE
Courtesy of Oakland County and City of Royal Oak, a playspace of inflatable activities will be offered at Arts, Beats & Eats. Kids, teens and adults can enjoy a 50-foot Obstacle Course that allows individuals or teams to race through a hole, between tubes, over a climbing wall and down a slide to the finish line. For a vivid nonstop ride and a royal good time is the Castle Bouncer. With enclosed steps with railing and enclosed upper landing, a 22-foot Giant Slide is loads of fun and easy to climb. Up to four people can step inside, take aim and “blast” soft foam balls at each other and targets inside the Cannonball Blaster. There’s also a Sports-themed Bouncer. The inflatable activities are free all weekend.
2021 SPONSORS
Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort, Flagstar Bank, Beaumont, Delta Dental, Detroit Institute of Arts, Everdry, Hawthorne Suites, Hilton Garden Inn-Troy, House of Dank, Imperial Beverage, Kroger, Makers Mark, Mancan, Oakland Community College, Oozelife, Pepsi, Priority Health, Short’s Brewing Company, Stellantis, Tito’s Vodka, US Park and WeatherGard Windows.
Soaring Eagle Arts, Beats & Eats presented by Flagstar Bank will be open 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday, Sept. 3-Sunday, Sept. 5; and 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 6. Admission is free before 5 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 3 and $10 after 5 p.m. Every other day is $5 before 3 p.m. and $10 after 3 p.m.
In 2019, more than 343,000 visitors attended the four-day festival, raising more than $233,000 for local charities. With a long-standing commitment to community giving, the festival has donated a total of nearly $6 million to charitable and community causes since its inception in 1998.
While the festival was canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic, virtual and small-scale live activations took its place to spread a little bit of art, music, food and health, including a major initiative to support the local music industry called “The Beats Go On…” that raised more than $431K for local musicians.
The 24th annual Soaring Eagle Arts, Beats & Eats presented by Flagstar Bank is Oakland County’s premier festival to be held Sept. 3-6, 2021. The festival celebrates the quality of life in Oakland County by offering a culturally unique presentation that paints the city of Royal Oak’s downtown with a variety of art, food and music for the community to enjoy. “LIKE” artsbeatseats on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and Instagram @artsbeatseats. For more information, visit www.artsbeatseats.com or call 248-541-7550.
Source: Soaring Eagle Arts, Beats & Eats