It’s almost June! We were in hibernation mode, writing, teaching and a few short trips to bring it all back around. Thanks to Copper Hop Brewery cool gig in St. Clair Shores and also, the Grand Haven Lake Michigan Book Festival, Horizon Books Traverse City Michigan, a songwriter retreat up near Big Rapids Michigan, and Barnes & Noble in St. Petersburg Florida.
So we’re back! Saturday June 6th at 8 pm at O’Malleys in Livonia, Michigan, it’s going to be a super night with our full band, and also, Mario Resto’s Band, World Chaotic. Join the Carolyn Striho Group and World Chaotic for a summer night of rock and roll, psychedelic gypsy new music, buzzing new songs and poems! O’Malleys is at 5 Mile and Farmington Road in Livonia, Michigan – ticket details https://omalleyslivonia.com
July has a promising light of amazing shows coming up, it’s a super return to The Whitney Mansion, July 23rd , where have a full band night together the Whitney Garden Party, presented by Metro Times Detroit Details at .https://www.thewhitney.com/events-experiences
And I’m at the Detroit Festival of Books with Heather Buchanan and the Aquarius Press table. Join us Sunday July 19th at 1030 am to 4 pm!
Thanks for the airplay at WDET-FM/NPR Detroit and in the U.K. on Rock Radio U.K. and Blues Corner U.K.! We had a great show in January being the featured songwriters for Copper Hop Brewing’ Songwriter’s Night in St. Clair Shores, Michigan. We just got back from Traverse City, Michigan for some book/music work. We hope to be in St. Petersburg Florida for a writer’s retreat near the Gulf of Mexico in Spring.
I’m excited to be a part of the Third Coast Author and Book Festival Saturday March 21st in Grand Haven, Michigan, selling and signing my book “Detroit “Maiden Energy.” There are many amazing authors at this one, and it’s free to attend (and near Lake Michigan!) More info here at: https://thirdcoastfest.org/
In April, we may be at Bowlero in Royal Oak and a tentative Eastern Market book event in May. We have a full band/music show Saturday night, June 6th, 2026, at O’Malley’s in Livonia, Michigan. Join the Carolyn Striho Group and Mario Resto and World Chaotic for a big blast of new music and more on Saturday 6/6/26 at 7:30 pm – details coming soon.
Also in June, I’ll be at 20 Front Street in Lake Orion for the Songwriter’s Night with Steve Taylor, the St Clair Shores LIT Fest on Lake St. Clair with ML Liebler, and back at Cadieux Café with our full band and The Orbitsuns.
It’s February fog and hail, rain and snow – stay warm! Love
The gigs in June (to nearly July) were so good! Even with the hot weather and storms, shows at Nor’East-r Festival in northern Michigan, in Ferndale at the Summer Concert Series, at the Ferndale Library and in Detroit at The Cadieux Cafe were splendid.. Scott Dailey was back on guitar and vocals, with Jason Charboneau on cello and guitar, Mario Resto on drums, Ron Wolf on percussion and John Barron and Christopher Spooner on bass.I was back on my Yahama keyboard and was happy to be singing, and playing my Guild guitar, too. Nice interviews with Local Spins Grand Rapids’ John Sinkevics and WDET/NPR’s Jeff Milo in Ferndale also in June- see below – thanks!
I was also over at the Don Was All Star Revue at Concert of Colors. Having played on five of the shows in the past several years, it’s always special and was grateful to be invited to the opening reception as well at The Detroit Institute of Arts’ courtyard.
The Detroit Festival of Books was really good in July.. I sold many books and had a fun time in Detroit’s Eastern Market! I’m back own with my book in September in Detroit again at Eastern Market, at the Aquarius Press table Shed 2 http://easternmarket.org/markets/taste-of-our-markets/#sunday-market
Thanks for the continued prayers for Scott’s health as he goes back into treatment soon again. We were able to move some shows around, and I have many poems and lyrics for a new book, with stories, Stay tuned to Facebook at www.facebook.com/carolynstriho and to https://www.reverbnation.com/carolynstriho and here on the site for Shows to check out show dates and announcements. We have new gigs in November and likely December, too!
We got to Ludington on Lake Michigan, to the River House on the Muskegon River this summer, and are planning a return to Italy next year for shows. Detroit Energy Asylum has released new material on Orchide Records Detroit – and I’m happy to say I’m quite busy working on new songs myself and with Scott. The new articles on DEA are coming soon.
And here’s some wonderful press received lately, too:
“Award-winning singer/songwriter, musician & poet Carolyn Striho brings rock energy with a passion for poetry and literature, with new songs and poetry, writing her entire life. She melds genres and combines a little bit of ferocity with tenderness, and a wide vocal range and heartfelt lyrics. She distills her music and resilience to communicate to the next generation. Jeff Milo, June 12, 2025, Ferndale, Michigan”
“The ‘fierce stage persona’ and poetic magic of Detroit’s award-winning Carolyn Striho…as a veteran artist with an expansive catalog of eclectic rock ’n’ roll songs, an armload of Detroit Music Awards, a new book of poetry and lyrics, and an engaged fan base, Striho embraces the variety and spontaneity of every show. her songs and her live shows steeped in diversity, from rock to Americana to classical music to pop to blues to jazz. John Sinkevics for Local Spins in Grand Rapids, Michigan June 13, 2025”
October’s here, and we’re missing playing live shows! Our U.K. tour is moved to summer 2021 now. But thanks to Arts, Beats & Eats for the virtual live show, Detroit Music Weekend and Congregation Cafe for recent gigs in Detroit. And I’ll be featured on The Nooner Show Podcast October 14th with thanks to Jackie Wallace for the live interview! https://www.facebook.com/TheNoonerShow/
UPDATE: The Audio Book version of “Detroit (Maiden Energy)” is finally coming! It will be on Findaway Voices and Amazon Audible Books (Aquarius Press Detroit). You can also order the hard copy from me directly at paypal.me/carolynstriho1 with a note and it will be mailed out, too. My book is at Detroit and Michigan bookstores, including Book Beat, Horizon Books Traverse City, Nicolas Books Ann Arbor, Dearborn Music, Mayflower Books, Street Corner Music, Flipside Records and more! You can also order from Amazon or Aquarius Press. https://www.amazon.com/Detroit-Maiden-Energy-Carolyn-Striho/dp/1733089837
In celebration of my book’s one year anniversary and the Audiobook coming out, I’ve got another great interview being published soon, too! Thanks to writer Lori Stratton for the interview on The Stratton Playlist. The interview will also be in Current Magazine Ann Arbor this winter, coming soon, too! I’ll post the interview here on my Website with more at https://strattonsetlist.com/
New releases! I’m featured on the album “End of the Night” for Record Store Day 2020 U.K. compiled by Rob St. Mary and distributed by Light in the Attic Records Seattle. My song “Rockin’ Right” is included with one of my first bands The Cubes. It also features Don Was’ first band The Traitors and Hiawatha Bailey and The Cult Heroes “Amerikan Story” with much more at https://lightintheattic.net/releases/6628-detroit-punk-archive-presents-the-end-of-the-night-1976-1983 And Orchide Records Detroit released an album with Detroit Energy Asylum which was my band for many years featuring Dave McMurray, Luis Resto, myself and great world-renowned Detroit musicians. For those who liked “Secrets and Space,” “Recreation” features new mixes of several covers with a never-before-heard lead vocal by Patti Smith on “Hunter Gets Captured by the Game” (by The Marvelettes written by Smokey Robinson). Produced by Freddie Brooks, it’s a gem at https://orchiderecords.bigcartel.com/product/dea-recreation ; https://secrets-space.bandcamp.com/album/secrets-space-original-soundtrack-of-transition
Also, thank you NPR WDET-FM’s Ann Delisi for the Detroit Guitar with Gabriel Currie taping at Music Hall Detroit. The link is coming soon with the video – Scott Dailey and I had a blast running through some music on this fine guitar with arwork by Sabrina Nelson for the WDET 101.9 Fundraiser.https://wdet.org/posts/2020/09/09/90016-win-a-one-of-a-kind-echopark-electric-guitar/
So I’ve been teaching remotely, and my high students are doing creative writing. This is a real treat, as they next will also be doing songwriting. Scott Dailey and I have started more recording and with our song “I Will Rise” coming out this Winter or Spring with several other new songs, it’s perfect timing to move back inward to the winter months, leaving the sun and shine to a ruminating cloud of covering snow. I know, I’m dreaming of better times. It’s been a terrible time with the virus, the administration with the over the top, cruel president in office, and then our Michigan Governor’s life being threatened in a major way. So these are times to remember recording with “I Will Rise” and more soon.
Thanks again, please stay safe and well ! And Vote Blue!! Love, Carolyn xx
It’s summer and I sure miss performing! Postponements are now going into 2021 and remote teaching this spring was sure new for teachers and students. I was proud of my students. Now summer is here with so much anger, outrage, illness and lives in danger. It’s hard to write with gushes of emotion then silence.
There’s good news in that I’m about to record an entire new album which surprises me. But it’s been a very strange year and I’ve written new songs that are in demo form now. I’m excited to be able to record even without an entire band. The restrictions with covid 19 are so necessary and yet people still want to “break out of them” and go against wearing a mask or caring about each other. With the virus of racism and police brutality against Black people, too, these have been sad times.
Carolyn at home going out on the street! May 2020
And in recording the new album, I thought it’s time to finally get “I Will Rise” done, which I had started to write after The Women’s March in early 2017 (and 2018). We knew from the start that getting that so-called president out of office would be best. I felt like I had an idea which came to fruition last year with The Pink Fund and PBS’ Those on the Front Lines of Cancer. Molly McDonald from the Pink Fund encouraged me to continue finishing “I Will Rise,’ and filmmaker Keith Famie also used the demo song for his PBS special in Detroit both in 2019.
Carolyn at Max Fisher Music Hall in Detroit with Scott Dailey and Amp Fiddler on Don Was’ Concert of Colors
So I premiered the song live with my husband/guitarist Scott Dailey at The Pink Fund’s Dancing with the Survivors in October just before my new book “Detroit (Maiden Energy) street princess poems and lyrics” came out. It was a great time, and inspired me to record a final version now of “I Will Rise.” I’m also updating my website to include some poems in my blogs and also, photos of my retrospective of posters and Bands I’ve had. Also, I’m doing a new Zoom or Facebook Live event of music and poetry. I’ve been writing, singing and recording for years, working with some of the best musicians in the world for years, and am proud of my recordings and shows and bands.
Photo from The Pink Fund 2019 Dancing with the Survivors – Scott Dailey and Carolyn Striho – (credit: Stacey Sherman)
In other record release news, Orchide Records Detroit released an album with Detroit Energy Asylum which was my band for many years. Featuring Dave McMurray, Luis Resto, myself and many well-known and wonderful Detroit musicians, Patti Smith also makes several appearances. “Recreation” is available on Orchide Records Detroit and for those who liked “Secrets and Space,” “Recreation” features new mixes of several numbers and a never-before-heard lead vocal on Smokey Robinson’s song (sung by The Marvelettes) “The Hunter Gets Captured by the Game” by Patti Smith. Patti and I duet on The Four Tops’ “Reach Out.” Produced by Freddie Brooks, it’s a gem! https://orchiderecords.bigcartel.com/product/dea-recreation
Luis Resto, Carolyn Striho, Dave McMurray – by Gary Graff/Oakland Press, photo Bill Schwab and Freddie Brooks 2000
And another record release! I’m featured on Detroit Punks Archive entitled “End of the Night” compiled by Rob St. Mary and distributed by Light in the Attic Records (Seattle) with Record Store Day 2020 U.K. My song “Rockin’ Right” is included with one of my first bands The Cubes. The album includes Don Was’ first band The Traitors and also Hiawatha Bailey and The Cult Heroes “Amerikan Story” with much more! Check it here at https://lightintheattic.net/releases/6628-detroit-punk-archive-presents-the-end-of-the-night-1976-1983
Detroit Punk End of the Night double album Record Store Day U.K. 2020 Photo: Bookie’s Club Sue RynskiCarolyn Striho’s “Detroit Maiden Energy” with Kate Parker’s “Strong is theNew Pretty”, HorizonBooks 2019 Traverse City, MI
And it looks like we have several new livestream shows in late July at Detroit’s Music Hall, Otus Supply in Ferndale, Michigan, and even a new book/Audio livestream show! So that is cheery news in these times. The Audio Book for my book “Detroit (Maiden Energy)” is also coming this summer. My book is at many Michigan bookstores and soon to be in Milwaukee, Chicago and in England. You can buy it on Amazon, too, Aquarius Press, or directly from me https://www.amazon.com/Detroit-Maiden-Energy-Carolyn-Striho/dp/1733089837
Begin Again
All the confusion couches the coast
rocks, rain, ruin return again
inside, harder, happens to me,
but happens to be the one quick avenue of alive in the pain
Birds floating, singing loud, sun shining, seems so rude to leave Detroit’s beginning so fast
hurtling hurdles of hard crunch as shoes hit pavement near the river again
again and again the city won’t end just begging to begin again
scatters our blood and only pretends to not care,
when it’s very soul depends on our love
through the hate we consider,
watching the dove spread its wings over water
and splash as it flies away from the smokestack,
away sunrise… away from rocks, rain, ruin, return again
again and again the city won’t end just begging to begin again
Detroit Energy Asylum w/Patti Smith (Carolyn Striho, Kenny Scott, Pam Marcil, Dave McMurray, Lenny Kaye pictured) Industry, Pontiac, MI 1995
Thanks for the support. Love, and stay safe! xx Carolyn
Carolyn Striho, Sinead O’Connor and Tori Amos, 2005 Royal Festival Hall, London England2005Scott Dailey and Carolyn Striho, Hope and Anchor Islington, London, U.K. 2018
