Jokes, Jazz & Jams.

A Father’s Day celebration on the Detroit riverfront. Ten artists, one stage, and more than 5,000 guests — conceived, promoted, and produced by J3.

Date: Sunday, June 21, 2026
Venue: Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre, Detroit
Format: Comedy · Jazz · R&B · Hip-Hop · Gospel

In attendance: 5,000+
Seat riverfront amphitheatre: 6,000
Stars on one stage: 10
Grammy-winning headliner: 1

The idea

Dads deserve more than a card.

Father’s Day rarely gets a main event. We set out to build one: a premium night out where the men who show up every day get a standing ovation of their own.

The format became the name. Stand-up comedy, live jazz, and the jams — R&B, hip-hop, and gospel — programmed as a single evening so that three generations of one family could each have a favorite moment.

Then we took it to the riverfront, to a stage that carries Aretha Franklin’s name.

Guests fill the amphitheatre seating with the Detroit River behind the stage

The night, in motion

You had to be there. Here’s the next best thing.

Real footage from June 21 — the full house at the finale, the recap film, every act in under a minute, and the headliner at dusk.

The finale · Doug E. Fresh and more than 5,000 people on their feet — press play for sound

The recap film · 1:37 — press play for sound. Film by KJ Ross.

Every act · Ten acts and one loud crowd, in 36 seconds

The headliner · Gregory Porter at dusk — press play for sound

The bill

Ten acts. Five genres. One night.

Booking a bill this wide is one job. Sequencing it so the night builds — and every changeover lands on time — is another.

Gregory Porter mid-song in a sky-blue jacket — Headliner · Grammy Award winnerGregory Porter

Nephew Tommy on the mic — **Nephew Tommy**Host

Doug E. Fresh with arms outstretched — **Doug E. Fresh**Hip-Hop

Chanté Moore raises a fist mid-performance — **Chanté Moore**R&B

Julian Vaughn plays a purple bass guitar — **Julian Vaughn**Smooth Jazz

Kierra Sheard-Kelly sings with eyes closed — **Kierra Sheard-Kelly**Gospel

Tacarra Williams performs stand-up — **Tacarra Williams**Comedy

Marcus D. Wiley performs stand-up — **Marcus D. Wiley**Comedy

Sugarhill Gang and Furious Five perform together — **Sugarhill Gang & Furious Five**Hip-Hop

The Williams Singers perform — **The Williams Singers**Gospel

One stage.
One night.
All power.

What J3 did

Concept to curtain call.

J3 Productions originated the event and carried it through to the final bow.

Concept & programming

An original format — comedy, jazz, and jams — shaped into a Father’s Day tradition with its own name and identity.

Talent

Ten acts booked, contracted, advanced, and hosted, from a Grammy-winning headliner to hip-hop pioneers.

Marketing

A full campaign: station-ready TV spots, artist promo videos, print, digital display, and social.

Show production

Run of show, stage management, and show-day operations at a 6,000-seat waterfront amphitheatre.

The 30-second broadcast spot from the 2026 campaign. This event has passed; tickets are no longer on sale.

The campaign

We market what we produce.

A great lineup doesn’t sell itself. We ran a full multi-channel campaign behind the show, and gave Father’s Day weekend a second act with a Detroit Tigers ticket offer for concertgoers.