Steven Page has played in a few bands over the years — among them Barenaked Ladies, which he co-founded and left in 2009, and the all-star Trans-Canada Highwaymen.
But in recent years, he’s been enjoying smaller groups, too, such as the trio with which he opened arena shows for the Who in 2022 and, this spring, a duo with Highwaymen mate and songwriting collaborator Craig Northey — both of which have allowed Page to approach his hit-filled song catalog in different ways.
“I love it,” Page, 54, says from his studio in Syracuse, New York, where he resides. “A drum kit takes up a lot of sonic real estates. This is about filling the space with fewer elements. It makes you a little more vulnerable, but it also means everything you do and everything your colleagues do gets heard. That makes it feel really special.” And, he adds, it’s not just more of the music that’s being heard while he performs songs such as “Brian Wilson,” “The Old Apartment,” “It’s All Been Done” and “Jane.”
“I can hear the audience response, whether it’s singing along or clapping, so I can sense how dug into the songs they are,” Page explains. “And it’s allowed me an opportunity to really embrace the whole catalog. Being able to sit in these songs the way we’re able to do them now gives me more appreciation for what’s there.”
Page is planning to add to that catalog, too. He’s working on the next two Highwaymen albums, a slow process given each of the members’ other commitments, and he has a stage musical, “Here’s What it Takes,” that’s still on the runway after being sidelined during the pandemic and is waiting to be jump-started.
But Page’s main project now is a follow-up to his 2005 solo debut “The Vanity Project,” on which he collaborated with British songwriter Stephen Duffy, who went on to become Robbie Williams’ chief collaborator. Page and Duffy, who also worked on the 2010 album “Page One,” stayed in touch, and resumed writing together a couple of years ago while Page was touring in England. They began recording in January with hopes for an early 2026 release.
“It’s so much fun to pick up where we left off … with a guy who’s been my kind of songwriting hero and mentor for so long,” Page says. “The biggest difference now is he defers to me in ways I didn’t expect he would, ’cause I still look at him for approval when I come up with an idea or a line. But he realizes that now I’ve got virtually as much experience as he has, so we’re just there to share ideas together and I don’t have to look for approval all the time.
“I think his point is that if I don’t know what I’m doing by now, then I’ve really pulled one over on people, right?”
Steven Page performs a sold-out show at 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 28 at the Village Theater at Cherry Hill, 50500 Cherry Hill Road, Canton. 734-394-5300 or cantonvillagetheater.org.
Other music events of note this weekend (all subject to change) include …
FRIDAY, MARCH 28
• German electronic icon Kraftwerk celebrates the 50th anniversary of its “Autobahn” album in the Masonic Cathedral Theatre, 500 Temple St., Detroit. Doors at 7 p.m. 313-548-1320 or themasonic.com.
• Detroit Symphony Orchestra Music Director Jader Bignamini will conduct Brahms’ Symphony No. 3 and pieces by Jeremy Crosmer and Camille Saint-Saens through Saturday, March 29 at Orchestra Hall, 3711 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Saturday’s concert will be streamed live and for free at 8 p.m. via the “Live From Orchestra Hall” series. 313-576-5111 or dso.org.
• YouTube pop sensation mxmtoon appears at the Majestic Theatre, 4140 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Doors at 7 p.m. Juliet Ivy opens. 313-833-9700 or majesticdetroit.com.
• Still riding last year’s hit single “Million Dollar Baby,” singer-rapper Tommy Richman cashes in at Saint Andrew’s Hall, 431 E. Congress St., Detroit. Doors at 7 p.m. 313-961-8961 or saintandrewsdetroit.com.
• Florida indie rockers flipturn hit the Royal Oak Music Theatre, 318 W. Fourth St. Doors at 7 p.m. Arcy Drive opens. 248-399-2980 or royaloakmusictheatre.com.
• Blues-rock veteran Mike Zito drops in at 7:45 p.m. at the Token Lounge, 28949 Joy Road, Westland. 734-513-5030 or tokenlounge.com.
• New Hampshire punk veterans the Queers top a five-band bill at 7 p.m. at the Sanctuary Detroit, 2932 Caniff, Hamtramck. 313-462-4117 or sanctuarydetroit.com.
• Country singer Lily Rose previews her new EP “Runnin’ Outta Time” at District 142, 142 Maple St., Wyandotte. Doors at 7 p.m. district142live.com.
• The Barricade Boys sing at 8 p.m. at Andiamo Celebrity Showroom, 7096 E. 14 Mile Road, Warren. 586-268-3200 or andiamoshowroom.com.
• The Burney Sisters bring their sibling harmonies to town at 8 p.m. at 20 Front Street in Lake Orion. 248-783-7105 or 20frontstreet.com.
• Nora En Pure, Kawsan and Dallas man the decks at the Magic Stick, 4120 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Doors at 9 p.m. 313-833-9700 or themajesticdetroit.com.
• Singer-songwriter Bayker Blakenship brings his Maxed Out Tour to the Loving Touch, 22634 Woodward Ave., Ferndale. Doors at 7 p.m. 248-820-5596 or thelovingtouchferndale.com.
• The Russ Macklem Detroit Quintet plays through Saturday, March 29 at the Dirty Dog Jazz Cafe, 97 Kercheval, Grosse Pointe. 313-882-5399 or dirtydogjazz.com.
• The Detroit Jazz Project blows at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. at Cliff Bell’s, 2030 Park Ave., Detroit. 313-961-2543 or cliffbells.com.
• Chad Tepper and Lexnour team up at the Lager House, 1254 Michigan Ave., Detroit. Doors at 7 p.m. 313-500-1475 or thelagerhouse.com.
• Troubadour Sam Robbins brings his songs to the Trinity House Theatre, 38840 W. Six Mile Road, Livonia. 8 p.m. showtime. 734-436-6302 or trinityhousetheatre.org.
• The Emerald Theatre in Mount Clemens has a tribute doubleheader this weekend, starting with the Rush salute YYNot and continuing with Hollywood Nights — The Bob Seger Experience on Saturday, March 29. 31 N. Walnut St. Mount Clemens. Doors at 7 p.m. for both. 586-630-0120 or theemeraldtheatre.com.
• Ann Arbor favorite Mustard’s Retreat’s homecoming takes place at 8 p.m. at The Ark, 316 S. Main St., Ann Arbor. 734-761-1818 or theark.org.
• Virtual: Actress and singer Emily Kinney presents “Spring Fling 2025” at 4 p.m. via veeps.com.
• Virtual: Saxophonist Sam Greenfield performs at 7:30 p.m. from Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club in New Hampshire, streaming via veeps.com.
• Virtual: Melvin Seals & JGB keep the spirit of Jerry Garcia alive at 8 p.m. from Ardmore, Pennsylvania, free for subscribers to nugs.net.
• Pigeons Playing Pink Pong premieres its Jan. 31 concert in Philadelphia and its Feb. 1 show on Saturday, March 29, both at 8 p.m. for subscribers to nugs.net.
• Virtual: Dogs In a Pile stream at 8 p.m. from the Brooklyn Bowl in New York, for subscribers to nugs.net.
SATURDAY, MARCH 29
• Nashville buzz duo The War and Treaty, which started out in Albion, stops at Saint Andrew’s Hall, 431 E. Congress St., Detroit. Doors at 7 p.m. 313-961-8961 or saintandrewsdetroit.com. For an interview, visit theoaklandpress.com.
• Detroit rock majordomo Sponge comes home to soak up the love at the Diesel Concert Lounge, 33151 23 Mile Road, Chesterfield Township. Doors at 7 p.m. 586-933-3503 or dieselconcerts.com.
• Detroit singer Joan Belgrave will sign copies of her book “The Music of Marcus Belgrave” and show a clip from an upcoming documentary about the late trumpet legend from 2-5 p.m. at the Motown Museum, 2648 W. Grand Blvd., Detroit. 313-875-2264 or motownmuseum.org.
• Tucka, Pokey Bear, Ronnie Bell and more will be part of the 17th annual Motor City Blues Festival at 7 p.m. at the Fox Theatre, 2211 Woodward Ave., Detroit. 313-471-7000 or 313Presents.com.
• The ShamRock Jazz Orchestra big band, featuring original Chicago drummer Danny Seraphine, plays the group’s hits at 8 p.m. at Andiamo Celebrity Showroom, 7096 E. 14 Mile Road, Warren. 586-268-3200 or andiamoshowroom.com.
• Portland punk rock troupe the Taxpayers drop in at the Loving Touch, 22634 Woodward Ave., Ferndale. Doors at 7 p.m. 248-820-5596 or thelovingtouchferndale.com.
• Tchami features at an official Movement festival pre-part at Elektricity, 15 S. Saginaw St., Pontiac. Qurl and Gina Maria will also perform. Doors at 9 p.m. 248-599-2212 or elektricitymusic.com.
• Guitar virtuoso Hiroya Tsukamoto performs at 8 p.m. at 20 Front Street in Lake Orion. 248-783-7105 or 20frontstreet.com.
• Kaaze leads the dance party at the Magic Stick, 4120 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Doors at 9 p.m. Aledro, Aeolus and NJP are also on the bill. 313-833-9700 or themajesticdetroit.com.
• The duo Dam Swindle plays an extended set, with Whodat opening, for an official Movement festival pre-party at 9 p.m. at Spot Lite, 2905 Beaufait St., Detroit. spotltedetroit.com or paxahau.com.
• Faded celebrates the release of a new album at 7:30 p.m. at the Token Lounge, 28949 Joy Road, Westland. 734-513-5030 or tokenlounge.com.
• The quartet Dexter and the Moonrocks showcases its “cosmic Americana” at El Club, 4114 W. Vernor Highway, Detroit. Doors at 7 p.m. 313-757-7942 or elclubdetroit.com.
• The British duo the Dream Eaters crosses the pond to play in the Pike Room at the Crofoot Complex, 1 S. Saginaw St., Pontiac. Doors at 7 p.m. 248-858-9333 or thecrofoot.com.
• Caleb Robinson and Reaching fuse Jazz and R&B at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. at Cliff Bell’s, 2030 Park Ave., Detroit. 313-961-2543 or cliffbells.com.
• The Firewalkers play pre-Motown soul, mostly from the ’50s, at the Cadieux Cafe, 4300 Cadieux Road, Detroit. 313-882-8560 or cadieuxcafe.com.
• Canadian cast members from “Mama Mia” bring their Abbamania tribute show to The Roxy, 401 Walnut Blvd., Rochester. Showtime 8 p.m. 248-453-5285 or theroxyrochester.com.
• Ruth and Max Bloomquist play a night of folk music at 8 p.m. at the Trinity House Theatre, 38840 W. Six Mile Road, Livonia. 734-436-6302 or trinityhousetheatre.org.
• The ambitious and occasionally unusual Know Obstacles Band introduces itself at 8 p.m. at The Ark, 316 S. Main St., Ann Arbor. 734-761-1818 or theark.org.
• Drummer Nick Collins leads his Sextet at 6:30 and 9 p.m. at the Blue Llama Jazz Club, 314 S. First St., Ann Arbor. Trumpeter Jauron Perry and his 734-372-3200 or bluellamaclub.com.
• Virtual: Blues guitarist JW Jones plays at 7:30 p.m. from Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club in New Hampshire, streaming via veeps.com.
• Virtual: Country star Morgan Wallen, prepping for the May 16 release of his new album “I’m the Problem,” is the musical guest on this week’s episode of “Saturday Night Live.” Academy Award winner Mikey Madison hosts at 11:30 p.m. on NBC (WDIV, Channel 4 in Detroit).
SUNDAY, MARCH 30
• Swedish headbangers Meshuggah are joined by Cannibal Corpse and Carcass at the Fillmore Detroit, 2115 Woodward Ave. Doors at 6 p.m. 313-961-5451 or thefillmoredetroit.com.
• Florida alt-rockers Anberlin top a bill with Copeland and the Dangerous Summer at the Majestic Theatre, 4140 Woodward Ave. Doors at 6 p.m. 313-833-9700 or majesticdetroit.com.
• Buzzed-about Ontario sextet the Birthday Massacre rocks at Small’s, 10339 Conant, Hamtramck. Doors at 7 p.m. Essenger and Magic Wands also perform 313-873-1117 or smallsbardetroit.com.
• Austin, Texas, troupe Sarah and the Sundays rock the Shelter, 431 E. Congress St., Detroit. Doors at 7 p.m. 313-961-8961 or saintandrewsdetroit.com.
• Mike Letovsky directs the Ambassadors Big Band at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. at Cliff Bell’s, 2030 Park Ave., Detroit. 313-961-2543 or cliffbells.com.
• Amber Jail, De’Mi Alyse, Jazar, Questo Tone and Zaire Danae are lined up for this month’s Breaking Sound Detroit Showcase at the New Dodge Lounge, 8850 Jos Campau, Hamtramck. 313-638-1508 or thenewdodgelounge.com.
• Singer-songwriters Mary McGuire and Carolyn Striho join forces for a matinee at 3 p.m. at the Ann Arbor District Library, 343 S. 5th Ave. 734-327-4200 or aadl.org.
• Ark regular John Gorka returns to the venue at 7:30 p.m. 316 S. Main St., Ann Arbor. 734-761-1818 or theark.org.
• Vocalist Kathy Kosins performs with accompanists Joe Lehman and Nick Calandro at 6 and 7:30 p.m. at the Blue Llama Jazz Club, 314 S. First St., Ann Arbor. 734-372-3200 or bluellamaclub.com.
• Virtual: Americana all-star David Grisman premieres his March 25 concert in Seattle at 8 p.m., for subscribers to nugs.net.
