In December 2022, a group of Detroit singer-songwriters hosted a Bruce Springsteen tribute show to benefit the homeless.

Billed as Darkness on the Edge of Corktown at Lager House, the show featured local artists performing songs from The Boss’ extensive catalog and collecting donated winter clothing for people in need.

“We did it then for the first time and accepted clothing donations, but we didn’t have a nonprofit partner per se,” said Mike Ward, a folk singer-songwriter who co-organized the show.

“Everybody had a great time at it, and [co-organizer] Nick Juno was the one who said, ‘Hey, we should be doing that again.’ And I said, ‘Yeah, you know what, you’re right, we should.’”

Two years later, Darkness on the Edge of Corktown returns January 17 for a second edition at Lager House.

The Springsteen-themed show includes performances from 25 singer-songwriters and benefits the Motor City Mitten Mission, a St. Clair Shores, Michigan nonprofit that supports the homeless.

“Darkness on the Edge of Town is one of Springsteen’s albums and it’s one of my favorite albums of all time. It works because we’re right at the edge of Corktown where Lager House is,” Ward said.

“For this show, we figured out the logistics of having a benefit for the Motor City Mitten Mission and we talked to executive director Gail Marlow. She’s totally into it because she does a lot of promoting with the Detroit Lions—she’s a tireless worker.”

The show also serves as a collection site to donate winter clothing and outdoor gear for the homeless. Only new donations will be accepted.

Show attendees can donate any of the following items—sweatshirts, sweatpants, long underwear, sleeping bags, backpacks, tarps, hand and toe warmers, and more—and receive a discounted entry fee of $5 that night.

People also can make monetary donations at the show or through the Motor City Mitten Mission’s website. All donations and proceeds from the show will go to the nonprofit.

“The Motor City Mitten Mission is a fantastic organization, so we felt like, ‘OK if we’re gonna do this, let’s do it right and reduce the price of admission with the donation of an item,’” said Ward, who started planning the event with Juno last summer.

“Everybody is volunteering for this event, and we’re working with general manager and talent buyer Katelyn Burkart at Lager House to coordinate it.”

In addition to supporting those in need, the show spotlights a myriad of talent from local artists, including Mark Jewett, Ryan Trager, Annie Bacon, George Montrelle, Audra Kubat, Jackamo, Emily Rose and Kate Hinote, Dave Boutette and Kristi Davis, and others. During the show, each artist will perform a different Springsteen song.

“We liked that format of everybody playing a song and everybody had a great time at the first show,” Ward said. “There’s so much camaraderie in this community, and we have all these different performers joining up with others and doing duets—it’s going to be fun.”

Darkness on the Edge of Corktown is January 17 at Lager House, 1254 Michigan Avenue, Detroit. The show is a benefit for the Motor City Mitten Mission. Admission is $5 with donation or $10 without donation. Doors are 7 p.m. and show is 8 p.m. For tickets, visit Lager House’s website.