Listen to Live Music at Flint & Genesee’s Machine Shop

In between Grand Blanc and downtown Flint is a music venue that’s become beloved throughout the music industry. This venue has managed over all its years to remain a thriving independent that hosts concerts that can rival the excitement of an arena show. From outlaw country music to comedy shows, and to the very hardest of rock concerts, the Machine Shop Concert Lounge has been one of Flint & Genesee’s best spots to see an amazing concert and remains that to this day.

Opened in 2002, the space on Dort Highway was once home to another concert venue, Razzmatazz, which had hosted national acts in its space before closing and making room for what is there today. On opening, the Machine Shop immediately filled a void for live music in Flint, especially harder rock music, welcoming in performers that weren’t being booked elsewhere locally. The Machine Shop’s space is all about the experience with an amazing sound system, a stage that brings the performers to the audience, and a full bar. Over the years the space has brought in food trucks to serve its customer base further and add another amenity to a night of entertainment. The venue also continues to upgrade the sound and lighting to make for better shows.

From the very beginning, the venue has been known for serving up touring hard rock and heavy metal and bringing legendary acts to the stage. Between the hospitality toward bands, a great sound system, and a dedicated fan base that supports everything that Machine Shop does, all these things have made the rock club a favorite. The concert venue has earned a reputation as a first-class space for both the fans who travel from all around the region for concerts to the bands themselves.

One thing that could never be said about the Machine Shop is that it hasn’t changed with the tastes of its audiences. Over the years the venue has evolved from being one known more for the hard rock and metal bands that played there to a space also for country music and outlaw country. Outlaw country is a more raucous offshoot of country that embraces the harder living aspects that country music was known for in the past and its creators have become rock stars in the same way that rock band members have.

“The Machine Shop has evolved a lot over the years while still keeping true to being a rock and country venue. Even the interior has kept its old-school rock club style for all 22 years.” said owner Kevin Zink. “As far as the ‘scene’, well that is always changing. Right now, we are seeing a surge in the demand for Nu Metal and 90s artists.  Also, people seem to really enjoy seeing top-notch tribute acts. Those shows are a lot of fun!”

Touring rock bands and country acts aren’t the only ones that have found a home at the Machine Shop though, the venue has hosted several comedy shows in recent years and has an upcoming sold-out date with comedian Tom Green in the months ahead. It has also been a frequent home to local and regional acts, allowing them to open for well-known bands as well as giving them experience performing in front of larger crowds. It’s this dedication to growing local talent and booking national performers that has made the Machine Shop so beloved locally and nationally.

Even now, the club is looking for ways to keep bringing its audiences what they want and to that end, they recently offered two concert dates from the band Nonpoint live to stream for those that were not able to attend the shows. The late 2023, performances were offered via a service called The Machine Shop Digital Lounge and these performances were produced by a well-respected music producer to make sure that things looked and sounded their best. The two concerts were offered live via a virtual ticket that granted access to the stream for fans to watch from the comfort of home but not miss the excitement of the show. It’s this dedication to embracing more styles of music, different ways to present that music, and the surrounding community that has made the Machine Shop such an important part venue for local music fans.

Asked where he hopes the Machine Shop will be in the next five to ten years, Zink said, “In five to 10 years I really hope we are still doing what we have done for the last 22 years. That is bringing the best artists we can to Flint!” 

The Machine Shop is active on its social media and constantly adding more shows to its calendar, and with national and international acts stopping in and affordable prices, this is a must-stop destination for music fans.