Judy Banker Band

Americana and Alt-Country artist Judy Banker returns to The Ark with her all-star band for a birthday concert that also celebrates the release of her fourth studio album, “Bona Fide.” With this newest release, Judy’s songwriting—rife with melodic hooks and raw, poetic lyrics set to layered, innovative arrangements—has evolved, crossing over and blending jazz, R&B, and rock to create something that feels at once familiar and wholly original. Judy and her band—David Roof, John Sperendi, Tony Pace, Alan Pagliere & Brian Williams—will be performing “Bona Fide” cover to cover as well as favorite selections from Judy’s other records.

As a longtime Ann Arbor–based musician, Judy has deep connections to the region. Musical partner to Michigan songwriting legend Jay Stielstra for nearly 15 years, and music director of the fall 2022 40th-anniversary revival of Jay’s musical play “North Country Opera,” Judy has been writing and recording her own music for the past decade, with her debut release, “Without You,” nearing its ten-year anniversary. With three highly regarded studio albums under her belt and a single, “Blessed Be the Nation”—a poem of Pete Seeger’s Judy set to her original music—Judy has established herself as a staple of the southeast Michigan music scene.

Along with copies of “Bona Fide” and other music merch, Judy will have available for purchase copies of photographs she is known for capturing of the rural/natural areas surrounding Ann Arbor. A portion of photograph sales will go to support the Michigan League of Conservation Voters. Ann Arbor songwriter Annie Bacon opens.