Opener: Taylor Ashton
The Ark 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, United StatesA soulful, euphoric, folk-flavored outpouring of hope and joy, propelled by the kind of crisp, crystalline picking that gives lyrics wings. Come hear the band Rolling Stone called “a master class in string music”!
Whether you're looking for your big break, want to perfect your live performance skills, or just want to perform live for the sheer fun of it, Open Stage nights offer supportive audiences and a terrific space.
The Ocean Celtic Quartet will transport you to the Yuletide celebrations of yore in a program featuring traditional carols, foot-stomping Celtic fiddle tunes, 19th-century broadside songs, original seasonal compositions, and even an appearance by Father Christmas of the old mummers’ plays! Come in good voice, as you’ll be invited to sing along!
By request of the artist, masks are required for this performance.
In 2002, Vienna released her debut album Waking Hour, landing her on NPR’s Weekend Edition, The Late Show with David Letterman, and the top of Amazon’s music charts. Four more albums followed, most recently Aims in 2013, which became the first album to win four Independent Music Awards; she also composed the music for The Fourth Messenger by playwright (and Ann Arborite) Tanya Shaffer, which premiered in 2013. Along with Vienna’s captivating live performances and thoughtful online presence, her work has built a devoted following across generations as well as continents. Now her two new compositions, “We’ve Got You," marks the start of a new chapter for Vienna. “I’ve found a rabbit hole I’m excited to go down further,” she says. Her long-distance phase with music is over; let the reunion begin.
Blackthorn welcomes you to the rich tapestry of Celtic music. Traditional songs of emigration, sea shanties, lively jigs and reels, and ancient airs.
Doubling as a platform for activism, the music of Fela Kuti was a unique blend of jazz, funk, and African influences. Performed by an African big-band of unusual instrumentation, Fela’s music rolled out in an extended, hypnotic fashion. His political vocals fell somewhere between melody and musical speech. While the Afrobeat music of Nigeria’s Fela Kuti remains singularly unique, it typically fails to gain deserved attention in the world of modern-day performance.
Join us for a rare opportunity to hear this music authentically reproduced. Originally sponsored by the University of Michigan “MCube” initiative, this performance unites UofM faculty & musicians from the Flint and Ann Arbor campuses with local professionals. The project, lead by Brian DiBlassio, is based on note-for-note transcriptions of Fela’s work, with feature artist from Cincinnati, Baoku Moses, performing the role of Fela.
The Ark's annual Crossroads Ceili is a great way to mark the turning of the year. It's a gathering of local Celtic-oriented singers, instrumentalists, and dancers, all sharing the stage to get your Celtic music year off to a good start. If you'd like to get an idea of the depth of southeastern Michigan's Celtic music scene, the Ceili is a great place to do it. Fiddler Mick Gavin, the organizer of the Ceili and a frequent performer there, was recently inducted into the Irish Music Hall of Fame.
The tradition that started more than a decade ago at the Bell House in Brooklyn, and now is a much-anticipated event also in Los Angeles and other cities, is coming back to Ann Arbor! Fifty of the area's up-and-coming and veteran comics come together to tell the first jokes they've written for the new year, kicking off the 2023 comedy scene in the most righteous way possible! It's fast, it's fresh, and above all it's funny. It's also not going to break the bank, so why not check out some Michigan comic voices you may not have known about?
It's hard to believe, because each show is fresh and new, but the RFD Boys have been delighting Michigan audiences since 1969 with their fabulous musicianship and sly, exquisitely timed between-song humor.
The Yellow Room is the "brilliantly yellow" living room of Tamulevich's house on Ann Arbor's Old West Side, where gang members meet monthly for musical brainstorming and mutual critique. Tonight’s show features all eight members of the gang: Annie Capps, Kitty Donohoe, Jan Krist, Michael Hough, David Tamulevich, Jim Bizer, David Barrett, and Matt Watroba. Come and be a fly on the wall as the exchange of creative ideas flows freely! To have any one of these songwriters perform at Trinity House is a real treat," says promoter Bill Keith. "To have them perform together is unbelievable." The Yellow Room Gang has been around for 15 years now, with all the members coming up with new music all the while.
Special Guest: John Cushing
The Ark 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, United StatesLily Talmers hopes her voice will lull you into Midwestern-accent-induced submission. A metro Detroit native who now resides in Brooklyn, New York, Lily released her second full-length album, "Hope is the Whore I Go To," last July. Her sound is rooted in the 60’s folk revival, with moments that reveal her broad fascination with music— the influence of Greek, Lusophone, and classical music all subtly swirl around in her melodies. Brooklyn singer and composer John Cushing provides support.
British guitar legend Albert Lee, regarded by many as one of the world's finest guitar players, with a career spanning more than 50 years, needs no introduction for country music, blues, and rock fans. Widely hailed for his fingerstyle and hybrid picking technique, Albert Lee helped to redefine country guitar for a whole generation of players with his song "Country Boy." Albert's many career highlights include two Grammy wins, five years in the Eric Clapton band, and stints with the Rolling Stones' Bill Wyman, The Crickets, the Everly Brothers, Joe Cocker, Emmylou Harris, Rodney Crowell and many more.