Due to unforeseen circumstances, this show has been postponed to November 7th. All previously purchased tickets will be honored on the new date. If unable to attend on the new date, ticket holders have until October 17th to request a refund.
Special Guest: Angel White
The Ark 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, United StatesKaitlin Butts has a deep affinity for country music’s more theatrical side: the extravagant storytelling, dazzling showmanship, songs embedded with both unbridled emotion and quick-fire humor. After discovering her passion for performing as a little girl, the Tulsa native later brought her boundless energy and radiant voice to her own unapologetic yet soulful songwriting. When it came time to create her third album, the Nashville-based musician leaned into her lifelong love of musical theater and dreamed up a modern-day reimagining of the soundtrack to her all-time favorite musical, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! The result: a high-concept but candidly autobiographical LP called Roadrunner!, whose 17 powerhouse songs show the full force and extraordinary depth of Butts’ artistry for the very first time.
Legendary Michigan songwriter, Jay Stielstra, whose life and art will long be remembered by our Michigan community, has left us a treasured legacy of unforgettable songs, musical plays, and other writings. To celebrate Jay’s life and music, a roster of beloved Michigan musicians will bring the songs from Jay’s many musical plays, including Jay’s iconic North Country Opera, and more, to the The Ark stage.
Special Guest: Jack Van Cleaf
The Ark 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, United StatesFor nearly two decades, Willie Watson has made modern folk music rooted in older traditions. He’s a folksinger in the classic sense: a singer, storyteller, and traveler with a catalog of songs that bridge the gap between the past and present.
This show has been cancelled. Refunds were issued through original point of purchase.
Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winner and folk icon Tom Paxton is back, and he's teaming up with the Grammy-winning Nashville singer/songwriter duo The DonJuans—Don Henry & Jon Vezner. Within days of writing and playing together, the trio knew they were onto something, and they soon took it on the road. This will be Tom’s last area performance as he’s retiring from the road in spring 2025.
After a series of indie releases and growing buzz in the Atlanta music scene, Shawn Mullins’ critical and commercial breakthrough came when 1998 Soul’s Core shot him to fame on the strength of Grammy-nominated No. 1 hit, “Lullaby” followed by AAA/Americana No. 1 hit “Beautiful Wreck” from 2006’s 9th Ward Pickin’ Parlor. For the 20th anniversary of his breakthrough album, Shawn revisited the music of Soul’s Core by recording two new versions of the album. This is not a remix or a remaster of the original, but rather brand new recordings with new arrangements of the songs – one album is stripped down solo performances, some on guitar, some on piano and maybe one a cappella and the second is a new studio recording with his full band.
Special Guest: The Mavericks
Opener: Drayton Farley
Masonic Temple Theatre 500 Temple St, Detroit, MI, United StatesPresented by The Ark and AEG - Doors at 6pm Dwight Yoakam has sold more than 25 million albums worldwide, and he is a 21-time nominated, multiple GRAMMY Award winner. He has 12 gold albums and 9 platinum or multi-platinum albums, with five of those albums topping Billboard’s Country Albums chart and another 14 landing in the Top 10. Nearly 40 of Yoakam’s singles have charted on Billboard, with 14 peaking in the Top 10. Yoakam is a recipient of the Artist of the Year award from the Americana Music Association, and BMI Country Music’s President’s Award, the most prestigious award offered by the organizations. He was also inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in the Songwriter/Artist category at the 49th anniversary Gala in 2019 in Nashville, TN.
Presented by A2 Jazz Fest Joshua Redman is one of the most acclaimed and respected jazz artists to have emerged in our generation. His latest project, Where Are We, marks the first time that Joshua has included a vocalist (Gabrielle Cavassa) on a record, and features Aaron Parks on piano, Joe Sanders on bass, and Brian Blade on drums.
In celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the release of his critically acclaimed album Falling Forward, produced by multiple Grammy Winner Neil Dorfsman, Willy Porter will be joined by his full band & special guests to perform the record in its entirety as well as material from Porter’s most recent album, The Ravine and more! This promises to be a high-energy evening of powerful music! Limited edition double vinyl albums, including unreleased bonus material, will be available at the shows.
In 2016, Laith Al-Saadi won America’s hearts and a spot in the Season 10 finale of NBC’s “The Voice.” Now he’s bringing an authentic blend of blues, soul and classic rock to audiences around the nation and the world. Laith Al-Saadi has always had the perfect combination of Midwestern hustle and incredible musical chops—honed at the University of Michigan school of music in his hometown of Ann Arbor, and on stages across the country working with legends like Taj Mahal, Luther Allison, Buddy Guy, Son Seals, Gregg Allman, and B.B. King. Laith’s birthday shows have been on hiatus since covid. Come celebrate the return of this annual Ann Arbor tradition!
Jack O’Neill and Cary Pierce, the “Jack O: and “Pierce: who make up the seminal duo Jackopierce, are celebrating 35 years of making music that has amasses a loyal following of millions of fans across the country and the world with a super high-energy live show and that the Dallas Morning News has called “spotless harmonies.”