James Keelaghan is an artist who has proven to be a man for all seasons. As the calendar pages have turned, for almost a quarter of a century now, this poet laureate of the folk and roots music world has gone about his work with a combination of passion, intent and intensity, and curiosity.
The ultimate storytelling competition, The Moth GrandSLAM invites winners from our open-mic StorySLAMs back to the stage for the Ann Arbor storytelling championship.
Made up of three sisters from Oregon, Joseph are renowened for their signature sibling harmonies and stripped-back performance style. While their sophomore album, I’m Alone, No You’re Not (2016), arrived in a breeze of swoony folk, pop rock-minded follow-up Good Luck, Kid (2019) saw Joseph turn the volume – and soul – up. Raising their profile on tour with James Bay, the group has since hosted a cosy NPR Tiny Desk concert and performed on Later… with Jools Holland.
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. Performers have eight minutes (or two songs) each to do their thing. Doors open at 7:30, and names are drawn at 7:55 and 8:30. If your name isn't chosen, bring your raffle ticket with you next time, and you'll double your chances. Tickets at the door.
Special Guest: Ani Mari
Ypsilanti Freighthouse 100 Market Pl, Ypsilanti, MI, United StatesPresented in partnership with the University Musical Society (UMS) Texas-based songwriter and guitarist James McMurtry is a supremely insightful and inventive storyteller whose fans include everyone from Stephen King to John Mellencamp. Funny and sad often in the same breath, McMurtry teases vivid worlds out of small details, crafting searingly honest lyrics set against a rock/Americana backdrop.
Sponsored by Matt and Nicole Lester
Adam Bohanan is a Black and Jewish Twin Cities based musician and songwriter who tours nationwide. His music draws from soul, jazz, funk, and R&B. His influences include: Stevie Wonder, D’Angelo, Donny Hathaway, Sam Cooke, and Marvin Gaye. A lifelong nerd, Adam also loves to incorporate playful wordplay and nerdy references into his songwriting. Born and raised in Minnetonka, Minnesota, Frankie grew up with a diverse combination of musical inspirations. The foundation of her music stands on classic rock and the blues, which she grew up singing in bars and at music festivals as young as 8 years old. She was a contestant on season 26 of NBC’s The Voice, making it to the Knockouts on Team Reba.
Special Guest: Ani Mari
Ypsilanti Freighthouse 100 Market Pl, Ypsilanti, MI, United StatesPresented in partnership with the University Musical Society (UMS) Texas-based songwriter and guitarist James McMurtry is a supremely insightful and inventive storyteller whose fans include everyone from Stephen King to John Mellencamp. Funny and sad often in the same breath, McMurtry teases vivid worlds out of small details, crafting searingly honest lyrics set against a rock/Americana backdrop.
Sponsored by Matt and Nicole Lester
Brian Vander Ark is the lead singer and principal songwriter for the multi-platinum alternative rock band The Verve Pipe, recognized worldwide for their radio hits Photograph, Hero, Happiness Is, Never Let You Down, and the #1 smash single The Freshmen.
Special Guest: Caleb Elliott
The Ark 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, United StatesIf Lefty is anything, it is the journal of Penny and Sparrow’s inner child. Dog-eared, lock busted open. On its pages the sketches of dreams, nightmares, erotica, and literary fan fiction graffiti the margins of poetry, elegies, and love letters in the wild colors of saxophone blue, electronic pink, and blood harmony red. Beautifully varied and richly rendered, it is an album that wanders from theme to theme, style to style, exultation to tragedy. Yet it is never lost. If anything, it is at play.
Gemily (Gemini + Emily) is the folk music trio comprised of Laz and San Slomovits, and San's daughter, Emily. Laz and San, as the highly popular family music duo, Gemini, have been performing throughout Michigan and the United States since 1973. Emily first began joining them on stage when she was just eight years old, and increasingly since graduating from college in 2016. All three are versatile instrumentalists and excellent singers. Between them they play over a dozen instruments including guitars, violins, ukulele, mandolin, pennywhistle, and a variety of folk flutes and hand percussion instruments.
John Gorka is one of the most well-loved singer/songwriters in the folk community. With a career spanning 40 years and a discography of 17 solo releases, he embodies the best of folk music with his eclectic blend of folk, blues and bluegrass influences, insightful lyrics and engaging delivery. John’s career was launched in the mid-80s when he won the prestigious New Folk award at the Kerrville Folk Festival in 1984.
YAGÓDY arrives in communities across North America with a clear purpose: to preserve Ukrainian folk traditions while demonstrating their continued relevance during a time of ongoing turmoil.
For centuries, folk music has carried history, identity, and collective memory through periods of occupation, censorship, and attempted erasure. As Ukraine continues to endure sustained attacks, these events serve as living expressions of resilience and continuity. Praised as “mesmerizing” by the Chicago Sun-Times, YAGÓDY’s concerts feature material from their self-titled debut album alongside recent releases and ancestral hymns reanimated for modern times.