Born and raised in Detroit’s inner city, BLKBOK (born Charles Wilson III) grew up in a music-filled home and was an acclaimed piano prodigy by age eight, winning statewide accolades and college-level competitions. While many of his peers pursued hip-hop, Charles chose the name BLKBOK, a nod to one of the greatest pianists and composers of all time and a reflection of his journey from pop and hip-hop culture to his critically acclaimed neo-classical debut album Black Book and subsequent mixtape projects and collaborations.
Dubbed by Rolling Stone as "a genre unto herself," Brooklyn, NY-based Kaki King has proven to be just that. Her career has taken her all over the world, sharing stages with Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters, contributing music to award-winning films (Sean Penn's Into The Wild), and performing at the London Jazz Festival and the Paris Les Femmes s'en Melent. Her explorations into the guitar and multimedia have led to the creation of groundbreaking work such as The Neck Is A Bridge To The Body, Modern Yesterdays, and a new multi-media musical production for children called BUGS.
Royal Oak Music Theatre
318 W 4th St, Royal Oak, MI, United States
Punch Brothers, formed in 2006, are a virtuosic quintet featuring mandolinist Chris Thile, guitarist Chris Eldridge, bassist Paul Kowert, banjoist Noam Pikelny, and violinist Brittany Haas. Known for pushing the boundaries of acoustic music, the band has garnered critical acclaim, including a Grammy for Best Folk Album for All Ashore (2018). The Washington Post applauded them for taking “bluegrass to its next evolutionary stage, drawing equal inspiration from the brain and the heart.”
For 35 years, California Guitar Trio (CGT) has redefined what a small ensemble can achieve on one stage. Since forming in 1991, the group has captivated audiences with a singular sound that fearlessly crisscrosses genres — blending rock, jazz, classical, and global influences, with the occasional surf or spaghetti Western twist for good measure.
Mike Dawes is an English guitarist known for composing, arranging, and performing multiple parts simultaneously on a single guitar. He is regarded as one of the world’s most creative modern fingerstyle guitarists, with a repertoire spanning original viral videos and popular arrangements, alongside mainstream chart success performing with Justin Hayward of The Moody Blues.
