The Ark

The Bygones
2024-12-03 20:00 - 23:00 (America/Detroit) | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
It’s human nature to look back, and to try to make sense of that which has gone by. For the luminous indie folk duo of Joshua Lee Turner and Allison Young, it’s a question not only of what should be relinquished, but also what might be worth taking with you. “There’s goodness in every decade of
music. And there’s goodness in every season of life,” Josh shares. “For us, it’s about finding what’s golden in the past and bringing that forward.”
The pair share an eclectic nostalgia for sounds of the past—Jazz and Classical, Golden Age musicals, big bands of the ‘40s, singer-songwriters of the ‘60s, dewy indie rock of the early 2010s—as well as a passion for instrumental music and covers. These points of connection began online, culminated in an impromptu recording session in Nashville, and compelled an unexpected path forward.
The duo’s first release together, a cover of Willie Nelson’s “Crazy,” gathered massive enthusiasm online as well as the fervent demand of one UK promoter that they tour overseas. Josh and Allison accepted the invitation and rushed to record an EP to have something—anything—to play for audiences, audiences which sold out venues and applauded The (yet-to-be-named) Bygones with standing ovations before they even strummed a note. “It didn’t make any sense,” Josh says. “We weren’t a band yet.” But to see The Bygones live is to comprehend the hype. Allison’s stylish, luminescent presence and vocal finesse, Josh’s astonishing technical aptitude, and the palpable joy in their onstage dynamic create a live show experience that demands multiple encores.
Rather than a band asking the world to listen, the world asked these two musicians to be a band. Their debut album ‘The Bygones’ was released April 4, 2024 on Tonetree.

Antje Duvekot & Seth Glier
2024-12-04 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
The earth speaks to us in a myriad of ways — through ice cores, through uplift and erosion, through tree rings — languages we have the potential to restore our literacy in. Reconnecting with these quiet messages has set Seth Glier, an avid mushroom forager and a Grammy-nominated artist from Western Massachusetts, on a path of channeling nature’s longing for communion with humanity into song. His new album, “Everything,” is a collection of eight songs inviting us to imagine a future in which humans and the planet are re-aligned into mutual restoration.
Antje Duvekot is a compelling live performer and a crafter of intricate, closely observed songs. She’s the winner of some of the top songwriting awards, including the Grand Prize in the John Lennon Songwriting Competition, the prestigious Kerrville (TX) “Best New Folk Award” and, in one of the nation’s top music markets, the Boston Music Award for “Outstanding Folk Act”, three of the top prizes in the singer songwriter world. Antje comes to The Ark with her fifth studio album, “New Wild West,” released September 15th.

Jeffrey Foucault
2024-12-05 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
In two decades on the road Jeffrey Foucault has become one of the most distinctive voices in American music, refining a sound instantly recognizable for its simplicity and emotional power. With a string of critically acclaimed studio albums – “Stark, literate songs that are as wide open as the landscape of his native Midwest” (The New Yorker), “Beat-up troubadour folk whittled to dolorous perfection” (Uncut), “Songwriting Brilliance,” (Irish Times) – he’s built a brick-and-mortar international touring career and a devoted following, one that includes luminaries like Van Dyke Parks, Greil Marcus, and Don Henley.
In September of 2024 Jeffrey Foucault will release THE UNIVERSAL FIRE (Fluff & Gravy, 9/6/24), his first album of entirely new material since 2018. A series of high-voltage performances cut live in one room, the album is both a working wake – Foucault lost his best friend and drummer Billy Conway, to cancer in 2021 – and a meditation on the nature of beauty, artifact, and loss.
Augmenting Foucault’s all-star band with members of Calexico and Bon Iver (drummer John Convertino and producer/saxophonist Mike Lewis) THE UNIVERSAL FIRE sets Conway’s death against the massive 2008 fire at the Universal Studios lot in California that destroyed the master recordings of some of our bedrock American music, to interrogate ideas about mortality, legacy, meaning, and calling.

BLKBOK
2024-12-06 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Born and raised in Detroit, BLKBOK was immersed in a household filled with music. Showing exceptional talent, he quickly made a name for himself as a piano prodigy, garnering recognition and willing prestigious competitions at both the statewide and college levels by the time he was 8. His live performances are an electrifying display of energy and cultural resonance, aiming to captivate audiences like never before with his unique piano-based showmanship.
His explosive and immersive live music experiences have earned him a reputation for engaging and enthralling audiences with his extraordinary talent. With an extensive background in the music industry, he is no stranger to hard work and dedication. He has toured as a lead pianist and musical director, accompanying artists such as Rihanna, Justin Timberlake, Demi Lovato, and collaborating with productions such as Cirque du Soleil. Through his diverse experiences, he continues to deliver breathtaking performances that leave a lasting impact on all who witness his extraordinary musical prowess.

An Acoustic Christmas with Over the Rhine
2024-12-07 20:00 - 23:00 | MI
2024 Christmas Tour Thoughts:
One December, not long after Over the Rhine began recording and touring, we were invited to perform some seasonal songs on a public radio station in Cincinnati. It was Christmastime and apparently they thought we were up to the task. We worked up a few carols and traditional tunes and Karin even read a poem by Thomas Hardy called, The Oxen.
It actually felt really good and conjured up an unusual mix of feelings from childhood: innocence, loss, wonder, joy, sadness. I think we were surprised.
People must have tuned into the radio broadcast, because we began receiving inquiries as to whether we had recorded any of our Christmas songs. I don’t think we had considered it at the time, but any young, struggling songwriter is open to the suggestions of the marketplace, and people were persistent.
In December of 1996 – can it really be over 25 years ago? – we recorded and released our first song cycle of some of the Christmas carols that still haunted us. We included a few original tunes and called our wintry mix The Darkest Night Of The Year. We played a special “darkest night” release concert on winter solstice in an old 1300-seat theater in Cincinnati. Every last seat was full. Folks began snatching up copies and seemed to agree that they hadn’t heard anything quite like it.
We began playing concerts around the Midwest every December and found that the rooms were usually packed full of people who had bundled in out of the cold with prized compatriots. Hats and scarves abounded. If you stepped outside during intermission, you could make ghosts with your breath in the crisp night air. And it was dark – oh so dark: a time of year with its own music.
A decade later, in 2006, we released our first full collection of original Christmas/holiday songs called Snow Angels. What is it about Christmas music and the undeniable gravitational pull it exerts on some songwriters? So many Christmas songs have already been written. I think we are genuinely curious about the ones that haven’t yet been written.
We continued to tour every December and these special year-winding-down concerts began to feel like an annual tradition – gatherings of extended musical family, without whom, we’d be homeless.
By the time we released our third holiday album of original songs, Blood Oranges In The Snow, in December of 2014, Karin suggested we had discovered a new genre of music: Reality Christmas.
It’s true: if you’ve buried a loved one, or lost a job, or battled a chronic illness, that stuff doesn’t go away during the holidays. It can be a complicated season for many of us.
And then there’s family.
When Karin and I make the annual holiday pilgrimage home to visit family and pull into the driveway and turn off the car, one of us inevitably looks over at the other and says, “Tie a rope around my waist, I’m goin’ in.”
In 2024, more than 25 years after releasing our first holiday CD, we are still at it. This year, we will be leaning into some harmonies and making an intimate but hopefully holy ruckus. It won’t be all Christmas music: we’ll certainly mix in tunes from many of our records along the way. But hopefully it’s still true: hopefully you haven’t heard anything quite like it.
Maybe a midnight snow will fall and turn each streetlight into its own private snow globe. Maybe, regardless of whatever reality Christmas brings, we’ll hear a faint echo of a song once rumored to have been sung by angels, a song of peace on earth, goodwill toward all… We’ve never heard anything quite like it.
We hope you’ll join us,
Linford Detweiler
With Karin close by
Nowhere Else
Clinton County, Ohio

The Empty Pockets
2024-12-08 19:30 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Fill the holidays with rock and modern blues! Chicago’s Billboard chart-topping quartet The Empty Pockets are bringing their ‘MistleTunes’ Holiday Concert to town. Seasonal classics like “Silent Night” and “Run Run Rudolph” are given new life through this band’s joyful energy. Plus, fresh and fun original songs like “Party at the North Pole” and “Snow Day” are a welcome change from the same-old-songs, year after year. Join The Empty Pockets, as they ignite a bright flame by harnessing a joyful friction between Americana, folk, and rock ‘n’ roll spiked with roots soul.

Johnny Delaware
2024-12-10 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Johnny grew up in South Dakota surrounded by cornfields and gravel roads. He became a state champion runner in high school and later attended college on a scholarship. In his dorm room he started recording and producing music but eventually left college to pursue his passion full-time. In his mid-twenties, he relocated to Charleston, SC and released his album “Secret Wave” with the help of his friend and producer Wolfgang Zimmerman (Band of Horses, Susto). While in Charleston, Johnny helped produce and record various artists’ records and co-created the band SUSTO. In 2016, he left the band to start the prog-rock group The Artisanals. After touring internationally as the frontman, Johnny is now focusing on his solo work. His new album, “Para Llevar,” is set to release in November 2024 with the New West Records team.

Ebird & Friends Holiday Show
2024-12-12 20:00 - 23:00, 2024-12-13 20:00 - 23:00, 2024-12-14 14:00 - 16:00, 2024-12-14 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Celebrating its 17th anniversary, the Ebird and Friends Holiday Show has become known for connecting audiences with stellar artists in the Michigan music community. Four performances of this festive revue will occur December 12 through 14. Produced by Erin Zindle, the singer, songwriter & multi-instrumentalist of Erin Zindle & the Ragbirds, this concert series has become the most warm-hearted way to begin the holiday season. This unique concert showcases a creative approach to seasonal music, with old chestnuts, deep cuts, and original tunes from a wide range of genres and traditions. These songs bring us in from the cold and connect us in the spirit of the season.
Please note when selecting seats, if you choose a General Admission seat on the map (represented by a yellow dot), you will select your seat when you arrive for the show from any General Admission area. General Admission seats are first come, first served. Selecting a GA seat on the map does not guarantee you those specific seats, only seats within the general admission area.

Community High Jazz
2024-12-17 18:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Ann Arbor’s Community High Jazz is one of the best programs of its kind anywhere. The Ark is proud to host this year’s students on stage for two shows: one at 6:00 and another at 8:00.

The Ark's Open Stage
2024-12-18 20:00 - 23:00, 2025-01-08 20:00 - 23:00, 2025-01-15 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
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.
Why play Open Stage at the Ark? Do it to be heard. Do it so you know you can. Do it to take your music to the masses. Tremendous local performers like Dick Siegel, Misty Lyn, and Matt Watroba spent time honing their craft on Open Stage audiences. Even nationally recognized talents like Mary Chapin Carpenter, Gilda Radner, and David Alan Grier paid their dues here. If you’re not interested in getting on stage tonight, get your practice in at being a great audience member and observer of new music.

VOICES featuring Ki5 with Aviva Match and Lorian Janine
2024-12-19 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Ann Arbor’s electrifying musical maestro, Kyler Wilkins aka Ki5, is back on the Ark stage! He’s delighted to be joined by vocalist Aviva Match who carries a powerful, sincere tone that compliments his breathy, heartfelt vocal expressions. They’ll be joined by some special guests for this VOICES show!
Prepare to be spellbound as the mesmerizing loop station magic of Ki5 reimagines your favorite R&B, pop, and soul hits with the finesse of an a cappella virtuoso. His performance is a soul-stirring experience that transcends genres and defies expectations. Once again, he’s not just bringing you music – he’s taking you on an exhilarating journey through the sonic universe as soulfully written vocal lines collide with each other, beatboxing, and even light instrumentation.
Drawing inspiration from musical luminaries like Reggie Watts, Bobby McFerrin, and Bon Iver, Ki5’s authentic, empathetic, and liberating style is nothing short of transformative. His artistry has catapulted him to the spotlight, sharing stages with legends such as Erykah Badu, CeCe Peniston, and Reggie Watts – a testament to his boundless versatility as both an artist and a show-stopping performer.
Voices is a series of artist-cultivated concerts at The Ark conceived and created by Ann Arbor musician Kyler Wilkins, AKA vocal looping artist Ki5. The series seeks to expand the representation of Michigan BIPOC artists and audiences at The Ark. Each show, intentional time will be taken to get to know each artist in the form of brief interviews and musical breaks to have them speak about their journey as musicians and performers with the hope that people in the audience are more connected to and inspired by those voices.

Spending Christmas with Alicia Witt
2024-12-20 20:00 - 22:30 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Alicia Witt, star of this summer’s smash hit movie “Longlegs” opposite Nicolas Cage, 9 Hallmark Christmas movies, and with four decades worth of film, TV and stage credits, makes her return to The Ark to celebrate the release of her first full length Christmas album, “I Think I’m Spending Christmas With You.”
A classically trained, award winning pianist and Billboard Top 30 charting singer-songwriter, Alicia and her band will get you in the holiday spirit with this festive show. Featuring nine heartfelt and uplifting originals and three holiday standards, you’ll hear the entire new album, as well as all Alicia’s previously released original Christmas songs, many of which you’ve heard in her Hallmark movies over the years.
VIP tickets include a general admission ticket to the performance, early entry into the venue, and a pre-show meet & greet.

Blackthorn
2024-12-21 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Members of the Michigan Irish American Hall of Fame, Blackthorn offers shows that involve a musical ramble across Ireland. Traditional songs of emigration, ballads, shanties and jigs and reels combine with some of Ireland’s best contemporary songs for a musical experience that is uniquely Irish. Each of the band’s members plays multiple instruments, including flute, accordion, tin whistle, fiddle, banjo, cittern, bodhran, and more. These instruments complement the lead vocal of Belfast native Richard McMullan and the band’s tight blend of four-part harmony. This band has been bringing a rich tapestry of Celtic music to southeast Michigan and beyond for 40 years, and they’re a must-see for those who want to know the deep traditions of Irish music in Michigan.

Crossroads Ceili
2024-12-28 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
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. This year’s lineup includes Adrienne O’Shea, Hannah Harris, Jack Abernathy, Mick, Sean and Mike Gavin, Darby Casey, and Bear Whitmer.

50 First Jokes
2025-01-02 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
The tradition that started almost two decades ago at the Bell House in Brooklyn, New York, 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 2025 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?

The RFD Boys
2025-01-03 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
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. They’re legends of Michigan bluegrass, but they’re more than that too. With an appearance on the cover of Bluegrass Unlimited, with songs recorded by the likes of the Country Gentlemen, and with performances alongside bluegrass greats like Bill Monroe and Ralph Stanley, the RFD Boys are a part of America’s bluegrass tradition. The RFD Boys are one of southeastern Michigan’s most durable musical ensembles, and their shows capture a deep slice of musical Ann Arbor. Their 50th-anniversary appearance at the Folk Festival was a special moment and introduced many listeners to Dan Roehrig, who joined the band on guitar, mandolin, and bass in mid-2018. Dan grew up listening to Doc Watson, Clarence White, and Tony Rice, and you can hear it in both his singing and guitar playing.
There are no advance ticket sales for tonight’s show. Tickets can be purchased at the door the night of the show. Doors open at 7:30pm.

The Yellow Room Gang
2025-01-04 15:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
The Yellow Room is the “brilliantly yellow” living room of Tamulevich’s house on Ann Arbor’s Old West Side, where the gang members meet monthly for musical brainstorming and mutual critique. There are eight members of the gang, most or all of whom are on hand for any given show: Annie Capps, Kitty Donohoe, Jan Krist, Michael Hough, David Tamulevich, David Barrett, Jim Bizer, and Matt Watroba. Each an accomplished songwriter and performer in their own right, they create a unique atmosphere of respect and support, friendship and generosity finding new and unexpected ways to explore beyond their previous personal boundaries. Come and be a fly on the wall as the exchange of creative ideas flows freely!
Note that this is an afternoon performance with a start time of 3:00pm!

Gemini's Birthday Celebration
2025-01-05 19:30 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Laz and San Slomovits, the duo Gemini, moved to Ann Arbor in 1973, and have played The Ark every year since then. About twenty years ago, San’s daughter, Emily, began joining them on stage, necessitating a new name for their trio, Gemily (Gemini + Emily). They’re known for their beautiful voices, genetically tight harmonies, a stage-full of instruments, and songs and instrumentals ranging from traditional American and British Isles folk music, to songs of the 60s Folk Revival, klezmer tunes, pop songs and their own originals. Above all, audiences have come to love their sense of ease and joy on stage. San and Laz will be celebrating their 152nd birthday with this show (they’re twins – you do the math) and will be joined by Emily plus their Good Mischief Band, Mike Morrison on drums and Eric Fithian on bass.

Polky
2025-01-07 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Toronto’s Polky, led by multi-talented immigrant female musicians, delights audiences with traditional vocals, unusual instruments, and energizing performances. Drawing deep inspiration from Poland’s rich cultural tapestry, they push musical boundaries by fearlessly blending Polish traditional music with sounds and rhythms from across the globe.
Polky stands out for its distinctive elements, including the mesmerizing Eastern European-style traditional vocals and incorporating the ‘suka,’ an ancient lap fiddle reconstructed from historical paintings. Lead singer Ewelina Ferenc earned the prestigious Traditional Singer of The Year title at the 2022 Canadian Folk Music Awards. Marta Solek is an accomplished suka virtuoso who has performed alongside esteemed Polish artists like Same Suki, Maria Pomianowska, and Nikola Kołodziejczyk. Through their performances, Polky introduces Polish culture to North American audiences, embodying the role of cultural ambassadors for Polish modern traditions.

History That Doesn't Suck
2025-01-10 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Adapted from the top-ranked history podcast, Professor Greg Jackson tells the epic tale of “The Unlikely Union,” weaving defining moments in American history (1754-1865) into a thrilling narrative of the struggle and triumph of a young nation to form, define, and reform itself. Travel back in time through epic storytelling of familiar and unsung real characters from history, and return with real context for today.
Dr. Greg Jackson is best known as the creator and host of the podcast History That Doesn’t’ Suck® which routinely tops the Apple® and Spotify® top history charts, having published over 160 episodes and counting millions of listens. Jackson holds a PhD in history, is a tenured Associate Professor and Senior Fellow in National Security Studies, as well as Fellow of Integrated Studies at Utah Valley University. He is also a frequent commentator in film documentaries including the HISTORY® Channel three-night event Abraham Lincoln, which was Executive Produced by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Doris Kearns Goodwin and featured former President Barack Obama among other history scholars. HTDS is non-partisan with Professor Jackson’s only agenda being to make legit, scholarly researched American history more accessible and educational through entertaining stories.
In order for the entire audience to enjoy this unique sold out performance, we highly encourage the audience to arrive and get seated before 8pm (doors are at 7:30pm). The artists have requested we limit any late seating to the first 10 minutes of the show and all other late arrivals will not be seated until the intermission.

Jill Jack's Birthday Bash
2025-01-11 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Jill Jack’s annual birthday bash has become a New Year’s tradition at The Ark! Jill’s magical connection to her audience is the result of her generous artistry. By combining her gifts as a conceptual visionary with a warm gathering of musical influences, Jill touches that secret heart of ours with her melodies and lyrics. In her hometown of Detroit, Jill needs no further explanation. She’s been lauded in equal measure to her talents: Since 1997 she’s won dozens of Detroit Music Awards in every conceivable category that applies to a singer-songwriter. Jill extends the tradition of the confessional (i.e. achingly open, unafraid of intimacy) singer-songwriter, and is proud of that style and its continuation. You get all of Jill Jack in a performance—her blend of folk and rock traditions, her open humor. Jill’s generous spirit has benefited plenty of other musicians around the Detroit area, so come and wish her a happy birthday!ji

Steppin In It
2025-01-12 19:30 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Formed out of love for traditional American Folk & Blues music, Steppin’ In It has been playing shows and packing dance floors for over 20 years. In the words of England’s Rock and Reel magazine, they’re “possessed with a consistently delightful spirit of musical adventure that, as well as bringing elements of old-time, country, cajun, blues and various roots styles to the table, manages to instill everything they do with an attractive and accessible cool.”

G. Love & Special Sauce
2025-01-14 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
“I’ve been in the game a long time, but I’ve always considered myself a student,” says G. Love. “Finishing this album with Keb Mo’ felt like graduation.”
Recorded in Nashville with a slew of special guests including Robert Randolph, Marcus King, and Roosevelt Collier, ‘The Juice’ is indeed diploma-worthy. Co-produced and co-written with GRAMMY-winning icon Keb Mo,’ it’s an electrifying collection, one that tips its cap to more than a century of blues greats even as it offers its own distinctly modern pop spin on the genre, mixing programmed beats and hip-hop grooves with blistering guitar and sacred steel. G. Love’s lyrics are both personal and political here, artfully balancing his appreciation for the simple joys in life with his obligation to speak out for justice and equality, and his performances are suitably riotous and rousing to match, with infectious call-and-response hooks and funky sing-along choruses at every turn. Easy as it is to succumb to cynicism these days, the songs on ‘The Juice’ refuse, insisting instead on hope and determination in the face of doubt and despair.
“I’ve always tried to make music that’s a force for positivity,” G. Love explains. “It was important to me that this album be something that could empower the folks who are out there fighting the good fight every day. I wanted to make a rallying cry for empathy and unity.”
Born Garrett Dutton in Philadelphia, PA, G. Love grew up equally enthralled with folk, blues, and rap, devouring everything from Lead Belly and Run D.M.C. to John Hammond and the Beastie Boys. After migrating to Boston, he and his band, Special Sauce, broke out in 1994 with their Gold-selling self-titled debut, which earned widespread critical acclaim for its bold vision and adventurous production. Over the next twenty-five years, G. Love would go on to release seven more similarly lauded studio studios albums with Special Sauce (plus four solo albums on his own), solidifying his place in music history as a genre-bending pioneer with a sound The New York Times described as “a new and urgent hybrid” and NPR called a “musical melting pot.” G. Love’s magnetic stage presence, meanwhile, made him a fixture on festival lineups from Bonnaroo to Lollapalooza, and his relentless appetite for tour and collaboration landed him on the road and in the studio with artists as diverse as Lucinda Williams, Dave Matthews, The Avett Brothers, Jack Johnson, and DJ Logic.
G. Love is excited to offer the Pre-Show VIP option. G. Love’s Pre-Show Pop Off is an ALL REQUEST storytellers solo acoustic performance by G. Love and a one of a kind merch package. The pre-show pop off also includes early entry, a Q&A and photo opportunity with G. Love, and early access to the merch booth. Your VIP Pre-Show Pop off ticket includes a general admission ticket into the show.
VIP Ticket Includes:

An ALL REQUEST storyteller acoustic performance by G. Love
Q&A session with G. Love
Photo with G. Love
VIP Laminate
Exclusive VIP Poster
Early access to the merch booth

Django Reinhardt Birthday Celebration
2025-01-16 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Join Michigan’s own Djangophonique and Third Coast Swing in celebration of Django Reinhardt’s legacy of music that is still alive and evolving 115 years after he was born.
Djangophonique is an award winning band led by guitar player Andrew Brown. With over a decade of national touring experience, Brown is no stranger to the stage and delivers every performance with personality and enigmatic charm. A true disciple of the style, Brown has spent countless hours immersing himself in the language of Django Reinhardt’s jazz manouche, and he’s joined on stage by bandmates that match his skill and passion for the material. The core group includes Tyler Rindo on clarinet, Nick Martin on rhythm guitar, and Jorian Olk-Szost on upright bass. In 2023, Djangophonique began collaborating with vocalist Katie Smith, whose playful charm and soulful delivery channel the mystery and appeal of an unplaceable era of aching and entrancing nostalgia.
Third Coast Swing has been playing the music of The late Belgium born Romani Gypsy, Django Reinhardt & his band, The Hot Club Of Paris 1930’-1940’s. Think Louis Armstrong with a French accent. Third Coast Swing has changed it up a bit and is currently touring with the Detroit native Dave Bennett, Violinist Grant Flick, Vocalist Ella Jury Jarvis & Pianist Andrew Henley. Ella and our guitarist Kaedin Plummer did a deep dive on early jazz classics by Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan and Billy Holiday and then arranged these songs to fit Third Coast Swings eclectic style.

Folk Fest Kickoff: Live Since '65
2025-01-17 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
This special show will kick off both the 2025 Ann Arbor Folk Festival and The Ark’s 60th Anniversary year and will feature over a dozen Michigan-based artists each performing renditions of popular songs released in 1965 – the year The Ark was founded. Featured artists include: Al Bettis, Andrew Brown & Katie Smith, Annie & Rod Capps, Chris Buhalis, Chris DuPont & Kylee Phillips, Dani Darling, Joe Reilly, Judy Banker, Ki5, Matt Watroba, Peter Madcat Ruth, The RFD Boys, Rabbitology, Kate Pillsbury, and The Daniels Family Singers: Jeff, Ben, Kathleen & Amanda!
