Django Reinhardt Birthday Celebration
2026-01-16 20:00 - 23:00 (America/Detroit) | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Ticket prices on our website reflect all-in pricing for purchases made online or by phone. This means the price you see includes the ticket price plus MUTO’s ticket processing fee. Tickets may be purchased with no included fees in person at The Ark during box office hours.
Join Michigan’s own Djangophonique 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 project that delivers the infectious joy, and expressive freedom that is at the heart of Django Reinhardt’s jazz manouche. With respect for the tradition and a fearless creativity that bends the conventions of the style, Djangophonique is keeping the Hot Club revival alive and well.

Heywood Banks
2026-01-17 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Ticket prices on our website reflect all-in pricing for purchases made online or by phone. This means the price you see includes the ticket price plus MUTO’s ticket processing fee. Tickets may be purchased with no included fees in person at The Ark during box office hours.
Heywood Banks is simply one of a kind, almost impossible to describe, with a style his very own. Equal parts genius and buffoon, this songwriter-comic-singer-poet-musician has become a cult hero and a pop icon, with a show that appeals to college students, stoners, businessmen, yuppies, rednecks, punks, kids or your grandmother. Heywood intersperses his humorous observations of life with twisted, inventive, bizarre songs, sung and played in a variety of styles, from folk, to country to rock to pop, and way beyond. You have to be pretty sharp to get Heywood at his deepest level (he demands a high level of pop culture literacy), but you can also enjoy him just for his vocal style impersonations, expert musicianship and just plain silliness. Heywood has appeared on A&E’s Evening at the Improv, MTV’s 1/2 Hour Comedy Hour, CNN’s Hollywood Minute, Caroline’s Comedy Hour, Entertainment Tonight, Showtime Comedy Club Network, and the Dr. Demento Show,” and is a frequent guest on the national Bob and Tom radio show.

G. Love & Special Sauce
2026-01-18 19:30 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Ticket prices on our website reflect all-in pricing for purchases made online or by phone. This means the price you see includes the ticket price plus MUTO’s ticket processing fee. Tickets may be purchased with no included fees in person at The Ark during box office hours.
G. Love & Special Sauce is an American Hip-Hop Blues band known for its unique fusion of hip-hop, blues, funk, and soul. Formed in 1993 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the band originally featured Garrett Dutton, aka G. Love, as the lead vocalist and guitarist, Jeffrey Clemens on drums, and Jim Prescott on bass. The trio quickly gained attention for their laid-back, groovy style and G. Love’s unique vocal delivery, blending rap-like spoken word with bluesy singing.
Their debut self-titled album, G. Love & Special Sauce, was released in 1994 on Epic Records and included the hit single “Cold Beverage,” which became popular on alternative radio stations and MTV, solidifying their presence in the music scene. The band’s style has been described as a mix of “slacker blues” and “alternative hip-hop,” as they frequently incorporate elements of 90s hip-hop beats with classic blues rhythms.
Over the years, G. Love & Special Sauce has released numerous albums, including Coast to Coast Motel (1995), Yeah, It’s That Easy (1997), The Electric Mile (2001) and the GRAMMY nominated The Juice (2020). Their sound evolved to include more soul, R&B, and rock influences, though they retained their laid-back vibe and clever lyrical play. Their 2014 album Sugar saw a reunion of the original lineup after several years, and they continued to tour and produce music with a loyal fan base.
Known for their energetic live performances, G. Love & Special Sauce has played at festivals like Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza. Garrett Dutton also frequently collaborates with other artists, including Jack Johnson, with whom he shares a similar vibe, and has released solo projects that dive deeper into his blues influences. G. Love & Special Sauce remains a beloved name in the music scene, blending genres in a way that feels fresh and authentic.
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

*THIS VIP UPGRADE INCLUDES A TICKET TO THE SHOW. You must have a Pre-Show Pop Off ticket in order to redeem the VIP package elements and be let into the event. Tickets to the show must be presented at the time of entry to the Pre-Show Pop Off.

The Ark's Open Stage
2026-01-20 20:00 - 23:00, 2026-02-03 20:00 - 23:00, 2026-02-10 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. 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.

FRÄNDER
2026-01-21 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Ticket prices on our website reflect all-in pricing for purchases made online or by phone. This means the price you see includes the ticket price plus MUTO’s ticket processing fee. Tickets may be purchased with no included fees in person at The Ark during box office hours.
Born from a thunderstorm, FRÄNDER emerged like lightning — a fusion of Nordic roots and modern attitude became HEAVY FOLK. From the deep forest of Sweden & Estonia, with energy and a warm presence they deliver heavy grooves and seductive harmonies that weave a mesmerizing soundscape.
“FRÄNDER II is a perfect, magnificent masterpiece” – LIRA.se
Following their acclaimed debut and global touring, the band’s groundbreaking second album FRÄNDER II pushes the limits of what folk can be – with echoes of Led Zeppelin and Jethro Tull meeting the pulse of Nordic tradition they blend folk music with the raw power and weight of hard rock in an incomparable way, they craft a sound that’s both ancient and modern, acoustic yet heavy, mystical yet fiercely alive – they make the folk music tradition their own.
FRÄNDER is one of Sweden’s biggest folk music exports. In 2024 alone, they completed three U.S. tours and they have surpassed 100 concerts only in Canada. They continue building cultural bridges beyond the stage through their festivals in Uppsala, Sweden and Nordic Nights Festival at Lincoln Center in New York City — bringing the power of modern Nordic tradition to audiences around the world.
WHAT TO EXPECT ON A CONCERT WITH FRÄNDER
In short: expect a show where folk music becomes a living, breathing force.
At a concert with FRÄNDER, audiences can expect a powerful, immersive journey where Nordic folk roots meet the raw energy of rock ‘n’ roll. The show blends ancient melodies, modern grooves, and tight vocal harmonies into something both deeply emotional and electrifying.
The atmosphere shifts from intimate to wild and untame— pulsing rhythms drive the music forward while the band’s chemistry and stage presence make every moment feel alive and spontaneous. Acoustic instruments are pushed to their limits, creating heavy yet organic soundscapes that can feel mystical one moment and thunderous the next. It’s hard to stay still—one moment you’re dancing and jumping with abandon, the next you’re floating away with your eyes closed.
Beyond the music, FRÄNDER’s concerts radiate warmth, connection, and storytelling. Their performances invite the audience into the Nordic spirit — raw nature, myths, and emotion — all expressed with modern attitude and virtuosity.

Garnet Rogers
2026-01-22 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Ticket prices on our website reflect all-in pricing for purchases made online or by phone. This means the price you see includes the ticket price plus MUTO’s ticket processing fee. Tickets may be purchased with no included fees in person at The Ark during box office hours.
In a darkened bedroom, lit only by the amber glow from an old floor model radio, two young brothers aged 6 and 12 lay in their beds, listening to the country music broadcasts from the Grand Ol’ Opry, and practiced their harmonies. Two years later, the youngest one was playing the definitive 8-year-old’s version of “Desolation Row” on his ukulele. He soon abandoned that instrument to teach himself the flute, violin and guitar.
Within ten years, and barely out of high school, Garnet Rogers was on the road as a full-time working musician with his older brother Stan. Together they formed what has come to be accepted as one of the most influential acts in North American folk music.
Since then, Garnet Rogers has established himself as ‘One of the major talents of our time”. Hailed by the Boston Globe as a “charismatic performer and singer”, Garnet is a man with a powerful physical presence – close to six and a half feet tall – with a voice to match. With his “smooth, dark baritone” (Washington Post) his incredible range, and thoughtful, dramatic phrasing, Garnet is widely considered by fans and critics alike to be one of the finest singers anywhere. His music, like the man himself, is literate, passionate, highly sensitive, and deeply purposeful. Cinematic in detail, his songs “give expression to the unspoken vocabulary of the heart” (Kitchener Waterloo Record). An optimist at heart, Garnet sings extraordinary songs about people who are not obvious heroes and of the small victories of the everyday. As memorable as his songs, his over-the-top humour and lightning-quick wit moves his audience from tears to laughter and back again.

The Rupple Brothers
2026-01-23 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Ticket prices on our website reflect all-in pricing for purchases made online or by phone. This means the price you see includes the ticket price plus MUTO’s ticket processing fee. Tickets may be purchased with no included fees in person at The Ark during box office hours.
The Rupple Brothers are a psychedelic folk ensemble who combine a love for family, music, life, and improvisation to create a musical space unlike any other. Born unto song, brothers Evan and Cole, and an ever expanding cast of soul brothers, traverse the entire spectrum of sound and space; each being proficient in multiple ways of musical strangeness, while bringing a positive and powerful family message with their brand of wild folk. They have carved themselves out a respected place amongst the Michigan music scene, throwing their own annual grassroots festival Handmade Music Festival in their home of Chesaning, opening for bands like The Way Down Wanderers, Chirp, The Mallett Brothers Band, Tejon Street Corner Thieves, Good Old War, opening up for White Denim at Ann Arbor’s Sonic Lunch, winning the Review Award for “Best Duo”, and playing top tier venues and festivals across the state. They plan to carry their stories of song to the furthest reaches of the universe.

Folk Fest Kickoff: A Tribute to Todd Snider
2026-01-24 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Ticket prices on our website reflect all-in pricing for purchases made online or by phone. This means the price you see includes the ticket price plus MUTO’s ticket processing fee. Tickets may be purchased with no included fees in person at The Ark during box office hours.
This special show will kick off the 2026 Ann Arbor Folk Festival and will feature 14 Michigan artists each performing their version of a song by Todd Snider. Featured artists include: Al Bettis, Ani Mari, Chris Buhalis, Dave & Kristi, Jetty Rae, Jill Jack, Ki5, The Lucky Nows, Maddy Ringo, Mike Robertson, The Minor Pieces, Misty Lyn, The RFD Boys, and Wilson Thicket.

Bil Lepp
2026-01-25 19:30 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Ticket prices on our website reflect all-in pricing for purchases made online or by phone. This means the price you see includes the ticket price plus MUTO’s ticket processing fee. Tickets may be purchased with no included fees in person at The Ark during box office hours.
Bil Lepp is an award-winning storyteller, author, and recording artist. He’s the host of the History Channel’s Man Vs History series, the occasional host of NPR’s internationally syndicated Mountain Stage, and a contributing columnist to the West Virginia Gazette-Mail. Bil’s humorous, family friendly tall-tales and stories have earned the appreciation of listeners of all ages and from all walks of life. Though a five time champion of the WV Liars’s Contest, Lepp’s stories often contain morsels of truth which present universal themes in clever and witty ways. Audiences all across the country, from grade schools to corporate execs to the Comedy Central’s Hudson stage, have been delighted by Bil’s mirthful tales and delightful insights into everyday life. Bil’s books and audio collections have won awards including the PEN Steven Kroll Award for Children’s Book Writing, Parents’ Choice Gold awards, and awards from the National Parenting Publications Assoc., and the Public Library Assoc. He is also the recipient of the Vandalia Award, West Virginia’s highest folk honor.

49th Ann Arbor Folk Fest opening night concert
2026-01-30 19:30 - 23:00 | Hill Auditorium, 825 N University Ave, Ann Arbor, MI, 48108, United States
Premium tickets ($136.50 and up) include a tax deductible donation to The Ark – more info here!

Opening Night Concert
Greensky Bluegrass
with special guest
Junior Brown

The Ark and Bank of Ann Arbor are excited to announce the lineup for the Ann Arbor Folk Fest at Hill Auditorium. The festival is The Ark’s largest annual fundraiser and delivers the full spectrum of “Ark music,” presenting a taste of what’s happening on the leading edge of acoustic music while delving into the very heart of folk and roots traditions. Friday night features a new format with a later start, and a concert length performance from Michigan’s own Greensky Bluegrass with special guest, the legendary Junior Brown.
Known for their dazzling live performances and relentless touring schedule, Kalamazoo’s Greensky Bluegrass — Anders Beck [dobro], Michael Arlen Bont [banjo], Dave Bruzza [guitar], Mike Devol [upright bass], and Paul Hoffman [Mandolin] — are connected through a deep bond, just as they are seasoned road warriors, they’re a band of brothers who have seen each other through decades of ups and downs, personal and collective highlights, and the moments when life turns it all upside down. These are real people having real experiences. As with traditional bluegrass, they write about their own contemporary day-to-day happenings, emotions, and experiences in the modern world.
The band has earned critical acclaim from Billboard, Parade, NPR, and Rolling Stone who hailed them as “representing the genre for a whole new generation.” The band embraces tradition while ushering bluegrass forward on their eighth full-length offering, Stress Dreams. “Greensky is and always has been very unique in our world,” observes Paul. “We put our love, energy, and focus into what we appreciate about our music. We come together as a band in a way that’s organic. We take a lot of pride in how we grow and challenge each other too. We’re maturing together. I think we get more Greensky all of the time.”
With his unique voice, more unique song writing, and even more unique double necked “Guit-Steel” guitar, there has absolutely never been anyone like Junior Brown. He’s an American Original. He’s a one-man musical hot fusion machine! People call him a cross between Jimi Hendrix and Ernest Tubb. But there’s a lot more to say about Junior Brown. There’s the fact that he’s just about the best surf guitarist around, for example. Or that he’s a wonderful composer of traditional country songs, the kind in which each outrageous pun leads you deeper into an emotional blind alley. An Ark favorite for over 2 decades, before taking a breather from touring the last few years, Junior Brown and his powerhouse band know how to bring the party – and we couldn’t be more delighted to have them join us for the Friday night show!
Opening the evening is Junior Brown. With his unique voice, more unique song writing, and even more unique double necked “Guit-Steel” guitar, there has absolutely never been anyone like Junior Brown. He’s a one-man musical hot fusion machine! People call him a cross between Jimi Hendrix and Ernest Tubb. But there’s a lot more to say about Junior Brown. There’s the fact that he’s just about the best surf guitarist around, for example. Or that he’s a wonderful composer of traditional country songs, the kind in which each outrageous pun leads you deeper into an emotional blind alley. Seeing Junior live is a definite must, so GUIT WITH IT ’cause he’s AN AMERICAN ORIGINAL and an absolute legend! Come check out the performer voted #1 House Rocker by the readers of Guitar Player – we are delighted to welcome Junior Brown and his legendary band to open this year’s Ann Arbor Folk Festival.

49th Ann Arbor Folk Fest night 2
2026-01-31 19:00 - 23:00 | Hill Auditorium, 825 N University Ave, Ann Arbor, MI, 48108, United States
Premium tickets ($136.50 and up) include a tax deductible donation to The Ark – more info here!

Folk Fest Night 2 Featuring
Amos Lee
Dawes
The Crane Wives
Jon Muq
Rabbitology
Ryan Montbleau, MC

The Ark and Bank of Ann Arbor are excited to announce the lineup for the Ann Arbor Folk Fest at Hill Auditorium. The festival is The Ark’s largest annual fundraiser and delivers the full spectrum of “Ark music,” presenting a taste of what’s happening on the leading edge of acoustic music while delving into the very heart of folk and roots traditions. Saturday night’s lineup features Amos Lee, Dawes, The Crane Wives, Jon Muq, Rabbitology, and Ryan Montbleau, MC.

Audrey Ray
2026-02-04 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Ticket prices on our website reflect all-in pricing for purchases made online or by phone. This means the price you see includes the ticket price plus MUTO’s ticket processing fee. Tickets may be purchased with no included fees in person at The Ark during box office hours.
Audrey Ray is a rising country music singer-songwriter hailing from Michigan, with a journey that has taken her from her hometown to Nashville and beyond. Music has always been a constant in her life, from her early days singing in church choirs to organizing her own performances at local coffee shops as a middle schooler. By the time she was old enough to hit the local bar scene, Audrey was already rocking full-band shows, carving out her own path in the music industry. Over the years, she has continuously pushed forward, building a reputation and working with some of country music’s finest.
One of her biggest career milestones came in May 2024 when she recorded two original songs, “’68 Mustang” and “Sparks,” with Country Music Icon Producer Kent Wells, who is best known for his work with Dolly Parton. This experience marked a major turning point for Audrey, helping her refine her unique sound and elevate her career. Alongside the release of these songs, Audrey also unveiled two accompanying music videos, collaborating with Revo Media in Grand Rapids, MI.
Before teaming up with Kent Wells, Audrey worked with the legendary Patalan Brothers—Tim and Andy Patalan, known for their work with the iconic Detroit rock band SPONGE. In 2021, Audrey released “Temporary Fix,” a track she co-wrote with Tim Patalan, who also produced it.
This summer of 2025, Audrey went back into the studio to work with Kent Wells on more recordings, and she is so proud to share these songs at the very special Vinyl Record Release Concert at The Ark! Vinyl records have been pressed in partnership with Third Man Records in Detroit, MI.

Ye Vagabonds
2026-02-05 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Ticket prices on our website reflect all-in pricing for purchases made online or by phone. This means the price you see includes the ticket price plus MUTO’s ticket processing fee. Tickets may be purchased with no included fees in person at The Ark during box office hours.
Brothers Brian and Diarmuid Mac Gloinn grew up playing music together around their hometown of Carlow, a small town in the southeast of Ireland. After moving to Dublin in 2012, they quickly became a staple of the live music and session scene in Ireland, playing their own original songs as well as folk songs from Ireland, Scotland, England and America.
After a chance meeting at Electric Picnic in September 2015, the brothers performed onstage with Glen Hansard, who invited them to open for him on his European tour the following October.
In October 2017 they launched their debut, self-titled album to great acclaim. Comprised of harmony rich folk music, influenced by Irish traditional music, Appalachian singing, and the 1960’s folk revival, it included ten mellow tracks weaved with thoughtful lyrics, thickly layered with strings and droning harmonium.
Their newest album Nine Waves was released on Rough Trade’s River Lea label on May 13th. Nine Waves was recorded in the Dublin Mountains at Hellfire Studios, produced by John ‘Spud’ Murphy (whose previous work includes records by black midi, Lankum and caroline). The album features 11 tracks of both traditional and original songs and tunes. The brotherly harmonies and multi-instrumental abilities of Diarmuid and Brían Mac Gloinn were joined on Nine Waves by Kate Ellis (cello) and Caimin Gilmore (double bass), both members of the Irish contemporary classical group Crash Ensemble, and Ryan Hargadon (Anna Mieke, Rachael Lavelle, Kojaque) on piano and saxophone. The record also features concertina from Cormac Begley and harmonium from regular touring member of Ye Vagabonds, Alain McFadden.

Ronnie Baker Brooks
2026-02-06 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Ticket prices on our website reflect all-in pricing for purchases made online or by phone. This means the price you see includes the ticket price plus MUTO’s ticket processing fee. Tickets may be purchased with no included fees in person at The Ark during box office hours.
Chicago guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and multiple Blues Music Award-winner Ronnie Baker Brooks is one of the city’s—and the world’s—most undeniably talented and electrifying bluesmen. Ronnie was born into Chicago blues royalty as the son of legendary multiple GRAMMY Award nominee, Hall Of Famer, and longtime Alligator Records recording star Lonnie Brooks. He is among the few contemporary blues artists who learned his craft directly from many of the genre’s icons, including Albert Collins, B.B. King, Willie Dixon, Koko Taylor and, most significantly, his father. “I’m blessed to have played with and learned from the best. I’m carrying them within me,” he says of all the legends he knew growing up and the journey he’s been on.

Mustard's Retreat
2026-02-07 19:30 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Ticket prices on our website reflect all-in pricing for purchases made online or by phone. This means the price you see includes the ticket price plus MUTO’s ticket processing fee. Tickets may be purchased with no included fees in person at The Ark during box office hours.
May 1975. It seemed inevitable. Libby Glover, Michael Hough and David Tamulevich had been informally jamming with each other for 3 months in the Rathskellar of the Old Heidelberg Restaurant in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The room had grown consistently packed with enthusiastic fans every weekend. They all agreed it was time the trio made it official and chose the name Mustard’s Retreat, which was a tune David had written.
Mustard’s Retreat has always sung the songs they enjoyed and cared about, regardless of the trends of the music industry and pop culture. They are committed to simply being themselves, not chasing fame or brass rings, while delighting in and connecting with their audiences as if they were family. The honesty of what they present onstage and the extensive body of outstanding original songs and recordings all contribute to a fiercely loyal audience that continues to grow. “Music to cure what ails you” was how one reviewer in the 1970s described them, and that is as true now as it was then. They’ve traveled more than a million miles and performed more than 6,000 shows, from pig roasts and pool parties to Lincoln Center Out of Doors, The Barns at Wolftrap and the Kennedy’s Center’s Millennium Stage.
Their performances are always joyful and uplifting, as well as intelligent, thought provoking and insightful. They’ve recently begun referring to their career and touring as “Defiantly Hopeful.” In part due to their long career, but more as a statement about what the music has meant to them. “Folk music is, at its heart, defiantly hopeful!” Tamulevich says. “We came of age in the 60s, at the confluence of Pete Seeger, Peter, Paul & Mary, Bob Dylan and the singer/songwriter revolution. We care much more about what we do and stand for and finding that common ground with our audiences, than fame or money: this is our community of choice, and we consider ourselves so fortunate to be here.”

An Intimate Evening with JJ Grey & Mofro
2026-02-10 20:00 - 23:00 | Royal Oak Music Theatre, 318 W 4th St, Royal Oak, MI, 48067, United States
From his early days playing cover music behind chicken wire at a west side Jacksonville juke joint while still working at a lumberyard, to playing sold-out shows at some of the largest venues and music festivals in the world, JJ Grey has always delivered his soul-honest truths. Since his first album, ‘Blackwater’, back in 2001, Grey has been releasing deeply moving, masterfully written, funkified rock and front porch Southern soul music.

Now, with ‘Olustee’ – his tenth album and first in eight years, and the first he has self-produced – Grey is back, singing his personal stories with universal themes of redemption, rebirth, hard luck, and inner peace. With his music, Grey also celebrates good times with friends, oftentimes mixing the carnal with the cerebral in the very same song. Fueled by his vividly detailed, timeless original songs spun from his life experiences, Grey’s gritty baritone drips with honest passion and testifies with a preacher’s foot-pounding fervor.
With ‘Olustee’, JJ Grey has once again pushed the boundaries of his own creative musical, lyrical and vocal talents, delivering an instant classic. Many of the songs are steeped in the mythical Southern stories of his ancestral Florida home and filled with people from JJ’s life. The songs are told through the eyes of a poet and sung with pure, unvarnished soul. Grey’s message is simple and strong – respect the natural world and always try to live in the moment. And never forget the importance of having a good time!

Dave Simonett (of Trampled By Turtles)
2026-02-11 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Ticket prices on our website reflect all-in pricing for purchases made online or by phone. This means the price you see includes the ticket price plus MUTO’s ticket processing fee. Tickets may be purchased with no included fees in person at The Ark during box office hours.
Dave Simonett has spent almost two decades as the lead singer, guitar player and songwriter for the widely popular and beloved roots band, Tramped By Turtles. He also fronts Dead Man Winter, a bull-bodied, emotionally resonant brand of Americana-infused indie rock band. He now boldly steps forward with a shining collection of new solo material for the first time under his own name called Red Tail. While Dead Man Winter’s Furnace was a much-needed cathartic experience for Simonett during a dark time, he is not connecting these songs on Red Tail to his own life as he prefers to allow listeners to develop their own interpretations. The conversational and poetic style in which Simonett writes lends itself to this perfectly, inspired by the spacious and stark Northern woods of Minnesota, where he’s from. Drawing from the outdoors, Simonett uses light, weather and imagery to paint introspective, cinematic scenes that are easy to lose yourself in.

Mike Dawes
2026-02-12 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Mike Dawes has a torn tendon in his bicep and it’s just too painful for him to perform for the next few months. Unfortunately, he’s going to have to reschedule his performance at The Ark on February 12 to Friday, October 16.
Tickets purchased for this show will be valid for the new date. Ticket holders have until February 24 to request a refund if they cannot make the new date.
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.
Dawes was named ‘Best Acoustic Guitarist in the World’ two years in a row (2017 & 2018) by Total Guitar Magazine & MusicRadar reader polls, with numerous 2nd place rankings in the proceeding years. YouTube personality Rick Beato named Mike ‘one of the finest acoustic guitar players in the world.’
His debut release, a solo guitar arrangement of Gotye’s ‘Somebody That I Used to Know,’ quickly became a viral hit with tens of millions of views on YouTube. This success has been duplicated and expanded upon numerous times since with songs like ‘One,’ ‘The Impossible,’ and ‘Jump’ across multiple video platforms.
His reputation has invited him opportunities to collaborate with GRAMMY Award-winning artists such as Tommy Emmanuel, with whom he recorded the duet record ‘Accomplice Vol. 3,’ and the GRAMMY-nominated metal band Periphery, with whom Mike joined on their 2024 double single release.
Mike Dawes’ VIP workshop experience includes

One (1) General Admission ticket
Invitation to pre-show experience with Mike Dawes, including:
Meet & greet and photo opportunity
Intimate guitar workshop
Performance of an exclusive song not in the setlist
Early entry into the venue
Early merch shopping before doors open to the public
VIP Exclusive pack of Mike Dawes’ personal D’addario XS DADGAD strings
Commemorative VIP laminate
Limited availability

My Folky Valentine
2026-02-13 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Ticket prices on our website reflect all-in pricing for purchases made online or by phone. This means the price you see includes the ticket price plus MUTO’s ticket processing fee. Tickets may be purchased with no included fees in person at The Ark during box office hours.
The 21st Annual celebration of love and music features Annie & Rod Capps, Shari Kane & Dave Steele, and Whit & Al Hill. Three acclaimed musical duos who also happen to be partners in life share the stage, swapping songs and stories. You can expect some collaborating both planned and spontaneous. Not just for lovebirds, and not just love songs. Just a whole lotta great music.
Annie & Rod Capps
Poignant and playful, effortless and endearing, Annie & Rod Capps’ sound meets at the intersection of Americana & Folk. Like many singer/songwriters whose instrumentation is primarily acoustic the word “folk” covers a broad sonic range of genres and influences – what comes out is a rootsy vibe, touch of twang and soulful groove.
Whit & Al Hill
Longtime Ann Arbor singer/songwriters Whit and Al Hill now live in Nashville but cherish every trip back to the town they call home. Whit’s song topics include: traffic, animals, old cars, family physicians, chicken recipes, metal detecting, and love. Al is an award-winning blues keyboardist, guitarist, singer, and producer who has toured the country and the world; his band the Love Butlers was a Michigan favorite. Whit and Al love nothing more than singing together and with old friends for the good people of Ann Arbor and the Detroit area.
Shari Kane & Dave Steele
Shari and Dave throw a four handed acoustic party – street swing, stomp blues, mountain twang – music from the holler and swamp. Blues and gospel shouting, stellar fingerpicking, deep slide, banjo, dobro, mandolin, and Appalachian harmony singing. Gary Davis meets Dock Boggs and Muddy Waters and they share a jug. Shari and Dave shows are steeped in folk and blues roots, blended with Appalachian grind – serving up an intoxicating acoustic brew. Dave’s smoky vocals, percussive rhythm and innovative lead, and Shari’s crisp picking style, rootsy leads, and stinging slidework are a testament to sounds once heard on the streets of Harlem, juke joints of Mississippi, the Carolina hills or the jug bands of Memphis.

On A Winter's Night feat. John Gorka, Lucy Kaplansky, and Cliff Eberhardt
2026-02-14 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Ticket prices on our website reflect all-in pricing for purchases made online or by phone. This means the price you see includes the ticket price plus MUTO’s ticket processing fee. Tickets may be purchased with no included fees in person at The Ark during box office hours.
Due to an unforeseen injury to Patty Larkin, On A Winter’s Night will be a trio format, featuring John Gorka, Cliff Eberhart, and Lucy Kaplansky. The show will go on, and the length and spirit will not change.
Presenting the 2026 Reunion Tour of “On A Winter’s Night” from veteran singer-songwriters that remain among the brightest stars of the singer-songwriter movement for the past three decades. In 1994 Christine Lavin gathered them together, along with folk and Americana artists to showcase music of the Winter Season on the now-classic On A Winter’s Night CD, followed by several years of touring collaborations. These artists have released dozens of recordings and toured steadily through the decades, with fond memories of their touring days together. The winter season is again celebrated by these unique and popular performers, back together by popular demand.
CLIFF EBERHARDT One of the most original songsmiths currently on tour, Eberhardt is a highly intelligent, articulate artist whose penetrating and profound lyrics are sometimes overshadowed by his extraordinary guitar playing. Upon close listening, the Philadelphia-born singer’s gift for the English language is abundantly clear. The words that tumble from his mouth are framed by a raspy yet deeply elegant voice.
JOHN GORKA Hailed by Rolling Stone as “the leading singer-songwriter of the New Folk movement,” John Gorka is perhaps the quintessential singer-songwriter of the 90’s folk scene. Originally from New Jersey, John served an apprenticeship at Godfrey Daniels coffeehouse in Bethlehem, PA, then the Greenwich Village Fast Folk scene. Winning the prestigious New Folk award at the Kerrville Folk Festival, in 1984, he was then signed to Red House Records on which he released his landmark first of 17 recordings, I Know.
LUCY KAPLANSKY Blending country, folk and pop styles, Lucy has the unique ability to make every song sound fresh, whether singing her own sweet originals, covering country classics by June Carter Cash and Gram Parsons, or singing pop favorites by Lennon/McCartney and Nick Lowe. A Billboard-charting singer and one of the top-selling artists on Red House Records, she has topped the folk and Americana radio charts and has been featured on shows throughout the world from NPR’s Weekend and Morning Editions to BBC Radio to CBS Sunday Morning.

Rj Cowdery, Hope Dunbar, and Katie Dahl
2026-02-15 19:30 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Ticket prices on our website reflect all-in pricing for purchases made online or by phone. This means the price you see includes the ticket price plus MUTO’s ticket processing fee. Tickets may be purchased with no included fees in person at The Ark during box office hours.
RJ Cowdery (Ohio), Katie Dahl (Wisconsin), and Hope Dunbar (New Jersey) may be from three different states, but they all share a knack for razor-sharp lyrics, wicked humor, compelling vocals, and unflinching truth-telling. All alumni of the prestigious Kerrville New Folk competition, Cowdery, Dahl, and Dunbar each tour the country individually, but are teaming up for this powerhouse triple bill. Don’t miss this chance to see three of the country’s most respected songwriters, swapping songs with one another in an in-the-round format.
RJ Cowdery
Rj Cowdery writes the kind of songs that sneak up on you—quiet, honest, and armed with just enough wit to keep you on your toes. A late bloomer in the music world (she didn’t dive in until most people are taking up pickleball), Rj has been making up for lost time with award-winning albums like In This Light, produced by Billy Crockett and What If This Is All There Is, produced by Amy Speace. Hailing from southeastern Ohio, with Appalachian roots, she balances heart-tugging ballads with a sly grin and the occasional perfectly timed zinger. Along the way, she’s earned top honors at Mountain Stage NewSong, Kerrville New Folk, Sisters Folk Festival, to name a few. Fellow musicians call her “the real deal,” audiences call her music “a warm blanket,” and she just calls it “medicine.”
Katie Dahl:
Clear-eyed and tough-minded, songwriter/playwright Katie Dahl is known for her smart songs, wry wit, and wise spirit. A small-town celebrity on the Wisconsin peninsula where her family has lived for 175 years, Katie is also an internationally touring, radio-charting artist who “delivers razor-sharp lyrics with a hearty, soulful voice” (American Songwriter). In live shows that are both courageously honest and devilishly funny, Katie dives deep into questions of land and love, family and body image, grief and joy. “In unsettled times,” says Peter Mulvey, “Katie Dahl brings us a grounded spirit.”
Hope Dunbar:
Hope Dunbar is a singer-songwriter known for her blend of Americana and country-folk sounds. Hailing from Utica, Nebraska, she has been a pioneer of what she calls “New American Prairie style,” crafting semi-autobiographical songs that transform everyday life into art. Her work has garnered recognition, including being a three-time finalist at the Kerrville New Folk Song Contest. After residing in a small town in Nebraska, Dunbar relocated to New Jersey, bringing her unique “Big Sky sound” to the East Coast. She has opened for national artists and has been a part of shows with Asbury Park musicians. She also co-hosts a weekly podcast, “Prompt Queens,” where she and her sister-in-law write a new song each week based on a specific prompt. Dunbar’s latest album, “Happily Ever Elsewhere,” was released on August 1, 2025. The album, which was supported by a Kickstarter campaign, features collaborations with artists such as Darrell Scott, Eliza Gilkyson, and Cory Branan.

Jake Xerxes Fussell
2026-02-17 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Ticket prices on our website reflect all-in pricing for purchases made online or by phone. This means the price you see includes the ticket price plus MUTO’s ticket processing fee. Tickets may be purchased with no included fees in person at The Ark during box office hours.
Reared in Georgia and now settled in North Carolina, Jake Xerxes Fussell has established himself as a devoted listener and contemplative interpreter of a vast array of so-called folk songs, lovingly sourced from a personal store of favorites. On his latest album, When I’m Called—his first LP for Fat Possum, and his first as a parent—Fussell returns to a well of music that holds lifelong sentimental meaning, loosely contemplating the passage of time and the procession of life’s unexpected offerings.
The album was produced by James Elkington and mixed by Tucker Martine. In addition to Elkington, it features the playing of Ben Whiteley (The Weather Station), Joe Westerlund (Bon Iver, Califone), and others. Blake Mills contributes guitars on several tracks. Joan Shelley and Robin Holcomb provide backing vocals.
“…Fussell is the rare contemporary to approach folk in its pure form, shunning self-penned compositions about bummer relationships to concentrate on material handed down from bygone, hardened times.” – The New Yorker
“(Fussell) is one of the great magpies of American song, collecting forgotten, tarnished gems with a folklorist’s zeal… his renditions aren’t so much cover versions as composites…” – The Guardian

Solas
2026-02-18 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Ticket prices on our website reflect all-in pricing for purchases made online or by phone. This means the price you see includes the ticket price plus MUTO’s ticket processing fee. Tickets may be purchased with no included fees in person at The Ark during box office hours.
Solas is lighting up stages across the globe as they celebrate three decades of pushing boundaries and honoring traditions in Irish music. Hailed by The Wall Street Journal as “an Irish traditional band bearing all the marks of greatness,” Solas continues to captivate audiences with their spellbinding musicianship and genre-defying creativity.
Formed in New York City in 1995, Solas quickly rose to prominence as a revolutionary force in Irish-American music. Now, with twelve critically acclaimed albums and a reputation for dynamic, emotionally charged live performances, Solas has set new standards for musicianship, repertoire, and intensity.
While Solas has seen various lineup changes over the years, the spirit of innovation and reverence for Irish tradition has remained constant. Through every chapter, founding members Séamus Egan and Winifred Horan have steered the band with passion and vision. In 2025, they are joined by original accordionist John Williams and welcome two celebrated contemporary artists to the stage: renowned Irish singer and flutist Nuala Kennedy and guitarist Alan Murray.
This powerhouse ensemble brings the magic of Solas to life in a performance that promises to be both a homecoming and a new beginning. Audiences can expect an unforgettable musical journey filled with driving rhythms, soaring melodies, and heartfelt vocals that pay tribute to Irish roots while embracing new creative frontiers.
Solas’ music has always existed at the intersection of tradition and transformation. Whether interpreting a centuries-old ballad or unveiling an original composition, the band approaches each piece with curiosity, skill, and deep emotional resonance. Their ability to evolve without losing their essence has made them a cornerstone of the Celtic music scene and an inspiration to countless artists.

Sister Sadie
2026-02-19 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Ticket prices on our website reflect all-in pricing for purchases made online or by phone. This means the price you see includes the ticket price plus MUTO’s ticket processing fee. Tickets may be purchased with no included fees in person at The Ark during box office hours.
There was no master plan. No label strategy. Just a spontaneous jam at Nashville’s Station Inn between a few friends—seasoned players, all women, making a little noise. But something clicked. The room lit up, the crowd roared, and Sister Sadie was born.
What started as an accidental band became a force. GRAMMY-nominated. IBMA-decorated. Opry-validated. But for all the accolades, they were often reduced to one line: an all-female bluegrass band. True—but never the point. Sister Sadie has always been about the music. The fire. The truth.
Their new album, All Will Be Well, is that truth—loud, fearless, and free. You’ll hear echoes of bluegrass, but what rises is something bigger: country with claws, Americana with muscle, gospel grit and raw storytelling.
From the haunting “Prodigal Daughter” to the swagger of “Do What You Want” and the aching beauty of “If I Don’t Have You,” these six women are not performing roles—they’re telling you who they are.
This is Sister Sadie, evolved: bold, bonded, and braver than ever. They’re not asking for space. They’re taking it.
And they’re just getting started.

The Ark's 39th Annual Storytelling Festival - Liars Contest
2026-02-20 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Ticket prices on our website reflect all-in pricing for purchases made online or by phone. This means the price you see includes the ticket price plus MUTO’s ticket processing fee. Tickets may be purchased with no included fees in person at The Ark during box office hours.
Liars have been around since the snake first hit it off with Eve. By some accounts, contests celebrating liars have been around since the 15th century, but these accounts may be apocryphal. Today, liars contests are held in countries all around the globe.
The Fourth Annual Liars Contest at The Ark includes six first-class liars and three judges. The chaos wrangler and MC will once again be the amazing Amir Baghdadchi.

The Ark's 39th Annual Storytelling Festival
2026-02-21 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Ticket prices on our website reflect all-in pricing for purchases made online or by phone. This means the price you see includes the ticket price plus MUTO’s ticket processing fee. Tickets may be purchased with no included fees in person at The Ark during box office hours.
This annual event brings both locally based and nationally known story tellers to The Ark stage. This year’s story tellers are Adam Booth, Jennifer Munro, Barbara Schutzgruber, and Steve Daut.

The Ark's 39th Annual Storytelling Festival Family Show
2026-02-22 13:00 - 20:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Ticket prices on our website reflect all-in pricing for purchases made online or by phone. This means the price you see includes the ticket price plus MUTO’s ticket processing fee. Tickets may be purchased with no included fees in person at The Ark during box office hours.
This annual event brings both locally based and nationally known story tellers to The Ark stage. This year’s story tellers are Jennifer Otto and Adam Booth.

Matt Jones & The Reconstruction
2026-02-22 19:30 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Ticket prices on our website reflect all-in pricing for purchases made online or by phone. This means the price you see includes the ticket price plus MUTO’s ticket processing fee. Tickets may be purchased with no included fees in person at The Ark during box office hours.
Ypsilanti singer-songwriter, music preservationist and oral historian Matt Jones brings backing band The Reconstruction to The Ark for the first time in over a decade to release his new album, The Good Life.
