This concert/lecture brings to life a twentieth-century world of Jewish responses to the pervasive climate of race prejudice that gave birth to the Scottsboro trials—and injustices to come—through a performance of Yiddish and English poems from the era newly set to music. Presented by the Jean & Samuel Frankel Center for Judaic Studies.
Opener: Pat Sievert
The Ark 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, United StatesCOLIN QUINN (Writer/Performer) is a stand-up comedian from Brooklyn (okay, Park Slope), who has been a part of your whole life even though you never asked for it. From MTV’s “Remote Control” to SNL to Comedy Central’s “Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn,” Mr. Quinn is not one to take a hint and bow out gracefully. He’s been on Broadway with Colin Quinn: An Irish Wake and Colin Quinn: Long Story Short and Off-Broadway with his show Colin Quinn: Unconstitutional, Colin Quinn: The New York Story, directed by Jerry Seinfeld, Colin Quinn: Red State, Blue State, Colin Quinn: The Last Best Hope, and most recently Colin Quinn: Small Talk. Recent credits include Trainwreck, Girls, and his web series “Cop Show,” streaming now on Colin’s YouTube channel.
Raw, soulful, and with plenty of swagger, Town Mountain has earned raves for their hard-driving sound, their in-house songwriting, and the honky-tonk edge that permeates their exhilarating live performances, whether in a packed club or at a sold-out festival. The hearty base of Town Mountain's music is the first and second generation of bluegrass spiced with country, old school rock ‘n’ roll, and boogie-woogie. It's what else goes into the mix that brings it all to life both on stage and on record and reflects the group's wide-ranging influences – from the Grateful Dead's Jerry Garcia and the ethereal lyrics of Robert Hunter, to the honest, vintage country of Willie, Waylon, and Merle.
Merging evocative folk, melodic pop and an edgier roots rock sensibility, singer/songwriter/guitarist Jonatha Brooke began releasing music in the early 1990s, first as a member of the duo the Story and more enduringly as a solo artist. After four major label releases, she started her own independent label, Bad Dog Records in 1999, and has since released ten more albums - including the companion CD to her critically acclaimed, one woman, Off-Broadway musical, My Mother Has Four Noses.
Special Guest: Ani Mari
The Ark 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, United StatesShoulder your capes of star-dusted moss. Venture into the land of the harebrained and burrowing. "Rabbitology" is a sonic project that seeks to explore the raw and odd. Beginning in a dorm room with percussion made from a dining hall apple, Rabbitology's scrappy production style lends to each song's eclectic and strange soundscapes.
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.
Special Guest: Katy Kirby
The Ark 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, United StatesCraig Finn is a Minnesota-bred singer/songwriter based in New York City, best known as the singer of The Hold Steady. Finn spent the ’90's leading Minneapolis indie band Lifter Puller, which released 3 albums and an EP. After relocating to New York, he joined with Lifter Puller member Tad Kubler to form The Hold Steady in 2003. The Hold Steady quickly achieved critical acclaim and a worldwide fanbase with their unique pairing of dense lyrical narratives with big rock guitars. The Hold Steady’s ninth album, The Price Of Progress, was released in March 2023, commemorating the band’s 20th Anniversary.
Yarn’s ability to persevere ought to come as no great surprise, especially for a band that spent two years honing their chops during a Monday night residency at the famed Kenny’s Castaway in New York’s Greenwich Village. In effect, it allowed them to rehearse onstage, mostly in front of audiences that often ranged in size from five to a hundred people on any given night. 10 studio albums followed.
Opener: Josh Joplin
The Ark 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, United StatesTalk to any Adam Ezra Group fan around the country, and they’ll tell you that each AEG performance is a one-of-a-kind, community-driven experience, propelled by the spirit of the people in front of the stage. For both fans and band members alike, an AEG concert is a rally to live life with intensity and soak in the moments we share with one another.
Opener: Swearingen and Kelli
The Ark 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, United StatesFor more than forty years, Riders In The Sky have been keepers of the flame passed on by the Sons of the Pioneers, Gene Autry and Roy Rogers, reviving and revitalizing Western music. And while remaining true to the integrity of the genre, they have themselves become modern-day icons by branding it with their own legendary wacky humor and way-out Western wit, and all along encouraging buckaroos and buckarettes to live life “The Cowboy Way!”
Special Guest: DUG
The Ark 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, United StatesTall Heights wants to share a moment with you. A moment in New England, a moment on Earth. With their 2024 release, Softly Softly, Paul Wright (cello/vocals) and Tim Harrington (guitar/vocals) reject isolation; both the universal experience of the early 2020s, and its sound recording definition where different instruments are recorded separately. Harrington explains, "The opposite of isolation in recording is bleed, where you hear the drums and guitar through the vocal mic because everything is happening in the same room. It's risky because you can't easily change it later. You're stuck with whatever you get. Bleeding is just the perfect word for it. It's scary and it sometimes hurts."
Special Guest: The Way Down Wanderers
The Ark 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, United StatesDue to a building issue, tonight's Cris Jacobs show has been canceled. We're working on a rescheduled date, and will notify ticket buyers once one has been confirmed. Hold on to your tickets - they will be good for the new date!