Willy Porter
2026-04-19 19:30 - 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.
Some folks are lucky to find what they love to do at an early age and quietly settle in for the long haul expanding and developing their work over the arc of a lifetime. Willy Porter is one of those artists. He has followed his own path to explore the sacred language that music truly is. Thirty years after his solo recording debut, he continues to reach further into his guitar & pen while stretching the form of what his own music can be. His live shows are guitar driven events—equal parts grit, soul, and muscle—that are electrifying, dynamic, and wholly original in the way that his voice blends and fuses with his virtuoso fretwork.

Tadhg Ó Raghallaigh, Aidan Duffy, Paul Spring, and Alex Wand
2026-04-20 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.
Touring from County Meath, Ireland, uilleann piper and educator Tadhg Ó Raghallaigh comes from an Irish-speaking family with a legacy in Comhaltas music education. Multi-instrumentalist Aidan Duffy performs on guitar, mandolin, and bouzouki, presenting original songs and Irish ballads. Minnesota-born, NYC-based songwriter Paul Spring performs music from his new album that fuses Irish traditional and American roots music. Gifted singer and percussionist Ben Duffy backs these performers on bodhrán and drums. Alex Wand presents original resonator guitar compositions and songs with his trio featuring Michael Gould on drums and Joe Fee on bass. The evening features four sets spanning traditional sessions, original songs, and instrumental compositions across Irish and American musical traditions.
Tadhg Ó Raghallaigh is a uilleann piper from County Meath. Irish is his first language, and he comes from a long line of respected players. He is also a traditional irish music teacher. His family started the local chapter of Comhaltas Irish music education in County Meath.
Aidan Duffy is a traditional musician and songwriter from Trim, County Meath. He plays traditional Irish guitar, mandolin, and bouzouki. He will back up Tadhg in traditional sessions as well as play a set of his own original music. He also has an extensive repertoire of Irish ballads and songs, and is a gifted singer, and will sing a few during the trad session. He is also an intermediate-level Irish language speaker.
Ben Duffy is a drummer, singer and songwriter from Trim, County Meath. He is a gifted singer and guitar player, with an extensive repertoire of Irish ballads and songs, and will sing a selection during the trad session. He will back up Tadhg on Bodhran, Aidan on Drums, and Paul on Drums.
Paul Spring is a songwriter from Minnesota, now based in NYC. I recorded an album with these Irish musicians and they will serve as my backing band. Here is a link to my own music, which fuses trad and American music:
Alex Wand is a composer and performer whose practice spans songwriting, ecological thought, field recording, and alternate tuning systems. He is currently working on a collection of instrumental compositions for resonator guitar entitled “Rufus’s Retreat.” A Metro Detroit native, he teaches music at the U-M Residential College. He’ll be joined by Michael Gould (drums) and Joe Fee (bass).

Crystal Bowersox
2026-04-21 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
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Crystal Bowersox, a northwest Ohio native, has built her world around music. By the age of 10, she was performing in local clubs and venues. On the cusp of 18 and with a curious heart, Crystal moved to Chicago, IL, where she spent her days busking on subway platforms between working odd jobs and attending school.
Chicago’s rich musical history helped Bowersox to broaden her musical horizons. Ultimately, Bowersox auditioned for the ninth season of American Idol, and her time on the show proved to be well spent. In 2010, her debut album, “Farmer’s Daughter” was released on Jive Records and since, she has since released 3 LP’s, two EPs, several singles, and is currently developing a theatrical rock concert titled, “Trauma Queen”. Crystal has recorded and performed alongside several notable names and additionally, has used her voice and talents to benefit several organizations close to her heart.

Jeffrey Martin with special guest Niall Connolly
2026-04-22 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
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As a babe Jeffrey Martin sought out solitude as often as he could find it. He’s always been that way, and he has never understood the whole phenomenon of smiling in pictures, although he is a very happy guy. One night in middle school he stayed up under the covers with a flashlight and a DiscMan, listening to Reba McEntire’s ‘That’s the Night that the Lights Went Out in Georgia’ on repeat until the DiscMan ran out of batteries. That night he became a songwriter, although he didn’t actually write a song until years later. After high school he spent a few years distracting himself from having to gather up the courage to do what he knew he had to do.
Eventually he found his way to a writing degree, and then a teaching degree. He wrote most days like his life depended on it, all sorts of things, not just songs, but songs too. He fell in love with teaching high school English, which was fantastic because he never thought he’d actually come to truly love it. His students were fierce and unstoppable forces of noise and curiosity, and for all that they took from him in sleep and sense, they gave him a hundred times back in sparks and humility.
All the while he was also playing truckloads of music. There was one weekend where he flew to LA while grading essays on the plane, played two shows, and then flew back home, still grading essays, and woke up to teach at 5 am on Monday morning. It was around this time he started wondering if such a life was sustainable.
Alas, music, the tour life, was a constant raccoon scratching at the back door. Jeffrey spent nights on end sitting up in bed, and then sitting on the front porch, staring off into the dark, wondering if he could bear to leave teaching to go on tour full time. Eventually his brain caught up with what his guts had known for months. With tears in his eyes he announced to his students that he wouldn’t be back the following year, and that he didn’t feel right hollering at them to chase their dreams at all cost if he wasn’t going to do the same.
Jeffrey Martin tours full time now. He is always making music, and he is always coming through your town. He misses teaching like you might miss a good old friend who you know you’ll meet again.

Ana Popovic
2026-04-23 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
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Los Angeles-based and critically acclaimed guitarist and singer Ana Popovic released her highly anticipated album Dance To The Rhythm (Electric Heel Records) in September 2025. Produced by Popovic and Buthel, the album showcases a groundbreaking fusion of groove, blues, funk, and soul. Building on the success of her previous work, Dance To The Rhythm pushes boundaries, seamlessly blending infectious dance grooves with raw blues guitar and powerful lyrics.
For Ana, blues guitar is the foundation of everything in her music. Yet, she masterfully blends genres, effortlessly shifting from blues to dance, jam band, funk, pop, and even gospel—it’s all part of her evolving sound. A true pioneer, Ana combines her blues guitar roots with bold experimentation, redefining the intersection of blues and dance music.
A multi-award-winning artist, Popovic has earned recognition from major outlets and industry figures, including Bruce Springsteen, who called her “one helluva guitar player.” She’s been nominated for seven Blues Music Awards, and her latest album POWER hit #1 on the Billboard Blues Chart. Ana has shared stages with legends such as B.B. King, Joe Bonamassa, Warren Haynes, Robert Plant, and Gary Clark Jr., and is an endorsee of Fender, D’Angelico, Jim Dunlop, and DR Strings. Popovic’s commitment to her craft and fearless boundary-pushing ensures she remains one of the most dynamic forces in contemporary blues and beyond.

Joshua Grekin
2026-04-24 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
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Known to locals as the founder and director of Ann Arbor’s Grekin School of Music, composer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Joshua Grekin takes the stage with his own unique blend of soulful, jazzy, feel-good music. Joined by an all-star band of Detroit-area veterans, Grekin will perform music spanning four decades as a composer and performer, including selections from his nine original musicals.
Grekin’s belief that music has the power to heal and bring people together led him to found the nonprofit Musician & Artist Prosperity Project (MAPP). This concert doubles as a fundraiser for MAPP; all profits from the evening will benefit the organization.

Pajamas
2026-04-25 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
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In an era of precision-crafted playlists and algorithmic recommendations, Pajamas is a refreshing anomaly. Hailing from Ann Arbor, MI, Pajamas’ style has been described as “exploratory rock” – a good descriptor for Pajamas’ sound which contains a smorgasbord of influences from across almost the whole canon of American music tradition. This four man group is redefining the live music experience, standing on the shoulders of giants and crafting performances that are as much about the journey as the destination.
The band’s rocky overall sound is nuanced, feeling almost like each song is an interesting, in-depth conversation between the band and audience. The band’s four members – Nicholas Orr, Graham Low, Owen Kellenberger, and Liam Gallegos – weave together a tapestry of sound that is both intricate and expansive. Songs blend seamlessly into one another, creating a sense of flow and continuity that is all too rare in modern music.
Pajamas draws influence from the likes of Pink Floyd, Phish, Chick Corea, Grateful Dead, Jaco Pastorius, David Bowie, Brian Blade, Radiohead, Victor Wooten, Allman Brothers and many others. Since 2018, Pajamas has played hundreds of shows across the Midwest and beyond. From festivals like Summer Camp and big stages like Frederik Meijer Garden Amphitheater they’ve shared the stage with nationally touring acts including Goose, Aqueous, Thornetta Davis, Karina Rykman and many others.

May Erlewine with Packy Lundholm
2026-04-26 19:30 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
One of the Midwest’s most prolific and passionate songwriters, May Erlewine has a gift for writing songs of substance that feel both fresh and soulfully familiar. Her ability to emotionally engage with an audience has earned her a dedicated following far beyond her Michigan roots. This year, May is teaming up with Chicago guitar wizard, Packy Lundholm. The heart forward power duo will be offering their music in the name of love, service and rock & roll.

Gráinne Hunt with Jules Stewart
2026-04-28 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
A queer, nu-folk singer-songwriter with a voice like complex coffee, Gráinne Hunt is one of Ireland’s most compelling vocalists and songwriters – blending raw emotion, commanding power, and a voice that stops audiences in their tracks. Performing as a duo with San Diego’s Jules Stewart on drums and vocals, the pair create a sound that’s been compared to The Indigo Girls and Brandi Carlile – rich harmonies, heartfelt stories, and magnetic onstage chemistry.
Gráinne’s original work – two solo albums and a new live EP – draws from deeply personal experiences, weaving stories of pain, longing, and joy that have earned her comparisons to Tracy Chapman and Natalie Merchant. Her powerhouse performances have taken her from stages with Glen Hansard and U2, to opening for Gladys Knight and Mary Black.
Jules Stewart, based in San Diego, CA, is an accomplished drummer and vocalist with over 25 years of experience performing with artists including Gráinne Hunt, Lindsay White, and Please Ask for Paul. Known for her dynamic precision and deep musical sensitivity, Jules brings both groove and grace to every collaboration. She’s been featured in DRUM! magazine’s New Blood column, the San Diego Troubadour, and on The Up and Coming Drummer Podcast.
Together, Gráinne and Jules deliver an intimate yet powerful live experience – soaring harmonies, emotional storytelling, and connection that transcends borders.
Gráinne’s tour is gratefully supported by Culture Ireland.
The Ark’s Artist Spotlight Series is made possible with support from Ford Philanthropy. It is presented live, and also livestreamed on The Ark’s Facebook page and YouTube channel.
Tonight’s show is FREE (nonperishables accepted for Food Gatherers).

The Ark's Open Stage
2026-04-29 20:00 - 23:00, 2026-05-04 20:00 - 23:00, 2026-05-13 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. More info here!
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.
Tickets available at the door.

Brain Plasticity Ukulele Collective and Blueshouse
2026-04-30 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.
Ann Arbor’s Brain Plasticity Ukulele Collective is a proudly intergenerational group, sharing instruments, knowledge, kindness, and talent across eras. Instruments you might hear in the music of the collective include not only ukuleles but also guitar, flute, percussion, harmonica, accordion, mandolin, mandola, bass, piano, and melodica. The group is inspired by the idea that music cuts across diverse cognitive capabilities and resources, including numeracy, language, and space perception.
Mike Brooks, veteran blues guitar player/singer/songwriter from the UK has been playing guitar since the age of 10, and professionally since the age of 16. His musical career and accolades are many and varied, but include hitting the UK charts in 1979 (#28 on “the New Wave of British Heavy Metal” despite being a blues band), getting a cease and desist order from Walt Disney Corp for using a band name too close to that of a cartoon mouse, opening for bands such as the Yardbirds, the Animals, Wishbone Ash and Nine Below Zero, and playing in some of the most famous venues anywhere such as London’s Marquee, and, well, The Ark! In addition to leading BLUESHOUSE and fronting the Brain Plasticity Ukulele Collective, he also works with Ann Arbor’s youth at the Neutral Zone, a continuation of a youth music project begun in the UK called Electric896, which taught disengaged youth how to rock the blues.

Joan Osborne Sings the Songs of Bob Dylan
2026-05-01 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 2017, Grammy-nominated artist Joan Osborne released the critically acclaimed album, Songs of Bob Dylan. Her artistic and soulful reinterpretations of the selection of Dylan songs was an eye-opening moment in an already celebrated career.
Eight years after milestone recording, Osborne will release the stunning Dylanology Live on April 25th. The captivating recording finds the gifted vocalist performing in front of a live audience, with special guests Amy Helm, Robert Randolph and Jackie Greene. Songs include “Spanish Harlem Incident”, “Buckets Of Rain” “Masters Of War”, “Tonight I’ll Be Staying Here With You” and “High Water (For Charley Patton)”.
Throughout her three-decade, multi-Grammy nominated career, Joan Osborne has never been an artist confined to one space as she continues to seamlessly blend into any genre. Her incredible and distinctive voice always shines through her own songs, while she has also become one of her generation’s finest interpreters. Dylanology Live is yet another testament to her artistic range.

Alan Doyle
2026-05-02 20:00 - 23:00 | Royal Oak Music Theatre, 318 W 4th St, Royal Oak, MI, 48067, United States
Alan Doyle— actor, producer, best-selling author, and best-known as lead singer for Newfoundland’s beloved Great Big Sea these past 20+ years— hardly needs an introduction. With five solo albums under his belt, Doyle has been touring the world with his ace six-piece band for the last decade. In late 2014, Doyle released his best-selling memoir Where I Belong, followed by A Newfoundlander In Canada released in October 2017, and All Together now released in November 2020. Amidst these projects, Doyle found time to write music for and appear on CBC’s Republic of Doyle, guest on CBC’s Murdoch Mysteries, a role in 2014’s Winter’s Tale and 2010’s Robin Hood. With his 2022 live album “Here, Tonight” and a recent JUNO nomination for his 2021 album “Back to the Harbour”, Doyle chalks up a lot of where he is right now to luck. “I’m the luckiest guy I’ve ever even heard of,” he says. “This was all I ever wanted, a life in the music business, singing concerts.”
Doyle hails from Petty Harbour, NL, and formed Great Big Sea in 1993 with Sean McCann, Bob Hallett, and Darrell Power, in which they fused traditional Newfoundland music with their own pop sensibilities. Their nine albums, double-disc hits retrospective, and two DVD releases have all been declared Gold or Platinum and have sold a combined 1.2 million copies in Canada.

Pieta Brown & The Taken
2026-05-02 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Hailed as a “self-styled poetess, folk goddess, and country waif” by the BBC, Pieta Brown first came to international prominence with the release of her self-titled debut in 2002. Since then she has released multiple highly critically acclaimed albums, EPs and singles, with much attention being paid not only to her distinct sound and style, but also the power of her singing and songwriting.
Although the Alabama-bred, Iowa-based Brown’s quietly riveting tunes and gritty, charismatic performing style resist easy categorization, they’ve helped her to win a fiercely loyal international fan base that extends to many of her fellow artists.
“When Pieta sings you’re aware of something effortless and natural, like rain on earth,” Mark Knopfler observed, while Don Was called her “a great singer-songwriter who possesses major star-power magnetism,” and Iris DeMent described her as “the best poet I’ve heard in a long damn time.”
Bon Iver frontman Justin Vernon says Paradise Outlaw is “probably my favorite record ever made at our studio.”
Pieta has toured extensively since her first release, and has performed at festivals in the US, Canada and around the world, including Bonnaroo, Mountain Jam, Calgary Folk Fest, Edmonton Folk Music Festival, Portfairy Folk Festival, Celtic Connections, and more. Pieta’s songs and music have been heard in various TV Shows and indie films, and her albums Paradise Outlaw and Mercury both reached #1 on various radio charts. Pieta has also made guest appearances on National Public Radio shows including World Cafe, KCRW, Mountain Stage, E-Town, Folk Alley, and Weekend Edition.
“In her hands the blues hover with cloudy foreboding and old-time songs become billowy dances.” ~ Chicago Reader

John McCutcheon
2026-05-03 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.
John McCutcheon’s art grew out of his absolute mastery of American traditional music and instruments. He’s a legend of the guitar, the hammered dulcimer, and several other instruments, and a prolific songwriter, and there’s nobody more qualified to own the folkmusic.com domain name! The result is a body of classic American song, rooted in the best our musical tradition has to offer. John McCutcheon is a voice for peace, a community organizer, a writer, a literacy campaigner, and a performer who has packed concert halls on four continents. The Washington Post calls John’s concerts “little feats of magic,” and as a storyteller he’s been compared with Garrison Keillor—and, even better than that, Will Rogers.

Mama's Broke
2026-05-05 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.
Mama’s Broke is a powerful duo that deliver a compelling performance with heart and raw energy. Although highly influenced by their Canadian roots, Lisa and Amy are based out of nowhere and everywhere. Their two strong voices blend to create haunting harmonies, while they artfully juggle fiddle, banjo, guitar and mandolin, and incorporate traditional dance and foot percussion into their performance. Their original -and often dark- compositions push the boundaries of tradition and the constraints of genre. Drawing from old-time, Quebecois, blues, punk, celtic, balkan and doom metal, they create a soundscape that is both familiar and new.

Mark Erelli
2026-05-06 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.
Critically acclaimed singer/songwriter Mark Erelli is a Boston-based veteran of the folk and roots music scene, renowned for his emotional honesty, craftsmanship, and warmth. Erelli exploded out of the gate in 1999 when he won the prestigious Kerrville New Folk Award in the wake of his “auspicious debut” (Billboard), joining the ranks of previous honorees like Lyle Lovett and Nanci Griffith. More recently, Erelli penned the anti-gun violence song “By Degrees,” recorded in collaboration with Rosanne Cash, Sheryl Crow, and others, which garnered a nomination for Song of the Year at the 2019 Americana Honors and Awards. He followed this honor with a pair of records that drew comparisons to both Tom Petty and John Prine, as well as praise for their energy, grace, and resilience. Now, on his fourteenth solo album Spring Green, Erelli delivers his most cohesive and emotionally resonant work to date—a meditation on vulnerability, endurance, and renewal.
Following 2023’s Lay Your Darkness Down, which chronicled his response to vision loss from retinitis pigmentosa, Spring Green finds Erelli in a place of hard-won peace. Co-produced with longtime collaborator Zachariah Hickman and tracked largely live over three days, the album feels fluid and organic—more watercolor painting than photographic snapshot. Its intimate sound recalls classic singer-songwriters like Jackson Browne and James Taylor, prioritizing storytelling and emotional clarity over stylistic showmanship.
By choosing to release Spring Green independently through Bandcamp and personally fulfilling each order, Erelli reaffirms his commitment to authentic connection over industry convention. The album stands as both an artistic statement and a survival guide—proof that true strength lies in softness, and that being wholly oneself is more than enough.

For Pete's Sake: Pete Seeger Birthday Concert
2026-05-07 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
The annual Pete Seeger Birthday Concert returns to The Ark with an all-star celebration honoring the life and work of singer, songwriter, activist, and national conscience, Pete Seeger, who passed in 2014. The evening will be filled with storytelling and singalongs in the true uplifting Seeger audience participation tradition. This year’s lineup features Al Bettis, Ani Mari, Annie & Rod Capps, Billy King, Chris Buhalis, Gemily, Hoodang, Jan Krist, Jim Bizer & Alan Finkbeiner, Judy Banker, Kitty Donohoe, Lauren Crane, and Matt Watroba.

Iron & Wine
2026-05-08 20:00 - 23:00 | Michigan Theater, 603 East Liberty, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Iron & Wine is the musical project of singer-songwriter Sam Beam. Born and raised in South Carolina, Beam is a former film professor who got his start making home recordings before landing on Sub Pop Records. Iron & Wine’s 2002 debut, The Creek Drank the Cradle garnered both critical and popular acclaim, vaulting Beam into the spotlight of the burgeoning indie- folk/Americana scene as one of its new and leading voices.
For over 20 years, Iron & Wine has captured the emotion and imagination of listeners with distinctly cinematic songs. His recorded output includes seven full-length studio records, collaborations with Calexico, Ben Bridwell (Band of Horses), and Jesca Hoop, countless EP’s, singles and compilation/soundtrack appearances, a live concert documentary, and five GRAMMY nominations.
Iron & Wine’s latest record, Light Verse was released in April 2024 with Paste Magazine noting “… Beam returns with an expanded sonic palette while also rekindling the bright spark that made 2007’s The Shepherd’s Dog so magical.”

The RFD Boys
2026-05-08 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.
Tickets available at the door. There are no advance tickets for this show.

Justin Roberts
2026-05-09 11:00 - 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.
Five-time Grammy® nominated children’s musician Justin Roberts has been creating the soundtrack to families’ lives for 25 years. Now, with his 16th full length album, Space Cadet, Justin’s rock journey goes interstellar with feel-good songs rooted in themes of inclusion, acceptance, and self-discovery. Inspired by his life as a new dad and experiences in isolation, Space Cadet offers feel-good fun for the whole family. Justin has been praised by the New York Times for his “remarkable ability to see through a child’s eyes…,” and is known for writing meaningful songs that acknowledge kids’ emotional depth while still letting the fun shine through. In concert, kids and adults dance it out with Justin and his incredibly talented band, the Not Ready for Naptime Players, all while exploring what it means to be yourself and embrace what makes you unique.
Justin is the author of multiple children’s books and is available for author appearances and assemblies. The Smallest Girl in the Smallest Grade, illustrated by Christian Robinson, is the story of how one person can make a difference and was inspired by his beloved song, “Billy the Bully.” In The Great Henry Hopendower, a young boy remembers his much-loved grandpa and his newest book, I’ll Be Your Polar Bear, is a heartwarming story about the lengths a father will go to comfort and protect his child.

Howley
2026-05-09 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.
For over a decade, David and Martin Howley have been at the heart of a musical revolution. As founding members of We Banjo 3, the Galway-born brothers brought Irish traditional music to new heights — blending it with Americana, bluegrass, and contemporary songcraft to create a sound beloved across the world. Their electrifying live shows, virtuosic playing, and brotherly chemistry made We Banjo 3 one of the most celebrated acts on the international folk scene.
Now, the brothers return with a brand-new project: Howley — a re-imagining of that signature sound for a new era. With Martin’s dazzling mastery on banjo and mandolin and David’s unmistakable voice and rhythmic guitar, Howley is both a continuation and a renewal — rooted in tradition but reaching fearlessly toward the future.
Joined by two world-class artists, Kiana June (fiddle, vocals) and Caitlin Leahy (percussion, flute, vocals), Howley expands the brothers’ trademark sound with lush harmonies, fiery fiddle, and rhythmic flair. The result is warm, vibrant, and deeply human — a band that feels both comfortingly familiar and thrillingly new.
Martin Howley, a seven-time All-Ireland champion and the first Irish banjoist to perform on the Grand Ole Opry, brings dazzling precision and playful charisma to every performance.
David Howley, known for his soulful voice and magnetic stage presence, fuses the sensitivity of a songwriter with the power of a rock frontman.
Kiana June, the “fiddle-fueled” virtuoso of Gaelic Storm and Come From Away, infuses the music with both elegance and fire.
Caitlin Leahy, an accomplished multi-instrumentalist from the celebrated Leahy’s Luck family, provides rhythmic heartbeat and shimmering vocal textures.
Together, they form a sound built on connection — the pulse of family, the spark of shared history, and the joy of collaboration.
With Howley, the brothers have created something new: music that celebrates their past but looks ahead with open arms. Their live show is full of laughter, harmony, and heart — the kind of energy that reminds audiences why they fell in love with folk music in the first place.

Vance Gilbert
2026-05-10 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.
Vance was born and raised in the Philadelphia area. Starting out hoping to be an R&B and jazz singer once at college, there he discovered his affinity for the storytelling sensibilities of the acoustic singer-songwriter thing. Word spread like wildfire about Gilbert’s stage-owning singing and playing, and Shawn Colvin invited him to be special guest on her 1992 Fat City tour where he took much of America by storm and by surprise. “With the voice of an angel, the wit of a devil, and the guitar playing of a god..” wrote the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
Most recently he’s been the opener of choice for Mad About You/Stranger Things star Paul Reiser’s stand-up shows (50 +) for the last 7 years, along with his own busy acoustic music touring and coaching schedule.
Vance’s most recent album, “The Mother Of Trouble”, features Grammy winner Lori McKenna on background vocals, Juno award recipient and Bonnie Raitt Grammy hit song co-writer Joey Landreth on guitars, and Americana-Roots master mandolinist Joe K. Walsh.

Community High Jazz
2026-05-11 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.
Tickets available at the door.

Davina and the Vagabonds
2026-05-12 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.
Davina Sowers and the Vagabonds have created a stir on the national music scene with their high-energy live shows, level A musicianship, sharp-dressed professionalism, and Sowers’ commanding stage presence. With influences ranging from Fats Domino and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band to Aretha Franklin and Tom Waits, the band is converting audiences one show at a time, from Vancouver to Miami and across Europe.
Much like the music, the story spurns era, expectation, and classification. The often unbelievable, sometimes harrowing, and wholly inspiring journey of Davina Sowers gave birth to her eponymous band Davina and The Vagabonds in 2004. As the tale goes, she grew up in the economically depressed Allegheny town of Altoona, PA, which she now describes as “awesome in the industrial era, but horrible for high school.” She was adopted by her much older stepfather when he was in his 80s; he passed away when she was just 13. Through him and his Edison phonograph, she first heard The Ink Spots, Sidney Bechet, Louis Armstrong and Louis Prima, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, and many others. “Great man. He was my angel and still is,” she says.
On her own, she vividly recalls hours in front of the record player where she religiously spun Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, and Simon and Garfunkel records belonging to her folk singer mom.
To this day, Davina still refers to music as “my first and eternal love.” Despite early dalliances with classical piano and guitar, she developed a heavy drug habit in high school, which morphed into heroin dependency, left her homeless, sent her in and out of jail, and brought on all manner of trouble. Kicking dope on the streets, she “got clean, started the band, and worked [her] ass off every day since.”
Davina and the Vagabonds shine every time they play. To date, they’ve performed in forty-five states, twelve European countries, and two Canadian provinces. Not to mention, they’ve earned feverish acclaim from the Chicago Tribune, NPR, and more in addition to performing on BBC’s international favorite late-night program Later… With Jools Holland and appearing on PBS’s Bluegrass Underground.

Leo Kottke
2026-05-13 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Due to illness the upcoming Leo Kottke show has been cancelled. Apologies for any inconvenience. Refunds will be returned to original form of payment.

Joe Pernice
2026-05-14 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.
Joe Pernice is a songwriter celebrated for his rare ability to pair luminous melodies with quietly devastating emotional depth. Over the course of a career spanning more than three decades, Pernice has built a body of work that is literate, melodic, and enduring—music that reveals new layers with each listen.
First gaining attention in the early 1990s with alt-country band Scud Mountain Boys, Pernice later founded the Pernice Brothers, a project that would firmly establish his reputation as one of the most refined songwriters of his generation. From the initial Overcome by Happiness and across numerous albums, his songs have been marked by elegant arrangements, strong pop instincts, and lyrics that balance wit, melancholy, and narrative precision. Drawing from folk, power pop, and chamber pop traditions, Pernice’s music feels both timeless and unmistakably personal. His collaborations with a range of musicians include Norman Blake (Teenage Fanclub), Joshua Karp, Neko Case, Aimee Mann, and the iconic Jimmy Webb.
Critics have consistently praised his work for its craftsmanship and emotional intelligence. Major publications including Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, Magnet, The Guardian, and Mojo have highlighted his gift for melody and his ability to cloak dark, complex themes in deceptively beautiful songs.
Beyond music, Joe has written one of the first books in the original 33 1/3 book series. His novella explores the Smiths’ Meat is Murder and Catholic high school life in Boston in 1985. Joe’s novel, It Feels So Good When I Stop, is a dark, irreverent story of a young man trying to sort through love, life and commitment.
With his latest album, Sunny, I Was Wrong, Joe continues his signature style of rich storytelling melded with inspired arrangements, each song a world unto its own.

Jon Muq
2026-05-15 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.
For Jon Muq, a singer-songwriter born in Uganda and now living in Austin, Texas, music is part of a larger conversation he’s having with the world and everybody in it. Drawing from African as well as western musical trends and traditions, he devises songs as small gifts, designed to settle into everyday life and provoke reflection and resilience. “These days the world is sad,” he explains, “so I wanted to make happy songs. I wanted to write songs that connected with the listener in a very personal way. When someone listens to my music, it’s not just about me and what I’m singing. It’s about how they understand the songs individually. I think these songs can speak many languages, depending on what you want from them.”
Muq’s experiences as a child in Uganda and as a man in America give him a unique perspective on the world he’s addressing. “I grew up in a very different life, where so many people pass through hard times just because they don’t have much. Our biggest issue was food scarcity. Then I came to a different world, which gave me a picture of how to write a song that can find balance with everyone wherever they are, whether they have a lot or not much.” With his May 31st debut album with producer Dan Auerbach and tours with Billy Joel, Norah Jones, Mavis Staples, Amythyst Kiah, Corinne Bailey Rae, and others, Muq is expanding the scope of his music to speak to more and more people.
Presented with support from Bank of Ann Arbor
