• An intimate evening with Shovels & Rope

    The Ark 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, United States

    Shovels & Rope is the Charleston, South Carolina–based duo of Cary Ann Hearst and Michael Trent. They perform as an energetic two-piece band, stirring up a righteous racket with two old guitars, a handful of harmonicas, the occasional keyboard, and a junkyard drum kit harvested from an actual garbage heap and adorned with tambourines, flowers and kitchen rags. But the songs are the deadliest arrows in this duo’s quiver.

    $40.00
    Open Mic

    The Ark’s Open Stage

    The Ark 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 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.

    $3.00, Students and Ark Members free
    Special Event

    José González

    Royal Oak Music Theatre 318 W 4th St, Royal Oak, MI, United States

    José González is in a class by himself. Hailed by Rolling Stone as “someone whose subtle, carefully crafted music delivers rewards to listeners who know how to wait,” González’s stellar career can only be described as a dream. From selling out tours on virtually every continent to headlining prestigious festivals around the world to being asked to perform at 2020’s Nobel Prize Award Ceremony and seeing his recorded music exceed 1 billion streams, González is one of the most exciting and in-demand touring artists working today.

    $55.26

    Great Lake Swimmers

    Special Guest: Justin Wells

    The Ark 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, United States

    Featuring a blend of acoustic instruments, rural soundscapes, and wistful vocals, Great Lake Swimmers are a critically acclaimed indie-folk group led by Tony Dekker. Based in Southern Ontario, the group emerged in the early 2000s with a succession of heavily atmospheric albums recorded in old silos and rural country churches. The music developed in that pastoral warmth, performed and recorded in acoustically resonant and historical locales with a revolving cast of personnel.

    $29.00

    Brett Dennen

    The Ark 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, United States

    Across his career, Brett Dennen has established himself as the kind of singer-songwriter who finds inspiration by digging into the nooks and crannies of the human condition—exploring pain, joy, sadness, and all points in between. If It Takes Forever (Mick Music), the California native’s eighth solo album and first full-length since 2021’s See the World, is no exception. The warm, immersive collection boasts deeply felt sentiments, underpinned by rich acoustic guitars and Dennen’s earnest vocals, in the vein of dusky Americana (“Golden State of Mind”), harmonica-driven blues (the Tom Petty-esque “Careful What You Wish For”), rootsy indie (“Don’t Go Talking”), and meditative folk-rock (highlight “Time To Wake Up”).

    $40.00
    Sold Out

    The Verve Pipe

    The Ark 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, United States

    With a reputation for spectacular live performances, the multi-platinum alternative rock band The Verve Pipe are recognized worldwide for their radio hits Photograph, Hero, Happiness Is, Never Let You Down and the #1 smash single The Freshmen.

    $35.00

    Larkn

    Opener: Ashley Pyle

    The Ark 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, United States

    Born and raised in Clarkston, Michigan, Larkn grew up singing in church choir, spending summers on sparkling Lake Michigan and writing nature-filled poetry inspired by Michigan’s four distinctive seasons. She attended Berklee College of Music (Boston, MA) for voice and contemporary writing and production. Her music is inspired by the ups and downs of her life journey, California, love, nature and introspection.

    $29.00

    The Ark Annual Membership Meeting

    The Ark will hold the Annual Meeting of its Members on Monday, November 24 at 6:30 pm. This year’s Annual Meeting will be held virtually by Zoom. At this meeting, the Membership will hear about the current state of The Ark and conduct any membership-related business that may come before the group.

    Special Event

    Portugal. The Man

    Royal Oak Music Theatre 318 W 4th St, Royal Oak, MI, United States

    Over the past decade, Portugal. The Man has established themselves as one of rock’s most prized possessions and a live phenomenon, with over 1,600 shows under their belts and a storied reputation as festival favorites.

    $46.94
    Artist Spotlight Series

    Don Julin’s Trio 25

    The Ark 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, United States

    With their genre-bending approach and dynamic interplay, Don Julin’s Trio 25 delivers a fresh, unpredictable concert experience that is as innovative as it is entertaining. The trio will feature selections from "Fractured Fiddle Tunes" and a few of Julin's original compositions. Recently, during a concert, Julin told the audience, "We may have invented a genre called Weather Channel Grass." Don Julin's Trio 25 features Tom Knific on bass and Hayes Griffin on guitar.

    Free, Donations accepted for Food Gatherers
    Live and Virtual

    Matt Watroba

    The Ark 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, United States

    What could be better than to kick off the holiday season with a Michigan folk music institution? Many know Matt Watroba as the voice of folk music in Michigan for his work producing and hosting shows for public radio. He has devoted his life and career to being a custodian of American folk and roots music. This has helped shape a repertoire and presentation that is unique on stages across the state and country.

    $29.00

    The RFD Boys

    The Ark 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 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. Tickets available at the door. There are no advance tickets for this show.

    $16.00, $15 students, seniors, and Ark members