This annual event brings both locally based and nationally known story tellers to The Ark stage. This year’s story tellers are Ingrid Nixon, Jeff Doyle, and Steve Daut.
This annual event brings both locally based and nationally known story tellers to The Ark stage. This year’s story tellers are Ingrid Nixon and Steve Daut.
Special Guest: aron!
The Ark 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, United StatesOn the night of the Fourth of July, fireworks over Mei Semones' Brooklyn block were competing with something more primal. Up and down the street, dogs answered each burst with a long, ragged howl of their own. Semones, alone in her apartment with her guitar while the rest of the city celebrated outside, found she didn't mind the solitude. The howling struck her less as a cry for help than as a kind of greeting: proof that she was never really by herself, not with music always keeping her company. By morning, she had the seed of the title track for her sophomore album, Howl.
Special Guest: Sir Woman
The Majestic Theatre 4140 Woodward Ave., Detroit, Michigan, United StatesFor as much as Sammy Rae & The Friends may be a band, this collective of dreamers and artists considers themselves a family first. That all-for-one and one-for-all camaraderie ignites their unforgettable and can’t-miss live shows, which serve as a catharsis for both the musicians and their fervent audience. Fronted by singer/songwriter Sammy Rae and honed through years of touring, the group is capable of flourishing in any spotlight thanks to its signature blend of palpable chemistry, deft virtuosity, and vocal fireworks.
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.
Cory Wong is a Grammy-nominated guitarist, composer, and producer celebrated for his explosive live energy, razor-sharp funk grooves, and boundary-pushing collaborations across genres. Known for blending the technical precision of jazz with the infectious spirit of funk, pop, and soul, Wong has carved out a singular space as one of modern music’s most dynamic and joyful performers.
Michael McDermott’s brand of rock n’ roll brims with the kind of well-honed style and wisdom that can only come from a career on the road and a pedigree in the studio. Effortlessly blending natural folk sensibility, pop hooks, and honest rock, McDermott’s music is as much for the outcast as the congregation. It’s an exploration of the dark corners of life’s journey and it resonates middle class truths through the passionate filter of a kid that grew up on Chicago’s Irish South Side.
Lisa LeBlanc has been dropping musical plot twists for 15 years. This includes a platinum-selling francophone folk album, an electrified English-language rock album, a multi-award-winning disco record and a live album with the Québec Symphony Orchestra. She’s earned multiple Félixes, three Juno nominations, and two Polaris Prize shortlist nods. For 2027's Patchwork, she went back to the jam session, diving into 60s and 70s folk and rock’n’roll while adding a hint of swamp pop, soul and a dash of traditional Cajun and Acadian influences.
In honor of Irish traditional music, On The Lash creates timeless sounds through original voices. With new takes on classic songs and original constructions of established standards, On The Lash aims to explore the inherent energy and versatility of the genre. Dynamic musicality, powerful vocals, and charming authenticity are united in this group of four friends sharing the great breadth of emotion uniquely expressed in the tradition.
Special Guest: Snacktime
Masonic Temple Theatre 500 Temple St, Detroit, MI, United StatesIn the spring of 2025, just a few short months after playing their near-sellout first show at Madison Square Garden, and earning their first GRAMMY® nomination for 2024’s Good Together, the members of Lake Street Dive - vocalist Rachael Price, bassist/background vocalist Bridget Kearney, drummer/background vocalist Mike Calabrese, keyboardist/vocalist Akie Bermiss, and guitarist/background vocalist James Cornelison - gathered to work on new music for what would become their very first independent release, and ninth album, What About Flamingos?.
"I love song craft," says Mason Jennings, a longtime folksinger who has spent over two decades honing his craft both on stage and in the studio. "A song is like a boat on the water, and you're trying to make it float with as few pieces as possible. If you do it right, a song can be very healing." For Jennings, songwriting has always been about creating a personal connection, both with his audience and with himself. Over the years, he’s become known for his unpretentious, emotive approach to folk music, combining introspective lyrics with acoustic melodies.
Sam Lewis has collaborated with everyone from Leon Russell to The Wood Brothers. Chris Stapleton dubbed him “a modern Townes Van Zandt”. He’s often labeled with some form of the word ‘soulful’ (some have even compared his voice to molasses), Lewis’ style meets at a juncture of many different genres however he’s discovered what most musicians spend lifetimes working for; the place where feel-good music meets vital social commentary.