Multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter Darrell Scott mines and cultivates the everyday moment, taking the rote, menial, mundane, and allowing it to be surreal, ever poignant, and candidly honest, lilting, blooming, and resonating.
British guitar legend Albert Lee, regarded by many as one of the world’s finest guitar players, with a career spanning more than 50 years, needs no introduction for country music, blues, and rock fans. Widely hailed for his finger style and hybrid picking technique.
Rodney Crowell is one of country music's most successful songwriters. Audience members are invited to a rare experience as Rodney reads from his brand new book, Word For Word, shares stories, and performs the songs that have made him a renowned and prolific songwriter.
British guitar legend Albert Lee, regarded by many as one of the world's finest guitar players, with a career spanning more than 50 years, needs no introduction for country music, blues, and rock fans. Widely hailed for his fingerstyle and hybrid picking technique, Albert Lee helped to redefine country guitar for a whole generation of players with his song "Country Boy." Albert's many career highlights include two Grammy wins, five years in the Eric Clapton band, and stints with the Rolling Stones' Bill Wyman, The Crickets, the Everly Brothers, Joe Cocker, Emmylou Harris, Rodney Crowell and many more.
Known for its legendary music collection, including the early albums of Elvis Presley, Sun Studio left an indelible mark on the history of rock ‘n’ roll. In 2005, Tyler Hilton was cast to play the legendary rock star in the blockbuster biopic, Walk the Line (starring Joaquin Phoenix as Johnny Cash). Now Tyler has teamed up with America’s premiere hot jazz and Western swing trio, Hot Club of Cowtown, bringing Elvis’ greatest hits from the Sun Studio years to life on the stage. The Hot Club of Cowtown has been an Ark favorite for years, but they’ve continued to break new ground since first visiting Ann Arbor in the 1990s, and this new show is no exception. Both The Hot Club of Cowtown and Tyler Hilton will perform their own material, and then they’ll join forces for the Elvis material—which is very much in the Hot Club’s wheelhouse.
Special Guest: Jeff Scott
The Ark 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, United StatesThe constant for Ann Arbor-based Bill Edwards has always been songwriting. He won first prize in Billboard’s® national songwriting contest and his songs have been recorded by other singers and featured on TV and on the silver screen. He’s held staff-writer positions in Nashville and instructed others in the fine art of words and music. But you haven't heard Bill's songs until you've heard them presented in his own fine voice and with his expressive playing. Bill will be releasing his newest album, “So Far,” at this concert with a full band. This is his ninth full-length album. Opening the show will be metro Detroit singer/songwriter/producer Jeff Scott.
In the words of the Boston Globe, Darrell Scott "is to Nashville what Richard Thompson is to Britain and what Paul Brady is to Ireland." Most artists fall toward one side or the other of the divide between great songwriting and instrumental virtuosity, but in the songs of Darrell Scott words, music, and instruments are inseparable. Darrell has written some of the sharpest country songs of the 21st century (like the Dixie Chicks' "Long Time Gone"), and he can play just about anything with strings. Darrell's song "Hank Williams' Ghost" was named Song of the Year at the 2007 Americana Music Awards. Darrell has toured with Robert Plant and The Zac Brown Band, and, as a singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist he's been an artist to whom many in Nashville turn for a shot of inspiration. His music features guitars (including lap and pedal steel), keyboards, electric and acoustic bass, harp, bouzouki, harmonium, mandolin, banjolin, cello, glockenspiel, drums, and various other percussion instruments. Darrell has two recent albums, “Darrell Scott Sings the Blues of Hank Williams” and “Jaroso.”
British guitar legend Albert Lee, regarded by many as one of the world's finest guitar players, with a career spanning more than 50 years, needs no introduction for country, blues and rock fans. Widely hailed for his fingerstyle and hybrid picking technique, Albert Lee helped to redefine country guitar for a whole generation of players with his song "Country Boy." Albert's many career highlights include two Grammy wins, five years in the Eric Clapton band (at Clapton's request Albert played the Crossroads Festival with Eric at Madison Square Garden) and stints with the Rolling Stones' Bill Wyman, The Crickets, the Everly Brothers, Joe Cocker, Emmylou Harris, Rodney Crowell and many more.
Hailing from Akron, Ohio, The Shootouts are known for their energetic blend of honky-tonk, Americana, and Western swing. The band has been nominated for “Best Honky Tonk Group” at the 2023 and 2024 Ameripolitan Music Awards – a nomination the band was also honored with in 2020. In 2023, The Shootouts released their third album, “Stampede,” kicking off their album release tour with their Grand Ole Opry debut. The album features special guest appearances from Ray Benson & Asleep at The Wheel, Marty Stuart, Buddy Miller, Jim Lauderdale, and Raul Malo.
Opener: Seth Walker
The Ark 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, United StatesWhen Raul Malo came on the scene as the lead singer of The Mavericks, he already had a sound that didn't fit the usual categories, and a luxuriant voice that brought to mind Roy Orbison. The Ark has been an ideal venue for Raul's solo shows, which are more personal than the music he's made with The Mavericks, and his Ark shows over the past decade have lingered in the memories of listeners and the club staff alike. Raul comes to Michigan with a new solo instrumental album, “Say Less.”