Boxing Banjo
2024-08-12 20:00 - 23:00 (America/Detroit) | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Hailing from the picturesque west coast of Ireland, Boxing Banjo have quickly become one of the most respected Irish music acts. Comprising four of the most accomplished Irish musicians, brothers Darragh and Mícheál Healy along with Joseph McNulty and Cillian King have amassed in excess of 20 Irish Championship titles on various instruments in traditional Irish music and singing along with 4 World bodhrán titles.
Having made their debut in the USA in 2019, they have acquired a legion of devoted followers who have been spellbound by their energy, charisma and musicianship. Described by the Irish Echo as “complete naturals on stage”, their live shows exude a feel-good factor which persuades the inner dancer and vocalist in every audience member.

Iris DeMent
2024-08-13 19:30 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
The youngest of 14 children, Iris DeMent was born in Paragould, Arkansas, and moved to California with her devoutly religious family when she was three. As a teenager she absorbed the country music of Loretta Lynn, Merle Haggard, and Johnny Cash, as well as the folk classics of Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell. Her 1992 debut album, “Infamous Angel,” distilled these influences into a poetic yet down-to-earth songwriting style. With a heartfelt, homespun voice that listeners recognize instantly, Iris released some of the most powerful roots albums of the 1990s with the beautifully sparse “My Life” and the harder-edged “The Way I Should.” She has continued to make powerful and distinctive albums on her own schedule, and her latest, just out, is “Workin’ on a World.” This striking collection of songs faces the modern world—as it is right now—with its climate catastrophe, pandemic illness, and epidemic of violence and social injustice. The album not only asks us how we can keep working towards a better world, but implores us to love each other, despite our very different ways of seeing. Her songs are her way of healing our broken inner and outer spaces.
Note early start time!

Elephant Sessions
2024-08-14 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
From humble beginnings in the Highlands of Scotland, to playing around the world, Elephant Sessions celebrated their 10th year as band in 2022. Creating a progressive blend of intricate tunes, with a bass and drum heavy backline, their music combines the very best of trad, funk and electronica, resulting in a new and exciting sound. Since exploding onto the scene, the band have made live appearances at some of the most notable venues and festivals across the U.K, Europe, North America and Australia, including Glastonbury, Byron Bay Bluesfest, Colours of Ostrava and multiple headline sell-outs at Celtic Connections. The band’s first three albums were released to critical acclaim and amassed widespread radio play across the world.
Their new album ‘For The Night’ further built upon this success, charting at #3 in the Official Folk Album Chart and winning Album of the Year at the BBC Trad Music Awards 2022.

Jo Serrapere
2024-08-14 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Whether recreating old classic songs or performing original songs in her own deeply confessional and comic styles, Jo Serrapere’s music stands original while always reflecting her love of American roots music. Her eclectic writing and performance fuses elements of various modern and traditional folk music, Delta and electric blues, roots rock, classic and alt-country, garage rock, surf, and swing. Tonight Jo and her band perform songs off her new records, “The Beautiful Ones” Vol. I & II.

The Docksiders
2024-08-15 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Imagine you’re cruising the Atlantic shores of the Hamptons with your friends. Bikinis are fluorescent, polo collars are popped, and boat shoes are rocked sockless. In the background, your booming sound system is playing the soft-rock sounds of Michael McDonald, Olivia Newton-John, Hall & Oates, Christopher Cross and Air Supply.
The Docksiders are made up of veteran musicians originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and now based in Las Vegas, Nevada – led by 3-time Grammy nominee, Kevin Sucher. Their unique tribute act of your favorite soft rock songs of the 70s and 80s – now defined as Yacht Rock – have been entertaining hundreds of thousands of people for years, and audiences are only getting bigger!
The Docksiders – hit song after hit song, costume changes, and visual production, is only topped by their world-class performance.

Kris Allen
2024-08-16 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
In 2019, Kris Allen celebrated the 10th anniversary of his American Idol win by releasing “10,” an album of reimagined acoustic versions of some of his most beloved songs of the previous decade, including fan-favorite “Waves” and his platinum-selling single “Live Like We’re Dying.” In 2021, Kris followed this up with the release of “Don’t Stop Dancing” and 4 other singles that launched a new era of music for the Arkansas-born musician. Songs like “Hallelujah! For Now” and “Different Bridges” feature the imaginative songwriting and stunning vocals that put Kris on the map and pave the way for his upcoming album featuring your next favorite song. When not making music and playing it live across the world, Kris lives in Nashville with his wife Katy and three kids.

George Bedard
2024-08-17 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Guitarist and bandleader George Bedard has been a seminal figure on the Michigan roots rock scene. This year for his annual “History of American Music” series, George will present a tribute to T-Bone Walker, the great electric blues guitarist and singer. “T-Bone influenced every blues and rock guitarist that came after him, whether they know it or not,” says Bedard. “We will also explore the early soul music of artists like Sam Cooke, Solomon Burke, and Wilson Pickett. I’m pleased to announce that Ann Arbor’s own Al Hill will be joining us on keyboards and vocals.” Joining George and Al are Richard Dishman on drums, Pat Prouty on bass, and special guests Chris Smith on trumpet and Keith Kaminski on saxophone.

Iron & Wine
2024-08-18 18:00 - 23:00 | Masonic Jack White Theatre, 500 Temple Street, Detroit, MI, 48201, United States
Sam Beam is a singer-songwriter who has been creating music as Iron & Wine for over a decade. Through the course of seven albums, numerous EPs and singles, and the initial volumes of an Archive Series – Iron & Wine has captured the emotion and imagination of listeners with distinctly cinematic songs.

Kim Richey
2024-08-18 19:30 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
In January 2024, Kim Richey found herself in Mexico, gazing out at a sea of people singing along to “I’m Alright,” one of her classic tracks. The three folks on stage with the veteran, Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter were also raising their voices in harmony. To her right sat Brandi Carlile, to her left, Mary Chapin Carpenter and Brandy Clark. The formidable foursome was participating in a songwriter’s round only half-jokingly dubbed “Titans of Americana” at Carlile’s female-forward Girls Just Wanna Weekend festival on the Riviera Maya in Mexico.
“That was nuts looking out and seeing everybody arm-waving and singing along,” says Richey, still both incredulous and cheered by the memory of performing with that supergroup and later appearing alongside other Girls Just Wanna Weekend-ers Annie Lennox, Lucius, Allison Russell, and Sarah McLachlan among others. “It was just like, ‘wow’!”
The good news for fans of this particular Titan is there will soon be a whole new batch of songs to sing along with and arm wave to with the forthcoming release of her 10th studio album Every New Beginning. The 10 songs on Every New Beginning represent the full spectrum of the Ohio native’s gifts as both a revered songwriter who can leap from melancholy to mirthful in a single couplet — whose songs have been recorded by the likes of Brooks and Dunn, Patty Loveless, and Mary Chapin Carpenter — and owner of one of music’s truly celestial voices.
That voice, which Brandi Carlile has cited as formative in crafting her own style, is a widely sought after harmony instrument and has been featured on scores of albums including Jason Isbell’s acclaimed Southeastern, Trisha Yearwood’s Everybody Knows, Heartbreaker by Ryan Adams, Reba McEntire’s Starting Over, and Has Been by Capt. Kirk himself, William Shatner, among many others.

Brett Dennen Golden State of Mind Tour
2024-08-20 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Brett Dennen, a Northern California native, has been captivating audiences for nearly two decades with his distinct blend of folk-pop melodies, thought-provoking lyrics, and soulful vocal prowess. His signature red hair and lanky frame are as unmistakable as the music that has earned him legions of dedicated fans and critical acclaim. Dennen’s musical journey began in earnest at Camp Jack Hazard, a summer camp where he first discovered his love for singing and songwriting. Drawing inspiration from the likes of Paul Simon, Bob Dylan, and Joni Mitchell, Dennen crafted his own unique style that reflects his passion for storytelling and social commentary.
With a successful string of albums and several Top Ten AAA singles like “Make You Crazy,” “Wild Child,” and 2018’s “Already Gone” Dennen has cemented himself as a fixture in American pop/folk music. Characterized by his infectious energy and charisma, Dennen’s live shows are each a heartfelt expression of his love for music and connection with his audience. His insightful lyrics often touch on themes of love, nature, and social justice, resonating with fans who appreciate the genuine emotion and thoughtfulness behind his art.

The Avett Brothers
2024-08-21 18:30 - 23:00 | Masonic Temple Theatre, 500 Temple St, Detroit, MI, 48201, United States
Three-time Grammy Award nominees The Avett Brothers made mainstream waves with their 2009 major label debut “I And Love And You.” In 2012, “The Carpenter” hit #4 on the Billboard Top 200, followed by “Magpie And The Dandelion” in 2013, which debuted at #5. In 2016, the band was inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame. Their latest album, “The Third Gleam” debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Americana/Folk Albums chart, #1 Rock Albums, and #1 Vinyl Albums. Single “Victory” hit #1 on the Americana Radio Singles Chart. The Avett Brothers stayed connected with fans amidst the COVID-19 pandemic by playing two sold out drive-in shows at Charlotte Motor Speedway in the span of three months. “Swept Away” – a musical inspired by & featuring the music of The Avett Brothers – premiered in January 2022 at Berkeley Repertory Theatre to rave reviews from audiences and critics and is currently in D.C. for a limited pre-Broadway engagement at Arena Stage.

Graham Nash
2024-08-21 19:00 - 23:00 | Royal Oak Music Theatre, 318 W 4th St, Royal Oak, MI, 48067, United States
Legendary artist Graham Nash is a two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee – with Crosby, Stills, and Nash and with the Hollies. He was also inducted twice into the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame, as a solo artist and with CSN, and he is a GRAMMY Award winner.
Towering above virtually everything that Graham Nash has accomplished in his long and multi-faceted career, stands the litany of songs that he has written and introduced to the soundtrack of the past half-century. His remarkable body of work, beginning with his contributions to the Hollies opus from 1964 to ’68, including “Stop Stop Stop,” “Pay You Back With Interest,” “On A Carousel,” “Carrie Anne,” “King Midas In Reverse,” and “Jennifer Eccles,” continues all the way to his most recent album, “Now,” released in 2023.
The original classic union of Crosby, Stills & Nash (& Young) lasted but twenty months. Yet their songs are lightning rods embedded in our DNA, starting with Nash’s “Marrakesh Express,” “Pre-Road Downs” (written for then-girlfriend Joni Mitchell), and “Lady Of the Island,” from the first Crosby, Stills & Nash LP (1969). On CSNY’s Déjà Vu (1970), Nash’s “Teach Your Children” and “Our House” beseeched us to hold love tightly, to fend off the madness that was on its way.
Overlapping CSNY, Nash’s solo career debuted with Songs For Beginners (1971), whose “Chicago/We Can Change the World” and “Military Madness” were fueled by the Long Hot Summer, the trial of the Chicago Eight, and the ongoing Vietnam war. Songs from that LP stayed in Nash’s concert sets for years including “I Used To Be A King” and “Simple Man”. His next album, Wild Tales (1974), addressed (among other issues) unfair jail terms for minor drug offenses (“Prison Song”), unfair treatment of Vietnam vets (“Oh! Camil”), the unfairness of fame (“You’ll Never Be the Same”), and his muse, Joni (“Another Sleep Song”).
The most resilient, long-lived and productive partnership to emerge from the CSNY camp launched with the eponymously titled Graham Nash/David Crosby (1972), bookended by Nash’s “Southbound Train” as the opening track and “Immigration Man” as the closer. The duo contributed further to the soundtrack of the ’70s on their back-to-back albums, Wind On the Water (1975) and Whistling Down the Wire (1976).
On the CSN reunion studio LP (1977), Nash took top honors with “Just A Song Before I Go” (written in the space of one hour, and a Top 10 hit single). Lightning struck once more on CSN’s Daylight Again (1982), on which Nash penned their second (and final) Top 10 hit, “Wasted On the Way,” lamenting the energy, time and love lost by the group due to years of internecine quarrels.
Nash’s passionate voice continues to be heard in support of peace, and social and environmental justice. The No Nukes/Musicians United for Safe Energy (MUSE) concerts he organized with Jackson Browne and Bonnie Raitt in 1979 remain seminal benefit events. In 2011, Nash was instrumental in bringing MUSE back to the forefront with a concert to benefit Japan disaster relief and groups promoting non-nuclear energy worldwide. That same year, he and Crosby were among the many musicians who made their way to the Occupy Wall Street actions in lower Manhattan.
In September 2013, Nash released his long-awaited autobiography Wild Tales, which delivers an engrossing, no-holds-barred look back at his remarkable career and the music that defined a generation. The book landed him on the New York Times Best Sellers list, and was released in paperback in late 2014.
In recognition for his contributions as a musician and philanthropist, Nash was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) by Queen Elizabeth. While continually building his musical legacy, Nash is also an internationally renowned photographer and visual artist. With his photography, Nash has drawn honors including the New York Institute of Technology’s Arts & Technology Medal and Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters and the Hollywood Film Festival’s inaugural Hollywood Visionary Cyber Award. His work is collected in the book Eye to Eye: Photographs by Graham Nash; he curated others’ work in the volume Taking Aim: Unforgettable Rock ‘n’ Roll Photographs Selected by Graham Nash (2009).
Nash’s work has been shown in galleries and museums worldwide. His company Nash Editions’ original IRIS 3047 digital printer and one of its first published works—Nash’s 1969 portrait of David Crosby— is now housed in the National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian Institution in recognition of his revolutionary accomplishments in the fine arts and digital printing world.

Doolin'
2024-08-21 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
After three years of breakout touring at some of the biggest roots festivals in the United States and Canada, and another three years locked out of the live performance world they have so ambitiously cultivated, Doolin’, France’s premiere practitioners of Irish and Celtic music, return to touring with a new album entitled CIRCUS BOY.
Recorded in part in the US (Chicago, Kansas City and Pittsburgh) during their 2019 tour, the album was completed at the legendary Studio Ferber in Paris, France, under the direction of two legendary producers, Olivier Lude and Patrice Renson, both of whom have collaborated with some of the biggest names in French music. While their 2016 album drew its inspiration from the fusion of traditional Irish music, French chanson, and American roots music, CIRCUS BOY is resolutely more adventurous, as evidenced by their original compositions as well as by the added punch and sonic elements that were brought to the project by producers Lude and Renson.
Wilfried Besse’s vocals are supported as usual by the driving rhythm section of Josselin Fournel (percussion), Sébastien Saunié (bass) and Nicolas Besse (guitars), and the trad-Irish influence remains evidenced through the whistles of Jacob Fournel, the bodhran of his brother, Josselin, and the nimble accordion playing of Nicolas’ brother, Wilfried. But CIRCUS BOY represents a more powerful and bigger musical vision for the band, made possible by the introduction of piano, drums, and brass as new sonic elements. That said, the Irish music tradition is not complete without the presence of a fiddle or two, and on CIRCUS BOY Doolin’ includes three of the best European fiddlers of the genre: Niahm Gallagher, Niall Murphy, and Guilhem Cavaillé, himself a founding member of the band.

Unplugged: An Evening with The Louie Lee Show
2024-08-22 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Louie Lee breaks lyrical boundaries in country with thought-provoking ballads and high-energy anthems infused with hip-hop flair.
Raised in a Metro-Detroit trailer park, he draws from diverse influences, creating a unique “Country Hop & Roll” sound. Louie’s intimate, honest voice and visually captivating live shows push the boundaries of country, hip-hop, and rock, attracting both new and long-time fans.
Join The Louie Lee Show for a one night only experience of your favorite songs UNPLUGGED. This special acoustic performance will feature Louie Lee with special guests. Get your tickets today and hear the stories behind the music.

The Claudettes
2024-08-23 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Grounded in roots music yet pushing the boundaries of indie pop and rock, the Claudettes are writing the most riveting chapter of their story right now. Pianist/songwriter Johnny Iguana formed the Claudettes with drummer Michael Caskey, dazzling with the barrelhouse bravura of their 2013 debut Infernal Piano Plot…HATCHED! Another Yellow Dog Records release followed in 2015 featuring Nigerian-American singer Yana: No Hotel. Vocalist Berit Ulseth and bassist/vocalist Zach Verdoorn joined the band for Pull Closer to Me: Live in the Piano Room (2017) and Dance Scandal at the Gymnasium (2018, helmed by Grammy-winning Black Keys producer Mark Neill).
A new Claudettes era began when the band moved to Forty Below Records and released the acclaimed 2020 album High Times in the Dark and 2022’s The Claudettes Go Out! Now, the Claudettes introduce Rachel Williams, a six-foot Texan with a mohawk, a big voice and powerful stage presence.
Outside the Claudettes, Johnny Iguana has earned a Blues Music Award nomination and Living Blues Award nomination for piano player of the year. Johnny co-founded indie-rock cult favorites Oh My God, toured as pianist for blues stars Junior Wells and Otis Rush, played piano on three Grammy-nominated albums and played on albums featuring Buddy Guy, Junior Wells, James Cotton, Derek Trucks, Gary Clark Jr., Shemekia Copeland, Keb’ Mo’, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and more. Johnny is also co-composer (along with JQ of the Q Brothers) of the score for the hit FX/Hulu series “The Bear,” which won 10 Emmys and three Golden Globes in 2024. Johnny and JQ have also teamed up to produce new Claudettes tracks that are coming in 2024…

The Go Rounds
2024-08-24 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
The Go Rounds are one of contemporary indie rock’s most creative groups, a bold and visionary collection of talented musicians that have forged a reputation as innovators over the course of five studio albums and countless live performances.
Hailing from Kalamazoo, Michigan, they’ve firmly established themselves in the Great Lakes music community, becoming staples of the local festival circuit while taking their electric live show from coast to coast, from SXSW to Chicago’s Green Music Fest.
Described as a blend of psychedelia, Americana, twang-rock and jelly-roll with a healthy dose of pop sensibility holding things together, The Go Rounds write music that sounds like bits and pieces of all your favorite bands exploded into rock ‘n roll confetti. Fingerpicked guitar, fuzzy distorted tones, introspective ambience, spellbinding vocals and effervescent synth-pop: they manage to effortlessly weave together a varied sonic palette through intricate arrangements that are at once accessible, engaging, surprising and evocative. Their latest release, ‘Whatever You May Be’, was described as a “multi-faceted, ambient art-rock epic” by critics, while lead vocalist Graham Parsons painted the record as an “examination of our mirrors – the places, times and relationships that hold our reflection… a fever dream, a clearing on the horizon.”

Anya Hinkle & The Billy Sea
2024-08-25 19:30 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Anya Hinkle is an Asheville-based songwriter, steeped in the tones of roots and folk and seasoned by travels across the world. 2019 Merlefest Chris Austin Song Contest winner, No Depression calls her 2021 release Eden and Her Borderlands “…one of roots music’s gems so far this year.” She tours extensively across the US, Japan & Europe and releases her newest effort, OCEANIA, in 2024 on Red Parlor Records. Anya will be joined on stage by The Billy Sea, a trio of virtuosos who blend global sounds with Appalachian roots music, who will also be opening the show.

Fantastic Cat
2024-08-27 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
They said it couldn’t be done. Four different songwriters joining forces to form a single band? There was simply no precedent (outside of CSNY, The Beatles, The Traveling Wilburys, The Highwaymen, Monsters of Folk, etc). And yet Fantastic Cat did it anyway, defying the odds and teaming up to record their highly unanticipated 2022 debut, The Very Best Of Fantastic Cat. Hailed by Rolling Stone as “a wildly satisfying collection of folk-rock, country, Americana, and good old rock & roll” that offers “equal doses of Dylan and Springsteen,” the album earned the vocal-trading, instrument-swapping collective their national TV debut, sold-out headline dates around the US and Europe, festival performances everywhere from Sundance to Take Root, and a song in the Showtime series Tulsa King. In 2023, the unlikely four-piece teamed up with all-star producer Butch Walker for a 50th anniversary take on Wings’ “Band On The Run,” which prompted even more love from Rolling Stone, who dubbed them “the Harlem Globetrotters of Americana.”
Individually, each member of Fantastic Cat boasts their own impressive resume along with a litany of critical acclaim. Paste declared Don DiLego’s latest album a “stunner.” NPR said Anthony D’Amato “sings and writes in the tradition of Bruce Springsteen or Josh Ritter.” Rolling Stone called Brian Dunne’s new record “the sleeper album of the year” and praised Mike Montali’s band, Hollis Brown, as “the soundtrack for a late-night drive through the American heartland.” Collectively, though, the four transcend their respective roots, emerging as velvet-clad rock and roll cooperative far greater than the sum of its parts.
They say some cats are born fantastic; others have fantasy thrust upon them. These guys are somewhere in the middle.
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.
Tonight’s show is FREE (nonperishables accepted for Food Gatherers).

The Ark's Open Stage
2024-08-28 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.
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. Tremendous local performers like Dick Siegel, Misty Lyn, and Matt Watroba spent time honing their craft on Open Stage audiences. Even nationally recognized talents like Mary Chapin Carpenter, Gilda Radner, and David Alan Grier paid their dues here. 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.

Delta 88
2024-08-29 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
An Indie Folk/Rock band based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Delta 88’s music is that of an American hymn. Brought together on the four winds, its members combine numerous musical influences to create their own unique sound like haunted mountain spirituals played through a distortion pedal. The songs move through wide channels of dynamic, emotional arrangements, from dark and somber barroom ballads to anthemic battle cries. With four studio albums, the most recent produced by Grammy-award winning Joe Henry, Delta 88 continues to mine for the new American songbook. The band’s music has been heard on stages through the U.S., Canada and Europe with the likes of Ralph Stanley, Richard Buckner, Emmylou Harris and Buddy Miller to name a few.
Rachel Lynn, formerly of The Hummingbirds, opens the show.

Crash Test Dummies
2024-09-03 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
In 2018, 25 years after the release of their multi-Grammy nominated hit album “God Shuffled His Feet”, The Crash Test Dummies hit the road for the first time in 20 years with an Anniversary Tour that spanned North America. The overwhelming reception led to a 30th Anniversary Tour in 2022 for their debut release “The Ghosts That Haunt Me” that touched down in the US, UK, Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Canada. And the band is showing no signs of slowing down . . .
“Touring again was not something we’d planned on, but surprisingly – at least to me – there are lots of people who many years later, still want to come and hear us. The folks that are coming out to see these shows tell us their stories, some of them very funny, some very dark and all very personal. It’s very humbling, being in the confidence of so many people” says lead singer-songwriter Brad Roberts, “and it has inspired us to continue to tour and make music.”
2023 saw the release of a new, original Crash Test Dummies single “Sacred Alphabet.”

Tartan Terrors
2024-09-04 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Tartan Terrors bring their Celtic Invasion to festivals and shows across North America, blending the energy of a rock show with humor and step dance. With a distinctive sound and proud tradition of making Celtic music fun and accessible to any audience, the Tartan Terrors have performed on 4 different continents, in some of the most prestigious Festivals, Highland Games and theaters of North America. Join the phenomenon of the Tartan Terrors and see why Celtic Beat Magazine hails them as “the heirs apparent to the [Celtic] mayhem.”

The Martin Sexton Abbey Road Show
2024-09-05 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Martin Sexton puts his signature style on his rendition of this iconic Beatles album combining what Rolling Stone calls his “soul-marinated voice” with his inventive guitar prowess.
We are all invited to Come Together to experience these brilliant songs celebrated in such a compelling reimagined way.

Shemekia Copeland
2024-09-06 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
This show has been rescheduled from an earlier date. All previously sold tickets will be honored. Ticket holders have until March 15th to request a refund if unable to attend on the new date.
Shemekia Copeland possesses one of the most instantly recognizable and deeply soulful roots music voices of our time. The multi-GRAMMY nominee is beloved and honored worldwide for the fearlessness, honesty and humor of her revelatory songs, as well as for her winning, engaging personality. The Chicago Tribune says, “Copeland is the greatest female blues vocalist working today. There’s no mistaking the majesty of her instrument, nor the ferocity of her delivery.”

On Copeland’s new album, Blame It On Eve, the songs all hit hard, with jaw-dropping performances that instantly take hold and command repeated listening. “There’s serious business on the new album,” Copeland says, “but there are a lot of smiles here too, a lot of joyous moments. It’s my blues for sure but it’s the brighter side. Issues are always important to me, but so is rocking, dancing and just having fun. And that’s something we all can all agree on.”
With Blame It On Eve, Copeland embarks on what she calls “a vacation from all the heaviness.” Blame It On Eve contains plenty of Copeland’s trademark bold and courageous songs, but here Copeland is also looking to unplug from the weight of the world. “My last three records have dealt with breaking news,” she says. “This record is for people like me who want a break from the news.”

Ann Arbor Django Reinhardt Festival
2024-09-07 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
The 2nd annual Ann Arbor Django Reinhardt Festival features host band Djangophonique and their new material with the latest addition to the ensemble, vocalist Katie Smith, along with other midwestern musicians who draw inspiration from the Django lineage. Christo Rupenthal’s Novelty Combo from Madison, WI, brings a fusion of antique Hawaiian steel guitar and hot club music, and Erik McIntyre from Flint, MI will be playing early American archtop guitar influenced by musicians such as Eddie Lang, whose recordings with violinist Joe Venuti served as the blueprint for Reinhardt and Grapelli’s work. With a range of diverse offerings, united together by enthusiasm, skill, and passion for the legacy surrounding the music of Django Reinhardt, this iteration of Ann Arbor’s burgeoning new series is sure to delight, transport, and inspire.
Djangophonique is an award winning project that delivers the infectious joy, and expressive freedom that is at the heart of Django Reinhardt’s jazz manouche. With respect for the tradition and a fearless creativity that bends the conventions of the style, Djangophonique is keeping the Hot Club revival alive and well. The result is a sound that’s unmistakable to fans of the music, and alluring to the uninitiated—a sound that can bring the lively energy of a Parisian dance hall to the quietest listening room or captivate a buzzing festival audience with the aching nostalgia of a shimmering ballad.
Christo Ruppenthal is an award-winning multi-instrumentalist and music entrepreneur whose professional career started in 2003. He presents a unique mixture of Vaudeville-era novelty infused hot steel guitar playing from the 1920s and 30s “Hawaiian Craze” combined with the swinging sounds of Django Reinhardt’s 1930s and 40s guitar-driven Hot Club jazz. Think “Hot Hawaiian guitar meets Jazz à la Django!” Christo is an avid recording artist and performer with thousands of gigs both across the U.S. and internationally to his credit.
Inspired by a melting pot of moods, styles, and spirit heard in recordings from the 1920s and 30s (by such artists as Eddie Lang, Louis Armstrong, Blind Blake, Lonnie Johnson, Billie Holiday, Django Reinhardt, Blind Boy Fuller, Agustín Barrios Mangoré, The Carter Family, Jimmie Rodgers…), Erik McIntyre continues to hone a distinct musical voice that pays homage with a personal touch. His playing is spontaneous yet studious — synergizing “muse” and “ic”. Whether as soloist or sideman, his arrangements, improvisations, and compositions weave a tapestry that is filtered through a warm lens of nostalgia and invites listeners to his inner world.

Sierra Ferrell - Shoot For The Moon Tour
2024-09-08 19:00 - 23:00 | Royal Oak Music Theatre, 318 W 4th St, Royal Oak, MI, 48067, United States
One of the brightest young luminaries in roots music today, Sierra Ferrell brings a dose of beautifully strange magic to everything she touches. Since the arrival of Long Time Coming (her acclaimed debut LP for Rounder Records), the West Virginia-born singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist has earned the Emerging Act of the Year prize at the Americana Honors & Awards, collaborated with the likes of Margo Price and Old Crow Medicine Show, and enchanted audiences all over North America and Europe with her high-spirited and dazzling live performance. On her new album Trail Of Flowers, the Nashville-based artist expands her sound while deepening the urgency of her songs, often revealing a wealth of wisdom within her wildly imaginative storytelling.
Her first full-length since Long Time Coming—a 2021 release that drew praise from outlets like Pitchfork, Paste, Pop Matters, and No Depression—Trail Of Flowers came to life with producers Eddie Spear (Zach Bryan, Brandi Carlile, Chris Stapleton) and Gary Paczosa (Alison Krauss, Dwight Yoakam, Gillian Welch) and with such esteemed musicians as Chris Scruggs. In keeping with a musical upbringing that included playing everywhere from truck stops to boxcars to New Orleans street corners, the album journeys from freewheeling bluegrass to heartrending old-time music to fantastically gritty honky-tonk and beyond, endlessly changing shape to accommodate the immense scope of Ferrell’s eccentric musicality. Mainly recorded at Sound Emporium Studios and featuring guest appearances from singer/songwriters Lukas Nelson and Nikki Lane, Trail Of Flowers ultimately fulfills her longstanding mission of making music that transcends all barriers of time. “I wanted to create something that makes people feel nostalgic for the past, but excited about the future of music,” Ferrell points out.
Instantly proving her extraordinary capacity to merge timeless musicianship with lyrics exploring modern concerns, Trail Of Flowers opens on “American Dreaming”: a world-weary yet soul-stirring track that speaks to the struggle to build a good life in a culture consumed by capitalism. Another song informed by her singular outlook on the modern world, “Fox Hunt” takes the form of a furiously stomping epic driven by galloping rhythms and some feverish fiddle work from Ferrell. On “Rosemary,” she delves further into her old-time roots and delivers the album’s most haunting moment: a stark but spellbinding story-song graced with a few bars of soulful yodeling. A profoundly gifted vocalist, Ferrell often captures an entire world of feeling in just a single line, particularly on tracks like “Dollar Bill Bar”—a swinging but wistful number on which she cycles from longing to regret to devil-may-care attitude with impossible ease. And on “I Could Drive You Crazy,” Ferrell serves up one of the most joyful moments on Trail Of Flowers, sharing a harmony-fueled and singalong-ready love song that’s both self-effacing and gloriously fun.

The Henhouse Prowlers
2024-09-08 19:30 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Founded nearly two decades ago with the simple desire to play original and powerful bluegrass, The Henhouse Prowlers now find themselves at the intersection of performance, diplomacy and education. Onstage, the group’s enthralling performances give audiences a sense of how much they love what they do. On record – including their latest offering, 2023’s Lead and Iron, released via Dark Shadow Recording – the band explores their collective life experiences through songwriting and intricate instrumentation. While bluegrass is the undeniable foundation of the Prowlers’ music, the band bends and squeezes the traditional form into a keenly developed sound all their own.
The Prowlers have now been to more than 25 countries across the globe, working with the U.S. State Department and under their own nonprofit, Bluegrass Ambassadors, and incorporating music from Africa, Asia, the Middle East & more into their already robust repertoire of unique traditional American music.
On stage, in workshops and wherever they are, the Henhouse Prowlers find and spread the commonality we share as human beings through the universal language of music.

Joseph
2024-09-09 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
A tremendously special show celebrating the 10th anniversary of Joseph’s debut album Native, Dreamer, Kin which will be played in its entirety from start to finish, followed by favorites from the entire discography. Very special announcements coming soon about other elements to the show. This is a very important pivotal moment between what has been and what’s to come for the band and they’re excited to share it with their incredible audience.
VIP package includes:

One (1) General Admission Ticket
Meet & Greet & Photo Opportunity with JOSEPH
Access to Intimate Pre-Show Soundcheck Performance and Q&A with JOSEPH
One (1) Tour Poster Signed by JOSEPH
One (1) Specially Designed JOSEPH Tote Bag
One (1) JOSEPH Pin Set
Early Merchandise Shopping Opportunity
Venue First Entry (Where Applicable)

Síomha
2024-09-10 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Independent Irish singer and guitarist Síomha (pronounced She-vah) dances the line between folk, jazz and neo-soul effortlessly taking audiences on an unexpected and unforgettable journey with her soulful melodies. Her debut album ‘Infinite Space’, described by The Irish Times as “a seriously accomplished and self-confident debut”, is a collection of songs in both Irish and English. A kind of cosmic, folk-informed, jazz-tinged, post-pop – it was produced by Grammy-nominated Tyler Duncan and features an all-star lineup of musicians including Joe Dart (Vulfpeck), Louis Cato (Bobby McFerrin/ Snarky Puppy), Martin Atkinson Borrull (Toucan) and violinist Jeremy Kittel (Bela Fleck/ Chris Thile). Síomha’s voice is full of raw heartfelt experience. When listening to her, audiences are instantly moved to feel on the deepest level and come out more intimately connected to their own worlds.

Dustbowl Revival
2024-09-11 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Dustbowl Revival has always been about pushing the boundaries of what American roots music can be. After celebrating over a decade of sonic adventuring and playing thousands of shows together in ten countries and counting, the group collected a devoted fanbase globally.
After spending years on the road, selling out hometown shows at LA’s famed Troubadour, headlining festivals and wowing crowds from Denmark to China, Dustbowl Revival never stopped making their joyful, booty-shaking soul songs and cut-to-heart folk-rock ballads that lift up their transcendent live shows.
Founder Z. Lupetin sought to find fellow musicians who shared his roving love of Louis Armstrong, Bob Wills, Old Crow Medicine Show, Paul Simon, Aretha Franklin and the brass bands of New Orleans, but also wanted to write songs like Americana pioneers Wilco, Lucinda Williams and even Bruce Springsteen.
Dustbowl Revival’s collective of musicians include: Z. Lupetin (lead vocals, guitar) Alex Nester (lead vocals), Chad Richard (electric guitar), Nick Phakpiseth (bass), Josh Heffernan (drums), Ulf Bjorlin, Vik Devasthali (trombone), Max Oleary, Mike Jones, (trumpet).
