Over the last thirty-five years, Canadian Music Hall of Fame inductee Steven Page has established himself as one of the most recognizable and enduring voices in music. The release of his latest album, Excelsior, shows that he has no plans of slowing down anytime soon.
Deidre McCalla plainly admits what every rocker knows - life begins with an acoustic guitar. Affectionately dubbed the "dreadlocked troubadour" by The Miami Herald, Deidre McCalla and her music embrace and celebrate the power and diversity of life. Joe Jencks is a 25-year veteran of the international folk circuit, an award-winning songwriter, and a celebrated vocalist based in Chicago, IL. Merging conservatory training with his Irish roots and working-class upbringing, Joe delivers engaged musical narratives filled with heart, soul, groove and grit.
Making Movies is the Latin Grammy–nominated group led by Enrique Chi — born in Santiago, Panamá, and raised in the American Midwest — forging a sound guided by tradition, yet unmistakably its own. The band has been described by Rolling Stone as “an eclectic blend of rumbero percussion, delicate organs, and grungy fuzz,” while NPR calls the project “perhaps one of the most unique groups around today.” Their sound is anchored in the rich rhythmic traditions of Panamá and delivered with the force of a psychedelic rock show. Chi weaves the mejorana, a traditional hand-made instrument rarely heard outside of Panamá, into each performance.
Matt Watroba presents "The power of singing, the Power of Song" Matt, and an all-star, on stage choir will lead the audience in song after uplifting song.
Gemily (Gemini + Emily) is the folk music trio comprised of Laz and San Slomovits, and San's daughter, Emily. Laz and San, as the highly popular family music duo, Gemini, have been performing throughout Michigan and the United States since 1973. Between them they play over a dozen instruments including guitars, violins, ukulele, mandolin, pennywhistle, and a variety of folk flutes and hand percussion instruments. They’ve played an annual family concert for Ark audiences on the Sunday after Thanksgiving every year since 1994 to benefit Mott Children’s Hospital, where Emily was born.
This holiday season, acclaimed vocalist Kat Edmonson returns with a dazzling new chapter in her celebrated career: the November 6, 2026 release of her latest album, Have Your Merry Christmas With Me, followed by a nationwide tour beginning Thanksgiving and continuing through the end of December. Have Your Merry Christmas With Me by Kat Edmonson plays like the soundtrack to a classic romantic comedy—lush, witty, soulful, and filled with longing, flirtation, and holiday warmth. Blending nostalgia, celebration, and holiday spirit, this concert feels both classic and new, with all the makings of a cherished seasonal tradition.
The Storytelling Nights Series features the Michigan Bright Water Storytelling Festival, a network of storytellers from all over Michigan. This group not only features some amazing storytellers, they also produce an annual Storytelling Festival in Howell, Michigan, which offers workshops, open mics, and an evening concert at a day-long in-person gathering.
Kick off the Christmas season with Damian McGinty, lead singer of Celtic Thunder and star of the hit shows Glee and Dancing with the Stars, in a heartwarming holiday concert celebrating the 10th anniversary of his first full-length album, This Christmas Time—the album that introduced Damian's first original songs, "Irish Christmas" and "Will You Dance With Me (This Christmas Time),” and featured classics such as “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” and “White Christmas."
Eau Claire, Wisconsin-based multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and producer S. Carey presents a boundless evening of solo performance paired with a trio of string players. The classically-trained musician's songwriting prowess and emotive lyricism is uniquely underscored by string arrangements expertly augmenting the performer's vocal, piano, and guitar arrangements. Whether in the round, in uniquely intimate spaces, or at one of the countless venues S. Carey has performed at over the years, this evening of music will be entirely singular.
2026 Christmas Tour Thoughts: One December, not long after Over the Rhine began recording and touring, we were invited to perform some seasonal songs on a public radio station. We worked up a few carols and traditional tunes. It actually felt really good and conjured up an unusual mix of feelings from childhood: innocence, loss, wonder, joy, sadness. I think we were surprised. On our 2026 tour, we will be leaning into some harmonies and making an intimate but hopefully holy ruckus. It won’t be all Christmas music: we’ll certainly mix in tunes from many of our records along the way. But hopefully it’s still true: hopefully, you haven’t heard anything quite like it.
Special Guest: Other Delights
The Ark 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, United StatesBedouine is known for making gentle, lilting folk songs that build fingerpicked guitar melodies into tsunamis of emotion. Her masterful songwriting and timeless melodies have earned her praise from publications like Pitchfork, who said her music “boasts a surreal calm and lived in glow,” and Rolling Stone, who lauded her “humble folk-pop brilliance,” plus an NPR Tiny Desk Concert, and tours with the likes of Fleet Foxes and Father John Misty.
Ring in the season with Jon McLaughlin’s Home for the Holidays, an evening of music, stories, and holiday cheer. Jon returns to the stage with his signature blend of heartfelt songwriting, masterful piano playing, and soaring vocals.