We are excited to once again partner with the Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair to bring live music each evening of the art fairs to the Stage on Main at the corner of Main and William in the Palio lot. Featuring The Brain Plasticity Ukulele Collective and BLUESHOUSE! Stop by and join one of our favorite street parties of the year!
John Berry’s enduringly powerful performances draw on a lifetime of making music and living life. Born in South Carolina and raised in Georgia, he began playing guitar at 13, performing shows at age 14 and making records at age 19. “By the time I was 17, I knew that music was what I wanted to do with my life”; and he has done it well ever since. Last year John celebrated the 30th Anniversary of the release of his debut album John Berry.
A singer, composer and actor, Lyle Lovett has broadened the definition of American music in a career that spans 14 albums. Coupled with his gift for storytelling, the Texas-based musician fuses elements of country, swing, jazz, folk, gospel and blues in a convention-defying manner that breaks down barriers.
Hailing from the Lower 9th Ward of New Orleans, Shamarr Allen has influences in jazz, hip-hop, rock, funk rhythms, blues and country. He is the lead vocalist and trumpeter of his band “Shamarr Allen & The Underdawgs.” In addition to performing with his band, Allen has collaborated with many renowned artists around the world such as Willie Nelson, Patti LaBelle, Galatic, Harrick Connick Jr, and Lenny Kravitz, to name a few. With a scintillating and unique sound, look, and exemplary talents, Shamarr Allen transcends musical boundaries. He is the True Orleans experience!
Known for their ability to write honest, powerful and deeply personal songs that evoke pure joy, brutal heartbreak and everything in between, award-winning singer-songwriters Jen Cass, Amy Petty, Sarah Schingeck and Jennifer Naegele share the Ark stage for one night only on their inaugural Songs of Darkness and Light tour.
Special Guest: Liv Greene
The Ark 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, United StatesRising indie-pop power trio Bailen is made up of siblings Daniel, David, and Julia. Raised and rooted in New York City by classically trained musician parents and their wide-ranging, eclectic record collection, Bailen has emerged as a favorite in indie circles by cultivating a passionate following via word of mouth, a stream of steady touring and collaborating with artists such as Amos Lee, The Lone Bellow, Joseph, and Hozier to name a few.
Due to unforeseen circumstances, this show has been cancelled. Tickets have been refunded through the original point of purchase.
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. The RFD Boys are one of southeastern Michigan's most durable musical ensembles, and their shows capture a deep slice of musical Ann Arbor.
Special Guest: Nigel Wearne
The Ark 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, United StatesWith a blend of dreamy acoustic duets, foot-stomping folk and bluesy murder ballads, New Zealand-formed and Nashville-based South for Winter’s sound is as eclectic as their origins. The band is composed of New Zealander Nick Stone, Coloradan Dani Cichon, and Michigander Alex Stradal, and together the three multi-instrumentalists and songwriters combine elements such as cello, guitar, mandolin, suitcase stomp, and three-part harmonies into a genre-bending sound described by American Songwriter as “impeccable.”
Special Guest: Jess Merritt
The Ark 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, United StatesAl Bettis was inspired to start writing and singing music at age 30. He felt a spiritual calling to heal the world through music, so he picked up a guitar and a notepad and got to work. The self-trained acoustic guitarist has gained popularity for his smooth vocals and sincere lyrics. His shows are a journey through love, heartbreak and redemption as he offers stories about the musings behind many of his songs. His soothing voice is reminiscent of legends like Al Green and Otis Redding, with musical influence from artists such as Ed Sheeran and Jason Mraz.
Socks in the Frying Pan was formed in 2014 in Ennis, County Clare, Ireland–the mecca of Irish traditional music. Forged together by a fire of pure joy and passion for their art, the band comprises Aodan Coyne on guitar and lead vocals, Shane Hayes on accordion, and younger brother Fiachra Hayes on fiddle.Their ‘Socks Sound’ combines virtuosic musicianship with a burning passion for the music and tradition, pitch-perfect harmonies, and a big splash of quick wit and banter. Their electrifying performances and on-stage charm have established them as the kingpins on the Irish Traditional Music scene today.
When Jeremy Pinnell released OH/KY in the summer of 2015 to stunned acclaim, it felt like an entire career compressed into one knock-out album. Hailed as, a “Mind-blowingly good” (Greg Vandy/KEXP) “ ”tutorial on classic country music” (Popmatters), Pinnell’s debut immediately differentiated as authentic and unflinching. Honest and careworn, Jeremy’s voice can touch on wry, jubilant, and debauched - all in a single line. At his best, Jeremy Pinnell chronicles the joy and sorrow of being human, which is the best that anyone could do.