Gillian Welch’s rich and remarkable career spans over twenty-five years, and she and her musical partner David Rawlings are a pillar of the modern acoustic music world. They have been hailed by Pitchfork as “modern masters of American folk” and “protectors of the American folk song” by Rolling Stone.
Opener: Maddy Ringo
The Ark 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, United StatesDick Siegel emerged as a noteworthy songwriter of the Detroit/Ann Arbor music scene in the 1980s, releasing his first first album, Snap!, to critical acclaim and soon garnering attention far beyond the confines of his adopted state of Michigan. Since then, Siegel has been performing his blend of American folk, blues, jazz, and R&B on stages from New York City’s Bottom Line to the Vancouver Folk Festival. Considered a songwriter’s songwriter, Siegel was honored by WDET as one of “Detroit’s Top Musical Artists of All Time.” Siegel will be joined by his long-time musical partner guitarist Dave Roof and upright bassist Charlie Reischl to bring his irresistible and exuberant music to life.
Born in Flint and a true Michigan institution, Mr. B (Mark Braun) is a rare living link to the early days of boogie woogie, having learned directly from legends like Little Brother Montgomery and Blind John Davis. Tonight’s show celebrates the release of Mr. B’s new album, “Blues Piano Today.” Mr. B will be joined on stage by Detroit drummer, Leonard King.
Iconic and enigmatic, Jane Siberry is one of music’s most unique and gifted singer-songwriters. Blessed with a sincere integrity and emotional depth, she has released 14 studio albums, including her well-loved signature song Calling All Angels. Jane’s songs have been covered by numerous artists, including k.d. lang with her stunning renditions of Love is Everything and the 23rd Psalm-inspired The Valley.
The Ark will hold the Annual Meeting of its Members on Monday, November 25 at 6:30 pm. This year’s Annual Meeting will be held virtually by Zoom. At this meeting, the Membership will hear about the current state of The Ark and conduct any membership-related business that may come before the group.
Heather Mae, the acclaimed social justice singer-songwriter, fearlessly bares her soul in her music, creating an intimate space of shared vulnerability for her listeners. Her unbridled honesty, both on and off stage, has cultivated a devoted fanbase and garnered recognition, including accolades like the winner of the Rocky Mountain Folks Fest Songwriter Showcase and Northeast Regional Folk Alliance Artist-Activist of the Year award.
Matt Watroba, longtime radio host and a Detroit Music Awards winner as Best Overall Folk Performer, is the kind of guy who makes friends easily: not only is he on a first-name basis with most of the major folk musicians in North America after several decades of sharing stages with them, but he also has the kind of rapport with audiences that makes them feel as if they're sitting among friends in a living room. Matt is turning his annual day-after-Thanksgiving show into a grand community singing gathering! He'll be joined by a couple dozen or more musical friends from our Michigan music community to be his choir and he'll lead all of us in song after uplifting song! Proceeds will benefit the Women's Center of Southeast Michigan.
Opener: Michelle Held
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.
Gemini is the much-loved duo of Sandor and Laszlo Slomovits. They've been performing since 1973 and are now playing music for the third—or is it fourth?—generation of young fans and families. Gemini's annual Thanksgiving weekend concert is a benefit for Mott Children’s Hospital. Emily, San’s daughter, was born and cared for in the Holden NICU of Mott 30 years ago, and this is their annual "Thank You" concert.
Howard Levy is a master of the diatonic harmonica, a superb pianist, innovative composer, educator, and producer. At the age of 19, he discovered how to play the diatonic harmonica as a fully chromatic instrument by developing techniques on it that had never existed before. Peter Madcat Ruth’s C.A.R.Ma. Quartet features eclectic traditional and improvisational music played by four veteran Ann Arbor musicians.
Special Guest: Emma Harner
The Ark 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, United StatesIt’s human nature to look back, and to try to make sense of that which has gone by. For the luminous indie folk duo of Joshua Lee Turner and Allison Young, it’s a question not only of what should be relinquished, but also what might be worth taking with you. The pair share an eclectic nostalgia for sounds of the past—Jazz and Classical, Golden Age musicals, big bands of the ‘40s, singer-songwriters of the ‘60s, dewy indie rock of the early 2010s—as well as a passion for instrumental music and covers.
The earth speaks to us in a myriad of ways — through ice cores, through uplift and erosion, through tree rings — languages we have the potential to restore our literacy in. Reconnecting with these quiet messages has set Seth Glier, a Grammy-nominated artist from Western Massachusetts, on a path of channeling nature’s longing for communion with humanity into song. Antje Duvekot is a compelling live performer and a crafter of intricate, closely observed songs. She’s the winner of some of the top songwriting awards, including the Grand Prize in the John Lennon Songwriting Competition, the prestigious Kerrville (TX) “Best New Folk Award” and the Boston Music Award for “Outstanding Folk Act.”