The Ark

The Moxie Strings "That's a Wrap!" Tour
2023-11-16 20:00 - 23:00 (America/Detroit) | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Hailed by the Grand Rapids Press for “top-notch instrumental wizardry,” The Moxie Strings offer listeners the unique opportunity to experience some of the world’s best-known instruments through a young, progressive lens. Diana Ladio and Alison Lynn hold Bachelor of Music degrees in music performance, which have given them a technical foundation for exploration. The Moxie Strings compose the majority of their pieces and arrange melodies from many traditions, resulting in a genre-blurring blend of ear-catching melodies and foot-stomping, rock-influenced rhythms. Alison performs on electric cello, and Diana on a contemporary five-string violin, both through a variety of audio effects pedals. Their polished, high-energy show and unique sound have quickly made The Moxie Strings one of the country’s leading instrumental acts, and they even topped Billboard’s Classical Crossover chart last year. The Moxie Strings are going on hiatus, so don’t miss this chance to see them one last time.

Chicago Farmer & The Fieldnotes
2023-11-17 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
The son of a small-town farming community, Cody Diekhoff logged plenty of highway and stage time under the name Chicago Farmer before settling in the city in 2003. Profoundly inspired by fellow Midwesterner John Prine, he’s a working-class folk musician to his core. His small-town roots, tilled with city streets mentality, are turning heads North and South of I-80.
“I love the energy, music, and creativity of Chicago, but at the same time, the roots and hard work of my small town,” he shares. Growing up in Delavan, Illinois, with a population less than 2,000, Diekhoff’s grandparents were farmers, and their values have always provided the baseline of his songs.
He writes music for “the kind of people that come to my shows. Whether in Chicago or Delavan, everyone has a story, and everyone puts in a long day and works hard the same way,” he says. “My generation may have been labeled as slackers, but I don’t know anyone who doesn’t work hard – many people I know put in 50-60 hours a week and 12-hour days. That’s what keeps me playing. I don’t like anyone to be left out; my music is for everyone in big and very small towns.”
He listened to punk rock and grunge as a kid before discovering a friend’s dad playing Hank Williams, and it was a revelation. Prine and Guthrie quickly followed. The name Chicago Farmer was originally for a band, but the utilitarian life of driving alone from bar to bar, city to city – to make a direct connection to his audience and listener, took a deeper hold.
“You can smell the dirt in the fields, hear the wind as it blows across the plains, and see the people that Chicago Farmer sings about. Each track captures a moment in time, whether for a person or a particular place. Imagine if a John Steinbeck short story had been written as a song, and this will give you a fairly good idea as to what Chicago Farmer accomplishes on his albums.”
— HONEST TUNE

Dar Williams
2023-11-18 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Dar Williams’ lyrics contain bouquets of optimism, delivered on melodies alternating between beguiling lightness and understated gravity. Williams strongly believes that all of us possess our own power and ability to achieve, and she rejects the exceptionalism that encourages us to “admire that yonder star,” while making us feel small and insignificant; unworthy of shining on our own but hoping to catch enough distant light to inspire some tiny accomplishment. Williams has always been very interested in how to control our future and this album has to do with the fact that at some point, you just can’t.
Like everyone else, Williams spent 2020 in that state of non-control. She and longtime producer Stewart Lerman tracked most of the album, her 12th studio recording, in November of 2019. In late February of 2020, she cut the title tune in Woodstock with bassist Gail Ann Dorsey and Larry Campbell, who produced the track and played guitars, pedal steel and twangy baritone guitar. When told they had to postpone a mid-March mixing date, Campbell said he wasn’t feeling well anyway. Turns out he’d contracted a serious case of COVID-19. That was a clear sign that at some point, you have to meet life where it meets you …the common thread throughout that these songs, the willingness to meet life as it arrives.
Dar Williams was always in the right place at the right time for the success she’s had over a 25+-year career. She rose out of the vibrant mid-90’s Boston scene, inspired by the eclectic influences of alt-rockers, Berklee jazz musicians, slam poets, and folk artists, like Patty Griffith, Melissa Ferrick, the Throwing Muses, Vance Gilbert, and Jonatha Brooke. After a year of touring non-stop with her first album, The Honesty Room, in 1994, she was invited by Joan Baez to tour in Europe and The United States.
“Good and bad things happen, and it’s not necessarily a reward or indictment. I’ve just got to meet it.” Williams observes. “Like, I’m bringing my whole life to this moment; it will surprise me, challenge me, show me where I was wrong, even make a fool out of me, but my job is to show up and not take adversity personally. Real happiness doesn’t have to feel like Snoopy dancing with Woodstock; it can just be knowing you have the resilience to meet whatever comes to you. I will call that a good life.”

David Cook
2023-11-19 19:30 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
David Cook (and yes, the same David Cook who launched into stardom following his American Idol Season Seven win – breaking several Billboard chart records when 14 of his songs debuted on the Hot Digital Songs chart and 11 of his songs debuted on the Hot 100) certainly knows his way around a good song. His first album, “Analog Heart,” came out pre-Idol, and his last album, “Digital Vein,” nicely bookended that chapter of Cook’s career, a chapter during which he sold more than two million albums (including his platinum-certified eponymous album) and, collectively, more than five million tracks (including two platinum-certified singles) worldwide.
David continues to find success, not only for himself, but also as a writer for other artists and touring throughout the world. In April 2022, David released his latest single, “TABOS” (This’ll All Be Over Soon). The single’s release coincided with his return to the American Idol® stage to perform for their special 20th-anniversary reunion show.

The Whiskey Charmers
2023-11-20 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
The Whiskey Charmers are a Detroit-based band led by Carrie Shepard and Lawrence Daversa. Fans have often compared their sound to riding through the desert with the top down, or the feeling of being in some lonesome smoky bar off the side of an abandoned highway, or music from a Spaghetti Western. William P. Davis (Former Deputy Director of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville) says of the band, “I’ve heard a lot of good musicians. The Whiskey Charmers remind me of no one—and, to me, that is one of the best compliments an act can receive.” Many fans have become familiar with The Whiskey Charmers music through the video game Detroit: Become Human, a cinematic neo-noir thriller game that has sold more than five million copies worldwide.

Voices: featuring Kyler Wilkins | Ki5 & Magenta Moody
2023-11-21 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Ann Arbor’s electrifying musical maestro, Kyler Wilkins, is back for his triumphant third appearance on the Ark stage! But this time, he’s not just bringing you music – he’s taking you on an exhilarating journey through the sonic universe like never before.
Prepare to be spellbound as Kyler, the mastermind behind the mesmerizing loop station magic of Ki5, reimagines your favorite R&B, pop, and soul hits with the finesse of an a cappella virtuoso. His music isn’t just a performance; it’s a soul-stirring experience that transcends genres and defies expectations.
Drawing inspiration from musical luminaries like Reggie Watts, Bobby McFerrin, and Bon Iver, Kyler’s authentic, empathetic, and liberating style is nothing short of transformative. His artistry has catapulted him to the spotlight, sharing stages with legends such as Erykah Badu, CeCe Peniston, and Absofacto – a testament to his boundless versatility as both an artist and a show-stopping performer.
But that’s not all. In this extraordinary evening of Voices, Kyler unveils a side of himself that goes beyond the Ki5 persona. He’ll be pushing the boundaries of his signature sounds, treating you to cherished classics, and unraveling the enigma that is Ki5.
Magenta Moody is an alternative pop and R&B songstress from Detroit. Moody incorporates electro elements, smooth melodies, and dark lyrical tones into her creative process. Thematically, Magenta explores the emotional highs and lows of self discovery.

Voices is a series of artist-cultivated concerts at The Ark conceived and created by Ann Arbor musician Kyler Wilkins, AKA vocal looping artist Ki5. The series seeks to expand the representation of Michigan BIPOC artists and audiences at The Ark.
Each show, intentional time will be taken to get to know each artist in the form of brief interviews and musical breaks to have them speak about their journey as musicians and performers with the hope that people in the audience are more connected to and inspired by those voices.

Matt Watroba
2023-11-24 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
What could be better than to kick off the holiday season with a Michigan folk music institution? 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. We think a Matt Watroba concert makes a great November tradition. Matt’s previous Thanksgiving shows have brought great special guests, so stay tuned!

Mr. B "B-10" Band
2023-11-25 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
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. He plays in concert halls, he plays outdoors, he’s even played on a piano he towed by swimming out to Mackinac Island, but wherever you heard him, it’s an exciting show. Each year Mr. B stops in at The Ark for a Thanksgiving weekend concert, and it always brings something new—this year, Mr. B is bringing a 10 piece little-big band. He is bringing in musicians from around southeast Michigan and beyond for a boogie and jazz blowout to kick off the holiday season with a big dose of boogie woogie joy. You may think every town has a Mr. B, but you would be very, very wrong.

Gemini
2023-11-26 13:00 - 14:30 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
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. They write and perform acoustic music for children and families, celebrating with their audiences the warmth, fun, and joy of family life. A Gemini concert is a kinetic event, filled with rousing singalongs, hand motion tunes, folk tales, and music from around the world. “If the Pied Piper had been twins, chances are he would have been Gemini,” says the Detroit News. Since 1979 San and Laz have released numerous recordings for adults and children and families. These recordings have won a number of awards including ones from Parents’ Choice Magazine, the American Library Association, the National Parenting Publications (NAPPA), and the Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning Through the Arts. This is Gemini’s first live show at The Ark since the pandemic, and it features Brian Brill on piano. The concert benefits Mott Children’s Hospital.
In the spirit of Thanksgiving, with this concert Gemini will also be supporting https://www.foodgatherers.org/. Feel free to bring non-perishable food items to donate, as well as personal care items and household supplies like paper towels, diapers and cleaning products. And thank you!

Crash Test Dummies
2023-11-26 19:30 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
In November the Crash Test Dummies will bring their never-before-toured holiday release to Canadian and American audiences.
The record, released in 2002 and recorded at the world famous “The Magic Shop” in New York City was best described by prominent American journalist Maron Keller.
“There’s more than a bit of delightful holiday camp and irony afoot in the Crash Test Dummies’ Jingle All the Way collection, from Brad Roberts’ slow-mo delivery of “White Christmas”–with its heavy Hammond Organ–to Ellen Reid’s Patsy Cline take of “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” done in a convincing country-western style complete with pedal steel guitar. Still, there’s serious business in the group’s take on “We Three Kings” with the genuine Oriental influence of Ming Xioo-Fen’s pipa playing, and Reid’s readings of the traditional songs “The Huron Carol” and “In The Bleak Midwinter” are as reverent as standard Christmas songs get. Roberts’ basso profoundo, on the other hand, is an acquired taste and he puts it to wickedly good use in “Jingle Bells,” which is delivered like a medieval chant or rugby cry that’s certain to put the fear in jolly old St. Nick.” The dynamic and engaging stage show will feature original members Brad Roberts, Ellen Reid, Dan Roberts and Mitch Dorge who will be joined as always by Stuart Cameron and relative newcomer, Leith Fleming-Smith, delivering songs from Jingle All The Way along with some of the bands greatest hits!
“Jingle All The Way” will be available on vinyl for the first time and will be made available on streaming services.

The Ark Annual Membership Meeting
2023-11-27 18:30 - 23:00 | MI
Become a Member
The Ark will hold the Annual Meeting of its Members on Monday, November 27 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.
All current Annual Members and anyone who has become an Introductory Member since September 1, 2022 are eligible to attend. You must pre-register by email to receive a link to attend the meeting. An invitation will be sent in mid November to all eligible members who provided us with an email address and permission to use it.
If you do not receive an email invitation by November 20, 2023, and would like to attend, please contact Annual Giving Manager Tom Stoll at tom@theark.org.

Geneviève Racette
2023-11-28 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Quebec folk-pop musician Geneviève Racette has captivated listeners with her gentle, yet compelling, emotional resonance, and garnered impressive industry support for her folk-pop tracks ever since her first EP in 2014. Through her vulnerable lyricism and ethereal vocals, Geneviève has emerged as a rising star in both French and English-speaking Canadian music scenes. The trajectory for Geneviève’s career has been on a tremendous incline since her album “No Water, No Flowers” catapulted her from Quebec recognition to national praise, including a Canadian Folk Music Award, performing on stage with City and Colour, rave reviews from media, music publications and blogs, and tracking on multiple radio stations right across Canada. As a woman in music, it is essential to Geneviève that she surrounds herself with like-minded females in the industry. She is proud that over half her team involved in the creation of her latest album, “Satellite,” are female musicians and members of the industry. Come and hear a songwriter that a lot of people are soon going to be talking about south of the border!
The Ark’s Artist Spotlight Series is made possible with support from the Ford Motor Company Fund. It is presented live, and also livestreamed on The Ark’s Facebook page.
This is a FREE show. Nonperishables accepted for Food Gatherers.
Additional support provided by Québec Government Office in Chicago

Don Julin Trio
2023-11-29 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
We remember Don Julin from the amazing duet shows that he did with Billy Strings, announcing a monster new talent. But there’s more to this Michigan musician than that. Ever wonder what “Red-Haired Boy” would sound like with a James Brown type of groove? Or what about songs titled “Muppets On The Titanic” or “You Make My Skin Crawl”? The Don Julin Trio, featuring Joe Wilson (dobro) and Kevin Gills (bass), takes listeners through a genre-bending instrumental journey that includes hints of bluegrass, jazz, Latin, funk, film score, and even a bit of baby boomer rock. The Don Julin Trio includes three of Michigan’s top sidemen. The job of a sideman is to make the “star” look and sound great; these guys have helped many local and national “stars” and bands look and sound great. A short list includes Steppin’ In It, Claudia Schmidt, Greg Brown, Billy Strings, Wayne Hancock, Neptune Quartet, Wilson Brothers, Rusty Blaides, Bill Kirchen, Kenny Olson, and others. In this setting, they can shine the light on each other, showcasing their musical compositions and instrumental abilities.

Brain Plasticity Ukulele Collective and BLUESHOUSE!
2023-11-30 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Brain Plasticity Ukulele Collective is an open community of musicians playing at all levels and abilities. Ukes? Well, it’s more like 30 different instruments. Plasticity? Yes! The Brain Plasticity Ukulele Collective believes that by sharing music and learning how to play a new instrument, you can: “Drop a brain bomb. Fire up the synapses. Rewire some neural pathways.” And BLUESHOUSE!, led by veteran English bluesman Mike Brooks, has enlivened countless stages and street parties around southeast Michigan over the last decade. Join us for a combination that will stretch your brain!

Adam Plomaritas
2023-12-01 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Adam Plomaritas effortlessly arrives at the seamless intersection of sophisticated rock, country, and soul. The Ypsilanti, Michigan–based singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist intricately fuses a warm, bluesy trinity of sound across his thoughtful, intimate catalog. With hints of Michael McDonald, Amos Lee, and Ray Charles, Adam wraps listeners in a soothing, genre-defying embrace. His emotive vocals, hypnotic instrumentation, and introspective tales provide a comforting reassurance about overcoming challenges in life and love. Plomaritas is preparing for the upcoming release of his long awaited new EP, “Old Time Love” which is due out December 1, 2023.
Singer-songwriter Kylee Phillips opens.

The Empty Pockets
2023-12-02 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
The Empty Pockets ignite a bright flame by harnessing a joyful friction between Americana, folk, and rock ’n’ roll spiked with roots soul. The Chicago quartet—Josh Solomon (guitar, vocals), Erika Brett (keyboards, vocals), Nate Bellon (bass, vocals), and Adam Balasco (drums)—lean on an unspoken, yet airtight musical dialogue honed by countless miles on the road, performances alongside the likes of Kenny Loggins, a procession of fan favorite releases (including a #1 debut), and a wealth of memories together. They come to Michigan with a new release, “Gotta Find the Moon.”

Seamus Egan
2023-12-03 19:30 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
It’s hard to think of an artist in traditional Irish music more influential than Seamus Egan. From his beginnings as a teen prodigy, to his groundbreaking solo work with Shanachie Records, to his founding of Irish-American powerhouse band Solas, to his current work as one of the leading composers and interpreters of the tradition, Egan has inspired multiple generations of musicians and helped define the sound of Irish music today. As a multi-instrumentalist, he’s put his mark on the sound of the Irish flute, tenor banjo, guitar, mandolin, tin whistle, and low whistle, among others. As a composer, he was behind the soundtrack for the award-winning film “The Brothers McMullen,” co-wrote Sarah McLachlan’s breakout hit, “I Will Remember You,” and has scored numerous documentaries and indie films since. As a bandleader, Solas was the preeminent Irish-American band of their generation for decades, continuously renewing Irish music with fresh ideas. As a performer, few others can make so many instruments or such wickedly complex ornaments seem so effortless. Music comes as naturally to Seamus Egan as breath, but his mastery of the tradition is only one facet of his plans to move the music forward.

Nefesh Mountain
2023-12-04 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
For the month of December, the boundary pushing Americana powerhouse Nefesh Mountain is hitting the road on the Love And Light Tour. Their aim for this unique month-long run of shows is to put forth messages of inclusivity, unity and love, largely in response to the current and devastating war in Israel and Gaza. For these special performances, they have curated an incredibly diverse list of originals and covers, hoping to spread light in these dark times through their music and famously dynamic and touching live shows. The tour also comes on the heels of three brand new singles released this year in anticipation of their newest album “The Cabin Sessions” coming out in February 2024.
Leaders and husband and wife team Doni Zasloff and Eric Lindberg have been proudly open and vocal about their background and heritage as Jewish Americans since they formed the group nearly a decade ago, and are among the first preeminent Americana/Bluegrass musicians to infuse Jewish culture into the beautifully diverse tapestry of American roots music. For them the music is wholly American, freely expressing their own identities while at the same time firmly standing against hate, discrimination and intolerance of all forms including anti-semitism, which has seen an unprecedented rise in recent years and even more in the weeks since the war in Israel and Gaza. Nefesh Mountain has recorded and shared the stage with Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, Bryan Sutton, John Doyle, Noam Pikelny (Punch Brothers), Mark Schatz (Bèla Fleck, Nickel Creek), Mike Gordon (Phish) and Tony Trischka among others. The Troubadours along with their band continue to forge new paths in unknown territory, armed with Zasloff and Lindberg’s strong, smokey, and folksy vocals and Lindberg’s soulful and masterful skills on acoustic and electric guitars and banjo.
A personal message from Doni and Eric:
“Our hearts were shattered on October 7 after the horrifying attacks in Israel that resulted in the devastating loss of innocent lives and the taking of over 220 hostages, and continue to splinter into pieces as the war ensues on the people of Gaza who are tragically killed and caught in the crossfire. We have long been humanitarians and activists, but as musicians who ultimately have our songs and performances to give this world, we humbly offer these unique shows in December as an olive branch and safe space for those who are in search of more unity, compassion, and light. As a progressive Americana/Bluegrass band we have long shared our love for the music of this country, which in and of itself is a celebration of our own diversity and our differences. We hope that these shows can illuminate the goodness that we know will always be out there in this world.”

An Acoustic Christmas with Over the Rhine
2023-12-05 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
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 in Cincinnati. It was Christmastime and apparently they thought we were up to the task. We worked up a few carols and traditional tunes and Karin even read a poem by Thomas Hardy called, The Oxen.
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.
People must have tuned into the radio broadcast, because we began receiving inquiries as to whether we had recorded any of our Christmas songs. I don’t think we had considered it at the time, but any young, struggling songwriter is open to the suggestions of the marketplace, and people were persistent.
In December of 1996 – can it really be over 25 years ago? – we recorded and released our first song cycle of some of the Christmas carols that still haunted us. We included a few original tunes and called our wintry mix The Darkest Night Of The Year. We played a special “darkest night” release concert on winter solstice in an old 1300-seat theater in Cincinnati. Every last seat was full. Folks began snatching up copies and seemed to agree that they hadn’t heard anything quite like it.
We began playing concerts around the Midwest every December and found that the rooms were usually packed full of people who had bundled in out of the cold with prized compatriots. Hats and scarves abounded. If you stepped outside during intermission, you could make ghosts with your breath in the crisp night air. And it was dark – oh so dark: a time of year with its own music.
A decade later, in 2006, we released our first full collection of original Christmas/holiday songs called Snow Angels. What is it about Christmas music and the undeniable gravitational pull it exerts on some songwriters? So many Christmas songs have already been written. I think we are genuinely curious about the ones that haven’t yet been written.
We continued to tour every December and these special year-winding-down concerts began to feel like an annual tradition – gatherings of extended musical family, without whom, we’d be homeless.
By the time we released our third holiday album of original songs, Blood Oranges In The Snow, in December of 2014, Karin suggested we had discovered a new genre of music: Reality Christmas.
It’s true: if you’ve buried a loved one, or lost a job, or battled a chronic illness, that stuff doesn’t go away during the holidays. It can be a complicated season for many of us.
And then there’s family.
When Karin and I make the annual holiday pilgrimage home to visit family and pull into the driveway and turn off the car, one of us inevitably looks over at the other and says, “Tie a rope around my waist, I’m goin’ in.”
In 2023, more than 25 years after releasing our first holiday CD, we are still at it. This year, 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.
Maybe a midnight snow will fall and turn each streetlight into its own private snow globe. Maybe, regardless of whatever reality Christmas brings, we’ll hear a faint echo of a song once rumored to have been sung by angels, a song of peace on earth, goodwill toward all…
We’ve never heard anything quite like it.
We hope you’ll join us,
Linford Detweiler
With Karin close by
Nowhere Else
Clinton County, Ohio

Ebird & Friends Holiday Show
2023-12-07 20:00 - 23:00, 2023-12-08 20:00 - 23:00, 2023-12-09 14:00 - 16:00, 2023-12-09 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Celebrating its 16th anniversary, the Ebird and Friends Holiday Show has become known for connecting audiences with stellar artists in the Michigan music community. Four performances of this festive revue will occur December 7 through 9. Produced by Erin Zindle, the singer, songwriter & multi-instrumentalist of Erin Zindle & the Ragbirds, this concert series has become the most warm-hearted way to begin the holiday season. This unique concert showcases a creative approach to seasonal music, with old chestnuts, deep cuts, and original tunes from a wide range of genres and traditions. These songs bring us in from the cold and connect us in the spirit of the season.
This year’s lineup features Erin Zindle & The Ragbirds, Thornetta Davis, Louie Lee, Grace Theisen, Dylan Charles, John “T-Bone” Paxton, Jen Sygit, Jess Merritt, Aaron Jonah Lewis, Brad Phillips, TJ Zindle, Ross Huff, Brennan Andes, Tim Haldeman, Loren Kranz, Shannon Wade, Dan Piccolo, Jon Brown, Jona Vibrato, and Master of Ceremonies Shelly Smith.

Mike Cooley (of Drive-By Truckers)
2023-12-10 19:30 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Whether battling valiantly from behind the enemy lines of his dive-bar-underground past or blowing the doors off sold-out theaters as he’s done with Drive-By Truckers for the last decade, Mike Cooley has proved his mettle time and time again. He’s rock & roll incarnate—Mick and Keith rolled into one impossibly cool, soul-howling, guitar rattlin’ ball of genuine unapologetic grit and swagger. At least that’s how it seems gazing up from the crowd at a packed DBT show. So how did this modern-day rock hero feel about temporarily ditching his band and rolling back the volume for the unaccompanied acoustic performances that would become his debut solo record, “The Fool on Every Corner?” “When you don’t do it normally, it’s terrifying,” Mike admits. “I try to relax, but I’ll probably never be able to sit down in a chair on stage as easily as I sit down on a toilet behind a closed door. That’s the goal—somewhere in between,” he deadpans. “I set the bar high.” Despite his bad nerves and tongue-in-cheek penchant for self-deprecation, Cooley shines, tossing aside his guitar pick and playing almost everything with his fingers. “Strip it, strip it, strip it down,” he says, alluding to the mantra that guided these performances. “What’s left is the song and nothing else.”

The Founding's "A Celtic Christmas"
2023-12-11 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
The Founding is a progressive folk band from Kalamazoo, Michigan. With its timeless, powerful approach to songwriting and unique instrumentation, they strive to balance tradition and innovation as they bring new music to life. The Founding has performed at theaters and festivals throughout the United States, and they already have a Christmas album out. Members of The Founding are lead singer and flautist Elizabeth June; fiddler and vocalist John Robey; mandolinist and fiddler Joel Tyrone Myers; keyboardist, violist, and percussionist Lukas Stanley; guitarist and cellist Patrick Hartson; and bassist and vocalist Kyle Pitcher.

Lisa LeBlanc
2023-12-12 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Lisa LeBlanc comes from a French-speaking village in New Brunswick, and she sings in English and French. She calls her music “trash folk,” and it includes elements of Acadian folk music and garage rock. Lisa sings and plays the guitar, and she has a powerful voice and gives shows with a strong physicality. Lisa’s latest album is “Chiac Disco,” a bright, funny and sparkling record, filled with all kinds of musical glitter and colorful lyrics sung loud and proud. The album earned her a repeat visit to the Polaris Short List, as well as the Félix awards in the categories Album Production of the Year (with her trusted collaborator Benoit Morier) and Pop Album of the Year. Join us for the Ark debut of this rising Canadian original!

Community High Jazz Arctic Blast
2023-12-13 18:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Ann Arbor’s Community High Jazz is one of the best programs of its kind anywhere. The Ark is proud to host this year’s students on stage for two shows: one at 6:00 and another at 8:00.

Laith Al-Saadi
2023-12-14 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
In 2016, Laith Al-Saadi won America’s hearts and a spot in the Season 10 finale of NBC’s “The Voice.” Now he’s bringing an authentic blend of blues, soul and classic rock to audiences around the nation and the world. Laith Al-Saadi has always had the perfect combination of Midwestern hustle and incredible musical chops—honed at the University of Michigan school of music in his hometown of Ann Arbor, and on stages across the country working with legends like Taj Mahal, Luther Allison, Buddy Guy, Son Seals, Gregg Allman, and B.B. King. “Laith is one of the most diverse talents we have,” said Maroon 5 frontman and “The Voice” coach Adam Levine. “Incredible guitar player, incredible singer.” Audiences have agreed, propelling Laith’s album “REAL” to the top of the blues chart for five weeks and the top 20 album chart for two weeks. Guitar Center has crowned him one of the top four blues guitarists in the United States.

The RFD Boys
2023-12-15 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
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. They’re legends of Michigan bluegrass, but they’re more than that too. With an appearance on the cover of Bluegrass Unlimited, with songs recorded by the likes of the Country Gentlemen, and with performances alongside bluegrass greats like Bill Monroe and Ralph Stanley, the RFD Boys are a part of America’s bluegrass tradition. The RFD Boys are one of southeastern Michigan’s most durable musical ensembles, and their shows capture a deep slice of musical Ann Arbor. Their 50th-anniversary appearance at the Folk Festival was a special moment and introduced many listeners to Dan Roehrig, who joined the band on guitar, mandolin, and bass in mid-2018. Dan grew up listening to Doc Watson, Clarence White, and Tony Rice, and you can hear it in both his singing and guitar playing.

Blackthorn
2023-12-16 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
At it since 1984, Blackthorn offers shows that involve a musical ramble across Ireland. Traditional songs of emigration, ballads, shanties and jigs and reels combine with some of Ireland’s best contemporary songs for a musical experience that is uniquely Irish. Each of the band’s five members plays multiple instruments, including flute, accordion, tin whistle, fiddle, banjo, cittern, bodhran, and more. These instruments complement the lead vocal of Belfast native Richard McMullan and the band’s tight blend of four-part harmony. This band has been bringing a rich tapestry of Celtic music to southeast Michigan and beyond for almost 40 years, and they’re a must-see for those who want to know the deep traditions of Irish music in Michigan. They’re members of the Michigan Irish American Hall of Fame. And, this being December, there may be a holiday tune or two!
