My Folky Valentine
2024-02-14 20:00 - 23:00 (America/Detroit) | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
The 19th Annual celebration of love and music hosted by Annie & Rod Capps and featuring Anne Heaton & Frank Marotta Jr. and Jan Krist & Alan Finkbeiner. Three acclaimed musical duos who also happen to be partners in life share the stage, swapping songs and stories. You can expect some collaborating both planned and spontaneous. Not just for lovebirds, and not just love songs. Just a whole lotta great music.

Ani Mari & Co.
2024-02-15 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Ani Mari is a 20-year-old alt-Americana singer-songwriter from the Northwoods of Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula, whose songs weave complex chord progressions into heart-wrenching stories and melodies, spanning from folk to pop rock. She has shared the stage with artists such as The Accidentals, Lindsay Lou, Patty PerShayla & The Mayhaps, May Erlewine, Rachel Davis, Seth Bernard, The Burney Sisters, and Joshua Davis.
Ani has been touring with her folk duo, Ani & Kora, since she was 12 years old. They’ve released two full albums of original songs, Good Fighter and Voyager, and one EP, Dubious Decisions. She currently lives in Ann Arbor, where she attends the University of Michigan and regularly performs with her band, Ani Mari & Co, comprised of bassist Michael Michaud, drummer Jack Harris, and backing vocalist/cellist Ruby Howard.
girlfriend (released on December 1st, 2023 under Real-Phonic Records) is Ani’s debut solo album, recorded with her band last summer in Cleveland, MN. All 10 tracks are the product of Ani’s songwriting during her first two years at college and explore the uncertainty of entering her twenties, love gained, love lost, and the beauty of living in the moment. Available on all streaming platforms now.

Portugal. The Man
2024-02-16 19:00 - 23:00 | Royal Oak Music Theatre, 318 W 4th St, Royal Oak, MI, 48067, United States
Over the past decade, Portugal The Man has established themselves as one of rock’s most prized possessions and a live phenomenon, with over 1,600 shows under their belts and a storied reputation as festival favorites.
Originally heralding from Alaska, the Portland-based band – comprised of John Gourley, Zach Carothers, Kyle O’Quin, Eric Howk, Jason Sechrist and Zoe Manville – soared to new heights in 2017 with the release of their RIAA certified-gold album, Woodstock. The album was marked by the astounding success of their infectious single, “Feel It Still,” which earned the group a plethora of new accolades – including a GRAMMY award for “Best Pop Duo/Group Performance,” a 6x RIAA platinum certified single certification, a mind-blowing 20-week residency at #1 on alternative radio, and an inescapable presence on the Top 40 airwaves.
Alongside the shine of their myriad musical accomplishments lies the group’s long-standing passion for social justice. In fact, this is precisely the intersection on which Portugal The Man thrives; throughout their career, the band has consistently exemplified how to deeply commit to both artistry and activism. This dynamic inspired them to officially launch their PTM Foundation in 2020, focused on universal issues related to human rights, community health, and the environment, with an emphasis on causes directly impacting Indigenous Peoples.
Their continued passion for activism has also led to recent partnerships with organizations such as the National Coalition Against Censorship, The Skatepark Project (helping communities build public skate parks for youth in underserved communities), March for Our Lives (Gun Reform), Keep Oregon Well (Mental Health), and Protect Our Winters (Climate Change), to name just a few.

Jax Hollow
2024-02-16 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Jax Hollow is an untamable force of nature. Hailing from Nashville by way of Western Massachusetts, the Berklee College Of Music graduate is bringing a much needed revival to rock with her fresh innocence and serious talent. Jax’s sound is a unique blend of classic rock, blues, and Americana, combined with songwriting, riffs, ripping solos, and powerful vocals. Her debut record, “Underdog Anthems” was produced and engineered by music legend Michael Wagener (over 100 million records sold). She was the last artist to work with him before his retirement in 2022. Her new record of 2023, “Only The Wild Ones”, was championed by Sound Emporium CEO Juanita Copeland, and recorded with some of Nashville’s finest studio musicians. She opened for Melissa Etheridge at the famous Ryman Auditorium as a solo act, receiving a standing ovation—and praise from Etheridge herself, telling the crowd; “I want to be known as the one who discovered Jax Hollow!” Just back from a European tour, Jax is making her Ark debut.

Joe Hertler
2024-02-17 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
The Rainbow Seekers began their historic quest eight years ago, revolving around the pure, unadulterated songwriting of their fearless leader, Joe Hertler. In the years since, we’ve seen Joe with The Rainbow Seekers at The Ark several times, with a mix of funk, Motown, Americana, and folk. But the same mix is present in Joe Hertler’s songs themselves, and we thought it was time for a Joe Hertler solo show. Joe has appeared at Bonnaroo, Electric Forest, and Summer Camp, and as you’ll know if you’ve seen the band, seeking the proverbial Rainbow is all about the live performance. Joe calls his music “Adult Semi-Spiritual Quasi-Secular Inspirational Post-Motown Folk Rock,” and if you’re wondering what that means, come and find out!
Phillip-Michael Scales opens.

Jess Merritt
2024-02-18 19:30 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Jess Merritt’s lyrics and voice evoke emotional resonance for your journey through genre-bending musical performances. Whether on her own or with her band, “The Understorey,” Jess delivers in ways both captivating and raw. From power ballads to velvet keys, soul and rock to blues and pop, you’re headed into a memorable experience by this expansive and versatile artist.
Jess will be joined by Josef Deas, TJ Zindle, Jon Brown, Tommy Reifel, and Jenny Jones. Dylan Charles opens.

Feufollet
2024-02-19 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
The young and vibrant Southwest Louisiana band takes Cajun, honky-tonk, and string-band music as their starting point, and keeps an open mind about where their song craft will lead them. On “Two Universes,” their first studio album in over five years, Feufollet proves their Cajun roots don’t define them as much as propel them forward; whispers of the swamp and its time-honored waltzes trigger a modern and broad musical imagination, one that finds equal expression in blues, old-time, country ballads, rock’n’roll, whatever, all for the sake of the song. Feufollet now includes keyboardist Andrew Toups, whose influence on shaping the record, combined with Feufollet’s usual fare—twin fiddles, French accordion, guitar twang, and barn-dance rhythms— give the record more than a passing resemblance to the Band’s “Music from Big Pink.

Talisk
2024-02-20 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
One of the most talked-about folk bands of the 21st century, Talisk have been tearing apart stereotypes and redefining the genre for almost a decade. With over 15 million streams, 10,000 albums sold worldwide, and sold out shows across five continents, the Scottish trio have amassed a global, die-hard following.
Wielding instruments that have rarely seen the likes of their music, Mohsen Amini (concertina), Benedict Morris (violin), and Charlie Galloway (guitar) have stacked up major awards for their explosively energetic sound – including five between BBC Rasio2 and BBC Radio Scotland, and two highly coveted BBC Alba Scots Trad Music Awards.
At New Year 2022 they played BBC One’s Hogmanay show to a television audience in excess of one million, and – as the only folk act alongside pop headliners – quickly amassed a vast, mainstream audience that continues to propel the group to some of their largest live shows to date.
Never afraid to push musical boundaries, or test the live production capabilities of just three people, there’s captivating a crowd, and then there’s Talisk.

The Ark's Open Stage
2024-02-21 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. Twelve performers have eight minutes (or two songs) each to do their thing. Sign-up: doors open at 7:30 p.m. At 7:55 we randomly select the names for the first half, and at 8:30 we draw names for the second half. If your name isn’t chosen, bring your raffle ticket with you to the next Open Stage (often the first and third Wednesdays of the month–check our calendar or website, theark.org), and you’ll double your chances.

Darrin James Band
2024-02-22 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Darrin James was born in Kentucky, was raised in metro Detroit, and spent a formative decade in New York City before returning to Michigan in 2010. His musical style is as varied as his background, drawing on his love of the blues and folk music of the South, the Motown soul and classic rock and roll rawness of Detroit, and the eclecticism and immediacy of Brooklyn, where he released his 2006 debut album, “Thrones of Gold.” Back in Ann Arbor, he’s produced recordings by all kinds of musicians and taken a political turn with his songwriting. “The man’s got Joe Henry versatility, a crackerjack studio band, and a great sense of craft … from a Lovett/Waits blues into a John Prine diatribe, then rocketing off with an Elvis Costello pop gem,” enthuses TimeOut NY. Darrin James comes to The Ark with his brand new album, “See Right Through.” This compelling collection delves into the complexities of love and loss, offering a deeply personal exploration through a range of musical genres.
Special guests Scotty Karate and Gregory Stovetop open. Scotty has a new record coming out this year, produced by Darrin!

The Ark's 37th Annual Storytelling Festival - Liar's Contest
2024-02-23 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Liars have been around since the snake first hit it off with Eve. By some accounts, contests celebrating liars have been around since the 15th century, but these accounts may be apocryphal. Today, liars contests are held in countries all around the globe.
The Second Annual Liar’s Contest at The Ark includes six first-class liars and three celebrity judges. The chaos wrangler and MC will once again be the amazing Amir Baghdadchi, keeping things lively and fun. The judges for the event each have a professional relationship to liars.
Karl Fink is a retired District and Circuit court judge, and so has been around liars all his life, and that doesn’t just include the lawyers. Paul Strickland is a national storyteller who fibs for a living. Jennifer Conlin is Michigan State Representative for House District 48. So she’s a politician (mic drop).

The Ark's 37th Annual Storytelling Festival
2024-02-24 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
This event offers a mix of spoken word artists that are locally-based, and nationally-known. MC Steve Daut will kick off the evening with a story, with Lyn Ford to follow in the first act. After a short break, LaRon Williams and Paul Strickland will complete the evening. This event offers a range of storytelling styles, with tall tales, original stories, American folklore, and a twisted fairy tale. All in all, this is a night that has something for everyone.

The Ark's 37th Annual Storytelling Festival - Family Show
2024-02-25 13:00 - 14:30 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Master storytellers Lyn Ford and Genot Picor deliver an entertaining family-friendly show. These artists keep kids engaged through action, music, fun and funny characters, while celebrating the unique cultures and diversity of our nation. Genot Picor (guitar) will be joined by Sean O’Connell (violin).

Richard Shindell
2024-02-25 19:30 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Richard Shindell is a New Yorker living in Argentina: a craftsman and a real wizard of song. He’s played for coins in the Paris subway, and he’s studied for the priesthood. His gift for profound storytelling songs drew him into the world of folk music. Richard Shindell champions the downtrodden, exalts the disaffected, skewers prejudice, war, and religious intolerance. He steps into and fully inhabits the various personalities his songs create—some of them female. In the words of No Depression, “Shindell tells great stories with an eye for critical detail while never losing sight of the big picture. He works a well-worn stretch of singer-songwriter pavement, but his wonderfully spiritual lyrical sense and intimate compositions ultimately distinguish him.” The Valley Advocate in Massachusetts has called Richard Shindell “the thinking man’s folk singer,” and you’re not going to hear better-crafted songs anywhere. Richard announced his retirement several years ago, but he’s back, and we’re glad to be part of his new tour!

Rachael Kilgour
2024-02-27 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
We first heard this songwriter as one half of the duo Sound an Echo, and then we had her in the Family Room during the pandemic. Rachael Kilgour is a Minnesotan songwriter and performing artist whose sincere, lyric-driven work has been called both brave and humane. The 2015 grand prize winner of the international NewSong Music Performance & Songwriting Competition and winner of the 2017 Kerrville New Folk Contest, Rachael has been featured at NYC’s Lincoln Center, at The Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. and by the ASCAP Music Cafe at the Sundance Film Festival. Married in her early twenties, Rachael chronicled her life as a young parent in a same-sex partnership and addressed sociopolitical issues from government corruption to income inequality and religious hypocrisy. In 2014, divorce brought an unwanted end to her role as a member of the family she had helped to grow. In the aftermath, Kilgour found solace in songwriting. Rachael was awarded a 2020 Minnesota State Arts Board Artist Initiative Grant to focus on a songwriting project about the life and recent death of her father, and the album, “My Father Loved Me,” is out now, and it’s terrific.
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.
Tonight’s show is FREE (nonperishables accepted for Food Gatherers).

The Ark's Open Stage
2024-02-28 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.

The Steel Wheels
2024-02-29 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
The Steel Wheels have long been at home in the creative space between tradition and innovation, informed by the familiar sounds of the Virginia mountains where the band was formed, but always moving forward with insightful lyrics and an evolving sound. In 2005, Jay Lapp (vocals, guitars, mandolin) and Eric Brubaker (vocals, fiddle) joined lead singer Trent Wagler (guitar, banjo) in forming the band as a vehicle for Wagler’s songwriting. They released several albums under Wagler’s moniker, before officially adopting the The Steel Wheels name with the 2010 release of “Red Wing.” Quickly staking their claim as independent upstarts in the burgeoning Americana scene, The Steel Wheels followed up this release with three more self-produced albums in the next five years, before joining forces with producer Sam Kassirer for “Wild As We Came Here” (2017) and “Over The Trees” (2019). Kevin Garcia (drums, percussion, keys) joined in 2017, bringing a new level of sonic depth and polish to the outfit. Newest member Jeremy Darrow rounds out the rhythm section and grounds the band as they continue to explore deeply rooted yet fresh folk rock sounds. Having gained the experience of thousands of shows, festivals and many miles on the road, the stubbornly independent band has formed deep bonds with each other and the audience that sustains them.

Enter The Haggis
2024-03-01 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
A haggis is a tasty Scottish dish consisting of sheep heart, liver, and lungs, mixed with oatmeal, onion, suet, and spices, and then boiled inside the sheep’s stomach. The Canadian-Scots band Enter the Haggis (bagpiper Craig Downie is from Scotland) has just about as much variety in their style, a high-speed collision of Celtic music, rock, bluegrass, funk, and world music. An Enter the Haggis live show is a musical feast—dynamic and emotionally uplifting. Alternating between upbeat rock numbers with sing-along choruses and slower, more introspective alt pop songs, the band plays progressive and lyrically driven music that’s strongly rooted in Celtic tradition—from the storytelling to the bagpipes.

Daniel Ho 'Ukulele Workshop
2024-03-02 16:30 - 17:45 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
DANIEL HO is a six-time Grammy winner, with 4 of his Grammy credits as producer of George Kahumoku’s 4 Grammy wins. He is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger, and performer, with talent and versatility on ‘ukulele, slack key guitar, piano, and vocals. His two other Grammy wins were with close friend Tia Carrere.
Daniel will be teaching techniques and singing in the Hawaiian language using his original song, Aloha Pumehana (co-written by Hawaiian Music scholar and University of Michigan professor Amy Kuʻuleialoha Stillman).
Adding Depth and Dimension to your Music
With his original Hawaiian love song Aloha Pumehana as a reference, Daniel will share how to create interesting layers of arrangement using color tones, counterpoint, fingerstyle, and strumming. He’ll discuss:
– How to make simple chords even simpler and sound better by adding open string color tones.
– How to play and sing
– How to produce a beautiful fingerstyle tone
– A little about the Hawaiian language
– How to create interesting arrangements using color tones, movement, finger style, and strumming
It will be a fun and educational beginner/intermediate class on contemporary Hawaiian ‘ukulele!
Register for the workshop here.

Masters of Hawaiian Music
2024-03-02 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Three masters, featured regularly at Maui’s renowned “Slack Key Show®” share the uniquely Hawaiian styles of slack key guitar and ‘ukulele, with origins in the early 19th century when Portuguese immigrants introduced the ‘ukulele to Hawai‘i and Mexican cowboys brought guitars along with their ranching knowledge. Ever since, Hawaiians have made these instruments their own.
Four-time Grammy-winner and master slack key guitarist George Kahumoku Jr., known as “Hawai‘i’s Renaissance Man,” is a vocalist, storyteller, songwriter, author, teacher, sculptor, farmer, and chef. Daniel Ho is a six-time Grammy winner. He is a multi instrumentalist with talent and versatility on ‘ukulele, slack key guitar, piano, and vocals. International star and two-time Grammy winner Tia Carrere first made her name showcasing her considerable singing and acting chops in Wayne’s World. She went on to featured roles in film and television, returning to her Hawai’i roots with her Grammy-winning albums with Daniel Ho.

John Gorka
2024-03-03 19:30 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
The modern renaissance of folk music began when John Gorka won the Kerrville Folk Festival’s New Folk award in 1984, and it grew to maturity when he released his debut album, “I Know,” three years later. Here was a singer-songwriter with a striking baritone voice that made you feel like you’d been hearing it all your life, with the songwriting chops to take on and see into nearly every type of song—from personal pieces about love and sadness, to bemused observations about daily life, political thinking-aloud, and sheer unmitigated whimsy. Almost four decades later, John still calls himself an aspiring folksinger, and his music has just kept getting deeper and better over his more than 15 critically acclaimed albums. John isn’t on the road as much as he used to be, so don’t miss this chance to catch a folk classic.

Lunasa
2024-03-04 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Lúnasa is an Irish traditional band with a rhythmic difference. Rhythm—their ingenious application of it, and their clear mastery of it—has made Lúnasa one of the most influential and innovative bands performing Irish instrumental music today. What Lúnasa has accomplished in their decade-and-a-half career has deep precedents in jazz and progressive bluegrass, and has made them unique in Celtic circles. Lúnasa welds the ancient soul of traditional instrumental Irish music to a new rhythmic framework, one which breaks down the barrier between soloist and accompanist and creates a dynamic polyphony that preserves the dignity of their sources while placing the band firmly in the modern age. From day one, the double bass of Trevor Hutchinson (formerly of The Waterboys) has been the band’s fulcrum. The presence of more young Irish bands featuring the double bass—a relative stranger to the genre—is just one example of how Lúnasa’s powerful sound has shaped and continues to shape the development of Irish music today.

Madi Diaz
2024-03-05 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Madi Diaz has been making records and writing songs professionally since the late 2000s, but it wasn’t until she released 2021’s “History Of A Feeling” that she felt the glare of wider notoriety. It wasn’t her debut album, but it certainly felt like it. She made her daytime and nighttime television debuts, embarked on her first solo tour since 2014, supported Waxahatchee and Angel Olsen on tour, and collaborated with them on record. Harry Styles handpicked Madi to open for him in arenas and stadiums in North America, and was so taken by her captivating live show, he asked her to be a member of his touring band, to sing alongside him all over Europe and the UK, as well as continuing to open the show in various cities. After touring internationally, Madi is taking her new album, “Weird Faith,” on the road. When Madi started writing “Weird Faith,” she knew it would be bigger than a love story. She didn’t yet know that she was rendering a self-portrait, one that captures the Madi Diaz of a fleeting moment in time, hungrily alive and forever searching.

Crys Matthews // Seth Glier
2024-03-06 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
A singer-songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist who averages over 250 live performances annually, Seth Glier has gone from opening act to headlining his own shows and playing major festivals. He’s shared the stage with artists as diverse as James Taylor, Ani DiFranco, Edwin McCain, Martin Sexton, Emmylou Harris and Ryan Adams, and he’s known for his passionate live sets and powerful command of both piano and guitar. Seth is adept at both personal acoustic songs and big pop melodies, and his music ranges from introspective to political in songs that, Seth says, “are bound together by the awareness that our world is a fragile place that is all the more magical for it.” Of his new album, “Everything,” Seth says, “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, an avid mushroom forager and a Grammy-nominated artist from western Massachusetts, on a path of channeling nature’s longing for communion with humanity into song. His new album is a collection of eight songs inviting us to imagine a future in which humans and the planet are re-aligned into mutual restoration.
Ask about the new generation of social justice music-makers ,and Crys Matthews will be mentioned. A southeastern North Carolina native who now calls Washington, D.C., home, Crys has been compared to everyone from Toshi Reagon to Tracy Chapman and Ruthie Foster. Equally at home in an acoustic listening room as she is on stage at large music festivals, Crys quickly gathered a loyal following on the East Coast playing such prestigious venues as the Sundance Film Festival, The Birchmere, The Hamilton, and Jammin’ Java. A prolific lyricist, Crys blends Americana, folk, jazz, blues, bluegrass, and funk into a bold, complex performance steeped in traditional melodies punctuated by honest, original lyrics. “I believe in hope,” Crys says. “As a social-justice songwriter, it is my duty to keep breathing that hope and encouragement into the people who listen to my music.”

Dave Sharp Worlds Quartet
2024-03-07 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
The Dave Sharp Worlds Quartet masterfully blends rhythms, sounds, and textures from across the globe with world music–inspired original compositions. Featuring oud, violin, electric bass, synthesizer and world percussion, the Worlds Quartet is fueled by the spirit of jazz, world music and dynamic exploratory improvisation. Bassist, composer, and bandleader Dave Sharp leads the Worlds Quartet to explore music traditions from Turkey, Egypt, Ukraine, India, Bulgaria and Greece. The quartet has appeared at Ascona Jazz Switzerland, Detroit Jazz Festival, Lansing Jazz Fest, Concert of Colors Detroit, Ann Arbor Summer Festival, Bach Music Festival, Lansing Harmony Celebration Lansing, Rasa Indian Arts Festival Ann Arbor, and intimate venues such as Kerrytown Concert House, Blue LLama Jazz Club, Music Hall Jazz Cafe Detroit, UrbanBeat Events Center Lansing, and Riverfolk Music and Arts Blacksmith Shop Concert Series in Manchester.

Glen Phillips of Toad The Wet Sprocket
2024-03-08 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Glen Phillips is the lead singer and main songwriter for the band Toad the Wet Sprocket, which he joined when he was only 14. In the words of James Christopher Monger, “Phillips has matured into . . . a quiet storm that dutifully blends Cat Stevens’ confident huskiness and Jackson Browne’s weary but warm observer of all things broken.” Of Glen’s album, “Swallowed by the New,” Chris Steffen of Allmusic.com writes, “Songs like ‘Leaving Old Town’ and ‘Unwritten’ explicitly describe moving beyond the past and into the unknown.” Now signed to the acoustic-oriented Compass label, Glen Phillips has evolved into one of the great folk-rock songwriters of our time, still staying true to his Toad-like roots, and The Ark is the place to hear him! Of his latest album, “There Is So Much Here.” Glen says, “I’ve seldom allowed myself to stay in one place for very long. I was lucky during the COVID lockdown to move in with my girlfriend, now fianceé, and to stay home for the longest stretch I’ve had since the birth of my daughter, 20 years ago. After a life of travel and seeking out peak experiences, I began to appreciate the subtle beauty of sitting still.”
Singer-songwriter Chris Pureka opens.

Josh Ritter
2024-03-09 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
The Ark helped spread Josh Ritter’s name among Michigan audiences when he made a standout performance at the Ann Arbor Folk Festival in 2003, and we’re proud that we, along with Emmylou Harris and Paste magazine, which named Josh one of the 100 greatest living songwriters in 2006, spotted this monster talent in the making. Josh has gone on to record a dozen albums, write a book or two, tour with Jason Isbell, and play much larger halls than The Ark. So it’s very special to us to invite Josh to perform in a rare small club appearance. He’s an entrancing performer, a true master of the songwriter’s art. This is a special Works In Progress + Songs You Know solo show. Says Josh: “I’ve realized that a necessary part of working on records is finding the material that hangs together. I write A LOT of songs, and not all of them play nicely with the others. The most useful (and fun) way to find a song’s heart is to periodically play some shows where I’m able to get it all out there and see how I feel about them. I’m really looking forward to these shows for the chance to get all these songs, and some that are old friends, out on the table for a good time.”

Charlie Parr
2024-03-10 19:30 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
In the music of Charlie Parr, there is a sincere conviction and earnest drive to create. The bluesman poet pulls closely from the sights and sounds around him, his lyrical craftsmanship built by his influences. The sounds from his working-class upbringing—including Folkways legends such as Lead Belly and Woody Guthrie—imbue Parr’s music with stylistic echoes of blues and folk icons of decades past. When Parr sings and plays his resonator or 12-string, you can hear influences like Mance Lipscomb, Charley Patton, Spider John Koerner, Rev. Gary Davis, and Dock Boggs. This is especially true in his playing, when, after a diagnosis of focal dystonia, Parr turned to greats like Davis, Doc Watson, and Booker White for two-finger picking inspiration.
Parr’s first album with Smithsonian Folkways,” Last of Better Days Ahead” (2021), foregrounded his lyrical craftsmanship and sophisticated bluesman confidence, with spare production highlighting Parr’s mastery of guitar and elevating his poetry. In his 2024 release, “Little Sun,” Parr weaves together stories celebrating music, community, and communing with nature. Putting forth an ambitious and raw album that exemplifies the best of Parr’s sound: a blend of the blues and folk traditions he continues to carry with him and the steadfast originality of a poet.
Modern folk duo Two Runner opens.

The Shootouts
2024-03-13 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Hailing from Akron, Ohio, The Shootouts are known for their energetic blend of honky-tonk, Americana, and Western swing. The band has been nominated for “Best Honky Tonk Group” at the 2023 and 2024 Ameripolitan Music Awards – a nomination the band was also honored with in 2020.
In 2023, The Shootouts released their third album, “Stampede,” kicking off their album release tour with their Grand Ole Opry debut. The album reached #4 On The Americana Album Chart, #1 On The Alt-Country Specialty Chart, and was named one of the “Most Anticipated Albums Of 2023” by Saving Country Music, Wide Open Country, And Glide Magazine. Produced by 10x Grammy-winner Ray Benson, lead singer of Asleep at The Wheel, “Stampede” is steeped in all things country music – an energetic fusion of Americana, honky tonk and Western swing. The album features special guest appearances from Ray Benson & Asleep at The Wheel, Marty Stuart, Buddy Miller, Jim Lauderdale, and Raul Malo, lead singer of The Mavericks.

Paul Thorn & Steve Poltz
2024-03-14 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
In the Ring Together Tour
Similar backgrounds yet different paths. Paul Thorn and Steve Poltz have a 20+ year friendship and are taking it on the road and in the ring together this spring for a multi-city tour, surely to bring love, laughter and mischief along with them. Equal parts humor, poignant stories, and expert musicianship, these two storytellers with contagious smiles will put on a show that will make you laugh one minute and cry the next.
