Don Julin Trio
2023-11-29 20:00 - 23:00 (America/Detroit) | 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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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!

Vienna Teng
2023-12-17 19:30 - 23:00
“I was in a long-distance relationship with music for many years,” jokes singer-songwriter Vienna Teng. Long-distance, perhaps, but long-running. In 2002, Vienna released her debut album Waking Hour, landing her on NPR’s Weekend Edition, The Late Show with David Letterman, and the top of Amazon’s music charts. Four more albums followed, most recently Aims in 2013, as well as the music for The Fourth Messenger by playwright Tanya Shaffer. Together with Vienna’s captivating live performances and thoughtful online presence, her work has built a devoted following across generations and continents.
Still, other pursuits have always beckoned. Vienna returned to academia in 2010 to study environmental sustainability, which led to a new career working on climate change, energy and waste issues. She also became a bonus parent to her partner’s two kids, and in early 2020 welcomed a newborn addition to the family – just in time for pandemic lockdown.
“I learned a lot about what it means to hold two truths in your head at the same time, as the saying goes,” Vienna says of that period. Out of that idea emerged some of the most intricate and impassioned songwriting she’s ever done: a pair of songs called “We’ve Got You,” about leading and leaning on one’s community. When she performs it on stage – solo, live-looping her voice, keyboards and percussion to layer the two songs together – the audience response is electric.
“We’ve Got You” also marks a new chapter of merging her musical and environmental vocations. In 2022, she launched a “music x climate action” community on Patreon, combining monthly livestream shows with Zoom climate action sessions, and hosting workshops between concerts that participants have described as “life-changing,” “rocket fuel,” and “the perfect antidote to despair.”
The long-distance phase is over. Now it’s time for communion – and moving forward.
Are you ready to do more about climate change, but feel a bit overwhelmed? Wish you knew where to put your limited time & energy? This workshop might be for you:
Drawing on her recent years working in environmental sustainability, Vienna will help you discover what enjoyable, meaningful climate action looks like for you personally, tailored to your unique circumstances, interests, and superpowers. You’ll get to know some fellow music lovers taking their own similar journeys, and you’ll come away with practical first steps to actually make it happen. (Plus there might be a bonus music moment or two.)
The workshop will run for 2 hours and will be capped at 20 participants, to make sure each person gets ample support.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1217-climate-action-workshop-with-vienna-teng-the-ark-tickets-641584324987

Maggie Cocco's Science for Sociopaths
2023-12-18 20:00 - 23:00
One of Michigan’s international exports, Maggie Cocco returns with a preview of her first analog album, “Like A Moth,” slated for release in 2024. Through “Science for Sociopaths,” Cocco crafts evocative theatrical song cycles that delve into themes of systemic and interpersonal wounds and connection. Boasting awards including Best Music at Auckland Fringe Festival, Maggie Cocco’s Science for Sociopaths is “radiant but raw, presenting beautifully melodic odes of unvarnished truths,” says Jeff Milo of Deep Cutz.
Maggie is joined by Ann Arbor’s own Joanna Sterling. Armed with an arresting voice and a command of melody sharper than Artemis’ arrow, Sterling is captivating hearts with every midwest listening room appearance. Her songs are tales of love and loss, the insights of a practicing psychotherapist, the murmured rituals of a Tarot reader, the triumphant LGBTQ+ anthems of a trans woman emboldening marginalized voices by giving us her own. Her new album, “Queen of Wands,” is available now on all listening platforms.

The Ark's Open Stage
2023-12-20 20:00 - 23:00
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.

The Dick Siegel Trio presents Angelo's Restaurant Going Away Party
2023-12-21 20:00 - 23:00
One of America’s great songwriters, Michigan legend Dick Siegel teams up with longtime compadre guitarist Dave Roof, and upright bassist Charlie Reischl to bring his irresistible and exuberant music to life. Strains of American folk, blues, jazz and r&b weave through Dick’s songs in classics like “Angelo’s” (and since Angelo’s restaurant is closing, you really have to come to this show!) and “What Would Brando Do?” Sometimes there’s a hint of Hank Williams … a bit of Louis Jordan, Bob Dylan … the zaniness of Spike Jones… even a little T.S. Eliot meets the Beatles. It’s all Dick Siegel music – served up hot and fresh.

Crossroads Ceili
2023-12-30 20:00 - 23:00
The Ark’s annual Crossroads Ceili is a great way to mark the turning of the year. It’s a gathering of local Celtic-oriented singers, instrumentalists, and dancers, all sharing the stage to get your Celtic music year off to a good start. If you’d like to get an idea of the depth of southeastern Michigan’s Celtic music scene, the Ceili is a great place to do it. Fiddler Mick Gavin, the organizer of the Ceili and a frequent performer there, was recently inducted into the Irish Music Hall of Fame. This show frequently has special guest artists direct from Ireland. Watch this space for updated lineup!

50 First Jokes
2024-01-02 20:00 - 23:00
The tradition that started more than a decade ago at the Bell House in Brooklyn, New York, and now is a much-anticipated event also in Los Angeles and other cities, is coming back to Ann Arbor! Fifty of the area’s up-and-coming and veteran comics come together to tell the first jokes they’ve written for the new year, kicking off the 2024 comedy scene in the most righteous way possible! It’s fast, it’s fresh, and above all it’s funny. It’s also not going to break the bank, so why not check out some Michigan comic voices you may not have known about?

Gemini's 150th Birthday Celebration
2024-01-03 20:00 - 23:00
You read that right! Gemini, the Michigan duo of San and Laz Slomovits, consists of a pair of twin brothers, and they’re celebrating their 75th birthdays. Gemini is well known and loved for their shows for families. But lately, thanks in part to the budding folk career of San’s daughter Emily —who will be joining them for this show — they’ve reinvigorated their career singing music for adults. They’ll also be joined by their longtime Good Mischief Band, Mike Morrison on drums and Eric Fithian on bass. The brothers play songs by many of the artists who’ve inspired them, including Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Bob Dylan, Tom Paxton, and the Beatles. They also sing their own songs, as well as poetry they’ve set to music. Leave the kids at home with their favorite babysitter and come celebrate and sing with two beloved Michigan musicians!
This show is not aimed specifically at families.

The RFD Boys
2024-01-05 20:00 - 23:00
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 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.

The Yellow Room Gang
2024-01-06 20:00 - 23:00
The Yellow Room is the “brilliantly yellow” living room of Tamulevich’s house on Ann Arbor’s Old West Side, where gang members meet monthly for musical brainstorming and mutual critique. There are eight members of the gang, most or all of whom are on hand for any given show: Annie Capps, Kitty Donohoe, Jan Krist, Michael Hough, David Tamulevich, David Barrett, Jim Bizer, and Matt Watroba. Each an accomplished songwriter and performer in their own right, they create a unique atmosphere of respect and support, friendship and generosity finding new and unexpected ways to explore beyond their previous personal boundaries. Come and be a fly on the wall as the exchange of creative ideas flows freely! “To have any one of these songwriters perform at Trinity House is a real treat,” says promoter Bill Keith. “To have them perform together is unbelievable.” The Yellow Room Gang has been around for more than 15 years now, with all the members coming up with new music all the while.

Neil Woodward Trio
2024-01-07 19:30 - 23:00
Neil Woodward’s musical performances bring to life the Michigan Experience for Great Lakes audiences and visitors from around the world. Neil’s first time to play at The Ark was 1975. He is recipient of Michigan State University’s Michigan Traditional Arts 2018 Heritage Award for leadership and artistry in folk music. In 2003 the State of Michigan Legislature officially designated Neil “Michigan’s Troubadour” in recognition of his life-long commitment to preservation of Great Lakes folk music and culture. He performs in historical settings (Greenfield Village/Henry Ford and Crossroads Village/Huckleberry Railroad), and modern ones: schools, libraries, parks, festivals, lighthouses, theaters, and homes present Neil’s award-winning instrumental skills and storytelling. Neil Woodward is a Michigan treasure, and if you’ve never seen him before, you should!
Tonight’s concert is a benefit for Sweet Relief Musicians Fund. “This life is a treasure. It is such a blessing to be playing music for a living, sharing stories and songs with people around the world! Yet, we are all one short step away from a world of trouble. Having to miss one gig can be the difference between having the rent covered or having to sleep under a bridge. We need to lend a hand when we are able. I invite you to attend the show, but please make a contribution if you can. Thank you and BIG thanks to Sweet Relief, The Ark, and everyone supporting folks doing this work!” -Neil Woodward

Albert Lee
2024-01-08 20:00 - 23:00
British guitar legend Albert Lee, regarded by many as one of the world’s finest guitar players, with a career spanning more than 50 years, needs no introduction for country, blues and rock fans. Widely hailed for his fingerstyle and hybrid picking technique, Albert Lee helped to redefine country guitar for a whole generation of players with his song “Country Boy.” Albert’s many career highlights include two Grammy wins, five years in the Eric Clapton band (at Clapton’s request Albert played the Crossroads Festival with Eric at Madison Square Garden) and stints with the Rolling Stones’ Bill Wyman, The Crickets, the Everly Brothers, Joe Cocker, Emmylou Harris, Rodney Crowell and many more. Take it from Emmylou, who says, “When Saint Peter asks me to chronicle my time down here on earth, I’ll be able to say—with pride if that’s allowed—that for a while I played rhythm guitar in a band with Albert Lee.” Come by and pick up a copy of Albert’s new album, “Gypsy Man: A Tribute to Buddy Holly.”

Save The Speakeasy Benefit Concert
2024-01-09 19:30 - 23:00
In 2022, Johnny Williams’ home — above his well-known and highly regarded house concert venue, Johnny’s Speakeasy — suffered a devastating fire. Johnny paid for a premium homeowner’s replacement policy for nearly 30 years, but after 18+ months his insurance company continues to delay fair payment on his claim. A denial of fair payment will shutter this historic Ann Arbor musical institution and force Johnny Williams, a pillar of our community, to move away. As of now, the insurance company stopped paying for temporary housing so Johnny has been forced to move up north near family. This benefit concert features a lineup of some of the finest artists from across Michigan performing in support and solidarity with the grassroots, community driven campaign to Save the Speakeasy and Bring Johnny Home! All proceeds will go to a community created legal fund to help Johnny attain a fair settlement so that he can return to Ann Arbor, rebuild his home, and reopen the beloved Speakeasy.
Livestream the show here: https://www.facebook.com/events/2348396778883858/
Please note early start time.
Lineup:
Chris Buhalis
Judy Banker Band
Al Bettis
Dave Boutette & Kristi Davis
Annie & Rod Capps Band
Rochelle Clark
Shari Kane & Dave Steele
Billy King and San & Emily Slomovits
Misty Lyn & the Big Beautiful
Peter Madcat Ruth
The Sidemen
The Dick Siegel Trio
Rollie Tussing Trio
The Whiskey Charmers
Wilson Thicket
