The Ark

Davy Knowles // Jeffrey Gaines
2024-06-11 20:00 - 23:00 (America/Detroit) | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Whether playing mandolin, national steel, or screaming electric guitar, Davy Knowles has an unmistakable style. Since bursting onto the scene with his band Back Door Slam’s critically acclaimed album “Roll Away” in 2007, Davy’s star has only risen. His sophomore release “Coming Up For Air” was produced by the legendary Peter Frampton, with subsequent tours seeing him supporting and sharing the stage with acts such as Jeff Beck, The Who, Brian Setzer, and George Thorogood.
Knowles has several top-5 Billboard Blues charting albums under his belt, high profile TV appearances (Jimmy Kimmel Live and CBS Good Morning America among others), and has been praised with high accolades from heroes and press alike.
Jeffrey Gaines has been heralded for his soul-searching lyrics and his powerful live performances. With only his voice and a guitar for accompaniment, Gaines has earned a reputation as a captivating performer, entertaining his audiences worldwide.
Gaines has released eight albums internationally, which includes gems like the hit single “Hero In Me” from his debut album. The Boston Globe declared that “Gaines’ soulful, wounded vocals make a case for him being one of pop’s finest singers…” Rolling Stone went on to call him “the voice of a generation” noting his body of work and his larger than life voice. With compelling live performances gaining high respect from peers, Gaines was asked to join tours with Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Tracy Chapman, and Stevie Nicks with Sheryl Crow.
JD Eicher of Youngstown, Ohio opens.

Loudon Wainwright III
2024-06-12 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Grammy winner Loudon Wainwright III is a cherished icon of American folk music, a darkly witty and touchingly personal songwriter and storyteller. He started out in the folk clubs of New York and Boston before going on to a long career that’s encompassed both music and acting. He has released over 30 albums and written folk classics including “Dead Skunk” and “The Man Who Couldn’t Cry,” and created music for film and theater.
In addition to his musical career, Loudon’s acting credits include Judd Apatow’s Knocked Up (for which he also recorded the soundtrack), The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Christopher Guest’s For Your Consideration, and Parks and Recreation with Amy Poehler.
Singer-songwriter and novelist Wesley Stace, who released many albums under the name John Wesley Harding, opens.

The Whiskey Charmers
2024-06-13 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
The Whiskey Charmers’ captivating Spaghetti Western sound is cinematic in scope and evokes imagery of a lonesome desert highway. This evening they celebrate the release of their fifth album.
Two of the Charmers previous albums have earned Detroit Music Awards for Outstanding Americana/Country Recording, and three of their songs landed a placement in the video game Detroit: Become Human which has sold over 9 million copies, reaching new fans across the globe.
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.”
Detroit duo The Darkness Brothers open, singing songs for the everyman that speak to the heart and cut to the core.

Zachariah Malachi & The Nashville Counts
2024-06-14 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Detroit-turned Nashvillian Zachariah Malachi has been known to be a shape-shifter of originality to the genre of honky tonk music. He can glide through the minor chords of Eastern European jazz and morph it into the depths of the barroom basement regret dealing with topics of cheating, drinking, fighting, and the morning after.
His backing band, The Nashville Counts is the collected talents of fiddler and harmony singer Jack Bird, guitarist and banjo player Anthony Castagna, steel guitar and trumpet player Eddie Slide, and bass extraordinaire Luca Chiappara. The band name alone gives a hint to a sinister presence that awaits any stage that they are about to take. Together, this group of juke-joint vampires will take you on a ride through country music madness that you will feel compelled to tell your friends about what you just experienced.

Buffalo Rose
2024-06-15 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Buffalo Rose is a charismatic six-piece modern folk/Americana band from Pittsburgh, PA. They take the singer-songwriter tradition to a new level by crafting original songs which are emotive, meticulously arranged, and inspired by a world of idiosyncratic influences that never let a dull or predictable moment creep in.
Buffalo Rose’s lineup of Lucy Clabby (vocals), Margot Jezerc (vocals), Bryce Rabideau (mandolin), Malcolm Inglis (dobro), Jason Rafalak (upright bass), and Shane McLaughlin (guitar, vocals) pushes itself and each other far beyond their perceived limits and blends their diverse and atypical approach to songwriting with the desire to see how unique a song can get and still feel like home. They use powerful vocal harmonies, strong playing, and an original vision to operate at every possible emotional level and put on dynamic live shows that are unforgettable experiences. They go from up and moving to sad and sweet and back again, bringing the entire audience along.
Rather than play the folk music of the past, the band gleefully combines genres and ideas together to move acoustic music forward to a new, contemporary place without ever losing sight of its roots. Fans of Lake Street Dive, Nickel Creek, and Punch Brothers will find much to like in this crew. Anyone seeking compelling new acoustic music needs to join Buffalo Rose in the future right now.

Annie Bacon & Her OSHEN and Sammie Hershock
2024-06-16 19:30 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Sammie Hershock almost became a cloistered Catholic nun at the age of 18. Now she travels around Michigan singing songs about not knowing the answers. She weaves her humor and playfulness into the depth of the human existence, and it is a regular occurrence for audience members to laugh and cry simultaneously. Hershock is a multi award-winning Michigan based songwriter, classically trained pianist, and young mother of three incredible children. She majored in sacred music with an emphasis on the pipe organ: and though you won’t currently find her behind an organ at a church, you may find little pieces of that influence sprinkled throughout her original folk music.
Annie Bacon is a writer and songwriter living in Ann Arbor, Michigan (via Maine and San Francisco). With her OSHEN she merges a literary writing style and folk-rock Americana sound to create rich and emotionally complex music. After surviving a global pandemic while grieving multiple deaths, Bacon emerges in 2024 with a host of creative works revolving around grief, including the album release for this show: Storm.
Storm – her 4th full length record – was recorded to analogue tape in Nashville over four days at Daylight Studio with friend and studio owner Paul Defiglia (Avett Brothers, Langhorn Slim, Erin Rae) who also co-produced the album with Bacon. The songs cover a range of losses from the keening depths of death’s grip, to the ragged edges of love lost.

Gregory Alan Isakov
2024-06-17 19:30 - 23:00 | Hill Auditorium, 825 N University Ave, Ann Arbor, MI, 48108, United States
Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, and now calling Colorado home, horticulturist/musician Gregory Alan Isakov has cast an impressive presence on the indie-rock and folk worlds with his six full-length studio albums: That Sea, The Gambler; This Empty Northern Hemisphere; The Weatherman; Gregory Alan Isakov with the Colorado Symphony; Evening Machines (nominated for a Grammy award for Best Folk Album), and his most recent record, Appaloosa Bones. Isakov tours internationally with his band, and has performed with several symphony orchestras across the United States. When he is not on the road, Isakov runs a small farm in Boulder County, which provides produce to CSA members, restaurants, and Community Food Share (a local food bank).
TICKET ONSALE DATES:
March 5 – Presale for Ark Virtuoso Members and up
March 6 – Presale for Ark Premiere Members and up
March 7 – On sale to General Public
This event is co-presented by A2SF and The Ark.
$1 per ticket donated to The National Young Farmers Coalition

The Ark's Open Stage
2024-06-19 20:00 - 23:00, 2024-07-03 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 Pairs
2024-06-20 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Powered by soaring sister harmonies, this quirky trio’s unbottled chemistry quickly connects them to their audience. Renée Coughlin, Noelle Frances Coughlin, and Hillary Watson are the three distinct lead singers/songwriters of The Pairs. Together they offer a unique blend of music with stories of life’s hope, hilarity, and hardship. These classically trained vocalists blur the line between the stage and the crowd as if we’ve pulled up a seat around their family’s lively kitchen table. This award-winning group has been touring internationally in Canada, the USA, and Europe since 2022 and released their third studio album titled, “When Will We Find Our Way?” in October 2023.

Jon McLaughlin
2024-06-21 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Everything in Jon McLaughlin’s life makes its way into his music, whether he’s conscious of it or not. The artist, raised in Indiana and based in Nashville, brings all of his experiences and beliefs into each song he creates, something that is especially true now that he’s the father of two young girls.
Jon released his debut album, Indiana, in 2007 on Island Def Jam, attracting fans with his heartfelt, hook-laden songwriting and impassioned delivery. He’s released six full-lengths in the years since and revealed a true evolution in both his piano playing and singing. He’s played shows with Billy Joel, Kelly Clarkson and Adele, collaborated with longtime friend Sara Bareilles, co-written with Demi Lovato and even performed at the Academy Awards in 2008.
As with everything he does, Jon’s goal is to create connections. He wants to translate his experiences and ideas into music that reaches fans everywhere. His passion for music and playing is evident in each note he plays. Jon comes to The Ark with his newest album, “MOOD III,” the third installment in his instrumental piano series.

The RFD Boys
2024-06-22 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.

James Hunter
2024-06-23 19:30 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Over the span of 30 years, James Hunter has worked on the railway, busked in the streets of London, provided backup vocals and guitar for Van Morrison, played clubs and theaters all over the world, written scores of original songs, and recorded some of the most original and honest rhythm & soul albums of the last two decades. By 2006, Hunter was recognized with nominations for a GRAMMY® Award (“Best Traditional Blues Album” for People Gonna Talk (Rounder)) and an American Music Award (“Best New/Emerging Artist”). He and his band then hit the road for a decade of extensive touring and recorded critically-acclaimed studio albums— The Hard Way (Hear Music), Minute by Minute (Fantasy), Hold On! (Daptone), Whatever it Takes (Daptone).
​In March 2020, and unceremoniously coinciding with the beginning of COVID lockdowns, The James Hunter Six released another sublime offering of no nonsense rhythm and blues. Recorded and produced by Bosco Mann, Nick of Time is a shining example of how a master song-smith can continually draw fresh water from a bottomless well. In addition to the uptempo, swinging R&B that has put The James Hunter Six on the map, Nick of Time explores so much more.

The Wellermen
2024-06-25 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Bass singing folk group The Wellermen were discovered during the viral Sea Shanty trend of early 2021. The four had only met in person once with members Bobby Waters & Luke Taylor based in the US and Jonny Stewart & Sam Pope based in the UK. The four members’ lives were to change when they dueted with a seemingly innocuous ‘Sea Shanty’ (Wellerman) on TikTok. Since the release of the now ubiquitous TikTok, it’s been viewed 100m+ times across multiple platforms and continents, and has seen The Wellermen appear at events like The Brits, shows like Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Take Away, Last Week Tonight With John Oliver and The Colbert Show & ABC News Australia. The Wellermen used their moment of unexpected virality for lasting good, raising money via proceeds from ‘Wellerman’ for the Marine Conservation Society, giving back to the seas.
Since then the group have gone on to release their debut album containing even more viral hits, from ‘Misty Mountains’ and ‘Nancy Mulligan’ to the North Sea Trend phenomenon ‘Hoist The Colours’ which reached #3 on the global TikTok sound chart in February 2024. The group have achieved 150m streams to date and amassed a global audience of millions in the process.
The Wellermen embark on their debut USA tour in June 2024, with their hotly anticipated follow up album due for release Winter 2024.
The Ark’s Artist Spotlight Series is made possible with support from Ford Philanthropy. It is presented live, and also livestreamed on The Ark’s Facebook page.
Tonight’s show is FREE (nonperishables accepted for Food Gatherers).

The Way Down Wanderers
2024-06-26 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Often referred to by fans as one of the hardest-working, hardest-touring bands on the circuit today, the 5-piece Illinois-based act not only proves that classification with their jam-packed tour schedule but also on stage every night, with youthful exuberance and a lively stage show, as reliable as it is infectious. High energy percussion, mandolin, guitar, bass, banjo and fiddle weave seamlessly together to create an experience for fans that has sold out shows across the UK and the United States, filling the front rows with fans not just singing along to one tune, but singing along to all of them.
Music enthusiasts are not the only ones taking note. Critics and tastemakers alike have awarded the young artists an impressive number of accolades ranging from official showcases at AmericanaFest (2018) and International Bluegrass Music Association (2016) to Whitstable UK Session of the Year (2017), a BBC Scotland Session (2017) as well as Finalist, International Song Writing Competition (2015 & 2016), Chicago’s Best Emerging Artist, Deli Magazine (2014) and Songpickr’s Best Songs Spotify Playlist (2016) among others.

Jared Deck Band
2024-06-27 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Jared Deck has been praised for his “powerful, beautiful voice” by Alejandro Escovedo. Raised on the dusty plains of an Oklahoma family farm, Jared worked in the fields as well as the town grocery, owned by his parents. Later he worked in an oilfield and a factory. During the Great Recession he got by with a job as a pianist in a Black church, where over the next six years, he received an unparalleled musical education. His songs tell stories in an honest voice of Midland America. “The American Dream” won first place in the annual Woody Guthrie Folk Festival Songwriting Competition.
Jared will be coming to The Ark with a new album, “Head Above Water.”

Melissa Ferrick
2024-06-28 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Regarded in the industry and by their peers as one of the most prolific and hardworking artists in the business. Melissa Ferrick has released seventeen albums over the last twenty-five years and has won numerous awards for songwriting, production, and performance. She has shared the stage with Morrissey, Joan Armatrading, Weezer, Tegan and Sara, Mark Cohen, Paul Westerberg, Bob Dylan, John Hiatt, Ani DiFranco, k.d. Lang, Suzanne Vega, Shawn Colvin, and many others.
Signed to Atlantic Records in 1992 at the age of 21, Melissa released her debut and sophomore albums on Atlantic after opening for Morrissey in the U.S. and UK. In 2000, Melissa launched the nationally distributed independent record label Right On Records. She is currently working with the venerable Kill Rock Stars Records.
Besides their work in the music industry, Melissa is a Professor of the Practice at Northeastern University in the Music Department. She teaches courses in the music business, songwriting, production, and performance. From 2013 – to 2019, Melissa was an Associate Professor of Songwriting at Berklee College of Music. She holds an Ed.M from Harvard University.
Brooklyn-based violin and piano duo Gracie and Rachel opens.

Nora Brown with Stephanie Coleman
2024-06-29 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
First brought together by Brooklyn’s tight-knit old-time music community in 2017, Nora Brown and Stephanie Coleman share a rich musical partnership that belies their 20 year age difference. Stephanie is a master old-time fiddler, having recorded with and toured internationally over the last two decades with celebrated artists such as trailblazing all-women stringband Uncle Earl, Watchhouse’s Andrew Marlin, and clawhammer banjo virtuoso Adam Hurt. Nora and Stephanie recorded together on Nora’s debut album Cinnamon Tree in 2019, and have performed as a duo in the US and London including renowned festivals as the Philadelphia Folk Festival, Trans-Pecos Festival in Marfa, TX, Winnipeg Folk Fest, Edmonton Folk Fest, and the Roskilde Festival in Copenhagen. Most recently they performed together as a duo on NPR’s Tiny Desk and have released a new duo EP called Lady of the Lake.

Laith Al-Saadi
2024-06-30 19:30 - 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.

Amos Lee
2024-07-01 19:30 - 23:00 | Michigan Theater, 603 East Liberty, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
“There’s a lot of existential stuff in these songs,” says Amos Lee. “If you really listen to what’s in between the lines, there’s a lot of grappling with your place in the world, grappling with loss. There’s a lot of grappling with the balance between bailing out the boat and rowing at the same time—the experience of writing music and playing songs while trying, as we all are right now, to make sense of a world that feels like it’s changing really quickly.”
On his eleventh studio album, Transmissions, singer-songwriter Lee continues to expand his sonic range while sharpening his closely observed lyrics that squarely address death, aging, and love. The force behind such acclaimed albums as Mission Bell and Mountains of Sorrow, Rivers of Song, ever since his gold-selling 2005 debut Lee has been known for his association with a long list of collaborators and touring partners, from Paul Simon to Zac Brown Band.
For the new project, he craved a return to an old-school style of recording, working with his longtime band in a studio in rural Marlboro, New York that was built by drummer Lee Falco and his dad out of reclaimed wood from an old church (“it’s exactly what you’d think a studio in upstate New York should be,” notes Lee). Playing live on the floor for long hours, in close quarters, they were able to capture the album’s twelve songs in less than a week.
“I really wanted us to be all in the room, making music together, listening to each other and responding to each other,” says Lee. “In this age where you can do everything at home and fly it in, there’s something really beautiful about getting in a room and starting at the top, the drummer counting in the song and everybody just playing. I would call it vulnerability.”
Despite the simplicity of the set-up, though, Lee also augmented the band’s soulful, folk-funk sound with arrangements that extend the scope of some songs. “I’ve done a lot of shows over the past few years with orchestras,” he says, “and I wanted to find a way to have miniature moments that could represent those experiences. If you listen to the end of ‘Night Light,’ or ‘Built to Fall,’ there are moments that express those ideas of collaboration and orchestration.”
Transmissions marks only the second time that Lee has produced his own album (following 2016’s Spirit), a daunting challenge even for someone so familiar with the musicians. But he was determined not to overthink or over-complicate the task.
“As a producer, I had to have a clean and clear vision of what I wanted before I went in,” he says. “Especially now that I’ve done ten albums. I’m not lighting a bunch of candles and trying to conjure the spirit—it’s either there or it isn’t. And it was there from Day One. We were playing the song ‘Beautiful Day,’ and I thought, ‘Okay, here’s a song I have a demo for, but I don’t have a full version in mind. I’ve never played it with anyone, I’ve never shown it to anybody, and it’s a bit of a weird, herky-jerky tune.’ And the bass and drums kicked ass, the guitar playing is really cool—so yeah, I felt it from note one. I was never in doubt.”
The’ last few years have been wildly productive for Philadelphia native Lee. After 2022’s Dreamland album (which featured “Worry No More,” a Top Ten AAA hit and his biggest single in over a decade), he followed up with two full-length projects paying homage to musical heroes—My Ideal: A Tribute to ‘Chet Baker Sings’ and Honeysuckle Switches: The Songs of Lucinda Williams. He expresses his awe for these two renegade artists; Williams for her incomparable language and Baker for his delivery. “I love songs that have the ability to expose a wide range of emotions in a short song,” he says. “That’s what my favorite songs always do.”
The Baker album in particular had a strong influence on Lee as a vocalist. “I didn’t grow up singing anything other than what was on the radio,” he says, “and when I started playing guitar, it was John Prine and Dylan and Bill Withers and this classic songwriter stuff, but also all this ‘90s R&B that I loved. I’d never approached what we’re calling jazz—the classics, the songbook—and listening to Chet singing and singing along with him was like, ‘Oh, my God, how is he doing this?’ It was like taking a master class in control and where to use your voice. That level of singing, that level of musicianship, was hugely inspirational—you don’t have to sing loud all the time. You can be really vulnerable, and soft, and really be at your best.”
Transmissions is Lee’s first release of original music on his own label, Hoagiemouth Records. “It’s just a sign of the times,” he says. “Things have really changed for someone like me, and I’m going to adapt. I always wanted to have some kind of small label, so it’s a cool opportunity.” (The imprint is distributed through the Thirty Tigers company, which Lee is especially excited about since he and president David Macias are friends through fantasy baseball.)
Fresh off of some dates with Willie Nelson and heading into a co-headlining tour with the Indigo Girls, Amos Lee notes that his attitude about being embraced by his peers and his idols has transformed over the years, and that his gratitude deeply informs the emotions throughout Transmissions.
“I just appreciate everything a lot more now,” he says. “When you’re younger, you get it, but you don’t really get it because you’re like ‘Oh, cool—my first tour ever and I’m opening for Bob Dylan? Cool.’ Or Norah Jones, the biggest artist in the world, bringing you out right off the street. How do you appreciate that? I was just sort of clueless, honestly. Not out of malice, but you have no context.
“So now I’m just grateful to have a career,” he continues. “I’m grateful to be asked to share the stage with folks who I respect and admire and love and want to learn from and want to support. Now it’s about really being present while it’s happening and knowing that this is not promised, none of this is destiny. It’s a lot of chance. So I’m making sure to really enjoy and appreciate all these opportunities.”

Marcia Ball
2024-07-02 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
“Fifty years have passed in a flash,” says Texas-born, Louisiana-raised pianist, songwriter and vocalist Marcia Ball of her long and storied career. Ball, the 2018 Texas State Musician Of The Year, has won worldwide fame and countless fans for her ability to ignite a full-scale roadhouse rhythm and blues party every time she takes the stage. Her rollicking Texas boogies, swampy New Orleans ballads and groove-laden Gulf Coast blues have made her a one-of-a-kind favorite with music lovers all over the world. With each new release, her reputation as a profoundly soulful singer, a boundlessly talented pianist, and a courageous, inventive songwriter continues to grow. Her love of the road has led to years of soul-satisfying performances at festivals, concert halls and clubs. The New York Times says, “Marcia Ball plays two-fisted New Orleans barrelhouse piano and sings in a husky, knowing voice about all the trouble men and women can get into on the way to a good time.” The Houston Chronicle says simply, “She’s as perfect as an artist can be.”

Amanda Anne Platt & The Honeycutters
2024-07-07 19:30 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
The music of Asheville, North Carolina based outfit Amanda Anne Platt & The Honeycutters is nuanced, bringing insight and wit to the stories Platt tells through songwriting. Lyrically driven, the band’s country roots music often inspires introspection, whether it be about life on the road, heartache, or hope. There is an empathetic and charming wit ingrained in Platt’s songwriting. She has a knack for accessing a deep well of emotion and applying it to her storytelling, whether she is writing from her own experiences or immersing herself into the melody of emotions in another person’s life. Performing along with Platt, The Honeycutters are Matt Smith (pedal steel and electric guitars), Kevin Williams (keys/vocals), Rick Cooper (bass/vocals), and Evan Martin (drums/vocals).

Al Stewart & The Empty Pockets
2024-07-09 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
After Al Stewart’s US tour in 2019 with his band The Empty Pockets, he spent most of 2020 and 2021 sidelined due the COVID-19 pandemic. But in 2022, he came back full force with a string of sold out shows in the United States and United Kingdom. He continues his trek with several shows throughout the United States with The Empty Pockets. He will be playing his old favorites, like Year Of The Cat, Time Passages, On the Border, and Modern Times, along with selections from his deep catalog.
The Scottish-born singer-songwriter has released nearly 20 introspective and lyrically powerful records featuring brilliant backing musicians (Jimmy Page, Phil Collins, Richard Thompson, Peter White, etc.). His biggest platinum successes, “Year Of The Cat” and “Time Passages”, were released in 1976 & 1978 respectively. He’s had several top 20 singles, including the above-mentioned titles, as well as “On the Border” and “Song On The Radio”.
In Al’s own Words: “I’m just a folk singer that is interested in history and wine that got lucky with some hit records! It’s as simple as that really. I was always a huge music fan and originally, I had wanted to be Brian Jones and then Bob Dylan, but those two jobs were already taken. And in many ways, I’m still pretty much the same troubadour that I was back in 1965. I still get a kick out of hearing the Zombies, Hendrix or They Might be Giants on the radio.”

Alexander Star & The Golden People
2024-07-10 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Alexander Star is an Emmy-nominated recording artist, songwriter, performer, and social impact activist based in South Florida. Star’s work in the field of world change has brought his musical performances to 10+ countries, inside the United Nations, and earned him the title IMPACT ARTIST amongst his peers. Also known as the ‘Anthem Architect,’ Star aligns his art with local, national, and international organizations to shine the light of their impact through his artistic prism. With positive impact at the core of his creative approach, Alexander Star is trailblazing a lane traveled by few other artists and standing tall on his mantra: “Give Hope While Being Dope.”
This performance is presented with support from Visit Lauderdale.

Davis Caruso
2024-07-11 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Davis Caruso, singer/songwriter and multi instrumentalist from Ann Arbor, is bending ears near and far with the 9 song album he published in March of 2023 called “The Fool”. His vocals are poetic and soulful, accompanied by colorful sounds that he produces himself and with the help of trusted collaborators. On July 11th, he will be performing and publishing his second compilation called “Dreaming on Paris” accompanied by drums, keys, bass, & background vocals. You can expect to smile wide and leave feeling nourished by these carefully crafted heart felt tunes.

A Message From White Flowers: VOICES Series
2024-07-12 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
White Flowers is a string ensemble that came out of Autophysiopsychic Millennium’s theatrical performance Something Else in the Garden, based on Dr. Yusef Lateef’s novella, Night in the Garden of Love.
Autophysiopsychic Millennium (APPM) is a Black-led creative research and performance collective that explores, experiment, and studies the music philosophy and spiritual works of world-renowned multi-instrumentalist musician, composer, author, visual artist, professor, Afro-Futurist, and Detroit native, Dr. Yusef Lateef.
White Flowers integrates musical compositions based on environmental themes and climate consciousness to initiate a cultural discourse around climate change and the importance of addressing it before it’s irreversible. These are themes discussed in Dr. Lateef’s Night in the Garden of Love, which is set on a dying Earth due to human destruction and corruption. These compositions will engage deep human emotions to connect with climate change issues through a social, political, and cultural lens. They will serve as a platform to highlight the gravity of the climate emergency.
The lineup of musicians is:
LuFuki King Sophia
Aaron Jonah Lewis
Indira Edwards
Laina Martin
AnJelic
Michael Smith
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.

The Guy Mintus Trio
2024-07-13 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Guy Mintus is an Israeli-born piano performer, composer, vocalist, and bandleader. He possesses the finesse of a trained concert pianist, the energy of a rockstar, and the exploring spirit of a jazz musician inspired by a wide range of influences from Turkish Makam to Stride piano to South-Indian rhythms.
Along with his long standing trio Guy is able to create a musical playground filled with joy, spontaneity, groove, and humor while embarking on adventures that start with his original music and continue to re-imaginations of music from Beethoven, Chopin, The Beatles, Gershwin or the Great Israeli Songbook to name a few. Officially endorsed by Yamaha Pianos, Guy is the winner of the prestigious Leonard Bernstein Award.
Guy’s latest trio record, A Gershwin Playground, was recently released on the prestigious label ENJA Records (Chet Baker, Charles Mingus, McCoy Tyner among others). The album provides a fresh, modern and very personal take on the music of Jewish-American musical giant while receiving international support from both critics and audiences alike.
The Guy Mintus trio is:
Guy Mintus (piano, vocals)
Dan Pappalardo (double bass)
David Sirkis (Drums)

Katie Geddes
2024-07-14 19:30 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Katie Geddes sings traditional and contemporary folk, country-folk, and folk-pop tunes. A deft interpreter of beloved songs, her captivating voice and velvety-smooth delivery bring new life to the compositions of writers such as John Prine, Michael Nesmith and Lennon and McCartney. When not doing her own gigs, Katie has been known to “moonlight” singing harmony for folk-rock legend Melanie and local favorite Matt Watroba, and is part of the female vocal trio All About Eve.

Summer Sounds at The Ann Arbor Art Fair
2024-07-18 18:00 - 23:00 | The Stage on Main, 353 S. Main St, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
We are excited to once again partner with the Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair to bring live music each evening of the art fairs to the Stage on Main at the corner of Main and William in the Palio lot. Stop by and join one of our favorite street parties of the year!
6:00 Phillip-Michael Scales
As a kid, Phillip-Michael Scales didn’t understand what it meant that his aunt’s close friend, the guitar player who called him “Nephew” and he called “Uncle B,” was B.B. King. Once Phillip-Michael began guitar lessons, the significance became so clear that he shied away from soloing and most things blues. Instead, he fell in love with songwriting when an English teacher told him “A great writer can make their reader identify with anyone.” When his Uncle B passed away, Scales began incorporating more of the blues into his music as a way to honor him. “These days I’m finding more of my story in the blues. A lot has led me here between politics, my identity, and the idea of Legacy.” The result is a sound he calls “Dive Bar Soul” which takes a bit of indie rock storytelling and couples it with the passion of the blues.
7:30 Joe and The Ruckus
The Ruckus is a collective with the goal of recontextualizing classic funk and soul music within our 21st century world. They formed during the pandemic and emerged from lock-down as changed people in search of new live music experiences from those typically seen pre-pandemic. The Ruckus rose to and surpassed that expectation, providing electrifying live concerts with repertoire ranging from the father of funk, James Brown, to the king of soul, Stevie Wonder, and beyond into more modern artists and have now expanded from their hometown to NYC, Chicago and Detroit.

Summer Sounds at The Ann Arbor Art Fair
2024-07-19 18:00 - 23:00 | The Stage on Main, 353 S. Main St, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
We are excited to once again partner with the Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair to bring live music each evening of the art fairs to the Stage on Main at the corner of Main and William in the Palio lot. Stop by and join one of our favorite street parties of the year!
6:00 Jordan Hamilton
Cellist and vocalist Jordan Hamilton is a mix of mastery and maverick musicality; hip-hop influenced, rhythmically layered, melodically robust. Driven by diversity, drawn to the cello’s tone, cosmic strings calling souls home. A different kind of symphony, hopeful enough to grow our empathy, “part political activism, part hopefulness, part performance art, part soundscapes, and all entirely mesmerizing.” (John Sinkevics, Local Spins) Emotional energy crafted from integrity, immaterial and immortal, experienced at the speed of sound, with a bit of bounce, groove by the ounce, and all the jump you’ll need to move.
7:30 Tony Furtado
Very few musicians of any stripe so personify a musical genre as completely as Tony Furtado embodies Americana roots music. Tony is an evocative and soulful singer, a wide-ranging songwriter and a virtuoso multi-instrumentalist adept on banjo, cello-banjo, slide guitar and baritone ukulele who mixes and matches sounds and styles with the flair of a master chef.
