The Ark

Max Gomez
2026-03-24 20:00 - 23:00 (America/Detroit) | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Singer/Songwriter Max Gomez grew up in Taos, New Mexico, where he fell under the influence of country blues early on and developed a songwriting style that was uniquely his. As a budding performer, Max apprenticed in the rarefied musical micro-climate of northern New Mexico, where troubadours like Michael Martin Murphey and Ray Wylie Hubbard helped foster a Western folk sound both cosmic and country.
He received critical acclaim upon the release of his debut album Rule The World (2013, New West Records); and his subsequent EP, Me and Joe (2017, Brigadoon Records), contained a freshly minted classic, “Make It Me.”
He has shared billing on hundreds of stages with stalwarts of the genre like James McMurtry, Buddy Miller, John Hiatt, Patty Griffin, Tommy James & The Shondells, Jeff Beck, and Johnny Depp. Judging by the company he keeps, Gomez is poised to emerge as a prominent voice of Americana’s next generation. Max’s latest album Memory Mountain, was released in August and is currently in the top 50 of the AMA / CDX Top 200 Album Chart.

Eliza McLamb
2026-03-25 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Ticket prices on our website reflect all-in pricing for purchases made online or by phone. This means the price you see includes the ticket price plus MUTO’s ticket processing fee. Tickets may be purchased with no included fees in person at The Ark during box office hours.
It appears to be a trophy at first. Look closer, and you’ll see the cover of Good Story features Eliza McLamb holding a makeshift award, hot-glued together from scraps she and her mother salvaged. It is, of course, silver — a self-deprecating wink introducing the timbre of McLamb’s sophomore album. These last few years, McLamb’s been parsing her upbringing, the songs she wrote about it, and the whole endeavor of the stories we tell about ourselves. “If you get really good at telling the story of who you are, you become the story you told instead of the ever-dynamic, ever-changing person you have to be,” McLamb says. “I did really well telling the story of who I am, but I began asking: What’s the point of it?”
At only 23, McLamb has already lived multiple lives. In her late teens, McLamb found success via co-hosting the podcast Binchtopia and sharing songs on TikTok. She soon pulled back from the platform, feeling it didn’t represent her actual ethos as a songwriter. Instead, she signed to Royal Mountain and released her 2024 debut Going Through It, a document of a complex, traumatic childhood that led to searching phases — dropping out of college during the pandemic in favor of working on Midwest farms, eventually leaving her North Carolina hometown behind for Los Angeles. It all gave her plenty of stories to tell on Going Through It. And now on Good Story, she wonders how that process affected her. Yet the homemade trophy of Good Story’s cover is far from a jocular consolation prize alone. It’s a symbol of the layered, accomplished writing McLamb arrived at as she interrogated everything she thought she was about as an artist.

University of Michigan Jazz Showcase Featuring Jonathan Kreisberg
2026-03-26 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
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Contemporary Improvisation at the U-M, along with a prominent special guest each year. This year’s special guest is guitarist Jonathan Kreisberg. Combining timeless melodicism with forward thinking lines and textures, His style and approach has created a strong following of fans around the world. He frequently tours worldwide and records with his own groups as well artists such as Dr. Lonnie Smith, who says of Kreisberg “He is a passionate musician with great vision, and he is constantly in fiery pursuit of innovation.”

Rabbitology
2026-03-27 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
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Everyone has their own world. Fragments of moments lived, translated and understood through metaphor and storytelling. Rabbitology is the project of (University of Michigan student) Nat Timmerman—a world that was pulled from her odd-running mind. A little land of the harebrained and burrowing. Venture into these eclectic soundscapes, and here you will discover a collection of memoirs turned into fantastical sonic short stories.
Strange but charming, you’ll find these songs bundled in capes of star-dusted moss, grounded in the natural world, propelled by the raw and the real. If a song takes place in the woods, then the woods the song will become; the percussion is the stomping of the leaves, the synth is a warped fox’s cry. Thus arise the stories of dread-grey skies, writhing vines, and shivering pines—stories of a magically real folk horror. The dark and ugly become beautiful here, and vice versa. In this world, there is no such thing as “black or white,” instead, everything exists together at once.
This world is for the souls who never quite fit in, who found themselves like ghosts, drifting between realms, never finding anywhere to settle. Simply follow the three-legged rabbit prints until you’re knee deep in this world’s tall grass. Here, you’re invited to rest, to dance, to create, to ideate, even if your visit is only for a little while. Stay as long as you like. Make this world your home too. It’s a little unusual in here, but that’s life!
Presented with support from Bank of Ann Arbor

Joy Clark & Kate Peterson
2026-03-28 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Ticket prices on our website reflect all-in pricing for purchases made online or by phone. This means the price you see includes the ticket price plus MUTO’s ticket processing fee. Tickets may be purchased with no included fees in person at The Ark during box office hours.
Joy Clark’s songcraft, paired with sophisticated progressions, and themes of freedom, love and self-acceptance gained her notice on the national folk and Americana scenes just a few years ago with appearances at Americanafest. She caught the attention of Grammy-winner Allison Russell and was offered a regular spot in her backing band The Rainbow Coalition, earning her the chance to jam with superstars Brandi Carlile and the Indigo Girls. Talking to The Tennessean, Russell described Joy as a “a brilliant artist, writer and singer.”
Ann Arbor’s homegrown friend and folksinger describes herself as “raspy, emo acoustic soul-folk with a touch of optimism and a lot of humanness.”
Beginning in 2005, Michigan-based singer songmaker and multi-instrumentalist Kate Peterson has traveled the US and Europe winning the hearts of vulnerability lovers everywhere. For 10 years, she spilled her heart onto hundreds of stages, opened for her heroes and sparked thousands of laughs (and almost as many tears) with her folk duo, Nervous but Excited. These days, in between adventure travel, Kate is a home-makin’ hobbyist who swaps her wood-working tools for a microphone for only the most special of occasions.
The roots of her music are still planted firmly in the Pleasantly Aggressive Folk sound that long time fans will find familiar, but they will quickly notice a depth in her sound that only time and patience can cultivate.

Laith Al-Saadi
2026-03-29 19:30 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
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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.”
Entertainment Weekly called Laith Al-Saadi “a power performer who is so legitimate and memorable.”
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 World Magazine has called Laith Al-Saadi a cross between “Danny Gatton and Buddy Guy at their best,” and in 2006 Guitar Center crowned him one of the top four blues guitarists in the United States.

Le Vent Du Nord
2026-03-30 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
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Once again, Le Vent du Nord rises to the occasion with a new concert directed by Michel Faubert. Still inspired by its international “20 Printemps” tour (200,000 tickets sold, awarded “Best Traditional Album of the year” with FELIX 2022, OPUS 2023 & Songlines Music Awards 2023 – Americas), the legendary Quebec quintet of singers and multi-instrumentalists is always on the move, committed to the present.
With the release of their 13th album, they tackle the theme of neighborhoods, sources of universal inspiration. He opens his door to good neighbors. He hopes that ideas of sharing will flourish, and the best for the common good. From those who are musical and enrich their repertoire: Irish and Scottish Celts, American folk, songs from Acadia and French-speaking America. From those with their neighbors, the rivers, to those that bear witness to history: battles won or lost, abuses, losses, friendships and, above all, loves.
Five voices in harmony, podorythmy, hurdy-gurdy, bouzouki, bombarde québé-coise and tunes of violin and accordion tell us that traditional music from here is rich, lively and inventive.
It’s a show where you can let yourself dance, be moved by the words spoken orally, and recharge your batteries with the energy of these eternal travellers with deep-rooted roots.
An invitation to discover a world of humanities!

Mike Doughty
2026-03-31 20:00 - 23:00 | MI
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Mike Doughty is an American singer, songwriter, and author best known as the founder and frontman of Soul Coughing. This year, Mike Doughty returns to the stage for a solo tour, presenting stripped-down, intimate performances that span his Soul Coughing legacy and prolific solo work, reaffirming his place as one of alternative music’s most distinctive and enduring voices.

Mike Marshall & Alessandro Penezzi
2026-04-01 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Ticket prices on our website reflect all-in pricing for purchases made online or by phone. This means the price you see includes the ticket price plus MUTO’s ticket processing fee. Tickets may be purchased with no included fees in person at The Ark during box office hours.
This show is free for Ark members at the Solo ($50) level and above. Show your membership card at the box office for entry!
Mike Marshall is one of the world’s most accomplished and versatile string instrumentalists and a three-time Grammy nominee. A master of mandolin, guitar, mandocello, and violin, he blends American roots with classical, jazz, pop, and Brazilian music. At 19, he joined the David Grisman Quintet and has since produced over 40 recordings while collaborating with Bela Fleck, Edgar Meyer, and Chris Thile. Deeply committed to education, Mike directed the Acoustic Music Seminar at SMF and teaches globally. With his wife, German mandolinist Caterina Lichtenberg, he co-founded the Mandolin World Retreats and continues to tour internationally, inspiring musicians worldwide.

Born in Piracicaba, Brazil, Alessandro Penezzi is one of the great virtuosos of Brazilian guitar. He graduated in Popular Music from Unicamp with a specialization in Creative Processes from Faculdade Souza Lima, and has been teaching courses, workshops, and seminars at various music festivals in Brazil and abroad. Penezzi is a multi-instrumentalist and prolific composer and has toured extensively worldwide. He plays the seven-string guitar, tenor guitar, cavaquinho, mandolin and flute, and has received numerous honors and nominations for his performances as an instrumentalist and composer. He has also been highlighted in the Visa MPB Instrumental, Tim de Música Brasileira, and Shell de Teatro and Prêmio da Música Brasileira awards.

The Gothard Sisters
2026-04-02 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
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The Gothard Sisters are three sisters Greta, Willow and Solana. They are contemporary Celtic folk multi-instrumentalists, composers, performers and songwriters. Blending Celtic, folk, world, classical and new age musical influences, the Gothard Sisters bring songs to life with violin, acoustic guitar, mandolin, bodhran, djembe, whistle and vocal harmonies, creating music that is “vivid, inspirational and captivating.” (Tim Carroll, Folk Words Review 2018)
Raised and homeschooled by artists in the Pacific Northwest, the Gothard Sisters grew up immersed in nature, imaginative play and traditional folk and classical music. Their music takes inspiration from folk music traditions around the world, timeless stories, new age and classical records, and nature itself. Writing and recording near their home in the Pacific Northwest, USA, the band has released 11 albums and performed over 2,000 live shows over the course of their career.
The Gothard Sisters come to The Ark with their new album, “Moment in Time.”

Billy King
2026-04-03 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
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In the early 1990s, Billy led his two-member band, the preteen King Brothers, to local fame in the Ann Arbor area, performing regularly and releasing five albums of mostly original material. Still living and working on the family farm, Billy has continued writing and recording, and, with his brother, started Holler Fest, a three-day music festival featuring Michigan artists.
Billy’s versatility as a multi-genre singer-songwriter is matched by his ability on a wide range of instruments from guitar and banjo to keyboards and accordion.
Within the songwriting community, he is well-known for his musicianship and originality. In 2007, his composition, “I Don’t Write Love Songs,” was awarded the Grand Prize in the Great Lakes Songwriting Contest. Influenced by master songwriters such as Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell and Paul Simon, Billy crafts melodically compelling songs that maintain a sense of the timeless and classic. Sometimes catchy folk/rock, sometimes searing blues, but always direct and thoughtful lyrics – this is original music from an original life, fully accomplished yet humble, and most of all real.

James Keelaghan
2026-04-04 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
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James Keelaghan is an artist who has proven to be a man for all seasons. As the calendar pages have turned, for almost a quarter of a century now, this poet laureate of the folk and roots music world has gone about his work with a combination of passion, intent and intensity, and curiosity.
Fusing his insatiable appetite for finding the next unique storyline Keelaghan also forges his pieces with brilliantly defined craftsmanship and a monogrammed artistic vision, making him one of the most distinctive and readily identifiable voices of not only the Canadian scene, but as a member of the international singer-songwriter community.
Admiration and respect for his work amongst his peers is best summed up by David Francey who recently stated that, “James Keelaghan is a voice in contemporary Canadian songwriting that has helped us define who we are as a people. He writes with great humanity and honesty, with an eye to the past and a vision of the future. He has chronicled his times with powerful and abiding songs, with heart and eyes wide open.”

The Moth GrandSLAM
2026-04-07 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
The ultimate storytelling competition, The Moth GrandSLAM invites winners from our open-mic StorySLAMs back to the stage for the Ann Arbor storytelling championship.

Joseph
2026-04-08 19:00 - 23:00 | El Club, 4114 W Vernor Hwy, Detroit, MI, 48209, United States
Made up of three sisters from Oregon, Joseph are renowened for their signature sibling harmonies and stripped-back performance style. While their sophomore album, I’m Alone, No You’re Not (2016), arrived in a breeze of swoony folk, pop rock-minded follow-up Good Luck, Kid (2019) saw Joseph turn the volume – and soul – up. Raising their profile on tour with James Bay, the group has since hosted a cosy NPR Tiny Desk concert and performed on Later… with Jools Holland.

The Ark's Open Stage
2026-04-08 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. More info here!
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. 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.
Tickets available at the door.

James McMurtry Duo feat. BettySoo: The Black Dog and the Wandering Boy
2026-04-09 19:00 - 20:30, 2026-04-09 21:30 - 23:00 | Ypsilanti Freighthouse, 100 Market Pl, Ypsilanti, MI, 48198, United States
“One of America’s greatest living songwriters.” (Rolling Stone) Texas-based songwriter and guitarist James McMurtry is a supremely insightful and inventive storyteller whose fans include everyone from Stephen King to John Mellencamp. Funny and sad often in the same breath, McMurtry teases vivid worlds out of small details, crafting searingly honest lyrics set against a rock/Americana backdrop. His Ypsilanti Freighthouse debut draws from his 2025 album The Black Dog and the Wandering Boy. The story-songs on that album find inspiration in scraps from his family’s past: a rough pencil sketch by Ken Kesey that serves as the album cover; the hallucinations experienced by his father, the legendary writer Larry McMurtry; an old poem by a family friend. “A solid smorgasbord of aging, Americana, and arrested development.” (The Austin Chronicle)
Two performances, 7:00pm and 9:30pm
PRESENTING SPONSOR
Matt and Nicole Lester

A night with Adam Bohanan and Frankie Torres
2026-04-09 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Ticket prices on our website reflect all-in pricing for purchases made online or by phone. This means the price you see includes the ticket price plus MUTO’s ticket processing fee. Tickets may be purchased with no included fees in person at The Ark during box office hours.
Adam Bohanan is a Black and Jewish Twin Cities based musician and songwriter who tours nationwide. His music draws from soul, jazz, funk, and R&B. His influences include: Stevie Wonder, D’Angelo, Donny Hathaway, Sam Cooke, and Marvin Gaye. A lifelong nerd, Adam also loves to incorporate playful wordplay and nerdy references into his songwriting. His latest single, “Reese’s” reflects this blend, melding sultry R&B with tongue-in-cheek humor. In 2024, he was a semifinalist on Season 26 of The Voice. On Team Reba, he was known for his “dirty soul” style and fun-loving attitude.
Born and raised in Minnetonka, Minnesota, Frankie grew up with a diverse combination of musical inspirations. The foundation of her music stands on classic rock and the blues, which she grew up singing in bars and at music festivals as young as 8 years old. She was a contestant on season 26 of NBC’s The Voice, making it to the Knockouts on Team Reba. Since leaving The Voice, she has continued to perform around the Twin Cities as an independent artist and as the lead singer of her cover band, Midnight Rambler.

Brian Vander Ark
2026-04-10 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Brian Vander Ark is the lead singer and principal songwriter for the multi-platinum alternative rock band The Verve Pipe, recognized worldwide for their radio hits Photograph, Hero, Happiness Is, Never Let You Down, and the #1 smash single The Freshmen.
During breaks from his work with The Verve Pipe, Brian set out on his own to launch a multifaceted solo career that has included releasing four acclaimed independent studio albums – Resurrection, Angel Put Your Face On, Brian Vander Ark and Magazine as well as his collections of cover songs called Planet Sunday Sessions, Volume 1 & II. He’s also collaborated with actor/musician Jeff Daniels on the Simple Truths, an album of original Americana songs while continuing to write and record original music with The Verve Pipe, including their most recent independent album, Threads.

Penny and Sparrow
2026-04-11 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Ticket prices on our website reflect all-in pricing for purchases made online or by phone. This means the price you see includes the ticket price plus MUTO’s ticket processing fee. Tickets may be purchased with no included fees in person at The Ark during box office hours.
A wise wizard once said: “when in doubt, always follow your nose.”
The last album from Penny and Sparrow, Olly Olly, was a work of revelation and liberation. A search for and an embrace of the self. I imagine they were left with a headscratcher of a question: well, shit. Where do you go from there?
Fortunately, they listened to the wizard and followed their noses backwards to find their way forward.
Aiming to strip away pretense and invite experimentation, they commandeered a garden shed from a friend and retrofitted it to make a twenty-track album that is vast, weird, and wholly unexpected.
If Lefty is anything, it is the journal of Penny and Sparrow’s inner child. Dog-eared, lock busted open. On its pages the sketches of dreams, nightmares, erotica, and literary fan fiction graffiti the margins of poetry, elegies, and love letters in the wild colors of saxophone blue, electronic pink, and blood harmony red.
Beautifully varied and richly rendered, it is an album that wanders from theme to theme, style to style, exultation to tragedy. Yet it is never lost. If anything, it is at play.
United by its intimate vocals and aching harmonies, its acoustic laments trickle into ethereal pop only to surge into whimsical ballads and crest into grand hooligan anthems that sway gently down to familiar shores where melancholic ballads tell of love lost, found, forgotten, and remembered.
Andy and Kyle have written some albums in blood. Others they’ve whispered to the sea. This one they danced in the sky with smiles on their faces. Lefty feels like not just a celebration of their journey beyond the bounds of their traditional genre, but as if they have rediscovered the joy in music by honoring the sounds that inspired two boys growing up in Texas to one day make the damn stuff themselves.
–Pierce Brown, author and friend
VIP includes:
One general admission ticket
Early entry into the venue
Access to an intimate pre-show soundcheck party (2-3 songs)
Q&A with Penny & Sparrow
Limited edition tour poster; autographed by Penny & Sparrow
Crowd free merchandise shopping
Limited availability
Early Entry includes:
One general admission ticket
Early entry into the venue
Limited edition tour poster; autographed by Penny & Sparrow
Crowd free merchandise shopping
Limited availability

Gemily
2026-04-12 13:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Ticket prices on our website reflect all-in pricing for purchases made online or by phone. This means the price you see includes the ticket price plus MUTO’s ticket processing fee. Tickets may be purchased with no included fees in person at The Ark during box office hours.
Gemily (Gemini + Emily) is the folk music trio comprised of Laz and San Slomovits, and San’s daughter, Emily. Laz and San, as the highly popular family music duo, Gemini, have been performing throughout Michigan and the United States since 1973. Emily first began joining them on stage when she was just eight years old, and increasingly since graduating from college in 2016. All three are versatile instrumentalists and excellent singers. Between them they play over a dozen instruments including guitars, violins, ukulele, mandolin, pennywhistle, and a variety of folk flutes and hand percussion instruments.

John Gorka
2026-04-12 19:30 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Ticket prices on our website reflect all-in pricing for purchases made online or by phone. This means the price you see includes the ticket price plus MUTO’s ticket processing fee. Tickets may be purchased with no included fees in person at The Ark during box office hours.
John Gorka is one of the most well-loved singer/songwriters in the folk community. With a career spanning 40 years and a discography of 17 solo releases, he embodies the best of folk music with his eclectic blend of folk, blues and bluegrass influences, insightful lyrics and engaging delivery. John’s career was launched in the mid-80s when he won the prestigious New Folk award at the Kerrville Folk Festival in 1984.
Several years later he signed to Red House records for the release of his debut album I Know. He migrated to Windham Hill/High Street for his subsequent three releases, earning extensive critical acclaim from a variety of publications including Rolling Stone which dubbed him the preeminent male singer-songwriter of the New Folk Movement. He returned to Red House in 1998 and has since released a string of albums that have achieved folk chart-topping success.
Hailing from New Jersey, but forged in the Greenwich Village Fast Folk scene, John has honed his craft and persona into an unmistakable image. The shy, wry, insightful, and yes, sensitive singer-songwriter has been copied and parodied. But the old coat he wove still fits, and still suits him well. The old songs ring as true as they ever did, and the new ones are just as good.

Yagody
2026-04-14 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Ticket prices on our website reflect all-in pricing for purchases made online or by phone. This means the price you see includes the ticket price plus MUTO’s ticket processing fee. Tickets may be purchased with no included fees in person at The Ark during box office hours.
YAGÓDY arrives in communities across North America with a clear purpose: to preserve Ukrainian folk traditions while demonstrating their continued relevance during a time of ongoing turmoil.
For centuries, folk music has carried history, identity, and collective memory through periods of occupation, censorship, and attempted erasure. As Ukraine continues to endure sustained attacks, these events serve as living expressions of resilience and continuity.
Praised as “mesmerizing” by the Chicago Sun-Times, YAGÓDY’s concerts feature material from their self-titled debut album alongside recent releases and ancestral hymns reanimated for modern times. The tour repertoire will include ethno-ritual performances such as:
“Chernomorets,” This ancient hymn of heroism and hope focuses on the symbolism of the Black Sea, embodying the Ukrainian spirit and love of freedom.
“Tsunamia,” Ukraine’s 2024 national Eurovision selection, is rooted in a generational belief that “only the mountains and the sea can give us strength.” Inspired by accordionist Nadiia Parashchuk’s grandmother, the song unfolds as a mythic meditation on endurance.

“BramaYa,” inspired by the Roman god Janus, a symbol of beginnings and transitions. Its recurring refrain, “Yanara,” functions as a battle cry reflecting themes of responsibility, truth, and collective resolve.

“Koni,” YAGÓDY’s newest single, is a contemplative meditation on time, longing, and memory. Anchored by the mournful tone of the duduk, the piece unfolds slowly, emphasizing harmony, restraint, and ritual.
At a moment when international conflict can feel distant, YAGÓDY brings Ukraine’s cultural reality directly to the stage, offering a shared space where cultural preservation is experienced as something human, immediate, and collective.

Yasmin Williams with special guests Nic Gareiss and Lucy Yao
2026-04-15 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Ticket prices on our website reflect all-in pricing for purchases made online or by phone. This means the price you see includes the ticket price plus MUTO’s ticket processing fee. Tickets may be purchased with no included fees in person at The Ark during box office hours.
Yasmin Williams is an innovative guitarist and composer known for her unique compositional approach and expansive instrumental style. Her latest album Acadia, released on Nonesuch Records, showcases her evolution from solo performer to collaborative artist, featuring partnerships with notable musicians like Aoife O’Donovan and Immanuel Wilkins.
Williams’ distinctive creative process involves “ruminating” on single notes until compositions naturally emerge. Beyond traditional fingerpicked guitar, she demonstrates mastery of multiple instruments including kora, harp guitar, banjo, and electric guitar. Her music, while rooted in folk traditions, transcends conventional structures to incorporate elements of progressive rock and experimental composition.
Following her acclaimed 2021 album Urban Driftwood, Acadia represents a significant artistic expansion, featuring three distinct sections that move from traditional folk influences to atmospheric soundscapes and experimental arrangements. Williams’ approach emphasizes sustained tones and intricate articulation, creating music that balances technical precision with ethereal, floating melodies.
Yasmin will be joined by very special guests, dancer Nic Gareiss and pianist Lucy Yao.

Fantastic Negrito
2026-04-16 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Ticket prices on our website reflect all-in pricing for purchases made online or by phone. This means the price you see includes the ticket price plus MUTO’s ticket processing fee. Tickets may be purchased with no included fees in person at The Ark during box office hours.
Fantastic Negrito is a powerhouse performer whose live shows are charged with emotion, intensity, and connection. Blending Delta blues, soul, funk, and rock, he delivers dynamic sets built on rhythm, storytelling, and fearless expression. The Oakland-born artist — a three-time GRAMMY winner — has earned a reputation for transforming every show into a deeply engaging, unforgettable experience.
From Glastonbury to Newport Folk, Fantastic Negrito captivates audiences with his mix of grit, humor, and raw honesty. His performances turn struggle into celebration, and his songs take on new life each night, reshaped by the moment and the crowd.
Every show is a testament to the power of live music to inspire, challenge, and bring people together.
Since winning NPR’s inaugural Tiny Desk Contest, Fantastic Negrito has shared stages with the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Chris Cornell, and Primus, and has collaborated in the studio with Sting, E-40, Tank and the Bangas, and many others.
He is also busy producing other artists featured on his independent record label, Storefront Records.

Willie Nile
2026-04-17 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Ticket prices on our website reflect all-in pricing for purchases made online or by phone. This means the price you see includes the ticket price plus MUTO’s ticket processing fee. Tickets may be purchased with no included fees in person at The Ark during box office hours.
The New York Times called Buffalo, NY-born Willie Nile “one of the most gifted singer-songwriters to emerge from the New York scene in years.” Uncut Magazine called him “A one-man Clash” and “the unofficial poet laureate of New York City”. His album Streets Of New York was hailed as “a platter for the ages” by Uncut. Rolling Stone listed The Innocent Ones as one of the “Top Ten Best Under-The-Radar Albums of 2011” and BBC Radio called it “THE rock ‘n’ roll album of the year.” His single from that album, “One Guitar,” was the “Top Pick of the Week” in USA Today.
Bono, Bruce Springsteen, Pete Townshend, Lou Reed, Lucinda Williams, Jim Jarmusch, and Little Steven are among those who have sung his praises.
Willie has a new album called The Great Yellow Light. MOJO gave it 4 Stars and wrote: “On his 21st album in a career of remarkable consistency, he again delivers a batch of classic rock ‘n’ roll.” Poet Richard Hoffman wrote: “It’s a masterpiece! The title track brought me to tears. An album that can make you dance and make you cry. R ‘n’ R at its best.” PowerPop Magazine wrote: “Nile has the Mark of the Bard upon him.” Willie will be touring in Europe and in North America this year in support of the new album and lives in New York City.

Mr. B's 29th Annual Blues & Boogie Piano Celebration
2026-04-18 19:30 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Ticket prices on our website reflect all-in pricing for purchases made online or by phone. This means the price you see includes the ticket price plus MUTO’s ticket processing fee. Tickets may be purchased with no included fees in person at The Ark during box office hours.
Once a year, Mark “Mr. B” Braun, Ann Arbor’s own wizard of blues and boogie piano music, comes together with other top piano players from around southeastern Michigan and beyond. Call it a piano summit, or perhaps a meeting of the minds! Audiences in southeastern Michigan tend to think of Mr. B as a local hero, but in fact he’s well known among fans and practitioners of blues and jazz piano music all over the country and around the world. This year Mr. B will be joined onstage by Demetrius Nabors and two surprise special guests.
Demetrius “Krayon” Nabors is a prominent pianist, composer, producer, and arranger, celebrated in both the Detroit area and the national contemporary jazz scene. His music reflects a rich tapestry of influences, including gospel, jazz, classical, and blues, all of which are evident in his compositions and performances. A two-time winner of the Detroit Music Award for Outstanding Gospel/Christian Musician, Demetrius holds both Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Jazz Studies from the University of Michigan. His talents have taken him to stages in Europe and Africa, as well as to national television, including a memorable appearance on the former “Arsenio Hall” show.
Note early start time!

Willy Porter
2026-04-19 19:30 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Ticket prices on our website reflect all-in pricing for purchases made online or by phone. This means the price you see includes the ticket price plus MUTO’s ticket processing fee. Tickets may be purchased with no included fees in person at The Ark during box office hours.
Some folks are lucky to find what they love to do at an early age and quietly settle in for the long haul expanding and developing their work over the arc of a lifetime. Willy Porter is one of those artists. He has followed his own path to explore the sacred language that music truly is. Thirty years after his solo recording debut, he continues to reach further into his guitar & pen while stretching the form of what his own music can be. His live shows are guitar driven events—equal parts grit, soul, and muscle—that are electrifying, dynamic, and wholly original in the way that his voice blends and fuses with his virtuoso fretwork.

Tadhg Ó Raghallaigh, Aidan Duffy, Paul Spring, and Alex Wand
2026-04-20 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Ticket prices on our website reflect all-in pricing for purchases made online or by phone. This means the price you see includes the ticket price plus MUTO’s ticket processing fee. Tickets may be purchased with no included fees in person at The Ark during box office hours.
Touring from County Meath, Ireland, uilleann piper and educator Tadhg Ó Raghallaigh comes from an Irish-speaking family with a legacy in Comhaltas music education. Multi-instrumentalist Aidan Duffy performs on guitar, mandolin, and bouzouki, presenting original songs and Irish ballads. Minnesota-born, NYC-based songwriter Paul Spring performs music from his new album that fuses Irish traditional and American roots music. Gifted singer and percussionist Ben Duffy backs these performers on bodhrán and drums. Alex Wand presents original resonator guitar compositions and songs with his trio featuring Michael Gould on drums and Joe Fee on bass. The evening features four sets spanning traditional sessions, original songs, and instrumental compositions across Irish and American musical traditions.
Tadhg Ó Raghallaigh is a uilleann piper from County Meath. Irish is his first language, and he comes from a long line of respected players. He is also a traditional irish music teacher. His family started the local chapter of Comhaltas Irish music education in County Meath.
Aidan Duffy is a traditional musician and songwriter from Trim, County Meath. He plays traditional Irish guitar, mandolin, and bouzouki. He will back up Tadhg in traditional sessions as well as play a set of his own original music. He also has an extensive repertoire of Irish ballads and songs, and is a gifted singer, and will sing a few during the trad session. He is also an intermediate-level Irish language speaker.
Ben Duffy is a drummer, singer and songwriter from Trim, County Meath. He is a gifted singer and guitar player, with an extensive repertoire of Irish ballads and songs, and will sing a selection during the trad session. He will back up Tadhg on Bodhran, Aidan on Drums, and Paul on Drums.
Paul Spring is a songwriter from Minnesota, now based in NYC. I recorded an album with these Irish musicians and they will serve as my backing band. Here is a link to my own music, which fuses trad and American music:
Alex Wand is a composer and performer whose practice spans songwriting, ecological thought, field recording, and alternate tuning systems. He is currently working on a collection of instrumental compositions for resonator guitar entitled “Rufus’s Retreat.” A Metro Detroit native, he teaches music at the U-M Residential College. He’ll be joined by Michael Gould (drums) and Joe Fee (bass).

Crystal Bowersox
2026-04-21 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Ticket prices on our website reflect all-in pricing for purchases made online or by phone. This means the price you see includes the ticket price plus MUTO’s ticket processing fee. Tickets may be purchased with no included fees in person at The Ark during box office hours.
Crystal Bowersox, a northwest Ohio native, has built her world around music. By the age of 10, she was performing in local clubs and venues. On the cusp of 18 and with a curious heart, Crystal moved to Chicago, IL, where she spent her days busking on subway platforms between working odd jobs and attending school.
Chicago’s rich musical history helped Bowersox to broaden her musical horizons. Ultimately, Bowersox auditioned for the ninth season of American Idol, and her time on the show proved to be well spent. In 2010, her debut album, “Farmer’s Daughter” was released on Jive Records and since, she has since released 3 LP’s, two EPs, several singles, and is currently developing a theatrical rock concert titled, “Trauma Queen”. Crystal has recorded and performed alongside several notable names and additionally, has used her voice and talents to benefit several organizations close to her heart.
