• Artist Spotlight Series Live and Virtual

    Aleksi Campagne

    The Ark 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, United States

    Aleksi Campagne is uniquely qualified to offer a contemporary, indie-folk take on the time-honored fiddle-singing tradition. When playing live, Aleksi floors audiences by singing while bowing his violin and leading his four-piece band. His original music blends folk song writing with an edgy, multi-layered sound resulting from his unique combination of voice, violin and looping-effect pedals. He’s not just a folksinger with a guitar!

    Free, Donations accepted for Food Gatherers
    Folk Festival

    47th Ann Arbor Folk Fest

    Hill Auditorium 825 N University Ave, Ann Arbor, MI, United States

    The Ark and Bank of Ann Arbor are excited to announce the lineup for the Ann Arbor Folk Fest which returns to a two-night format in Hill Auditorium for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic. The festival is The Ark's largest annual fundraiser and delivers the full spectrum of “Ark music,” presenting a taste of what’s happening on the leading edge of acoustic music while delving into the very heart of folk and roots traditions. Friday night's lineup features Old Crow Medicine Show, Devon Gilfillian, Bailen, Darren Kiely, Sons of Mystro, and MC Jeff Daniels.

    $47.50, $70, $120, $250
    Folk Festival

    47th Ann Arbor Folk Fest

    Hill Auditorium 825 N University Ave, Ann Arbor, MI, United States

    The Ark and Bank of Ann Arbor are excited to announce the lineup for the Ann Arbor Folk Fest which returns to a two-night format in Hill Auditorium for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic. The festival is The Ark's largest annual fundraiser and delivers the full spectrum of “Ark music,” presenting a taste of what’s happening on the leading edge of acoustic music while delving into the very heart of folk and roots traditions. Saturday night's lineup features Emmylou Harris, Michigan Rattlers, Steve Poltz, Lizzie No, The Sea The Sea, and MC Jeff Daniels.

    $47.50, $70, $120, $250

    Kevin Burt & Big Medicine

    The Ark 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, United States

    Iowa bluesman Kevin Burt and his band, Big Medicine, make their Ark debut with a new release, Thank You, Brother Bill: A Tribute to Bill Withers. Kevin and Bill Withers have a connection deeper than their voices. A song by Bill Withers, says Kevin, “instantly attaches itself to my soul.” The late Bill Withers “told me in a roughly two-hour conversation we had many things that (pardon the pun) lean on today. One of those nuggets of insight was to ‘tell the stories that make me feel most vulnerable, that’s what people connect with.’ I hope to someday have an impact on someone else’s world the way Mr. Withers has had an impact on mine."

    $25

    The Ark’s Open Stage

    The Ark 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, United States

    Whether you're looking for your big break, want to perfect your live performance skills, or just want to perform live for the sheer fun of it, Open Stage nights offer supportive audiences and a terrific space. Twelve performers have eight minutes (or two songs) each to do their thing. Sign-up: doors open at 7:30 p.m. At 7:55 we randomly select the names for the first half, and at 8:30 we draw names for the second half. If your name isn't chosen, bring your raffle ticket with you to the next Open Stage and you'll double your chances.

    $3, $2 members, seniors, students free with student ID
  • Kruger Brothers

    The Ark 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, United States

    Some call it jazz. It has classical elements. Some call it bluegrass. Certainly the music of The Kruger Brothers is all of that and more. When you listen to the music of The Kruger Brothers, you can't help but be amazed by the sheer depth of their artistry. Originally from Europe, now living in North Carolina, they were first introduced to American audiences in 1997, quickly gaining the attention of fans and the music industry alike. Drawing on a rich cultural palette, theirs is a music that celebrates the best of what music can be: exciting, engaging, intelligent, and delightful.

    $25

    Mustard’s Retreat

    The Ark 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, United States

    Mustard’s Retreat has always sung the songs they enjoyed and cared about, regardless of the trends of the music industry and pop culture. They are committed to simply being themselves, not chasing fame or brass rings, while delighting in and connecting with their audiences as if they were family. The honesty of what they present onstage and the extensive body of outstanding original songs and recordings all contribute to a fiercely loyal audience that continues to grow. “Music to cure what ails you” was how one reviewer in the 1970s described them, and that is as true now as it was then.

    $20

    Appalachian Roadshow

    The Ark 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, United States

    Appalachian Roadshow is a visionary acoustic ensemble, bringing new-generation interpretations of traditional Americana, bluegrass and folk songs, as well as offering innovative original music, all presented with a common thread tied directly to the heart of the Appalachian regions of the United States. Grammy-nominated banjoist Barry Abernathy joins forces with Grammy-winning fiddler Jim VanCleve, fresh off of his recent stint touring with multi-platinum country artist Josh Turner, as well as esteemed vocalist and mandolinist Darrell Webb, who has recorded and toured with Dolly Parton and Rhonda Vincent, among many others. The group also includes 26-year-old “old soul” guitarist Zeb Snyder, whose fierce and versatile playing recalls Doc Watson and Norman Blake as readily as it does Duane Allman and Stevie Ray Vaughn.

    $25

    Bil Lepp

    The Ark 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, United States

    Bil Lepp is an award-winning storyteller, author, and recording artist. He’s the host of the History Channel’s Man Vs History series, the occasional host of NPR’s internationally syndicated Mountain Stage, and a contributing columnist to the West Virginia Gazette-Mail. Bil’s humorous, family friendly tall-tales and stories have earned the appreciation of listeners of all ages and from all walks of life.

    $25

    Eric Johanson

    The Ark 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, United States

    n the midst of creating his new album, “The Deep and the Dirty,” singer-guitarist Eric Johanson learned that his previous album cracked the Top 10 on the Billboard blues chart. It was his fourth time reaching the Top 10. And for a Louisiana native who’d grown up idolizing bluesmen like Freddie King and Robert Johnson, it felt pretty good. Even so, genre success didn’t discourage Johanson from reaching beyond the blues for the new album’s eclectic, electrifying songs.

    $20

    Jacob Warren & Friends

    The Ark 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, United States

    Jacob V. Warren is well known to Ark audiences. He's played with the eclectic and rising acoustic music group Westbound Situation, and he's a frequent guest with San and Emily Slomovits, often under the billing San, Emily, & Jacob, and in a folk-classical duo with violinist-guitarist Grant Flick. Now it's time for a Jacob Warren solo show! This local multi-style bassist performs an eclectic mix of solo double-bass arrangements in various genres. Special guests on this show will include Grant Flick, John Solari, Zola Hightower, and more!

    $20

    Willi Carlisle

    Special Guest: Golden Shoals

    The Ark 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, United States

    Willi Carlisle is a poet and a folk singer for the people, but his extraordinary gift for turning a phrase isn't about high-falutin' pontificatin'; it's about looking out for one another and connecting through our shared human condition. Born and raised on the Midwestern plains, Carlisle is a product of the punk-to-folk music pipeline that's long fueled frustrated young men looking to resist. After falling for the rich ballads and tunes of the Ozarks, where he now lives, he began examining the full spectrum of American musical history. This insatiable stylistic diversity is obvious in his wildly raucous live performances, where songs range from sardonic trucker-ballads like "Vanlife" to the heartbreaking queer waltz "Life on the Fence," to an existential talkin' blues about a panic attack in Walmart's aisle five.

    $20