Crash Test Dummies

In 2018, 25 years after the release of their multi–Grammy nominated hit album “God Shuffled His Feet,” The Crash Test Dummies hit the road for the first time in 20 […]

The Verve Pipe has spent the better part of three decades in evolution, creating a sound that transcends genre and generation. It’s a sound rooted in pop hooks, alt-rock guitars, and the sharp songwriting of frontman Brian Vander Ark. A sound that’s taken the band from the golden days of late-’90s modern rock—when The Verve Pipe enjoyed multi-platinum success with hits like “Photograph” and the chart-topping “The Freshmen”—to the rule-breaking creativity of the 2010s and beyond, an era that’s found the band reinventing itself with each release. Throughout it all, The Verve Pipe has released critically-acclaimed music as both a major-label act and an independent band, maintaining a commitment to forward-thinking rock & roll with albums like 2021’s Threads.

Trousdale (say: TRUES-dale) is a powerful female band consisting of Quinn D’Andrea, Georgia Greene, and Lauren Jones. Their melodic and heartfelt harmonies are often compared to those of The Chicks and The Staves, but the girls draw inspiration from a wide array of music, including Crosby Stills & Nash, Kacey Musgraves, and HAIM. Driven by their passion to empower young women, Trousdale is committed to making quality music that spreads a message of self-acceptance and love.

Singer-songwriter Melissa Ferrick has the kind of relationship with her audience that few artists are blessed with. Her live performance is fierce and funny, outspoken and vulnerable, passionate and real. “She appeared at times to be channeling Bruce Springsteen and Rickie Lee Jones simultaneously,” said the Boston Globe after one of her concerts. The emotional honesty of Melissa’s first-person lyrics, the force of her vocal delivery and the disciplined fury of her musicianship connects her to her audience with confidence and grace. Melissa is a longtime Ark favorite, but we haven’t hosted her since before the pandemic. It’s time to stop by and renew old acquaintances!

Blending rock, folk, Celtic, bluegrass and Americana traditions into a high-energy style the group calls ether-electrified porch music, this Virginia quintet’s poetic songs are brought to life with acoustic & electric guitars, mandolin, fiddle, bass, drums, cello, banjo, penny whistle, pedal steel, accordion and rich vocal harmony. Carbon Leaf writes, records and produces its music independently from their studio in Richmond, VA, and has performed over 2,400 live shows across 17 albums in their long career. The group’s independent music and spirit continue to resonate with its fans.

Based in Philadelphia, Low Cut Connie is a rock and roll band that also serves as the alter ego for the songwriting and the amazing stage presence of frontman Adam Weiner. LA Weekly has called Low Cut Connie’s live performances “unmatched in all of rock right now.” Among the band’s backers are Barack Obama, who put “Boozophilia” on his Spotify playlist, Elton John, and Bruce Springsteen. Low Cut Connie’s recent dates include a performance at President Biden’s inauguration in 2021. Low Cut Connie comes to Michigan with a new release, “Are You Gonna Run?”

BBMak is an English band consisting of Mark Barry, Christian Burns and Stephen McNally. Formed in Liverpool in 1996, the group made million-selling albums for seven years. BBMak first achieved success when their single “Back Here” gained popularity in radio stations in Asia, and they later signed with Hollywood Records in the U.S. The band reworked their debut album, “Sooner or Later,” for an American release in 2000, and the album charted at number 38 on the Billboard 200 chart with “Back Here” becoming a top 20 hit. BBMak’s success in the American market helped the band finally break through in their home country. After a 15-year hiatus, BBMak returned in 2019 with a new album, “Powerstation.” Relive the 1990s with this hugely tuneful group of the era and see what they sound like all grown up!