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Chris Smither // Paul Cebar

Sun

September 17 @ 7:30 pm

Chris Smither // Paul Cebar

The Ark 316 S. Main Ann Arbor, MI 48104 United States

It’s as if the blues met modern poetry and got infused with Zen calm. Chris Smither takes the blues in a direction all his own, offering stoic, existential ruminations sung in a weathered blues moan and set to quietly virtuosic guitar.

Paul Cebar cut his teeth musically in the coffeehouse folk scene of the mid-’70s in Milwaukee. Taking cues from the dance bands of western Louisiana (and his native Midwest,), the streets (and 45’s) of New Orleans, touring African and Caribbean combos and the soul, funk & blues of his youth coupled with early, teeth-cutting experience in the verbal hotbeds of the coffeehouse scene, Cebar is a masterful synthesist of rhythmic culture

$35

Fri

June 23 @ 8:00 pm

Laith Al-Saadi

The Ark 316 S. Main Ann Arbor, MI 48104 United States

Laith Al-Saadi began singing at age four and began playing guitar at 13. At 15 he formed his first blues band, Blue Vinyl. In short order they opened for blues greats like Buddy Guy (to whose work his playing has been compared), Luther Allison, Son Seals, and Taj Mahal and toured the Netherlands. At the University of Michigan, Laith was a member of the Johnny Trudell Orchestra and freelanced with Detroit greats like Thornetta Davis, Jocelyn B, The Reefermen. Laith is a real road warrior who generally can be found playing at least five nights a week around Michigan and beyond, and Michigan’s secret got out when he made the finals of television’s “The Voice.” If you haven’t checked out this monster Michigan talent yet, you really should!

$30

Thu

May 25 @ 8:00 pm

Ki5 & Jordan Hamilton

The Ark 316 S. Main Ann Arbor, MI 48104 United States

Vocalist, songwriter, and producer Kyler Wilkins from Ann Arbor, Michigan, has been performing as Ki5 (rhymes with high-five), using nothing but a loop station and a simple effects unit since 2017. His vibrant composition style—influenced by his time in a cappella groups—explores the human voice meshed with beatboxing and delivers familiar genres such as R&B, pop, and soul. Cellist and vocalist Jordan Hamilton is a mix of mastery and maverick musicality; hip-hop influenced, rhythmically layered, melodically robust. He makes avant garde folk-soul music, a key to navigating space, time, and change gracefully. John Sinkevics of Local Spins describes his music this way; “Plucking, sawing, pounding and caressing the cello to extract sometimes other-worldly sounds; melding live looping with classical music interludes, hip hop, and jazz.” Tonight these highly innovative Michigan musicians join forces in a duo show.

$20

Fri

Low Ticket Alert Special Event

April 21 @ 7:00 pm

The War and Treaty

El Club 4114 W VERNOR HWY. DETROIT, MI 48209 United States

at El Club, Detroit Since forming in 2014, The War And Treaty have amassed a following as eclectic as their sound itself, a bluesy but joyful fusion of Southern soul, gospel, country, and rock-and-roll. Known for a live show nearly revival-like in intensity, the husband-and-wife team of Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Blount-Trotter endlessly create an exhilarating exchange of energy with their audience, a dynamic they’ve brought to the stage in opening for the legendary Al Green and touring with the likes of Brandi Carlile and Jason Isbell. So when it came time to choose a title for their forthcoming sophomore album, The War And Treaty quickly landed on Hearts Town—the Nashville duo’s adoring nickname for their ardently devoted fanbase.

$25, $30 day of show

Tue

April 11 @ 8:00 pm

Morgan James

Opener: Kirk Thurmond

The Ark 316 S. Main Ann Arbor, MI 48104 United States

Morgan James is a Juilliard-trained singer, actress, songwriter and recording artist in New York City. Morgan recently co-produced and starred in an all-female concept recording of “Jesus Christ Superstar” entitled “She Is Risen.” She independently released her studio albums of original soul music, entitled Memphis Magnetic and A Very Magnetic Christmas, recorded to analog tape in Memphis, Tennessee. Other albums include “Reckless Abandon,” which prompted the Huffington Post to call MJ the Brightest Breakout Artist of the Year.

$25

Thu

March 9 @ 8:00 pm

Vanessa Collier

The Ark 316 S. Main Ann Arbor, MI 48104 United States

Vanessa Collier is a captivating and multitalented blues vocalist, saxophonist, and songwriter, hailing from the world-renowned Berklee College of Music, where she earned dual degrees in Performance and Music Production & Engineering. Vanessa demonstrates her skills as a master musician and songwriter, blending her blues background with elements of funk, rock, and soul. Vanessa’s mighty vocals, gritty saxophone solos, and incredible high-energy stage presence create a powerful show not to be missed!

$20

Sun

February 5 @ 7:30 pm

Laith Al-Saadi

The Ark 316 S. Main Ann Arbor, MI 48104 United States

An intimate solo performance
Laith Al-Saadi began singing at age four and began playing guitar at 13. At 15 he formed his first blues band, Blue Vinyl. In short order they opened for blues greats like Buddy Guy (to whose work his playing has been compared), Luther Allison, Son Seals, and Taj Mahal and toured the Netherlands. At the University of Michigan, Laith was a member of the Johnny Trudell Orchestra and freelanced with Detroit greats like Thornetta Davis, Jocelyn B, The Reefermen. Laith is a real road warrior who generally can be found playing at least five nights a week around Michigan and beyond, and Michigan’s secret got out when he made the finals of television’s “The Voice.” If you haven’t checked out this monster Michigan talent yet, you really should! Tonight Laith performs a rare solo show.

$30

Sun

October 9, 2022 @ 7:30 pm

Nadim Azzam

The Ark 316 S. Main Ann Arbor, MI 48104 United States

Nadim is donating a portion of his income from this performance to support the ACLU’s Reproductive Freedom For All effort in Michigan. Nadim Azzam brings his passion as a lyricist, MC, guitarist, and soul singer to the Ark. This young Ann Arborite built a name with his heartfelt, rap-laced solo acoustic set, and has been amassing a national following in love with his rapid-fire hip-hop delivery fused with the sincerity of a 1950s love song balladeer. His original music is a hip-hop, alt-rock, jazz fusion that uplifts and inspires, bringing that feel-good, smile worthy element found in Ed Sheeran, Michael Franti, and G Love & The Special Sauce. His powerful debut EP, Here’s to Changes Vol. 1, landed him a nationwide campus tour with Matisyahu. Nadim comes to The Ark with lots of new music, and we can’t wait to see where he goes next.

$20

Mon

Live and Virtual

June 20, 2022 @ 8:00 pm

Chastity Brown

The Ark 316 S. Main Ann Arbor, MI 48104 United States

Chastity Brown has been called a banjo-playing soul singer and “a rocking, rolling encyclopedia of roots music.” She’s been featured on CMT and NPR’s “Favorite Sessions, and has been the subject of profiles in Paste and the Times of London, among others. Livestream access is made possible with support from Ford Motor Company Fund.

$20

Sun

February 20, 2022 @ 7:30 pm

Bettye LaVette

The Ark 316 S. Main Ann Arbor, MI 48104 United States

Hailed by the New York Times as “one of the great soul interpreters of her generation”, Bettye LaVette is a vocalist who can take any type of song and make it completely her own.

$40