The Ark

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316 S. Main
Ann Arbor, MI 48104 United States Get Directions
(734) 761-1818
theark.org
Today

David Francey

Special Guest: Terra Spencer

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

The elevator at The Ark is out of service while technicians make repairs. Attendees for this show will need to be able to walk up and down the stairs to the second floor of The Ark where the show takes place. David Francey is a Scottish-born Canadian carpenter-turned-songwriter. Born in Ayrshire, Scotland to parents who were factory workers, he moved to Canada when he was twelve. For decades, he worked across Canada in rail yards, construction sites, and in the Yukon bush, all the while writing poetry, setting it to melodies in his head and singing it to himself as he worked. A truly authentic folk singer, Francey is a documentarian of the working person who never imagined earning a living from his music.

$20
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My Folky Valentine

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

The elevator at The Ark is out of service while technicians make repairs. Attendees for this show will need to be able to walk up and down the stairs to the second floor of The Ark where the show takes place. This year, in honor of our 20th anniversary show, you'll be treated to 10 Michigan-based dynamic duos who are partners in life as well as music. The star-studded line-up features Dave Boutette & Kristi Davis, Ruth & Max Bloomquist, Jason Dennie & Rochelle Clark, Allison Downy & John Austin, Dave Keeney & Sophia Hanifi, Jan Krist & Alan Finkbeiner, Jo Seraperre & John Devine, Matt & Kim Watroba, Julianna and Andy Wilson (The Springtails), and your hosts Annie & Rod Capps.

$20
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Jake Blount, Simon Chrisman, and Nic Gareiss

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

The elevator at The Ark is out of service while technicians make repairs. Attendees for this show will need to be able to walk up and down the stairs to the second floor of The Ark where the show takes place. Jake Blount is an award-winning interpreter of Black folk music. Initially recognized for his skill as a string band musician, Blount has charted an unprecedented, Afrofuturist course on his pilgrimage through sound archives and song collections. Composer and hammer dulcimer virtuoso Simon Chrisman brings an unusual and path-breaking style to the instrument. One of Dance Magazine's "25 to Watch," Nic Gareiss has been hailed by the New York Times for his "dexterous melding of Irish and Appalachian dance" and called "the most inventive and expressive step dancer on the scene” by the Boston Herald.

$25
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Brian Vander Ark

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

The elevator at The Ark is out of service while technicians make repairs. Attendees for this show will need to be able to walk up and down the stairs to the second floor of The Ark where the show takes place. 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 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.

$25
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Mustafa

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

The first thing that strikes you about Mustafa’s music has always been his writing: a simple, piercing tone that can make any story feel as raw and earnest as the words to a love song. With a hushed delivery that can silence his surroundings, Mustafa evolved swiftly from a child prodigy reciting poems throughout his native Toronto to a behind-the-scenes pop songwriting force.

$25
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Pipo Romero

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

Pipo Romero, a gifted composer and virtuoso acoustic guitarist from Cádiz, Spain, has become a prominent figure in the acoustic guitar scene. His music comes from the essence of this city and from the music, influences and folklore of different parts of the world. His original approach to his music and his instrument has made him one of the most relevant artists in the world of acoustic guitar.

$25
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Dom Flemons

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

Dom Flemons is known as “The American Songster" since his repertoire covers over one hundred years of American roots music. Flemons is a folk musician, black country artist, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, music scholar, historian, actor, slam poet, record collector, curator, podcaster, cultural commentator, influencer, and the creator, host, and producer of the American Songster Radio Show on WSM in Nashville, TN. He is the Co-Founder and original member of the groundbreaking Carolina Chocolate Drops, the first ever black string band to win a GRAMMY Award.

$25
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The Ark’s 38th Annual Storytelling Festival – Liars Contest

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

The third annual event!
Liars have been around since the snake first hit it off with Eve. By some accounts, contests celebrating liars have been around since the 15th century, but these accounts may be apocryphal. Today, liars contests are held in countries all around the globe. The Third Annual Liar’s Contest at The Ark includes six first-class liars and three judges. This year’s liars are Jennifer Otto, Rich Swanson, Lou Ann Holman, Darryl Mickins, and Mike Cox. The chaos wrangler and MC will once again be the amazing Amir Baghdadchi.

$20
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The Ark’s 38th Annual Storytelling Festival

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

This annual event brings both locally based and nationally known story tellers to The Ark stage. This year’s story tellers are Elizabeth Ellis, Mary Hamilton, Jane Fink, and Steve Daut.

$30
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The Ark’s 38th Annual Storytelling Festival – Family Show

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

Combining traditional Japanese theatre, music, origami, magic, and storytelling; Yasu Ishida will guide you to the enchanting land of Japan. Yasu has a Master of Fine Arts degree in Theatre for Young Audiences and has been performing all around the county, including the Disney Summer Stage Kids (NY), the National Cherry Blossom Festival (Washington D.C.), to the Hawaii Music & Book Festival. Elizabeth Ellis grew up in the Appalachian Mountains of Tennessee and Kentucky. The National Storytelling Network has honored her with both the Circle of Excellence and Lifetime Achievement Awards in recognition of her artistry and service.

$15, $10 kids 12 and under
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Kat Edmonson

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

Kat Edmonson is a Songwriters Hall of Fame award-winner. She has been featured on Austin City Limits, Tiny Desk Concerts, A Prairie Home Companion, and The Tonight Show and has released six studio albums to date. Raised on the music and film of the early-to mid-twentieth century, Kat performs original songs and familiar classics in her live show interweaving humorous anecdotes and philosophical musings with disarming candor and vulnerability. “Hearing Edmonson makes it virtually impossible to do anything but stop and listen.” (NPR)

$25
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Blues & Creole Night

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

One of the brightest young talents to emerge in Cajun, Creole and Zydeco music over the last decade, Cedric Watson is a four-time Grammy-nominated fiddler, singer, accordionist & songwriter with seemingly unlimited potential. Joining Cedric tonight is Rev. Robert Jones and Creole Du Nord.

$25
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