The Ark

Mr. B's 27th Annual Blues and Boogie Piano Celebration
2024-04-20 19:30 - 23:00 (America/New_York) | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
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. In the past, Mr. B’s Piano Celebration concerts have brought great sets by otherwise hard-to-find performers from New Orleans, New York, and Europe, and they’re by no means confined to boogie and blues. Along with Mr. B himself, this year’s show features Lluis Coloma, Brendon Davis, and Elder Robert Moore.
Note early start time!

Willie Nile
2024-04-19 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
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.” 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.
Willie has toured across the U.S. with The Who and has sung with Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band. As the induction program from the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame says: “His live performances are legendary.” His 2020 album New York At Night got rave reviews, with Downbeat calling it a “sonic love letter to Gotham.”

U-M Jazz Showcase featuring drummer Jeff "Tain" Watts
2024-04-18 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
This show features students and faculty from the Department of Jazz and Contemporary Improvisation at the U-M, along with a prominent special guest each year. This year’s guest is drummer Jeff “Tain” Watts. Tain spent his formative years with Wynton and Branford Marsalis, and his writing skills now command equal attention, highlighted by a 2017 Guggenheim Fellowship in Music Composition. Watts has recorded and toured with George Benson, Harry Connick Jr, Kenny Garrett, Michael Brecker, Kenny Kirkland, Courtney Pine, Geri Allen, Alice & Ravi Coltrane, Greg Osby, McCoy Tyner, Steve Coleman & Fort Apache. Check out some of the next generation’s jazz artists as they spread their wings and interact with a nationally known percussion soloist!

Kittel & Co.
2024-04-17 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Kittel & Co. stands at the forefront of American acoustic music. Jeremy Kittel, a GRAMMY-nominated composer, heads this extraordinary group of musicians – each recognized as an innovator on their instrument. The members of Kittel & Co. have collaborated with Béla Fleck, Sarah Jarosz, Chris Thile, and Yo-Yo Ma. Together, Jeremy Kittel and mandolin phenom Josh Pinkham, transcendent guitarist Quinn Bachand, bassist Jacob Warren, and hammer-dulcimer wizard Simon Chrisman coalesce into a singular voice that’s thrilled audiences from the Telluride Bluegrass Festival to A Prairie Home Companion. “[Kittel & Co.] takes the string band tradition to marvelously rarefied levels of collective virtuosity…. thrillingly spontaneous” –Times UK.

Suzanne Vega - Old Songs, New Songs and Other Songs
2024-04-16 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Widely regarded as one of the foremost songwriters of her generation, Suzanne Vega emerged as a leading figure of the folk revival of the early 1980s when, accompanying herself on acoustic guitar, she sang what has been called contemporary folk or neo-folk songs of her own creation in Greenwich Village clubs. Since the release of her self-titled, critically acclaimed 1985 debut album, she has given sold-out concerts in many of the world’s best-known venues. Known for performances that convey deep emotion, Vega’s distinctive, “clear, unwavering voice” (Rolling Stone) has been described as “a cool, dry sandpaper-brushed near-whisper” by The Washington Post, with NPR Music noting that she “has been making vital, inventive music” throughout the course of her decades-long career.
Bearing the stamp of a masterful storyteller who “observes the world with a clinically poetic eye” (The New York Times), Vega’s songs have tended to focus on city life, ordinary people and real-world subjects. Notably succinct and understated, her work is immediately recognizable—as utterly distinct and thoughtful as it was when her voice was first heard on the radio over 30 years ago.
Suzanne Vega will be joined on stage by her longtime guitarist, Gerry Leonard, performing a career-spanning show including favorites like Tom’s Diner, Luka, and more!

Oumou Sangare
2024-04-15 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
“The Songbird of Wassoulou” brings the music of Mali to Michigan! Oumou Sangaré is a true icon of West Africa whose powerful music and fierce feminism have inspired artists from Alicia Keys to Aya Nakamura to Beyoncé. The songs on her most recent album, “Timbuktu,” were largely written in Baltimore during the lockdowns of the COVID pandemic. The album blends the sounds of traditional West African instruments with those of instruments most associated with the blues. Oumou will share music from this ambitious album as well as sounds from throughout her acclaimed career. How acclaimed? The New Yorker says, “Percussive, danceable, and haunting, the singer’s visionary mix is the primary reason that her voice has come to carry as much respect as Aretha Franklin’s.”

Cheryl Wheeler
2024-04-14 19:30 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
It has always seemed as if there were two Cheryl Wheelers, with fans of the New England songwriter relishing watching the two tussle for control of the mic. There is poet Cheryl, writer of some of the prettiest, most alluring and intelligent ballads on the modern folk scene. And there is her evil twin, comic Cheryl, a trend defier and savagely funny social critic. The result is a series of delightful contrasts, for really Cheryl Wheeler is a woman of many musical personalities—heart-wrenching romantic balladeer, marvelous observational humorist, poet of ordinary New England scenes and people, committed activist, irascible grump. Cheryl’s special guest tonight is her frequent partner in crime, New York songwriter Kenny White.

Frontier Ruckus
2024-04-13 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Since the release of their 2008 debut album, the songs of Frontier Ruckus have delivered a singularly detailed representation of the glorious yet grim minutiae of Midwestern suburban life. The obsessively crafted lyrical world of songwriter Matthew Milia is brought to life by David Jones and Zachary Nichols whose instrumental contributions serve as colorfully instinctive extensions. From stages at Lollapalooza and Bonnaroo to the intimate living rooms of fans, this magnetic chemistry has helped Frontier Ruckus garner a dedicated following across the United States and Europe.
Frontier Ruckus have just released their new album On the Northline via Loose Music. Their first full length release since 2017’s Enter The Kingdom, the new record exemplifies the group’s intricate orchestral folk pop sound which has endeared them to fans nationwide, backdropping guitarist/singer/lyricist Matthew Milia’s poetic observations on the mundane and the holy.
Premium Rat, a singer songwriter with punk tendencies, opens.

The Brother Brothers
2024-04-12 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
The Brother Brothers are the indie folk duo of Adam and David Moss. The identical twins were born and raised in Peoria, Illinois and originally based in Brooklyn, but have been ultimately and profoundly shaped by a life surrounded by travel and the web of community worldwide. They are the kind of people who have a story about everything, and moreso, one you might genuinely like to hear.
American Songwriter once said, “no matter what musical context Adam and David Moss may come to put themselves in, what the duo want to say through music will always come to show the beauty that exists—even in the deepest cracks—of human living.” Proclaims No Depression, “the warm harmonies and silky melodies of identical twins David and Adam Moss evoke the kind of ’60s-era folk tunes that reverberated through dark, wood-paneled bars in the Village… If these brothers aren’t among the Americana Music Association’s nominees for Emerging Artist or Duo-Group, I want a recount.”
The Brother Brothers come to The Ark with a new album, “The January Album.”

Amy Speace
2024-04-11 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Heralded by Rolling Stone and Billboard Magazine, Amy Speace is one of contemporary folk and Americana music’s leading voices. Lauded by mentors Judy Collins, Tom Paxton and Janis Ian, as well as the songwriting community in Nashville, her songs have been recorded by Judy Collins, Red Molly, Sid Selvidge among others. After 20 years of touring, she has played concerts all across the US and Europe and has graced stages from Glastonbury Festival, Cambridge Folk Festival in the UK to Rocky Mountain Folks Festival and Mountain Stage.
She began her career in the iconic folk venues of New York City where she was discovered by Judy Collins and signed to her Wildflower Records label. Relocating to Nashville in 2009, she quickly became embraced by the songwriting community, with regular shows at The Bluebird Café as well as her international touring. In 2020, her song “Me and the Ghost of Charlemagne” was named International Song of the Year by the Americana Music Association UK. Her 2021 release, “There Used To Be Horses Here” received widespread critical acclaim from Rolling Stone to Billboard. Performing Songwriter gave it 5 out of 5 stars and named it as the #4 release of 2021. Her latest album, “Tucson” (Windbone/Proper Records) landed #1 on the Folk Radio Charts in April, 2022 and was widely lauded as one of Speace’s finest work. Her 2013 record, “How To Sleep In A Stormy Boat,” which was featured on NPR’s All Things Considered was named to the Top 10 Albums of the century.

The Ark's Open Stage
2024-04-10 20:00 - 23:00, 2024-03-27 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.
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. Tremendous local performers like Dick Siegel, Misty Lyn, and Matt Watroba spent time honing their craft on Open Stage audiences. Even nationally recognized talents like Mary Chapin Carpenter, Gilda Radner, and David Alan Grier paid their dues here. 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.

BIG FUN
2024-04-09 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
What happens when you blend jazz, funk, and world music with a touch of bluegrass? BIG FUN! Based in Traverse City, Michigan, BIG FUN will take you to a sonic land you’ve never experienced before, with Don Julin (Billy Strings) on banjo, Joe Wilson (Steppin’ In It) on dobro, Jack Dryden on double bass, Will Harris on percussion and bandleader/composer Jeff Haas (Building Bridges with Music) at the Ark grand. The group’s shared passion for musical fusion creates a serendipitous acoustic sound palate. BIG FUN promises you an unforgettable night of innovative compositions, soulful melodies, and rhythmic journeys that defy musical margins.

Hot Club of Cowtown
2024-04-07 19:30 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
The Austin-based Hot Club of Cowtown explores the space where early jazz met Texas swing, where Joe Venuti and Eddie Lang met Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys. Guitarist Whit Smith and fiddler Elana James have become a world-class country-jazz duo, challenging each other and reading each other’s minds at every turn. This is virtuoso small-group western swing that’s beyond infectious. If you’ve seen the Hot Club before, be advised that they’re only getting better—they went on hiatus, got back together, and came out of it stronger. By now they’re one of the great improvising bands in any genre. Robin Denselow of the London Guardian praises the Hot Club for “spirit, originality, and skill that would surely have impressed Stéphane Grappelli and Django Reinhardt back in the 1930s.”

Raul Malo
2024-04-06 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
When Raul Malo came on the scene as the lead singer of The Mavericks, he already had a sound that didn’t fit the usual categories, and a luxuriant voice that brought to mind Roy Orbison. The Mavericks were a country band, but there was always more to the Mavericks than country: a Latin tinge, seriously ambitious songwriting, and a big dose of pure pop passion. For Raul Malo, The Mavericks were just the beginning of an American musical journey. He has sung in English and Spanish, and he’s at home with rock, country, Cuban music, and the big-band jazz that fits his romantic vocals so beautifully. He’s sung Latin rock, acoustic Americana, and even children’s music. And his voice has only improved with age. It’s a stunning instrument that has the rare quality of being big and intimate at the same time. The Ark has been an ideal venue for Raul’s solo shows, which are more personal than the music he’s made with The Mavericks, and his Ark shows over the past decade have lingered in the memories of listeners and the club staff alike. Raul comes to Michigan with a new solo instrumental album, “Say Less.”

Jackie Greene
2024-04-05 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Americana and roots singer-songwriter Jackie Greene is a jack-of-all-trades and an artist who can croon over soulful piano ballads as much as he can shred a bluesy guitar solo. Since the release of his critically-acclaimed debut album ‘Gone Wanderin’,’ Greene has built an enduring audience through a relentless touring schedule with the likes of BB King, Mark Knopfler, Susan Tedeschi, and Taj Mahal. He played lead guitar with The Black Crowes on their Layin’ Down With #13 World Tour, recorded and toured with Trigger Hippy – his supergroup with Joan Osborne – and in the last four years performed over 300 shows of his own, all while continuing to record and release his solo work. Greene is a frequent member of Phil Lesh & Friends, and sits in with countless other artists including Tedeschi Trucks Band, Govt Mule, Mississippi All-Stars, Amy Helm, Steve Earle, and Bob Weir.
Opening is Cousin Curtiss. Think “blues at bluegrass speeds.”

William Fitzsimmons
2024-04-04 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
The Sparrow & The Crow – 15th Anniversary Tour
William Fitzsimmons is an indie troubadour from Illinois whose eight studio albums explore themes of joy, heartbreak, loss, and connection. The child of two blind parents, Fitzsimmons was introduced to music at a very young age and quickly developed ability in several instruments. Primarily raised on the folk records of the 60s and 70s, he makes music that leans heavily on the intimate, vulnerable, and acoustic, always inviting the listener into a rare emotional space.
The Sparrow and the Crow 15th Anniversary Tour is a celebration of his critically acclaimed third album; hailed by iTunes as the “best folk album of 2008.” Written after his first divorce, the record is a beautiful walk through love, loss, and healing. William will embark on a 30-city tour of the US playing the record in its entirety for the first time, in intimate settings armed only with his voice and acoustic guitar, in addition to other fan favorite songs from his catalog.

Louisiana Calling with The Sonny Landreth Band and The Iguanas
2024-04-03 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
The deep roots tag team of Cajun slide guitar phenom Sonny Landreth and legendary New Orleans Latin-Americana rockers the Iguanas presents a mind-blowing musical trip through the scenic soundscape of the bayou. Still wet from crawling out of the swamps, this cross-pollinated confection will be both savory and sweet. Louisiana’s calling—here’s your chance to answer!

Peter Madcat Ruth's 75th Birthday Celebration Concert
2024-04-02 19:30 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Madcat’s music has been evolving for over 60 years. It started in the Chicago area in the early 1960s, with Madcat playing folk/blues on guitar and harmonica. By the late 1960s he had immersed himself in the Chicago Blues and was studying harmonica with Big Walter Horton. In the early 1970s, Madcat moved to Ann Arbor, where he was a key presence in two of Ann Arbor’s finest progressive rock bands: New Heavenly Blue and Sky King. By the mid 1970s Madcat was touring the world with jazz pianist Dave Brubeck. In the 1980s, Madcat went solo infusing the folk/blues tradition with elements of rock and jazz. In 1990, Madcat teamed up with guitarist/singer Shari Kane to form the duo Madcat & Kane. For twenty-four years, they toured nationally and internationally.
Tonight’s celebration features Peter Madcat Ruth’s C.A.R.Ma. Quartet with John Churchville on tabla, Brennan Andes on bass, and guitarist Dan Ripke. Special guests include Rachael Davis, Seth Bernard, and Nashville based harmonica virtuoso Buddy Greene.
Note early start time!

Matt Andersen
2024-04-01 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
When Matt Andersen steps on stage, he brings a lifetime of music to every note he plays. His latest album, “The Big Bottle of Joy,” is all about hard-won celebration; a dozen songs infused with raw blues-rock, rollicking Americana, thoughtful folk, and ecstatic gospel. Andersen’s stage presence is informed by decades of cutting his teeth in dusty clubs, dim-lit bars, and grand theaters all over the world, delivering soulful performances that run the gamut from intimate to wall-shaking. In the studio, he’s always brought the same attention to detail and commitment to craft as he has to his live show, and the result – a multi-faceted and poignant body of work – has led him to amass over 28 million streams on Spotify and 26 million views on YouTube.

Susan Werner
2024-03-30 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Over the course of her 25-year career, Susan Werner has earned a reputation as “one of the most innovative songwriters working today” (Chicago Tribune). With formidable chops on guitar (she began playing at age five) and piano (she was a guest on NPR’s Marian McPartland’s Piano Jazz), along with a graduate degree in voice performance, she puts on shows that are a one-woman master class in musicianship. Although best known as an acoustic songwriter that came up through coffeehouses and folk festivals, the Chicago-based artist has written songs in the style of Gershwin and Cole Porter (“I Can’t Be New,” 2004), gospel music (“The Gospel Truth,” 2007), traditional Cuban son (“An American In Havana,” 2016), and New Orleans junk piano (“NOLA,” 2019). In 2014 she composed the music and lyrics to the musical theater score Bull Durham, The Musical (MGM). Her songs have been recorded by Tom Jones, Michael Feinstein, and Shemekia Copeland.

The RFD Boys
2024-03-29 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
It’s hard to believe, because each show is fresh and new, but the RFD Boys have been delighting Michigan audiences since 1969 with their fabulous musicianship and sly, exquisitely timed between-song humor. They’re legends of Michigan bluegrass, but they’re more than that too. With an appearance on the cover of Bluegrass Unlimited, with songs recorded by the likes of the Country Gentlemen, and with performances alongside bluegrass greats like Bill Monroe and Ralph Stanley, the RFD Boys are a part of America’s bluegrass tradition. The RFD Boys are one of southeastern Michigan’s most durable musical ensembles, and their shows capture a deep slice of musical Ann Arbor. Their 50th-anniversary appearance at the Folk Festival was a special moment and introduced many listeners to Dan Roehrig, who joined the band on guitar, mandolin, and bass in mid-2018. Dan grew up listening to Doc Watson, Clarence White, and Tony Rice, and you can hear it in both his singing and guitar playing.

Vance Gilbert
2024-03-28 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
“If Joni Mitchell and Richie Havens had a love child, with Rodney Dangerfield as the midwife, the results might be something close to the great Vance Gilbert”, says Richmond Magazine.
Vance was born and raised in the Philadelphia area. Starting out hoping to be an R&B and jazz singer once at college, there he discovered his affinity for the storytelling sensibilities of the acoustic singer-songwriter thing. Word spread like wildfire about Gilbert’s stage-owning singing and playing, and Shawn Colvin invited him to be special guest on her 1992 Fat City tour where he took much of America by storm and by surprise. “With the voice of an angel, the wit of a devil, and the guitar playing of a god..” wrote the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
Vance’s new album, “The Mother Of Trouble”, features Grammy winner Lori McKenna on background vocals, Juno award recipient and Bonnie Raitt Grammy hit song co-writer Joey Landreth on guitars, and Americana-Roots master mandolinist Joe K. Walsh.

Stringfever
2024-03-26 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Stringfever is a group of talented musicians who have lived and breathed music since a young age. Formed in 2003, and currently composed of three siblings and their cousin, this internationally acclaimed quartet has performed 1000+ Shows in 33 countries since 2004, from private performances for the British Royal family to a packed audience at Madison Square Garden.
Stringfever’s selections range from inspiring classics to popular music; every performance engaging audiences with humor and energy.
The Ark’s Artist Spotlight Series is made possible with support from the Ford Motor Company Fund. It is presented live, and also livestreamed on The Ark’s Facebook page.
Tonight’s show is FREE (nonperishables accepted for Food Gatherers).

Jill Sobule
2024-03-25 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Jill Sobule’s work is at once deeply personal and socially conscious, seriously funny and derisively tragic. In a dozen albums spanning three decades of recording, the Denver-born songwriter/guitarist/singer has tackled such topics as the death penalty, anorexia nervosa, shoplifting, reproduction, the French Resistance, adolescent malaise, LGBTQ issues, and the Christian Right. Her hits include “I Kissed A Girl”—the first openly gay-themed song ever to crack the Billboard Top 20—and the alt-rock anthem “Supermodel” featured in the film “Clueless”. Sobule was one half of The Jill & Julia Show, providing music while actor Julia Sweeney contributes storytelling. Jill is considered a pioneer in crowdfunding and is constantly exploring and creating new models for artists in an ever-changing music industry. Her latest record is “Nostalgia Kills”, produced by Ben Lee and released on her own Pinko Records label. Jill’s theater credits include a musical adaptation of the Broadway classic “Yentl”, “Prozak and the Platypus”, and “Times Square”. Her latest, “F*ck 7th Grade”, was postponed due to Covid, but was performed and filmed for three days at a make-shift drive-in over the Summer. The musical is a finalist for the Lambda Literary awards in LGBTQ Drama category this June.

May Erlewine with Packy Lundholm
2024-03-24 19:30 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Songwriter May Erlewine travels the Midwest in the spring, offering an intimate evening of music and togetherness. May’s songs cut right to the heart of things, creating a space to feel and to enjoy a night of music and community. Joining Erlewine on guitar, the incredibly talented, Packy Lundholm. This tender duo has traveled the world together digging deep into each performance to bring you a very uniquely heart-full experience. You can listen to their recordings on the newest EP, Knox Avenue Recordings, streaming everywhere.
Indie folk duo Frances Luke Accord opens.

Colin Hay
2024-03-24 19:00 - 23:00 | Royal Oak Music Theatre, 318 W 4th St, Royal Oak, MI, 48067, United States
Singer-songwriter Colin Hay, most beloved for his intimate, confessional live shows is most widely known for being an influential and celebrated frontman. The range of artists who have chosen to cite him as a muse or who have found themselves on stage with him in the past year spans the genre landscape from heavy metal, to Americana, to Cuban rhythms and beyond. His inclusion as a playlist favorite from the likes of Metallica to The Lumineers reflects his continuing relevance and broad appeal.

Sing for Mother Earth
2024-03-23 20:30 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Located on the ancestral homelands of the Anishinaabe, the Ark is proud to partner with the University of Michigan Native American Student Association (NASA) and local singer songwriter and NASA alum Joe Reilly to host this concert in conjunction with the golden anniversary of the Ann Arbor Pow Wow.
Featuring Native American Music Award winners Keith Secola and Annie Humphrey, Joe Reilly and the Community Gardeners, and the All Nations Dancers, the concert will deliver Native folk music and pow wow dancing at its finest. You won’t want to miss this important chance to hear from some of Indian Country’s best performers and support our local Native community.
Keith Secola is an icon and ambassador of Native music. He is one of the most influential artists in the field today. Rising from the grassroots of North America, he is a songwriter of the people. Critics have dubbed him as the Native versions of both Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen. NDN Kars (Indian cars), his most popular song is considered the contemporary Native American anthem, achieving legendary status and earning him a well deserved cult following. In 2011, he joined the ranks of Jimmy Hendrix, Hank Williams, Crystal Gale, and Richie Valens, and was inducted into the Native Music Hall of Fame.
Growing up on the Leech Lake Indian Reservation in Northern Minnesota, Annie Humphrey lived in a home filled with voices made of thunder, and nothing could stop it. Her parents were brilliant people individually. Her father, a singer and musician and her mother an artist and poet. Together they made sadness. Each of her parents taught Annie the beautiful things they knew. They showed her that she carried their gifts in her hands too. This is how creating art and music came about for her. This is what saved her. This is how she lives now.
Joe Reilly is a singer, songwriter, social worker, Dharma teacher, and educator who writes songs from his heart. Joe’s songs are playful, clever, engaging, joyful, and always have something meaningful to say. Joe is thrilled to be joined by Billy King on lead guitar, Mark Stone on percussion, Lesley-Anne Stone and Jenny Jones on vocals, Chris Good on bass, and John Driscoll on drums.
The All Nations Dancers are a group of Anishinaabe dancers led by Ray Cadotte, an award-winning professional and Pow Wow dancer, who is joined by dancers representing the Three Fires of Michigan: Ojibwe, Odawa, and Pottawatomi.

Alicia Witt
2024-03-22 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
“A gifted musician”
-NPR
“Her voice is gorgeous – soft but full and round… on the edge of smiles and tears…”
-BroadwayWorld.com
“…serving sharply personal, boldly melodic pop originals in the Carole King/Billy Joel vein…”
-Philadelphia Inquirer
Actor and Billboard Top 30 charting singer-songwriter Alicia Witt has played her piano-driven pop-rock music all over the world, including at the renowned Grand Ole Opry. She appeared in 2023 on Fox’s The Masked Singer, winning her first episode as Dandelion. Witt’s newest EP, Witness, came out in 2023; she released The Conduit in Fall 2021, which she co-produced, including single Chasing Shadows which spent 5 weeks on the Billboard Top 30 AC Radio chart. Previous releases include 15000 Days, produced by Grammy award-winning producer Jacquire King (Kings of Leon, Norah Jones , Dawes) and the Ben Folds produced Revisionary History, hailed by Nashville Scene as “a piano-pop gem that sounds by turns like “Grey Seal”-era Elton John ; an alt-universe Fiona Apple and a film-noir chanteuse notching her nights in cigarette burns on the fallboard.” Also known for her decades-long career as a prolific TV/film actress (beginning with David Lynch’s ‘Dune’ at the age of 7), Alicia’s music has been featured in numerous movies. Alicia was most recently seen in Netflix’s hit I Care A Lot, starring Rosamund Pike, and leading the cast of Modern Persuasion. She will next be seen in movie theaters worldwide in the feature Longlegs opposite Nicolas Cage, due out in 2024. Other credits include Orange Is The New Black, The Walking Dead, ABC’s Nashville, Two Weeks Notice, Mr Holland’s Opus, The Sopranos, Cybill, and Urban Legend.
VIP tickets include a general admission ticket to the performance and a pre-show meet & greet. Doors open for VIP ticket holders at 6:15.

Missy Raines & Allegheny
2024-03-21 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Grammy-nominated Missy Raines was recently named International Bluegrass Music Association Bass Player of the Year, for the tenth time, more than any other bass player in the history of the organization. She is a bass players’ bass player, a singer, songwriter, teacher, sideman, and bandleader. Missy has also received multiple awards from the IBMA for Recorded Event of the Year and Song of the Year. In January of 2020, Missy Raines & Allegheny debuted on the Grand Ole Opry. The development of this exciting new band was held up by the COVID-19 pandemic, and we’re happy to have them now for their Ark debut. The band is named for the Allegheny highlands of West Virginia where Raines grew up. This band is a significant nod, and return, to Missy’s deep traditional bluegrass roots. Their music is traditional and hard-driving at its core but energized with Missy’s well-known penchant for originality and innovation. Missy Raines & Allegheny features some of the brightest young stars in bluegrass today with Tristan Scroggins on mandolin, Ellie Hakanson on fiddle, Ben Garnett on guitar, and Eli Gilbert on banjo. They come to The Ark with their new album, “Highlander,” produced by Alison Brown.
