The Ark

The Claudettes
2024-08-23 20:00 - 23:00 (America/New_York) | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Grounded in roots music yet pushing the boundaries of indie pop and rock, the Claudettes are writing the most riveting chapter of their story right now. Pianist/songwriter Johnny Iguana formed the Claudettes with drummer Michael Caskey, dazzling with the barrelhouse bravura of their 2013 debut Infernal Piano Plot…HATCHED! Another Yellow Dog Records release followed in 2015 featuring Nigerian-American singer Yana: No Hotel. Vocalist Berit Ulseth and bassist/vocalist Zach Verdoorn joined the band for Pull Closer to Me: Live in the Piano Room (2017) and Dance Scandal at the Gymnasium (2018, helmed by Grammy-winning Black Keys producer Mark Neill).
A new Claudettes era began when the band moved to Forty Below Records and released the acclaimed 2020 album High Times in the Dark and 2022’s The Claudettes Go Out! Now, the Claudettes introduce Rachel Williams, a six-foot Texan with a mohawk, a big voice and powerful stage presence.
Outside the Claudettes, Johnny Iguana has earned a Blues Music Award nomination and Living Blues Award nomination for piano player of the year. Johnny co-founded indie-rock cult favorites Oh My God, toured as pianist for blues stars Junior Wells and Otis Rush, played piano on three Grammy-nominated albums and played on albums featuring Buddy Guy, Junior Wells, James Cotton, Derek Trucks, Gary Clark Jr., Shemekia Copeland, Keb’ Mo’, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and more. Johnny is also co-composer (along with JQ of the Q Brothers) of the score for the hit FX/Hulu series “The Bear,” which won 10 Emmys and three Golden Globes in 2024. Johnny and JQ have also teamed up to produce new Claudettes tracks that are coming in 2024…

Unplugged: An Evening with The Louie Lee Show
2024-08-22 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Louie Lee breaks lyrical boundaries in country with thought-provoking ballads and high-energy anthems infused with hip-hop flair.
Raised in a Metro-Detroit trailer park, he draws from diverse influences, creating a unique “Country Hop & Roll” sound. Louie’s intimate, honest voice and visually captivating live shows push the boundaries of country, hip-hop, and rock, attracting both new and long-time fans.
Join The Louie Lee Show for a one night only experience of your favorite songs UNPLUGGED. This special acoustic performance will feature Louie Lee with special guests. Get your tickets today and hear the stories behind the music.

Doolin'
2024-08-21 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
After three years of breakout touring at some of the biggest roots festivals in the United States and Canada, and another three years locked out of the live performance world they have so ambitiously cultivated, Doolin’, France’s premiere practitioners of Irish and Celtic music, return in early 2023 with a new album entitled CIRCUS BOY.
Recorded in part in the US (Chicago, Kansas City and Pittsburgh) during their 2019 tour, the album was completed at the legendary Studio Ferber in Paris, France, under the direction of two legendary producers, Olivier Lude and Patrice Renson, both of whom have collaborated with some of the biggest names in French music. While their 2016 album drew its inspiration from the fusion of traditional Irish music, French chanson, and American roots music, CIRCUS BOY is resolutely more adventurous, as evidenced by their original compositions as well as by the added punch and sonic elements that were brought to the project by producers Lude and Renson.
Wilfried Besse’s vocals are supported as usual by the driving rhythm section of Josselin Fournel (percussion), Sébastien Saunié (bass) and Nicolas Besse (guitars), and the trad-Irish influence remains evidenced through the whistles of Jacob Fournel, the bodhran of his brother, Josselin, and the nimble accordion playing of Nicolas’ brother, Wilfried. But CIRCUS BOY represents a more powerful and bigger musical vision for the band, made possible by the introduction of piano, drums, and brass as new sonic elements. That said, the Irish music tradition is not complete without the presence of a fiddle or two, and on CIRCUS BOY Doolin’ includes three of the best European fiddlers of the genre: Niahm Gallagher, Niall Murphy, and Guilhem Cavaillé, himself a founding member of the band.

Graham Nash
2024-08-21 19:00 - 23:00 | Royal Oak Music Theatre, 318 W 4th St, Royal Oak, MI, 48067, United States
Legendary artist Graham Nash is a two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee – with Crosby, Stills, and Nash and with the Hollies. He was also inducted twice into the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame, as a solo artist and with CSN, and he is a GRAMMY Award winner.
Towering above virtually everything that Graham Nash has accomplished in his long and multi-faceted career, stands the litany of songs that he has written and introduced to the soundtrack of the past half-century. His remarkable body of work, beginning with his contributions to the Hollies opus from 1964 to ’68, including “Stop Stop Stop,” “Pay You Back With Interest,” “On A Carousel,” “Carrie Anne,” “King Midas In Reverse,” and “Jennifer Eccles,” continues all the way to his most recent album, “Now,” released in 2023.
The original classic union of Crosby, Stills & Nash (& Young) lasted but twenty months. Yet their songs are lightning rods embedded in our DNA, starting with Nash’s “Marrakesh Express,” “Pre-Road Downs” (written for then-girlfriend Joni Mitchell), and “Lady Of the Island,” from the first Crosby, Stills & Nash LP (1969). On CSNY’s Déjà Vu (1970), Nash’s “Teach Your Children” and “Our House” beseeched us to hold love tightly, to fend off the madness that was on its way.
Overlapping CSNY, Nash’s solo career debuted with Songs For Beginners (1971), whose “Chicago/We Can Change the World” and “Military Madness” were fueled by the Long Hot Summer, the trial of the Chicago Eight, and the ongoing Vietnam war. Songs from that LP stayed in Nash’s concert sets for years including “I Used To Be A King” and “Simple Man”. His next album, Wild Tales (1974), addressed (among other issues) unfair jail terms for minor drug offenses (“Prison Song”), unfair treatment of Vietnam vets (“Oh! Camil”), the unfairness of fame (“You’ll Never Be the Same”), and his muse, Joni (“Another Sleep Song”).
The most resilient, long-lived and productive partnership to emerge from the CSNY camp launched with the eponymously titled Graham Nash/David Crosby (1972), bookended by Nash’s “Southbound Train” as the opening track and “Immigration Man” as the closer. The duo contributed further to the soundtrack of the ’70s on their back-to-back albums, Wind On the Water (1975) and Whistling Down the Wire (1976).
On the CSN reunion studio LP (1977), Nash took top honors with “Just A Song Before I Go” (written in the space of one hour, and a Top 10 hit single). Lightning struck once more on CSN’s Daylight Again (1982), on which Nash penned their second (and final) Top 10 hit, “Wasted On the Way,” lamenting the energy, time and love lost by the group due to years of internecine quarrels.
Nash’s passionate voice continues to be heard in support of peace, and social and environmental justice. The No Nukes/Musicians United for Safe Energy (MUSE) concerts he organized with Jackson Browne and Bonnie Raitt in 1979 remain seminal benefit events. In 2011, Nash was instrumental in bringing MUSE back to the forefront with a concert to benefit Japan disaster relief and groups promoting non-nuclear energy worldwide. That same year, he and Crosby were among the many musicians who made their way to the Occupy Wall Street actions in lower Manhattan.
In September 2013, Nash released his long-awaited autobiography Wild Tales, which delivers an engrossing, no-holds-barred look back at his remarkable career and the music that defined a generation. The book landed him on the New York Times Best Sellers list, and was released in paperback in late 2014.
In recognition for his contributions as a musician and philanthropist, Nash was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) by Queen Elizabeth. While continually building his musical legacy, Nash is also an internationally renowned photographer and visual artist. With his photography, Nash has drawn honors including the New York Institute of Technology’s Arts & Technology Medal and Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters and the Hollywood Film Festival’s inaugural Hollywood Visionary Cyber Award. His work is collected in the book Eye to Eye: Photographs by Graham Nash; he curated others’ work in the volume Taking Aim: Unforgettable Rock ‘n’ Roll Photographs Selected by Graham Nash (2009).
Nash’s work has been shown in galleries and museums worldwide. His company Nash Editions’ original IRIS 3047 digital printer and one of its first published works—Nash’s 1969 portrait of David Crosby— is now housed in the National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian Institution in recognition of his revolutionary accomplishments in the fine arts and digital printing world.

The Avett Brothers
2024-08-21 18:30 - 23:00 | Masonic Temple Theatre
Three-time Grammy Award nominees The Avett Brothers made mainstream waves with their 2009 major label debut “I And Love And You.” In 2012, “The Carpenter” hit #4 on the Billboard Top 200, followed by “Magpie And The Dandelion” in 2013, which debuted at #5. In 2016, the band was inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame. Their latest album, “The Third Gleam” debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Americana/Folk Albums chart, #1 Rock Albums, and #1 Vinyl Albums. Single “Victory” hit #1 on the Americana Radio Singles Chart. The Avett Brothers stayed connected with fans amidst the COVID-19 pandemic by playing two sold out drive-in shows at Charlotte Motor Speedway in the span of three months. “Swept Away” – a musical inspired by & featuring the music of The Avett Brothers – premiered in January 2022 at Berkeley Repertory Theatre to rave reviews from audiences and critics and is currently in D.C. for a limited pre-Broadway engagement at Arena Stage.

Brett Dennen Golden State of Mind Tour
2024-08-20 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Brett Dennen, a Northern California native, has been captivating audiences for nearly two decades with his distinct blend of folk-pop melodies, thought-provoking lyrics, and soulful vocal prowess. His signature red hair and lanky frame are as unmistakable as the music that has earned him legions of dedicated fans and critical acclaim. Dennen’s musical journey began in earnest at Camp Jack Hazard, a summer camp where he first discovered his love for singing and songwriting. Drawing inspiration from the likes of Paul Simon, Bob Dylan, and Joni Mitchell, Dennen crafted his own unique style that reflects his passion for storytelling and social commentary.
With a successful string of albums and several Top Ten AAA singles like “Make You Crazy,” “Wild Child,” and 2018’s “Already Gone” Dennen has cemented himself as a fixture in American pop/folk music. Characterized by his infectious energy and charisma, Dennen’s live shows are each a heartfelt expression of his love for music and connection with his audience. His insightful lyrics often touch on themes of love, nature, and social justice, resonating with fans who appreciate the genuine emotion and thoughtfulness behind his art.

Kim Richey
2024-08-18 19:30 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
In January 2024, Kim Richey found herself in Mexico, gazing out at a sea of people singing along to “I’m Alright,” one of her classic tracks. The three folks on stage with the veteran, Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter were also raising their voices in harmony. To her right sat Brandi Carlile, to her left, Mary Chapin Carpenter and Brandy Clark. The formidable foursome was participating in a songwriter’s round only half-jokingly dubbed “Titans of Americana” at Carlile’s female-forward Girls Just Wanna Weekend festival on the Riviera Maya in Mexico.
“That was nuts looking out and seeing everybody arm-waving and singing along,” says Richey, still both incredulous and cheered by the memory of performing with that supergroup and later appearing alongside other Girls Just Wanna Weekend-ers Annie Lennox, Lucius, Allison Russell, and Sarah McLachlan among others. “It was just like, ‘wow’!”
The good news for fans of this particular Titan is there will soon be a whole new batch of songs to sing along with and arm wave to with the forthcoming release of her 10th studio album Every New Beginning. The 10 songs on Every New Beginning represent the full spectrum of the Ohio native’s gifts as both a revered songwriter who can leap from melancholy to mirthful in a single couplet — whose songs have been recorded by the likes of Brooks and Dunn, Patty Loveless, and Mary Chapin Carpenter — and owner of one of music’s truly celestial voices.
That voice, which Brandi Carlile has cited as formative in crafting her own style, is a widely sought after harmony instrument and has been featured on scores of albums including Jason Isbell’s acclaimed Southeastern, Trisha Yearwood’s Everybody Knows, Heartbreaker by Ryan Adams, Reba McEntire’s Starting Over, and Has Been by Capt. Kirk himself, William Shatner, among many others.

Iron & Wine
2024-08-18 18:00 - 23:00 | Masonic Cathedral Theatre, 500 Temple Street, Detroit, MI, 48201, United States
Sam Beam is a singer-songwriter who has been creating music as Iron & Wine for over a decade. Through the course of seven albums, numerous EPs and singles, and the initial volumes of an Archive Series – Iron & Wine has captured the emotion and imagination of listeners with distinctly cinematic songs.

George Bedard
2024-08-17 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Guitarist and bandleader George Bedard has been a seminal figure on the Michigan roots rock scene. This year for his annual “History of American Music” series, George will present a tribute to T-Bone Walker, the great electric blues guitarist and singer. “T-Bone influenced every blues and rock guitarist that came after him, whether they know it or not,” says Bedard. “We will also explore the early soul music of artists like Sam Cooke, Solomon Burke, and Wilson Pickett. I’m pleased to announce that Ann Arbor’s own Al Hill will be joining us on keyboards and vocals.” Joining George and Al are Richard Dishman on drums, Pat Prouty on bass, and special guests Chris Smith on trumpet and Keith Kaminski on saxophone.

Kris Allen
2024-08-16 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
In 2019, Kris Allen celebrated the 10th anniversary of his American Idol win by releasing “10,” an album of reimagined acoustic versions of some of his most beloved songs of the previous decade, including fan-favorite “Waves” and his platinum-selling single “Live Like We’re Dying.” In 2021, Kris followed this up with the release of “Don’t Stop Dancing” and 4 other singles that launched a new era of music for the Arkansas-born musician. Songs like “Hallelujah! For Now” and “Different Bridges” feature the imaginative songwriting and stunning vocals that put Kris on the map and pave the way for his upcoming album featuring your next favorite song. When not making music and playing it live across the world, Kris lives in Nashville with his wife Katy and three kids.

The Docksiders
2024-08-15 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Imagine you’re cruising the Atlantic shores of the Hamptons with your friends. Bikinis are fluorescent, polo collars are popped, and boat shoes are rocked sockless. In the background, your booming sound system is playing the soft-rock sounds of Michael McDonald, Olivia Newton-John, Hall & Oates, Christopher Cross and Air Supply.
The Docksiders are made up of veteran musicians originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and now based in Las Vegas, Nevada – led by 3-time Grammy nominee, Kevin Sucher. Their unique tribute act of your favorite soft rock songs of the 70s and 80s – now defined as Yacht Rock – have been entertaining hundreds of thousands of people for years, and audiences are only getting bigger!
The Docksiders – hit song after hit song, costume changes, and visual production, is only topped by their world-class performance.

Elephant Sessions
2024-08-14 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
From humble beginnings in the Highlands of Scotland, to playing around the world, Elephant Sessions celebrated their 10th year as band in 2022. Creating a progressive blend of intricate tunes, with a bass and drum heavy backline, their music combines the very best of trad, funk and electronica, resulting in a new and exciting sound. Since exploding onto the scene, the band have made live appearances at some of the most notable venues and festivals across the U.K, Europe, North America and Australia, including Glastonbury, Byron Bay Bluesfest, Colours of Ostrava and multiple headline sell-outs at Celtic Connections. The band’s first three albums were released to critical acclaim and amassed widespread radio play across the world.
Their new album ‘For The Night’ further built upon this success, charting at #3 in the Official Folk Album Chart and winning Album of the Year at the BBC Trad Music Awards 2022.

Iris DeMent
2024-08-13 19:30 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
The youngest of 14 children, Iris DeMent was born in Paragould, Arkansas, and moved to California with her devoutly religious family when she was three. As a teenager she absorbed the country music of Loretta Lynn, Merle Haggard, and Johnny Cash, as well as the folk classics of Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell. Her 1992 debut album, “Infamous Angel,” distilled these influences into a poetic yet down-to-earth songwriting style. With a heartfelt, homespun voice that listeners recognize instantly, Iris released some of the most powerful roots albums of the 1990s with the beautifully sparse “My Life” and the harder-edged “The Way I Should.” She has continued to make powerful and distinctive albums on her own schedule, and her latest, just out, is “Workin’ on a World.” This striking collection of songs faces the modern world—as it is right now—with its climate catastrophe, pandemic illness, and epidemic of violence and social injustice. The album not only asks us how we can keep working towards a better world, but implores us to love each other, despite our very different ways of seeing. Her songs are her way of healing our broken inner and outer spaces.
Note early start time!

Boxing Banjo
2024-08-12 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Hailing from the picturesque west coast of Ireland, Boxing Banjo have quickly become one of the most respected Irish music acts. Comprising four of the most accomplished Irish musicians, brothers Darragh and Mícheál Healy along with Joseph McNulty and Cillian King have amassed in excess of 20 Irish Championship titles on various instruments in traditional Irish music and singing along with 4 World bodhrán titles.
Having made their debut in the USA in 2019, they have acquired a legion of devoted followers who have been spellbound by their energy, charisma and musicianship. Described by the Irish Echo as “complete naturals on stage”, their live shows exude a feel-good factor which persuades the inner dancer and vocalist in every audience member.

Nadim Azzam
2024-08-11 19:30 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
You’ve got to hurt to heal. Through painfully honest self-reflection, Nadim Azzam addresses depression, addiction, and the dysfunctional realities of our times with his songs rooted in hope and connectivity. A singer, rapper, and songwriter who makes his own beats and plays multiple instruments on his tracks, Nadim has spent years evolving to where his music is today.
A symbiosis of programmed drums and organic live instruments creates a warm, sometimes surreal sonic environment. Smooth keys, angular guitars, and lush synth pads swim alongside melodic vocal hooks and bars that waste no time getting straight to the heart of things. The energy is chill, friendly and open-hearted, but the songs open up from this unassuming approach into statements of vulnerability and bracing honesty. Nothing is hidden, and nothing is off-limits. Graceful vocals and smiling lyrical flows reveal a personal truth that’s sometimes almost hard to look at but always comes from a search for real understanding.
Making songs for the deep-thinkers, the over-drinkers, and other sensitive souls, Nadim faces his own struggles head-on in hopes of offering some sense of solace to anyone else walking similar valleys of their own. These songs seek to remind that there’s more to life, and that the pain any given individual feels can be transformed from a solitary torment into a vessel of connection.

The RFD Boys
2024-08-10 20:00 - 23:00, 2024-07-27 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.

Andrew Bird
2024-08-10 19:00 - 23:00 | Royal Oak Music Theatre, 318 W 4th St, Royal Oak, MI, 48067, United States
Andrew Bird is an internationally acclaimed, Grammy-nominated multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, whistler, and songwriter who picked up his first violin at the age of four and spent his formative years soaking up classical repertoire completely by ear. Since beginning his recording career in 1997, Bird has released 17 albums and performed extensively across the globe. He has recorded with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, appeared as “Dr. Stringz” on Jack’s Big Music Show, and headlined concerts at Carnegie Hall, Sydney Opera House, Walt Disney Concert Hall, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, and festivals worldwide.

Bird performed as the Whistling Caruso in Disney’s The Muppets movie, scored the FX series Baskets, and collaborated with inventor Ian Schneller on Sonic Arboretum, an installation that exhibited at New York’s Guggenheim Museum, Boston’s ICA, and the MCA Chicago. Bird has been a featured TED Talks presenter, a New Yorker Festival guest, and an op-ed contributor for the New York Times.

More recently, Bird released a series of site-specific improvisational short films and recordings called Echolocations, recorded in remote and acoustically interesting spaces: a Utah canyon, an abandoned seaside bunker, the middle of the Los Angeles River, and a reverberant stone-covered aqueduct in Lisbon. Additionally, Bird hosts an ongoing series of live-streamed performances called Live from the Great Room, putting the creative process on display for fans as he collaborates and converses with friends in a candid, intimate setting.
Shortly after receiving his 2020 Grammy nomination for Best Folk Album, with My Finest Work Yet, Andrew Bird made his professional acting debut in the cast of Fargo’s fourth installment, which concluded on FX in November 2020 and is currently streaming via Hulu. In June 2022, Bird released his latest album, Inside Problems, on Loma Vista Recordings.

Peter Bradley Adams
2024-08-09 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Peter Bradley Adams’ brand of Americana nestles his often delicate, always heartfelt voice in the warm embrace of gentle guitar, tasteful dobro, subtle banjo, supportive bass, and unhurried percussion. The result is a sonic scape that, in turn, wraps itself around the listener like a soft blanket on a cold day. With his latest album, A Face Like Mine, Adams further refines the simple musical sophistication that has become his trademark.

Brad & Alyson Phillips
2024-08-08 20:00 - 23:00 | MI
For more than 15 years, Brad Phillips has performed as a sideman for some of Michigan’s most prevalent singer/songwriter acts. From Jeff Daniels to The Verve Pipe to the Celtic-fusion super-group Millish. He has also appeared with May Erlewine, Joshua Davis and played violin for Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Pat Metheny, and Iggy Pop and the Stooges. Brad earned both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in music from the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance, where he is now faculty as a lecturer in the department of Jazz & Contemporary Improvisation. He is also a resident artist at the Purple Rose Theatre Company, where he has worked as a composer, sound designer, and actor.
Joining Brad on The Ark stage is his daughter, Alyson Phillips. Having been surrounded by music since birth, she has been singing with her dad since she was able to speak. Alyson is particularly inspired by the music of Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, Sam Cooke, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Fleetwood Mac, and a highly eclectic mix of contemporary music. In addition to singing, Alyson is a filmmaker, director, writer, actor and had her work screened at the largest student film festival in the world in New York City as part of the Downriver Detroit Student Film Consortium. Inspired early in life by Gene Kelly and Debbie Reynolds, Alyson is also a competitive dancer in modern styles, ballet and tap.

The Wildwoods
2024-08-07 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
In the heart of Lincoln, Nebraska, The Wildwoods, a folk/Americana trio led by Noah and Chloe Gose, accompanied by the bassist Andrew Vaggalis, deliver a musical journey through the soul of American roots. With accolades ranging from international songwriting competitions to standing ovations at festivals like Summerfest and FreshGrass, their latest release, “Foxfield Saint John” (2023), solidifies them as a force in the folk scene.
Their music, though comfortably under the folk/Americana umbrella, weaves intricate chord structures and emotional textures that defy genre boundaries. Together, their harmonies resonate with artful sincerity, drawing inspiration from nature, their shared experiences of growing up in Nebraska and life on the road.

The RamBull Rompers
2024-08-06 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
The RamBull Rompers are a New Orleans based duo, featuring multi-instrumentalist songwriters Natalie Mae Palms and Rose Yvonne Cangelosi. Coming from different corners of the country, these women have led their own musical careers respectively in New Orleans while playing regularly with various musical projects for many years. Since early 2021, they have joined forces of friendship and musical camaraderie to create a duo that entertains the heart with catchy and soulful original songs, decorated with humor and relatability. Their songs are honest and heartfelt, with voices that weave together so intricately many can’t tell the difference between the two. Switching often between the drums, guitar, banjo, and piano, the Rompers deliver a range of genres that accompany their infectious personalities. From folk and country aesthetics to pop and power-ballads, along with many New Orleans classics, the RamBull Rompers delight a wide variety of listeners with their live performances and first E.P. “Thought You Should Know,” with more coming soon on the horizon.

Peter Yarrow
2024-08-04 19:30 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Peter Yarrow co-wrote “Puff, the Magic Dragon,” and by any measure he’s one of America’s most beloved folk singers. With Peter, Paul & Mary in the 1960s and beyond, he was part of a group that changed the world of music. He’s been active in changing the wider world as well, and he has never slowed down since the birth of Peter, Paul & Mary during the Kennedy administration. In 1969 he was one of the organizers of the antiwar March on Washington. In support of the rights of Jews in the former Soviet Union he wrote the anthem “Don’t Let the Light Go Out.” In 2000 he founded Operation Respect, a set of school and camp curricula designed to promote a culture of tolerance and respect. Peter’s recent appearances have emphasized music as a shared message and an antidote to mean-spiritedness and intolerance.

The Tim Shelton Syndicate
2024-08-03 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
The Tim Shelton Syndicate is made up of NewFound Road co-founders Tim Shelton and Jr. Williams as well as NFR alum, Joe Booher on mandolin, Pittsburgh native, Avery Welter on guitar, and Sam Lauderbaugh on bass. In short order, The Tim Shelton Syndicate has proven to be an exciting and powerful presence on stage. The band effortlessly transitions from hard driving, intense bluegrass tunes to heart wrenching country ballads, adding elements of classic rock, all while remaining anchored to Bluegrass music. The band’s debut album features guest appearances by Vince Gill, Sonya Isaacs, and fiddle great, Jenee Fleenor.

Jeremy Pinnell
2024-08-02 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
When Jeremy Pinnell released OH/KY in the summer of 2015 to stunned acclaim, it felt like an entire career compressed into one knock-out album. Hailed as, a “Mind-blowingly good” (Greg Vandy/KEXP) “ ”tutorial on classic country music” (Popmatters), Pinnell’s debut immediately differentiated as authentic and unflinching. His 2017 album, Ties of Blood and Affection presented a canny lateral move. Instead of doubling down on the stark themes and values of his debut, the sophomore album found Pinnell finding comfort in his own skin, achieving the redemption only hinted at in his previous batch of haunted songs.
If the third time’s a charm, Pinnell is all shine and sparkle on Goodbye LA. Produced by Texan Jonathan Tyler, the tunes buff the wax and polish the chrome on Country music’s deeper roots. Rooted in his steady acoustic guitar, Pinnell’s songs are shot through with honest and classic elements. Honest and careworn, Jeremy’s voice can touch on wry, jubilant, and debauched – all in a single line. At his best, Jeremy Pinnell chronicles the joy and sorrow of being human, which is the best that anyone could do.

Socks in the Frying Pan
2024-08-01 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Socks in the Frying Pan was formed in 2014 in Ennis, County Clare, Ireland–the mecca of Irish traditional music. Forged together by a fire of pure joy and passion for their art, the band comprises Aodan Coyne on guitar and lead vocals, Shane Hayes on accordion, and younger brother Fiachra Hayes on fiddle.
Their ‘Socks Sound’ combines virtuosic musicianship with a burning passion for the music and tradition, pitch-perfect harmonies, and a big splash of quick wit and banter. Their electrifying performances and on-stage charm have established them as the kingpins on the Irish Traditional Music scene today.

Al Bettis
2024-07-31 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Al Bettis was inspired to start writing and singing music at age 30. He felt a spiritual calling to heal the world through music, so he picked up a guitar and a notepad and got to work. The self-trained acoustic guitarist has gained popularity for his smooth vocals and sincere lyrics. His shows are a journey through love, heartbreak and redemption as he offers stories about the musings behind many of his songs. His soothing voice is reminiscent of legends like Al Green and Otis Redding, with musical influence from artists such as Ed Sheeran and Jason Mraz.

South For Winter
2024-07-28 19:30 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
With a blend of dreamy acoustic duets, foot-stomping folk and bluesy murder ballads, New Zealand-formed and Nashville-based South for Winter’s sound is as eclectic as their origins. The band is composed of New Zealander Nick Stone, Coloradan Dani Cichon, and Michigander Alex Stradal, and together the three multi-instrumentalists and songwriters combine elements such as cello, guitar, mandolin, suitcase stomp, and three-part harmonies into a genre-bending sound described by American Songwriter as “impeccable.”

Johnny A.
2024-07-27 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Due to unforeseen circumstances, this show has been cancelled. Tickets have been refunded through the original point of purchase.
The name ‘Johnny A.’ might not be so mainstream, but there’s no doubt that it’s synonymous with guitar. His passion began at the age of thirteen, when he first saw the Beatles in Boston, followed two years later by an in-person witnessing of Jimi Hendrix. From there, he was hooked, getting a cheap beginner guitar to try and play along with his early heroes — which also included Yardbirds icons Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page. Soon enough, Johnny A. got it.

By the 1970’s, he was forming bands in the New England area, drawing attention from several established musicians, like Derek and the Dominos’ keyboardist Bobby Whitlock and Doug Clifford of Creedence Clearwater Revival. Johnny A. became Music Director of J. Geils Band singer Peter Wolf’s outfit, coordinating the onstage arrangements, playing on several tours and co-producing Wolf’s 1996 album, *Long Line.* What’s more, he was even asked to join The Yardbirds as their lead guitarist in 2015.

All this is to say that Johnny A. has the chops, and that’s not to mention his prolific solo career. Spanning three full-length albums, Johnny A. has earned a Grammy Award nomination, the honor of Boston Music Awards, “Blues Artist of the Year 2010,” and a spot in the revered Boston Music Hall of Fame. Ever the restless spirit, Johnny A. continues to glide across genres effortlessly, exploring elements of jazz, soul. He still fervently carries on the tradition of the legends he respected as a teen.

Bailen
2024-07-26 20:00 - 23:00 | The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States
Rising indie-pop power trio Bailen is made up of siblings Daniel, David, and Julia. Raised and rooted in New York City by classically trained musician parents and their wide-ranging, eclectic record collection, Bailen has emerged as a favorite in indie circles by cultivating a passionate following via word of mouth, a stream of steady touring and collaborating with artists such as Amos Lee, The Lone Bellow, Joseph, and Hozier to name a few.
On Tired Hearts, their exquisite and thought-provoking new album, Bailen learns how to dream in the face of life’s uncertainty and in the process, moves forward aware, resilient, and hopeful. “This album is a breakthrough for us,” Daniel says. “It’s been a rocky road, but we’re really grateful that it’s led us here.”
