The Ark

Tenth time I’ve seen Philip live. Every single time, Philip makes a show not only unique, but special. Many artists have their routine they use time and time again, but Philip shares different songs that he’s working on, adds layers to each story, and actively gets better and better. If you haven’t seen him, fix that. If you have seen him, go back, you’ll be happy you did.

Lori is amazing! She is so fun, personable, and really makes her shows feel special. This is the 3rd time I have seen her live, and the second time at the Ark. I cannot wait to see her again. My kids and I have been listening to her for about 12 years and her music NEVER gets old (hehe...song reference!). Her music helped me get through a divorce and the struggles that followed. My 2 daughters and I saw her at the Ark, and 1 of them is a 20 year old 'trouble maker' who has made not-so-good choices in life and she sat in awe, totally focused on her, as she listened to her and watched her perform....IT WAS AWESOME TO SEE! My other daughter was inspired to learn to play the guitar because of Lori. She has been playing the guitar since she was 7 years old and she is now 19 and continues to play! Thank You Lori! We Love you!

Fantastic concert! I've been a fan of Hayley's music for a year now and I would consider her one of my favorite artists for her depth and poetry of lyrics, refreshingly unique melodies, and beautiful voice. The concert did not disappoint! The Ark was a great venue--it felt close and personal without being claustrophobic. The staff and volunteers were so friendly. And, of course, Hayley killed it! I loved hearing the stories behind some of her songs and appreciate her down-to-earth personality.

We love May and have listened to her at several different venues. We always leave her concerts with uplifted spirits. I think last night’s concert was one of the best we’ve been to and we go to a lot of concerts. The Ark is a special place. So was May’s duet at the Acorn in Three Oaks. Your fans from Indiana, Meg and Steve

**Mustafa the Poet Live: A Night of Pure Emotion and Healing** Attending a Mustafa the Poet concert is not just about the music—it’s an experience, a collective moment of raw emotion and deep reflection. From the moment he stepped on stage, the energy in the room shifted. There was a warmth, an unspoken understanding among the audience that we were all about to embark on something special. Mustafa’s voice carried through the venue like poetry in motion, each lyric cutting deep yet soothing at the same time. He sang with such vulnerability, making it impossible not to feel connected to him and everyone around you. There were moments of complete silence as the crowd hung onto every word, proof that his music had touched the souls of so many. His presence was magnetic, yet it felt like he was just one of us—telling stories, reminiscing, and reminding us of the beauty in pain, love, and resilience. It wasn’t just a concert; it was a communal experience of healing. And by the time it was over, there was this overwhelming sense of relief, as if we had all been carrying something heavy and, through his music, had finally been able to let it go. If you ever get the chance to see Mustafa live, take it. His performance is a reminder of why music exists—to move, to heal, and to bring people together.

Truly enjoyable. The Ark is the perfect intimate venue for a performer like this. The sound is perfect and there isn't a bad seat in the house. Mike Dawes, with his witty British humor was fun. His music and impromptu story telling was fun. He is a phenomenal player that would make any amateur player like myself want to sell all of their equipment! Ha. Kidding aside, it was a wonderful show. Defiantly worth my time.

This concert was a birthday present to my almost 17 year old son. He has been listening to Josh Turner for the past five years as well as Miss Allison. I bought one extra ticket so he could bring a friend that he often plays guitar and banjo with. The boys and I got in line outside early and had front row seats once the doors opened. The evening was more than we could have hoped for. Hearing these wonderful artists live and up close brought so much life to their songs. Thank you for this opportunity.

The East Pointers NEVER disappoint! Their music and musicianship are next-level and guaranteed to lift the lowest spirits. The venue was great and the extroverts in the crowd were up and dancing by the end of the show. I was there with fans of hip hop and heavy metal, and they even loved it. If you're wondering if you should go to a concert of theirs in your area, the answer is 1000% YES. I can't wait til they come back to this area again!

Great show! Shamekia was backed up by a drummer, 3 guitars, and a bass. The Ark is a fabulous venue. It only holds 400 people, but it feels more like 200. with its design and intimate atmosphere. She was delightful, full of energy, enthusiasm, and talent. She also has a great sense of humor and relates well to the audience. She was gracious and signed her CDs and records after the show, and paused for photos. My only suggestion is to the Ark: When you sent out email details of how to get there and where to park, you mentioned some roads were closed, and you expected downtown to be busy, but you did not mention that the road right in front of the Ark would be closed for a big "social district" event. If we didn't change our GPS on our phone to walking mode, we would have had to either call the venue or just ask people on the street for directions.

What an intimate venue The Ark was for this incredible performance by Sarah Jarosz and her band!! My 14 year old son particularly enjoyed watching the bassist do his work up there with the bass and Viola. I loved each band members solo riff moments. It was a wonderful emotional experience for me having my son there and being so engaged with the performance. Bravo!

We have been fans of Paul for a very long time and have been lucky to see him perform a few times over the years. Last night's performance with Steve Poltz at the Ark was another fun evening, full of funny and heartfelt songs! They make a great team, but it was Paul's Life is a Vapor song that I left still thinking about. It's a new treasure! Always love shows at the Ark!

Great musicianship....love some of the dialogue describing the origins of some of the songs and info about Django Reinheirt (sp?). Katie Smith has a fantastic voice and great stage presence.....reminded me of a small French cabaret. She is so theatrical and dramatic in her delivery! And I liked the mix of solely instrumental music mixed with the theatrical and lovely presentation of her voice. Great show!!

This was one of the best shows I have EVER been to! Allison is an incredibly gifted artist and musician and a truly remarkable human being. I was completely captivated by the energy of her performance the entire evening. She emits a most amazing quality of light and joy, while addressing very relevant and intense topics that impact all of us. She channels a powerful energy that feels like it comes from beyond this time.

I saw the Sweet Water Warblers the following night (August 22, 2023) in Grand Rapids @ The Midtown. One of the best music venues in the state. It was amazing. Not only did they sound incredible, they are masters of the stage. So comfortable, talkative and very funny. The combination of talent of these performers is off the charts. Along with whoever accompanies them. This show included R.O. Shapiro who was a true pleasure and also highly talented. I would love to see him again also.

The show was AMAZING!! my second time seeing them since 2001 or 2002 opening for the Destiny’s Child World Tour, I was 3rd row front and center for that show, this show I got to sit on the right side where they came in and out, there still the same but 100% better, I was not expecting to get a picture with them afterwards, that was big check off my bucket list, definitely a must see group, hope I get to see them agin at some point 😍🙌 the only thing that I didn’t like witch has nothing to do with them, the venue was ridiculous with the drinks, you had to buy a $5 3 month membership to get a limited selection of wine and beer if you wanted a adult drink, also had a snotty experience with email getting my tickets, won’t be seeing a concert there agin

An amazing evening with Kat Edmonson and the four members of the band she works with. Beyond great vocal and composing talents is a person who has a presence that reaches out and touches you. Her introductions and comments about songs as well as heartfelt comments about life really pulled you into her music. She has four great guys that she works with that are all excellent musicians. They are a group that seamlessly creates great music and clearly have fun doing so together. They were delightful to watch as they either supported Kat's vocals or handled solo sections. We have many of Kat's recordings but seeing her live with her band for the first time was an experience far better than recordings can capture. We appreciated that she did not build a program around her most recent recordings but instead reached out into her past and included a very broad selection of music as well as holiday music. At one point she asked if anyone had a favorite to hear. While I did not sense anyone responded, she went on to perform "Lucky" which is one of my favorite songs from her "Way Down Low" release. It was as if she had read my mind.

There's so many positives to seeing Glen Phillips live, that it's difficult to name them all. Let's start with the venue, The Ark in Ann Arbor... one of the most INCREDIBLE venues to see singer / songwriters play. Small, intimate, yet comfortable venue, run and maintained by donations and volunteers. Truly a gem of a venue to see your favorite artists! Secondly, Glen has an on-stage presence that is so affable, adorkable, and academically entertaining, that even if he never played a note, you'd feel as if your money was well spent. Then there's the Toad / Glen fans. For most artists, I would say the fan base is a strange mix of sweet and scary, but in the 35+ years I've been following Glen and Toad, I have met some of the most incredible, empathetic, and all around wonderful human beings at the shows. The fans feed off the music and mythos of Glen and his message of compassion and stewardship is clearly shared among his fans and followers. Oh yeah, and the music was great, too.

This is the eight time we have seen her. She only gets better, She was all by herself for this concert which made it even more special. She had a cold and was not feeling well but it did not stop her to give her all to a smaller than normal size crowd. Can't wait to see her again and if you've never been to one of her shows do yourself a favor and go !!

If there was 10 stars I would rate it. The venue the ark was so intimate and Jon never disappoints. His piano skills are not of this world and his voice can melt any heart. Even more surprisingly great was his fresh opening act Jordy Searcy. I love hearing new talent. Jon was so kind and patient with his time he meet every single fan afterwards and it just shows how genuine he is about his music and fans. I sang Jon’s “my girl tonight” to my wife and now she’s pregnant with our first. They got to experience Jon’s music from the womb and will love it out of the womb.