Ann Arbor Folk Festival - Friday January 30

We have been members of The Ark for years. But we have never been to the Ann Arbor Folk Festival held at Hill Auditorium every winter to benefit The Ark before. Better we discover our loss now than five years from now, but I can't believe we've missed this gem of a concert for so long.

My perennial dining companion had to work, so we missed one or two acts. The format of the show is somewhat unique. Some artists play for 15 minutes, some for a half hour. One artist (and arguably the best of the evening) only played one song. Every artist we saw left us wanting more. The crowd was energized.

Important artists to investigate:

Joe Pug! Wow. I love strummy guitar music and this is some of the best I have heard (where are you, Paul Rader?). He played one song - Hymn Number 101 which I have played many times on Rhapsody since then. We have tickets to see him at the Ark in March. Get Tickets if you still can:

http://www.theark.org/

http://www.joepugmusic.com/home.html

Another very entertaining band was the Ryan Montbleau Band. Funky and smooth, hip and groovy. Music that makes it impossible to keep your shoulders still and your feet from tapping.

Great Stuff. We will be at The Ark in April to see him:

http://www.ryanmontbleauband.com/

Perhaps my favorite band of the evening was The Old Crow Medicine Show. It's hard to describe the energetic spirit, tight musicianship, and pure stage presence this band exhibited at the festival. Plus, they pandered to the crowd, as this band from Nashville discussed "The I 94 Corridor" and other pure Michigan terms. I was impressed and you will be too:

http://www.crowmedicine.com/

The Old Crow Medicine Show had a member of another truly amazing act, The Carolina Chocolate Drops, sit in on a few songs giving us a taste for what was to come. I can honestly say I have never seen anything like this band. The crowd loved them and I did too. I don't even know how to label them. Roots music. Old School. I can just say that you should try to get a ticket when they play The Ark October 2 and 3 this year. You won't be disappointed.

http://www.carolinachocolatedrops.com/


The whole reason we bought tickets to the Festival was Jeff Tweedy. I have loved his work from Uncle Tupelo to Wilco to now. While he didn't play Box Full of Letters or Pick up the Change, he played some fan favorites as well as new material. Perhaps the most amazing thing was his ironic and brilliant transformation of Ann Arbor's Iggy Pop and the Stooges "I wanna be your dog" into a folk song. The rendition was almost showing off and smug, but the crowd was impressed and I was amazed. He could have just mentioned the I 94 Corridor or the Red Wings. But, no. He had to take a punk song from a local band, turn it into a folk song, and make it 100 fold better. Way to do your homework. Tweedy has aged, and so have I, but his voice and his songs are eternal and I will go to see him every opportunity I get. He may be the greatest living singer songwriter of my generation (with apologizes to Bob Mould and Stephin Merritt).

If you haven't seen Jeff Tweedy before, you should now:

http://www.wilcoworld.net/

We will be back to the Ann Arbor Folk Festival next year, but for both nights.

Tord Gustavsen Trio

On the coldest night in the year, my perennial dining companion and I ventured into Ann Arbor to the University Musical Society's presentation of the Tord Gustavsen Trio, a three piece jazz ensemble from Norway. The show was stark and warm at the same time with soft melodies and very talented musicians. Great stuff.

http://www.tordg.no/trio/