By Shelby Clark Petkus
Ani DiFranco performs Jan. 31 at Hill Auditorium. Photo courtesy of Fleming Artists
The renowned Ann Arbor Folk Festival comes to Hill Auditorium this weekend for its 38th year. The annual festival, which serves as a fundraiser for The Ark, will bring two dynamic and different nights of folk and roots music, from celebrated musicians to up-and-coming artists. The Ark is Ann Arbor's non-profit venue for folk, roots and ethnic music.
The first evening will feature performances by Brandi Carlile, Jason Isbell, Yonder Mountain String Band, Baskery, Bahamas, Mandolin Orange and Billy Strings & Don Julin, with Steve Poltz as MC. Of these acts, many will be familiar with Isbell, the Alabama native who has shown a unique evolution and maturation in his sounds. Inspired by soul-tinged rock, country and blues that he grew up hearing in Northern Alabama, Isbell has earned three Americana Music Awards including Artist of the Year, Song of the Year (for "Cover Me Up") and Album of the Year for his most recent release, "Southeastern." The Wall Street Journal describes the artist, who will be performing a duo acoustic set at the festival, as "a composer of splendidly crafted songs. He performs with an intensity that connects the listener to the deep and genuine emotions that inspire his work."
The Yonder Mountain String Band also brings its artistry to the Ann Arbor stage. The Colorado-based foursome takes bluegrass to the next level, showing influences from traditional acts like Del McCourty and Jimmy Martin and blending it with the punk rock sounds of Bad Religion, Black Flag and the Dead Kennedys. Alternative rock band sounds, like the Postal Service, and 20th-century classical composers work their way into the unique sound of the band as well.
Saturday's performances include Amos Lee, Ani DiFranco, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Holly Williams, The Dustbowl Revival, Laith Al-Saadi, with Cheryl Wheeler as MC. An LGBT-favorite, DiFranco has made her mark on the music industry over the last 20 years. Proudly identifying as a "little folksinger," DiFranco has brought forth music in genres like soul, funk, jazz, electronic and spoken word. Through her 20-plus album discography, the singer's evolution of sound has never taken away from her prime objective: using her voice and her guitar to convey the nuanced lyrics that have attracted millions of fans. She'll perform selections from her newest release, "Allergic to Water."
On the same night as DiFranco, Lee will perform his gritty American roots sound, presenting his tremendous vocal range and "perfectly constructed songs," according to The Ark. The Norah Jones-discovered singer has been dubbed by Willie Nelson as "an exceptional artist (and) a true story teller unique to his generation."
Buffy Sainte-Marie, who helped found the Canada's Music of Aboriginal Canada JUNO category, performs her soulful folk-country as influenced by her Canadian Cree background. The singer-songwriter is known for her songs like "Universal Soldier," an anthem of the peace movement in the 1960s, and "Until It's Time for You to Go," which has been covered by the likes of Elvis, Barbra Streisand and Cher.
The Ann Arbor Folk Festival will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 30-31 at Hill Auditorium, 825 N. University Ave., Ann Arbor. The Ark is located at 316 S. Main St., Ann Arbor. For more information on line-up and tickets, call 734-761-1800 or visit http://www.theark.org.
