The RFD Boys
Friday, March 29, 2024 8:00pm
Tickets: $16, $15 students, seniors, and Ark members
Legends of Michigan Bluegrass
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.
category: Bluegrass/Newgrass
https://rfdboys.com/
SUSAN WERNER
w/sg KING MARGO
Saturday, March 30, 2024, 8:00pm
Tickets: $25, $33, $50 gold circle
“In such complete command of her gifts that it’s almost scary”—Allmusic.com
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 Her latest recording of originals is
“The Birds of Florida.”
category: Contemporary Songwriters & Groups
https://susanwerner.com/
https://www.kingmargo.com/
