Ann Arbor Folk Festival Shakes Up Format for 49th Edition
The Ann Arbor Folk Festival, a beloved music institution in Michigan, is introducing some significant changes to its format for its upcoming 49th edition. Gone are the traditional two-night shows, and in their place, a full concert headliner will take center stage on Friday, January 30. The rest of the festival, typically held at Hill Auditorium, will revert back to its standard format on Saturday, January 31.
The decision was made based on audience feedback, as organizers strive to adapt to evolving tastes and preferences among fans. While the main event for Friday night won't be announced until November 17, the festival has already revealed a substantial portion of the Saturday lineup.
On that day, attendees can look forward to performances by Grand Rapids indie rock band The Crane Wives, Philadelphia singer-songwriter Amos Lee, Los Angeles-based folk rock outfit Dawes, and more. The event will also feature Uganda-born artist Jon Muq, University of Michigan student Nat Timmerman (also known as Rabbitology), and Massachusetts singer-songwriter Ryan Montbleau, who'll serve as the festival's MC.
Tickets for the festival range from $56.60 to $281.50 and are available starting at 10 a.m. on Wednesday for members and 10 a.m. on Friday for the general public. For more information and ticket purchases, visit theark.org.
The Ann Arbor Folk Festival, a beloved music institution in Michigan, is introducing some significant changes to its format for its upcoming 49th edition. Gone are the traditional two-night shows, and in their place, a full concert headliner will take center stage on Friday, January 30. The rest of the festival, typically held at Hill Auditorium, will revert back to its standard format on Saturday, January 31.
The decision was made based on audience feedback, as organizers strive to adapt to evolving tastes and preferences among fans. While the main event for Friday night won't be announced until November 17, the festival has already revealed a substantial portion of the Saturday lineup.
On that day, attendees can look forward to performances by Grand Rapids indie rock band The Crane Wives, Philadelphia singer-songwriter Amos Lee, Los Angeles-based folk rock outfit Dawes, and more. The event will also feature Uganda-born artist Jon Muq, University of Michigan student Nat Timmerman (also known as Rabbitology), and Massachusetts singer-songwriter Ryan Montbleau, who'll serve as the festival's MC.
Tickets for the festival range from $56.60 to $281.50 and are available starting at 10 a.m. on Wednesday for members and 10 a.m. on Friday for the general public. For more information and ticket purchases, visit theark.org.
! The new format is gonna be lit, with that full concert headliner taking over Friday night. I mean, who doesn't love a good headlining act? 
And it's awesome they're adapting to what fans want - audience feedback is key when it comes to events like this. I'm also pretty excited about the Saturday lineup, I've been listening to The Crane Wives and Dawes and they sound amazing 
! And that Jon Muq guy from Uganda? Amazing talent! 
and who doesn't love a good headliner to kick off the fest? plus, making the rest of the lineup less predictable is def a nice touch. also, i'm low-key hyped about nat timmerman's set - rabbitology is a genius 
. By having a full concert headliner take center stage on Friday, they're aiming to create a more intense and immersive experience for attendees 
. The return to the standard format on Saturday will provide a nice contrast and give fans a chance to enjoy a variety of acts throughout the day 
. It's also worth noting that this change is largely driven by audience feedback, which suggests that organizers are committed to listening to their community and adapting to changing tastes 
. The addition of local talent like Nat Timmerman and Ryan Montbleau will likely be a hit with fans 
THEY'RE SHAKING THINGS UP BY MAKING A FULL CONCERT HEADLINER FOR FRIDAY NIGHT!!! GONNA BE AMAZING TO SEE SOME OF THESE BANDS LIVE AND I CANT WAIT TO HEAR THE SATURDAY LINEUP IS ALREADY LOOKING GOOD WITH SOME TALENTED ARTISTS LIKE THE CRANE WIVES AND AMOS LEE!!!
! cant wait to see dawes live 
! i also love how they're adapting to fan feedback and trying new things... it's all about evolution, right? 
It's not just about the music, it's about the nostalgia and the community that comes with it. But hey, change can be good too, right? Maybe they'll bring back some surprises on Friday night to make up for it... like that epic headliner concert! 
. This whole thing smells fishy to me...
. two-night shows were always the best part for me, but idc if they're changin it up, gonna still rock out to the crane wives on saturday 
. love that they listened to audience feedback and are adapting to what's hot in the music scene right now. also super excited to see some talented artists like Amos Lee and Dawes perform - their vibes will totally get the crowd going 
!
. I've spent so many nights jamming out with friends under those lights, it's gonna feel weird not having that format anymore 
. On the bright side, I'm super stoked to see The Crane Wives, Amos Lee, and Dawes on Saturday - their music is everything! And can we talk about Jon Muq's Uganda-born background? It's so cool to see more diversity in the folk scene 
. One thing that's got me curious is what's gonna happen with the rest of the festival - are they just gonna be a bunch of smaller acts or...?
. now we'll get a headliner on friday night and then some other acts on saturday... sounds good, but not as exciting as when everything was just kinda spread out over both days 
nat timmerman aka rabbitology is comin thru too btw 
what's ur fave fest format change tho?
And can't wait to see Ryan Montbleau as the festival's MC 
...