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Posted on Mon, Apr 4, 2011 : 9 a.m.

Ann Arbor Summer Festival announces main-stage lineup: k.d. lang, Steve Martin and more

By AnnArbor.com Staff

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k.d. lang

The Ann Arbor Summer Festival this morning announced its main-stage schedule of ticketed shows for the year, with highlights including k.d. lang, Steve Martin (playing bluegrass), Trombone Shorty and more.

Other acts include Andrew Bird, Los Lonely Boys, Pink Martini and traditional favorites Capitol Steps. Take a poll on what looks most interesting at the end of this post.

Although the Top of the Park lineup will be announced later, the festival did also release information on a special ticketed outdoor attraction called Amococo luminarium, a giant walk-in art installation created by England's acclaimed Architects of Air to be placed at Palmer Field.

This year's Ann Arbor Summer Festival runs June 17-July 10. It features the two traditional components: ticketed main-stage performances at the Power Center and elsewhere; and free, outdoor music and movies known as Top of the Park, held on Ingalls Mall.

Today's announcement covers the main-stage performances. Tickets go on sale to the public on Monday, April 11 at 9 a.m. through the Festival Ticket Office, 911 N. University Ave., at 734-764-2538; or online through the festival website at www.annarborsummerfestival.org. As it did last year, the festival will present slightly fewer ticketed indoor performances than in previous seasons. As with many nonprofit and arts organizations, the festival has wrestled with difficult funding issues in the down economy.

“As our audiences continue to grow at Top of the Park, we feel it’s important to introduce new activities and experiences into the environment,” Festival Director Robb Woulfe said in a press release. #8220;We’re always looking for creative ways to engage our community, so this year we’re very excited to introduce an even wider range of programs, festival partners and event venues.” The festival will host a special four-day outdoor exhibition of the Amococo luminarium, a massive walk-in art installation created by England’s acclaimed Architects of Air. The biggest of the company’s luminaria, the approximately 10,000-square-foot inflatable structure will make its Michigan premiere on Palmer Field, on Washtenaw Avenue, a short walk from the Top of the Park site, from June 23-26. Amococo is a large-scale, inflatable sculpture consisting of tunnels, domes and atriums. Tickets for this interactive family attraction will only be available at the luminarium entrance on Palmer Field during the four days of exhibition. Admission is $5 per person; children 3 and under free. The Top of the Park lineup will be unveiled at a special announcement party hosted by Arbor Brewing Company on May 2 from 5-8 p.m. The free public event will also serve as the launch for a special, limited-edition seasonal beer, Festival Saison, developed in partnership between Ann Arbor Summer Festival and Arbor Brewing Company. The new summer ale will be sold exclusively at Arbor Brewing Company throughout the summer months, with a portion of sales proceeds going to support Top of the Park. Main-stage lineup Following is the full lineup of ticketed events, with descriptions provided by the festival:

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Andrew Bird

ANDREW BIRD With special guest Haley Bonar Saturday, June 18 Power Center | 8:00 p.m. $45, $40, $35, $30 Folk | Rock | Indie Few artists better exemplify the term chamber pop than violinist, whistler, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Andrew Bird. A classically trained violinist, former swing jazz musician and now art rock virtuoso, Bird is one of the most imaginative and distinctive voices making music today. Essentially a one-man band, Bird plays and layers live loops, stacking sounds and rhythms, and offering an eclectic mix of Gypsy ballads, jazz, folk and rock. Opening set by indie singer-songwriter Haley Bonar. TROMBONE SHORTY & ORLEANS AVENUE With special guest The Macpodz Tuesday, June 21 Power Center | 8:00 p.m. $35, $30, $25, $20 New Orleans Jazz | Funk | Soul Equally adept on the trombone and trumpet, Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews is a man to be reckoned with on both. He draws unqualified respect of some of the most iconic legends in jazz and possesses the ability to deliver a high-energy funk rock show capable of mesmerizing international rock stars. Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue’s forward, high-octane music has become so popular that they created a tagline for it: SupaFunkRock! Opening set by jazz-fusionists The Macpodz. THE MOTH MAINSTAGE Co-presented with Michigan Radio Thursday, June 23 Power Center | 8:00 p.m. $40, $35, $30, $25 Storytelling | Spoken Word The Moth, New York's hottest literary phenomenon, is an acclaimed nonprofit organization dedicated to the art of storytelling. Having presented sold-out shows for over ten years, The Moth Mainstage descends on Ann Arbor for a night of wildly entertaining stories, told live without notes, by an all-star lineup of the best national and local raconteurs. This performance of the public radio favorite will be recorded for broadcast. Having spurred a revival in oral storytelling, The Moth Mainstage has featured stories by Malcolm Gladwell, Ethan Hawke, Margaret Cho, Annie Proulx, Salman Rushdie, and an astronaut, a pickpocket, a hot-dog eating champion and hundreds more. Airing weekly on Michigan Radio, The Moth Radio Hour is broadcast on over 200 stations nation-wide and sees more than one million online downloads a week. Full lineup announced in May.

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Steve Martin

STEVE MARTIN Performing with The Steep Canyon Rangers An Evening of Bluegrass & Banjo Saturday, June 25 Power Center | 8:00 p.m. $75, $70, $65, $55 Folk | Roots | Americana Actor, comedian and writer Steve Martin has become the surprise ambassador of bluegrass. A dedicated banjo player for 45 years, Martin's fleet-fingered virtuosity and playful songwriting garnered him a 2009 Grammy for The Crow: New Songs for the Five-String Banjo. Playing alongside North Carolina's broadly talented Steep Canyon Rangers, Martin delivers an unforgettable evening filled with bright, energetic bluegrass and uproarious interludes in support of his latest release, Rare Bird Alert.

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Los Lonely Boys

LOS LONELY BOYS With special guest Alejandro Escovedo and The Sensitive Boys Wednesday, June 29 Power Center | 8:00 p.m. $45, $40, $35, $30 Blues | Pop | Rock Two of the most revered artists in American roots music — fiery Texas blues-rockers Los Lonely Boys and genre-bending singer-songwriter Alejandro Escovedo — join forces for a double-bill of emotionally charged music steeped in the rich musical traditions of Texas, the American Southwest, and Mexico, Los Lonely Boys — a potent trio featuring Garza brothers Henry, JoJo, and Ringo, sons of Texas conjunto legend Ringo Garza, Sr. — soared to national attention with their Grammy-winning debut album, recorded with country icon Willie Nelson, plus tours and recordings with mentors Carlos Santana and Los Lobos. Now the Garzas connect with another musical hero in Alejandro Escovedo, the seminal roots-rock innovator. Escovedo has virtually defined the Americana sound over the course of an esteemed 20-year solo career, infusing lyrical Tex-Mex and folk balladry with rock and classical influences.

K.D. LANG AND THE SISS BOOM BANG With special guest The Belle Brigade Saturday, July 1 Hill Auditorium, 8:00 p.m. $75, $65, $55, $45, $35 Pop | Rock | Alt-Country

Canadian superstar k.d.lang returns to the Hill Auditorium to headline a spectacular evening of new originals and soulful classics. The winner of four Grammy Awards and eight Juno Awards, k.d. lang's powerful, sultry vocals and astounding range have made her one of the most sought after live performers for the past 25 years. Her frequent collaborator Tony Bennett calls her "the best singer of her generation" and her performance of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics Opening Games was nominated for a Juno Award for Single of the Year. Touring in support of her newest release "Sing It Loud," prepare to be astounded by k.d. lang and her new band Siss Boom Bang. Opening set by folk-rock siblings The Belle Brigade.

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Taylor Mac

TAYLOR MAC IN CONCERT "Comparison Is Violence or The Ziggy Stardust Meets Tiny Tim Songbook" Saturday, July 2 Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre | 8:00 p.m. $25 General Admission Cabaret | Performance Art | Fringe Recommended for mature audiences Gloriously larger than life, the fabulous Taylor Mac draws from the traditions of drag and performance art to create a style all his own. Combining dramatic flair, searing satire, poignant honesty, and—of course—plenty of glitter, Mac’s newest show, "Comparison is Violence," was born after dozens of reviewers commented that he was a cross between David Bowie’s alter ego and the cult figure Tiny Tim. While praising his ukulele-playing and gender-bending performances, over 20 international publications have, of their own volition, described Mac as ‘Ziggy Stardust meets Tiny Tim’. Being a queen who can take a hint, he decided to write and perform an original conversation about comparison, while singing Tiny Tim songs and selections from David Bowie’s classic glam-rock album "The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust." It promises to be a concert unlike any other.

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Capitol Steps

THE CAPITOL STEPS Monday, July 4 Power Center @ 5:00 p.m. & 8:00 p.m. $45, $40, $35, $30 Comedy | Political Satire The only group in America that attempts to be funnier than the politicians, the Capitol Steps provides an entertaining blend of musical and political comedy. Answering the call for more civil discourse, these former Congressional staffers' brilliant song parodies and hilarious sketches lampoon up-to-the-minute issues, events, and personalities, poking fun at both sides of the aisle. TOM TOM CREW Thursday, July 7 & Friday, July 8 Power Center @ 8:00 p.m. $40, $35, $30, $25; Kids $10 Circus | Acrobatics | Family Direct from sell-out seasons in New York, London, Berlin, Sydney and Edinburgh, experience a collision of super-charged circus and heart-pumping music for all ages. Australia’s hottest acrobats join forces with modern musical prodigies in a circus-music fusion unlike anything you’ve ever seen before. The Tom Tom Crew combines stunning aerial acrobatics, beat-boxing and dynamic drumming to create a high-energy show that has wowed audiences from Taipei to Broadway. This is circus at its most extreme, where skill and athleticism meet urban artistry.

PINK MARTINI Saturday, July 9 Hill Auditorium @ 8:00 p.m. $55, $50, $45, $35, $25 Pop | Jazz | Continental Flaunting an intoxicating cocktail of musical styles from around the globe, the 12-piece Pink Martini returns to the festival with their spirited blend of Brazilian samba, '30s Cuban dance, Parisian café sensibility, and world-music flair. Enjoy a splash of orchestral strings, smooth lyrics, and a swig of a cha-cha as this vintage-chic ensemble makes an anticipated return to Ann Arbor. SPECIAL OUTDOOR ATTRACTION: AMOCOCO By Architects of Air Thursday through Sunday, June 23-June 26 Palmer Field, near Top of the Park Hours: June 23 and 24 from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. | June 25 and 26 from 12:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Admission: $5 per person; children 3 and under admitted free Interactive | Family | Outdoor Spectacle From the Guggenheim in Spain to the Sydney Opera House in Australia, the enormous, interactive sculptures of the UK’s Architects of Air have astounded audiences across the globe. Making its Ann Arbor debut for four days on Palmer Field, the festival presents the renowned company’s biggest luminarium, Amococo, a walk-through inflatable sculpture featuring a dazzling maze of winding paths filled with radiant light and color. Linking 86 three-sided domes in a monumental labyrinth, designer Alan Parkinson creates an architectural marvel in which visitors are encouraged to wander, relax, meditate and enjoy the magical ambiance of Amococo. Please note: • Amococo is accessible to wheelchair users and people with mobility difficulties. • Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult. • Shoes must be left at the luminarium entrance. *• The last admission time is 8:40 pm each day, 20 minutes prior to closing. • Patrons should allow 20 minutes to enjoy the full experience. Tickets for this special outdoor attraction will only be available on the days of exhibition at the luminarium entrance on Palmer Field, a short walk from the Top of the Park site.

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The Ann Arbor Summer Festival is made possible with support from the 2011 Series Sponsors: Bank of Ann Arbor, Benard L. Maas Foundation, Howard Cooper Imports, O&W, Inc., and Toyota. Additional support is provided by Ann Arbor State Bank, Arbor Brewing Company, Comerica Bank, Crazy Wisdom Bookstore & Tea Room, Dennis and Ellie Serras, Edward Jones, Elastizell Corporation of America, Fifth Third Bank, First Martin Corporation, Greenhills School, Highlander Graphics, JJR, Miller Canfield, Phire Branding Company, State Street Area Association, Ulitho, U.S. Wine Imports, and Whole Foods Market. Media partners for the season include: AnnArbor.com, Ann Arbor Observer, ann arbor’s 107one, Michigan Radio 91.7-FM, WCBN 88.3-FM, and WEMU 89.1-FM. The Ann Arbor Summer Festival’s 2011 season is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Comments

DDOT1962

Tue, Apr 5, 2011 : 12:29 p.m.

I think this is a great lineup! Looking forward to a couple shows and the Amococo. For a city of just over 100k, Ann Arbor doesn't do too bad booking noteworthy cultural events.

Inspector 57

Tue, Apr 5, 2011 : 6:09 a.m.

"Disappointing line up." If everyone who soaked up a wonderful, entertainment-filled, totally free night of fun at Top Of The Park last year had donated just a buck or two for the experience, The Summer Festival could be treating every Ann Arbor resident to a complimentary performance by Lady GaGa this year. This year's line-up of ticketed shows is diverse and exciting. It would have been even more impressive if people would have supported the Festival financially last year instead of just freeloading and taking the whole thing for granted.

sgk

Mon, Apr 4, 2011 : 10:17 p.m.

Trombone Shorty is not to be missed!! We've seen him multiple times at N.O. JazzFest and he never disappoints! Troy and his band are all that is HOT coming out of New Orleans new jazz.

sbbuilder

Mon, Apr 4, 2011 : 9:30 p.m.

'Ben constantly craving some good talent at the fair. I think I'll go see the Steps for comic relief.

Halter

Mon, Apr 4, 2011 : 8:43 p.m.

Where is the "None of these" option in the poll??

Halter

Mon, Apr 4, 2011 : 10:24 p.m.

I mean, seriously - there is so much good talent out there that is affordable for the summer festival, and a LOT hotter than this lineup....Straight No Chaser comes to mind right away...

actionjackson

Mon, Apr 4, 2011 : 8:16 p.m.

Kudos to Robb Woulfe and staff for providing such a diverse and fun lineup for the new season. Looking forward to all the music we have available. Keep up the great work!

jdawg7214

Mon, Apr 4, 2011 : 5:01 p.m.

You mistakenly failed to capitalize "k.d. lang". Either that, or it's now "artsy" to put one's name in lower case, in which case I laugh at her for thinking that's creative or unique.

Halter

Mon, Apr 4, 2011 : 8:44 p.m.

k.d. lang is indeed all small letters -- she has always used that format

ViSHa

Mon, Apr 4, 2011 : 5:37 p.m.

actually her name has always been lower-case, at least in the past twenty some odd years. on another note, can't believe she looks like she hasn't aged a day.

frozenhotchocolate

Mon, Apr 4, 2011 : 4:46 p.m.

K.d.lang is the summer fair?

Keymaster

Mon, Apr 4, 2011 : 4:31 p.m.

FWIW, the link is wrong. It's <a href="http://www.annarborsummerfestival.org/" rel='nofollow'>http://www.annarborsummerfestival.org/</a>

Kelly Davenport

Mon, Apr 4, 2011 : 4:34 p.m.

Thanks, Keymaster. I have corrected the link.

Huron74

Mon, Apr 4, 2011 : 2:39 p.m.

To each, his own.

sbbuilder

Mon, Apr 4, 2011 : 9:28 p.m.

I think that was '...to each, according to his..'. Oh, never mind. Wrong era.

Arboriginal

Mon, Apr 4, 2011 : 1:53 p.m.

What a GREAT lineup!

Phil Dokas

Mon, Apr 4, 2011 : 1:50 p.m.

Au contraire Joseph! Andrew Bird will be great to see, The Moth is awesome, Steve Martin playing bluegrass is unexpected and awesome, and holy smokes, just look at what Amococo looks like: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=amococo&s=int&ss=2&z=e" rel='nofollow'>http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=amococo&amp;s=int&amp;ss=2&amp;z=e</a>

Huron74

Mon, Apr 4, 2011 : 1:28 p.m.

Disappointing line up.