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Posted on Sun, Jan 24, 2010 : 5:07 a.m.

Fundraising Ann Arbor Folk Festival can make or break The Ark's year

By Roger LeLievre

What better way to warm up the bitter end of a cold January than with two nights of top-flight folk music?

The Ann Arbor Folk Festival, a 2-night extravaganza of traditional and cutting-edge folk, kicks off its 33rd year on Friday. Headliners on Friday are Iron and Wine and the duo of Ben Gibbard and Jay Farrar. Topping the bill on Saturday are Rosanne Cash and Richie Havens.

Jeff-Tweedy-2009-Ann-Arbor-Folk-Festival.JPG

Jeff Tweedy performing at the 2009 Ann Arbor Folk Festival.

Leisa Thompson | Ann Arbor News file photo

The Folk Festival is the main fundraiser for The Ark, Ann Arbor’s nonprofit home for folk, roots, and ethnic music, accounting for about 16 percent of the club’s $2.1 million budget, according to managing director Marianne James. “The Folk Festival can really make or break the year for us financially,” James said.

Friday night of the festival is reserved for artists known for bringing a more progressive sound to the folk music scene, while Saturday night explores more traditional folk and roots music (details at end of story). Patty Larkin, who has performed often at The Ark and is known for her terrific stage presence and guitar wizardry, will host both nights.

In addition to being an important part of The Ark’s bottom line, money raised by the Folk Festival helps the club subsidize lesser-known acts during the year that are worth hearing but may not otherwise be commercially successful.

“That’s part of our mission,” James explained, “to present artists who may not sell as strongly as other artists but they are every bit as excellent.” Examples of acts that got their start that way, she said, include Nanci Griffith, Ani DiFranco, Martin Sexton, Dar Williams and Vienna Teng.

The Folk Festival also acts as a way to expose audiences to acts that return to play at The Ark some time during the year.

“All the new artists that are playing the Folk Festival are artists we think are really worth hearing — if we booked them today they probably wouldn’t sell out but after the Folk Festival they all have a good chance of drawing real well,” said James. “The Folk Festival is a feeder for the club for emerging artists. You put them in front of those 3,600 people and suddenly they’ve got a whole new audience in this region.”

James said the Folk Festival also represents a rare opportunity to work with artists the stature of Rosanne Cash or Iron and Wine, who are too big to be booked at The Ark. However, she said she’s looking forward to some of the up-and-coming acts as well.

Listen to a selection of songs by this year's Ann Arbor Folk Festival performers:

James acknowledged that there are always one or two acts from each Folk Festival that wind up being the talk of event. Last year it was the Carolina Chocolate Drops, who returned later in the year to play two nights at The Ark.

This year it’s anyone’s guess, she said.

Band of Heathens is just going to knock people out because of their energy level and how great they sound,” James said. “We’ve loved Hoots and Hellmouth for a long time, Enter the Haggis is going to shake it up a bit on Saturday night; they’re going to be a little bit louder but they are a terrific, terrific band. I also think that people who haven’t seen Raul Malo will be talking about Raul as well.

“You never know; anybody can be the breakaway act of the Folk Festival,” James added.

Roger LeLievre is a freelance writer who covers music for AnnArbor.com.

PREVIEW 33rd Annual Ann Arbor Folk Festival What: Annual fundraiser for The Ark, Ann Arbor’s non-profit home for folk, roots, and ethnic music. Where: Hill Auditorium, 825 North University Avenue. When: Friday and Saturday, starting at 6:30 p.m. How much: $30 and $45 for a single night; $50 and $80 for series tickets. Info: The Ark web site or 734-761-1451.

Friday’s lineup

• Iron and Wine: Singer-songwriter Samuel Beam will return to his acoustic indie-folk roots for his Folk Festival appearance. | Official site | MySpace | Facebook | Twitter • Ben Gibbard and Jay Farrar: Gibbard is lead singer of the indie-rock band Death Cab for Cutie while Jay Farrar is the force behind alt-country’s Uncle Tupelo and Son Volt. | Interview article on AnnArbor.com | Official site • The Band of Heathens: Five-man group plays an alt-country mix influenced by The Band and Townes van Zandt. | Official site | MySpace | Facebook | Twitter • Hoots and Hellmouth: The duo of singer-songwriters Sean Hoots and Andrew Gray, whose music has elements of alt-country, classic folk, and jam-band freedom. | Official site | MySpace | Facebook | Twitter • Po’ Girl: Canadians mix a variety of influences. | Official site | MySpace | Facebook | Twitter • Jer Coons: Young singer-songwriter has drawn comparisons to John Mayer, Jason Mraz and Damien Rice. | Official site | MySpace | Facebook | Twitter • Nervous but Excited: “Pleasantly aggressive” local singer-songwriters Kate Peterson and Sarah Cleaver. | Interview article on AnnArbor.com | Official site | MySpace | Facebook | Twitter

Saturday’s lineup

• Rosanne Cash: Johnny Cash’s oldest daughter paid him homage on her latest album, “The List.” | Official site | MySpace | Facebook | Twitter • Richie Havens: Iconic folk singer and guitarist with roots in the Woodstock era. | Interview article on AnnArbor.com | Official site | Facebook • “Doc” Watson: Singer and guitarist, a veteran of four previous Folk Festivals, is considered one of the most influential guitarists of the last century. | Official site | Facebook • Raul Malo: The former lead singer of the Mavericks is equally at home with rock, country, Cuban music and big-band jazz. | Official site | MySpace | Facebook • The Hot Club of Cowtown: Group explores the space where early jazz meets Texas swing. | Interview article on AnnArbor.com | Official site | MySpace | Facebook | Twitter • Enter the Haggis: Canadian-Scots band offers a high-speed collision of Celtic music, rock, bluegrass, funk and world music. | Official site | MySpace | Facebook | Twitter

Comments

Paul the Malcontent

Mon, Feb 1, 2010 : 4:34 a.m.

Thanks Jens...I have no issue with your biographical description that states objective facts that depict his esteem within musical circles (except for the word "dominant"; perhaps "preeminent" would be more appropriate). My issue with the original terminology is that, IMHO, the phrase "most influential" is subjective and less appropriate for a news article, particularly when referring to the entire 20th century time period.

Jens Zorn

Sun, Jan 24, 2010 : 9:18 p.m.

@paul the malcontent: It is not hyperbole to describe Doc Watson as the dominant flat picker of the last 60 years. He is widely respected in folk and country circles; his commercial success is shown by 7 Grammys and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. For many of us he still sets the standard of what can be done with a 6-string steel guitar.

Paul the Malcontent

Sun, Jan 24, 2010 : 12:54 p.m.

Doc Watson is "one of the most influential guitarists of the last century." And hyperbole is the best thing ever.