It’s getting as though the area’s Thanksgiving cornucopia wouldn’t be the same without Jeff Daniels’ now-annual holiday weekend, made-in-Michigan variety show, Jeff Daniels & Friends. This year’s edition is Saturday night at the Michigan Theater.

“People are always looking for something fun to do when friends and relatives are in town over the holidays,” said Chelsea-based actor / playwright / singer-songwriter Daniels, who has just concluded a successful eight-month run in Broadway’s Tony Award-winning play “God of Carnage.”

“(The show) is still that thing you can do with your relatives after having been with them for three days. We are still the relative baby-sitter. We can handle them for a night. Bring ’em to me. It’s a great way to finish the holiday weekend.”

The lineup of Michigan-bred artists for this year’s concert includes Lansing’s Shout Sister Shout (swing and jazz); Kalamazoo’s Red Sea Pedestrians (klezmer, folk and world roots music); Ann Arbor’s Paul Princen (spoken word); Chelsea’s the Ben Daniels Band (roots and blues); and the Scottville Clown Band.

Jeff Daniels, who has written over 400 songs and has two CDs to his credit plus a third on the way, said the now-annual event was modeled after an event hosted by folk legend Arlo Guthrie.

“Arlo and friends get together every year around Thanksgiving and take over Carnegie Hall in a huge celebration of folk music. I wanted to do something similar to celebrate some of the great artists we have in Michigan.”

Daniels said his portion of the show will include old and new tunes. Listen to Jeff Daniels "If William Shatner Can, I Can, Too"

“I have to do the ‘Big Bay Shuffle’ again. There’s nothing like standing on the stage of a packed Michigan Theater and seeing the audience on their feet doing a drunken dance from the Upper Peninsula,” said Daniels. “Being a Michigan-flavored show, with Michigan music and Michigan people, it’s a must.

“There’s probably going to be a little bit more of me in the second act, along with some regulars, like Shout Sister Shout. Nepotism lives on with (his son) Ben’s band, we’ve got some other folks … there’s no rhyme or reason about how I put these people together. Some were presented to me and some I just come across.”

In addition to son Ben, Daniels’ son Luc will also be on hand to lead the audience in the “Big Bay Shuffle” and otherwise get the crowd worked up. “The Roadie has fit me into his schedule. His people called my people,” the elder Daniels joked.

Daniels said he’s particularly excited to be able to include the Scottsville Clown Band.

“I did a gig over in Scottsville (near Ludington) when I had some time off in August. … It’s a 100-year-old tradition of these guys who dress up as clowns and other things and play. They’re great fun and will inject a lot of energy into the show. Think 30 clowns and some of them play tuba,” Daniels said. “I’m going to have some fun with them.”

Paul Princen, a 2009 Community High School graduate now attending Stanford University, was asked to be a part of Daniels’ show after he offered his dramatic poem “Delivery” at his graduation and it was heard by Fleming Artists’ Karla Rice. The local agency is handling the booking for the show.

“Of course I’m honored, flattered and I was definitely shocked when Karla first approached me," Princen, an Ann Arbor Poetry Slam finalist, said. “I’m lucky to be able to present a youth voice. The poem is about getting the youth voice out there and I’m excited to reach a difference audience than I usually reach with this poem.”

Although he’s been busy with “God of Carnage,” Daniels has still found time to record a new CD, which should be available before Christmas. Material for the live disc was taken from shows Daniels did this past August at the Purple Rose.

“We had such success with the first one,’ Live at the Purple Rose’ — the solo show has really gained in tightness and how I build the songs and the stories leading into them. I’ve learned how to do this thing better and I hope that’s reflected in the CD,” he said.

Daniels said he’s pleased how the Thanksgiving show has developed.

“You learn how to do it, to build these things,” he observed. “It’s a little bit more streamlined now. … I always look forward to doing this thing.”

Is the show a harder sell than usual this year due to the economy? Daniels said he’s up to the challenge.

“I always go into these things hoping we break even. Everything’s a tough sell. I think we’ll do all right. The thing we have going for us is that people just want to get their money’s worth. There is an entertainment dollar out there, they just want to have a good time. I think after the first three years and it being the holiday weekend and they’ve heard it’s a good time — I like our chances to put some people into the theater.”

PREVIEW Jeff Daniels & Friends What: Chelsea-based actor/singer-songwriter offers his annual Thanksgiving weekend show featuring Michigan artists. Who: Shout Sister Shout (Lansing), Red Sea Pedestrians (Kalamazoo), Paul Princen (Ann Arbor), The Ben Daniels Band (Chelsea) and the Scottville Clown Band (Scottville). Where: Michigan Theater, 603 East Liberty Street. When: Saturday, 8 p.m. How much: $22.50-$75. Details: Tickets at the Michigan Union Ticket Office, 734-763-TKTS, or at the Ticketmaster web site.

Roger LeLievre is a free-lance writer who covers music for AnnArbor.com.