Tonight is Day 14 of Top of the Park, the popular, free (donations welcome) outdoor happening featuring music, movies, kicking back, running into friends, and a variety of other attractions.

Each day in cooperation with the Ann Arbor Summer Festival—which presents Top of the Park as well as main-stage ticketed events—AnnArbor.com is publishing a rundown of the night's happenings. Here's an overview of tonight's schedule, followed by a more detailed look at the events and attractions:

OVERVIEW

4:30 p.m. - Strange Fruit - aerial dancers
5-8 p.m. - KidZone - kids activity tent
5-6 p.m. - Retreat: Capoeira
5 p.m. - Hana Malhas - indie/world
6 p.m. - Joe Summers Gypsy Jazz Trio - jazz/swing
7 p.m. - Rusty Wright Band - blues/rock
8:30 p.m. - Strange Fruit - aerial dancers
9 p.m. - Thornetta Davis - blues/soul
11 p.m. - After Dark: DJ powdrblu

ENTERTAINMENT DETAILS

Hana Malhas - 5 p.m.

Hana Malhas (pronounced Hena) is a local Ann Arbor artist, originally from Jordan. Her 2010 debut release "Shapeshift" showcases an expressive vocal delivery and lyrically driven songs in a style that is Sarah-McLachlan-meets-Bon-Iver. A born storyteller whose emotionally engaging live repertoire on piano and guitar is infused with sincerity and humor.
Performing since: 2008 (as solo artist).
Home base: Ann Arbor and Amman, Jordan.
Style of music: Singer-songwriter, acoustic, indie folk-pop.
Members: me on vocals, guitar and piano. For US performances, I sometimes play with one or all three: Jamie Register (bass, harmonies, drums), Danielle Gartner (cello) and Erin Shellman (bass). For shows in the Middle East, I mostly play with Derar Shawagfeh on drums.
Backstory behind the band's name: I was 3 months old when my grandfather decided I needed a name change. Hana stuck. It's Arabic and often mispronounced, along with my last name. So naturally, I decided to use it as my stage name.
Day jobs: Numbers nerd.
Favorite road food: anything gluten free and not from a gas station. I'm usually the one in the car with an oversized lunch box.
Favorite stage outfit: my Blondie T-shirt and dangling suspenders.
Musical hero: artists that put on a captivating live show.
Website: www.hanamalhas.com
Myspace: www.myspace.com/hanamalhas
Facebook: www.facebook.com/hanamalhas
Twitter: www.twitter.com/hanamalhas



Joe Summers Gypsy Jazz Trio - 6 p.m.
Guitar virtuoso Joe Summers leads this caravan inspired by Europe's most famous Gypsy, Django Reinhardt. Together with violinist Paul Chang and rhythm guitarist Alex Belhaj, Joe Summers Gypsy Jazz Trio delivers beautifully improvised jazz reverent of the '20s and '30s that is punctuated by energetic, tight melodies and strong beats.
Members: Joe Summers, guitar soloist; Alex Belhaj, rhythm guitar; Paul Cheng, violin; Dave Sharp, upright acoustic bass.
Style: Standards from Swing Era, jazz, Latin, Gyspy swing.
Influences; Django Reinhardt, Charlie Christian, Stephane Grappelli, Louis Armstrong, Les Paul, etc.

Rusty Wright Band - 7 p.m.
An electrifying, blues-infused tour de force of southern rock n' roll from the heart of the rustbelt, Flint. In less than three years this six-piece has made the leap from regional favorite to performing at some of North America's top blues festivals.
Performing since: The band has been together since 2004.
Home base: Flint.
Style of music: Blues/rock/jam.
Members: Rusty Wright, lead guitar/vocals; Laurie LaCross-Wright, guitar/vocals; Dave Brahce, B3 organ/keys/guitar; Pete Haist, drums/vocals; Andy Barancik, bass.
Backstory behind the band's name: Laurie and Rusty flipped a coin and Rusty won.
Day jobs: Not if possible.
Favorite road food: In the US, Chinese or Mexican. In Europe, anything from Italy.
Favorite stage outfit: My demon suit coat. Always reminds me I'm playin' "devil music" LOL ;-)
Musical hero: Duane Allman, Robert Johnson, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Buck Dharma, Tony Iommi.
Website: www.rustywrightband.com
Myspace: www.myspace.com/rustywrightblues
Facebook: www.facebook.com/rustywrightband
Twitter: twitter.com/rustywrightband



Thornetta Davis - 9 p.m.
For over 15 years, Thornetta Davis has proved herself to be Motor City blues royalty, winning dozens of awards for outstanding blues vocalist alongside her broadly talented band. With a voice that is at once strong, commanding, melodic and smooth, Davis has performed more than 200 shows a year.



After Dark with powdrblu - 11 p.m.
After Dark puts a new “spin” on festival moonlighting. Every Friday and Saturday night, The Grove at Top of the Park hosts a late-night chill lounge after the stage bands stop playing. An exclusive showcase of guest DJs will be spinning tunes, and drink specials will be offered until midnight in this cozy outdoor lounge. Ages 21+. Tonight: DJ powdrblu spins a mix of lounge, house, soul, disco, Latin and world music.

OTHER ATTRACTIONS

Strange Fruit - 4:30 and 8:30 p.m.
Strange Fruit, the hard-to-describe Australian troupe that entertained crowds at the Ann Arbor Summer Festival in 2007, is back this year for a return appearance. Today features two of six performances of a work called "The Three Belles" from the troupe of aerial acrobats/dancers who work on giant swaying poles. For more information, see this article from AnnArbor.com or the Summer Festival website.

Check out a slideshow of Strange Fruit at Top of the Park.

Retreat: Capoeira - 5-6 p.m.
A series of mind-body sessions at Top of the Park, the "Retreat" alternative happy hour lets you enjoy a relaxing late afternoon workout with classes in Yoga, Tai Chi, Pilates, Gyrokinesis, Capoeira, Middle Eastern Dance, and dance fitness. Led by experienced practitioners, all sessions are free, and take place each weekend in the gardens and courtyards surrounding Ingalls Mall. Today: Capoeira, an Afro-Brazilian art that combines music, acrobatics, and martial arts in an exciting and community-building format. With Professor Manhoso of CDO Michigan.

KidZone - 5-8 p.m.
As described by the festival, "An interactive area for our youngest concert-goers, the Kidzone tent provides a fun and safe area for children and their parents to discover and explore a wide variety of hands-on activities with different community partners. From getting temporary tattoos, creating homemade instruments, or jamming out rock band style, KidZone offers different nightly activities for families at Top of the Park. Open nightly ‘til 8:00 pm."

Special note — free wifi:
New this year, AnnArbor.com in partnership with 20/20 Communications is providing free public WiFi access utilizing WiMax services broadcast from the top of Tower Plaza at Top of the Park for the duration of the 2011 Summer Festival. Look for the AnnArbor.com Public WiFi SSID and get connected!

Top of the Park takes place in front of the Rackham Building on East Washington Street. In addition to the daily entertainment, a variety of local food vendors will also be on hand each night. For more information, see the Summer Festival website, and watch AnnArbor.com for complete coverage of festival events.


View Larger Map

MAINSTAGE TONIGHT

Taylor Mac
Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre, 8 p.m.
Tickets: $25. Information: www.annarborsummerfestival.org
Preview article from AnnArbor.com