The festival presented by The Ark is back again as an in-person event for 2022, with Punch Brothers and the Michigan-bred Sweet Water Warblers also on the bill.
Headlining A2 Folk Fest: Emmylou Harris, who played Meijer Gardens last summer. (Photo/Kendra Petersen-Kamp)
After a hiatus due to the pandemic, the in-person Ann Arbor Folk Festival returns in January with a bevy of iconic artists, including Emmylou Harris, Glen Hansard, Patty Griffin and Punch Brothers.
Support our coverage of
West Michigan's music scene
Regional favorites such as Sweet Water Warblers also are on the bill for the Jan. 28-29 festival staged at Ann Arbor’s Hill Auditorium as a fundraiser for The Ark.
The 45th annual folk, roots and ethnic music event kicks off Jan. 28 with revered Irish songwriter Glen Hansard, bluegrass powerhouse Punch Brothers, singer-songwriter Madison Cunningham and Maine “holler roots” band Ghost of Paul Revere, along with Gina Chavez and Kyshona.
On Saturday, the legendary Americana artist Emmylou Harris headlines, with acclaimed singer-songwriter Patty Griffin returning to the folk festival stage as well as Oshima Brothers, the Michigan-bred Sweet Water Warblers super-group, Brittney Spencer and Jared Deck.
“We are super excited to be able to present live and in person at Hill Auditorium once again,” said marketing director Barb Chaffer Authier. “I’d say that it doesn’t feel real quite yet, but we’re definitely looking forward to it.”
Pre-sale benefactor, platinum and gold circle tickets are available Nov. 29-Dec. 5, with a member pre-sale Dec. 6-8. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Dec. 10.
Regular and member tickets are $45-$65 for a one-day pass; $80-$120 for the weekend.
“Floored’: The Sweet Water Warblers (Photo/Anna Sink)
“We are completely floored to get to perform with some of the most legendary musicians,” said Traverse City singer-songwriter May Erlewine, who’s part of The Sweet Warblers (which also features Lindsay Lou and Rachael Davis). “All three of us have looked to Patty and Emmylou as heroes and guides. The Folk Festival is a tradition that we feel so fortunate to be a part of.”
Erlewine, who’s performed at the festival once before, added that the Sweet Water Warblers will be touring “a few special new year’s shows surrounding” the Hill Auditorium set in January.
Presented by The Ark and Ford Motor Company Fund with support from the University of Michigan Center for Campus Involvement, the festival raises money for the non-profit Ark.
More artists are expected to be added to the lineup.
“As we always try to achieve with our lineups, we once again have a great mix of well-known favorites along with emerging artists that we can’t wait to introduce to new audiences here in Southeast Michigan,” Authier said.
“This lineup showcases a variety of styles of ‘Ark music’ that we present year-round.”
Last January, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, The Ark staged the folk festival as a virtual event online.
Patty Griffin will play the same night as Emmylou Harris. (Photo/Tori Thomas)
Copyright 2021, Spins on Music LLC
