The Ark

This is an intimate and eclectic concert hall, that sits about 400 people.  There is literally not a bad seat in the place.  Stage center seating is reversed, about 100 seats, all the other seats are general admin.  Doors typically open at 7:30pm, with shows starting promptly at 8pm.  People start lining up in from of the Ark, to either purchase tickets or they are holding general admin tickets, around 7pm.  They have a small bar and pop corn stand.

The Ark is a not for profit organization, and all of the ushers are volunteers.  These people are passionate and knowledgeable about music and the performers.

It's a great location to see a long lost musical acts, or a talented local group just starting or a place to sing a long to classic folk songs.  We typically go 2-3 times a year, depending on the artists/band.  You buy tickets online or you can go to the Michigan University Student Union and pay a $1 dollar service charge.

I've Bruce Cockburn here, and last Friday night we saw Jill Sobule and Julia Sweeney.  Occasionally a big name will play at The Ark, but mostly is regional (Michigan) specific artist.

Its worth looking at their calendar, pick a music genre you like, and show up - its better than watching most Hollywood movies.

As David Byrne said..... "Same as it ever was, same as it ever was"

Although the concert line up has grown and become a bit more eclectic, The Ark is the same as it ever was.

It's the perfect spot in Ann Arbor to see a concert. It's still the only place where you can actually hear the performer louder from the stage than through the sound system.  Although it tends to cater to the singer/songwriter crowd, they are equally good at handling high volume bands.

Another thing that I appreciate at the Ark is that the concessions are away from the performing area. These days too many clubs have bars set up in the performance spaces which are a real distraction for both the audience and performer.

Lastly the Ark is loaded with memorabilia. Old concert posters and photos cover the walls, but the one that caught my eye and brought back lots of good memories was the small tribute to Dave and Linda Siglin, the previous managers of the Ark, whose vision really made the club what it is today:  The premier place to enjoy music in the Ann Arbor.

What a great venue! Went here for the first time on a "Take a Chance Tuesday" - free admission and canned goods are accepted for their food pantry partnership. The size is intimate think of your grade school classroom and multiply that by... 2.5? Seriously for a music venue that's awesome!! The staff here is friendly and they have over 300 concerts each year! I have no idea how they manage that. The Ark's endless support for real artists will ensure my patronage for years to come!