May 21 Tuesday
The Easy Street Jazz Band has played Dixieland jazz for over 50 years right here in Ann Arbor. Leader/trombonist Terry Kimura picks familiar tunes from the traditional jazz repertoire and blows the dust off some forgotten gems from Fats Waller, Jelly Roll Morton, Walter Donaldson, Hoagy Carmichael and other great composers from the early part of the 20th century. Kimura, Matt Collar (tr), Chris Tabaczynski (reeds) Pete Siers (percussion), Rod McDonald (guitar and banjo), Paul Keller (bass), and a guest pianist play great jazz for listening and dancing fun.
May 22 Wednesday
Charles E. Boyk Law Offices are proud to offer our 16th annual Bikes for Kids Giveaway. To promote bicycle safety and recognize deserving children in the community, we are giving away 10 bikes to local children for the summer! To learn more and make a nomination visit our Bikes for Kids Giveaway page.
Billy Davis is an inductee of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Doo Wop Hall of Fame, and the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame. Billy was the lead guitarist for Hank Ballard and The Midnighters for 30 years. Born in Bentonia, MS in 1938, by the age of 17, Billy Davis & The Upsetters became Berry Gordy’s first in-house live band. He was the guitarist for Jackie Wilson, Sam Cooke, Ben E. King, and many other artists including Martha and The Vandellas. Billy was the mentor and lifelong friend of Jimi Hendrix teaching him what he knew about guitar and his special sound which in later years became the signature for many other musicians.
Billy Davis is a hard-working guitarist, associated throughout the years with well-known musical contemporaries such as James Brown, David Ruffin, Chubby Checker and Berry Gordy; with fans as famous as Bruce Willis, Danny Glover and many others. Billy co-wrote music for many famous hits including “The Twist” when with Hank Ballard, which was later popularized with Chubby Checker’s version. In 1988 Billy appeared in the cult film Tapeheads with John Cusack and Tim Robbins.
Billy has been very active recording several albums including original songs, as well as collaborating with many other artists when called upon. He has continued to share his great insight into the music world and his golden memories of working with the greats as he is interviewed on many local and national radio stations and in national music magazines. He can be seen in the music documentary films Re-Mastered: The Two Killings of Sam Cooke and Paradise Boogie.
Billy continues to carry the torch in the music industry as he is a treasured music legend in his own time. He continues to mentor as he has included Mighty Michael Mendelson as special guest with his Billy Davis Rhythm Machine Band.
Mighty Michael, 15 years old, plays harmonica and guitar and sings. Michael has been performing since he was 7 years old. He has won many awards and nominations including a 2018 Detroit Music Award nomination, Tribute from the State of Michigan Best New Music Artist, 2018, Detroit Black Music Award 2019, SPAH (Society for the Preservation & Advancement of Harmonica) Youth Scholarship in Tulsa, OK 2019, and represented the USA in 2021. He was a 2022 SPAH Youth Scholar and had been awarded a 2022 Master Class Youth Scholarship by the Pinetop Perkins Foundation in Clarksdale, MS. In January 2023 Michael performed and recorded an album at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis with the International Crossroads Project band. In 2023 Michael was appointed to the Board of Directors, Youth Committee, of the Society for the Preservation and Advancement of the Harmonica (SPAH).
$20 cover.
May 23 Thursday
Join us for a free LGBTQ night happy hour concert!Laura McAndrew is a Michigan-based singer and member of Gingersmack!, a folk-indie-Americana duo that originated here at North Star Lounge. Her acoustic sets draw from heartbreak, nature, and subversive hope for a sound that’s delicate, ornamented, and beautifully bleak.
The double feature drag show returns, with sets at 7 & 8:30. You can expect phenomenal lipsync performances, captivating dance moves, and tons of laughs!
$10 cover per show.
HAVE YOU EVER HAD SUCH A VIVID DREAM YOU THOUGHT IT WAS REAL? Cirque Italia has pulled out all the stops this year to take you on a magical dream adventure. Trust us ANN ARBOR, this is one escapade you cannot afford to miss!
Have you ever wished you could turn back time? To go back to a simpler, happy time filled with sock hops, drive-in theaters, muscle cars, and thick sideburns? Well get out your poodle skirts and leather jackets!Cirque Italia’s Gold Unit performers can’t wait to take you back to a time when hula hoops and soda fountains were abundant, Elvis Presley dominated the airwaves, greased hair was all the rage, and street racing was a parent’s greatest concern! Come along for the ride when a 1950s-obsessed adolescent falls asleep and dreams of living in this revolutionary era. This high-octane show is guaranteed to captivate and engage every kiddo and Daddy-O in the audience.Cirque Italia believes multi-culturalism is one of our strongest assets. Our show features performers from Argentina, Brazil, Romania, and many other countries. Of course, these incredible artists are preparing to wow you with their astounding acts. Master jugglers, low wire fanatics, dazzling contortion, wild trampoline antics, and even a wheel of death! Want to know more? You’ll have to come ‘dream’ with us as we travel back in time. Cirque Italia’s mission is to provide high-class entertainment suitable for all age groups, where all are welcome at our strictly animal-free shows! When: May 23rd – 26th, 2024Where: 100 Briarwood Circle, Ann Arbor, MI 4481008At: Briarwood Mall in the parking lot– Under the stunning White & Blue Big Top Tent!
· May 23 – Thursday: 7:30pm· May 24– Friday: 7:30pm· May 25 – Saturday: 1:30pm, 4:30pm, & 7:30pm· May 26 – Sunday: 1:30pm & 4:30pm
Cost and Purchase Info:For more information, visit www.cirqueitalia.com and make sure to check all our social media accounts. Tickets can be purchased now starting at $10.00-$50.00 depending on availability. Cirque Italia offers one free child admission with every full priced paying adult ticket in levels 2 or 3. This offer cannot be combined with any other offers, discounts, or deals. Please call 941-704-8572 to get the promo code for your location.Box office hours:The box office opens on-site on Tuesday, the week of the show.Non-show days: 10am – 6pmOn show days: 10am – 9pmYou may a0lso purchase tickets through our website (cirqueitalia.com/tickets) or by phone: (941) 704-8572. We also respond to text messages.
May 24 Friday
Join us for a free happy hour concert!Southeast Michigan native Gabe Peacock uses classic rock and folk influences mixed with upbeat and rhythmic guitar to create indie folk and alternative originals meant to catch the ear and tell stories. Inspired by a wide array of music spanning from classic artists such as Bob Dylan and John Prine to new wave indie bands such as Flipturn and Houndmouth, Gabe aims to create a variety of unique and enjoyable songs that appeal to many.
Gabe first entered the music scene in East Lansing while attending Michigan State University. While there, his love for songwriting and performing grew as he cofounded East Lansing band Pummelo and started experimenting with attention-grabbing guitar leads and blunt expressive lyricism. The years after graduation would see the growth of Peacock as a songwriter as he traveled, starting to create the songs that would grow to become tracks on his first studio release. Set to release in 2024, Gabe’s studio EP I Promise You There’s More explores the realities and challenges of establishing oneself as a young adult in the modern world. Now temporarily back in the Ann Arbor area, Gabe hopes to release and share music that could act as the start of a long musical adventure.
Hailing from the Ann Arbor area, the Pontiac Trail Blazers have been the house bluegrass band for Detroit Street Filling Station since 2017. They are often joined by a bevy of special guests and focus on the beautiful harmonies and acoustic prowess that are unique to their Bluegrass roots. With a deep repertoire of traditional standards, originals, and unique covers, the Trail Blazers will keep you guessing with unexpected tunes and arrangements every week. Joining them this week will be Joe Vega on mandolin.
$10 cover.