Ann Arbor hosts
the area largest annual folk festival.

MEGAN SWOYER Special to The Jewish News

he Ark, long known as one of metro Detroit's b est
venues to showcase local and national talent
— and focusing on everything from chil-
dren's storytelling events to blues and folk
concerts — is now in its 33rd year.
For two decades, the Ann Arbor institution has
held its annual Ann Arbor Folk Festival to help
fund its operational costs. "Without this fund-
raiser, the Ark would not be there," says Linda
Siglin, a spokesperson for the University of
Michigan Major Events Office.
This year, the 21st Ann Arbor Folk Festival will
spin into town 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 31, at Hill
Auditorium in Ann Arbor. "We have 10 acts and an
emcee," says Siglin. "And some of those performers are big

draws whom a lot of people know, like Paula Cole." With a
hit record in "Where Have All the Cowboys Gone," Cole
is up for five Grammys next month.
But other performers are people the audience
may not be familiar with, and that's what's fun
about this annual strum-off. "The Ark books per-
formers for this fund-raiser who are well known
and [others] who may have the promise to be
big," says Siglin, citing that Bonnie Raitt and
John Prine started their musical careers at the
Ark.
This year's performers include Doc Watson and
David Grisman, Chris Smither, Guy Clark, Cheryl
Wheeler, Great Big Sea, The Nields, Dee Carstensen,
Willy Porter and local singer/songwriter Karen Pernick.

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