Our Coffee House Series Needs Your Help! Please visit our crowdfunding information page for more details!
Join us for exceptional music, coffee, and dessert in an intimate setting at one of our Coffee House events.
Snacks and beverages available. Kids welcome.
We now have three locations! Please note which location is hosting your event!
Out Of Eden location: 2415 Norvell Rd, Grass Lake Mi 49240
Dixboro location: 5221Church Rd, Ann Arbor MI 48105
Grace Church location: 3150 Glazier Way, Ann Arbor MI 48105
To purchase tickets:
Click Eventbrite link found with each event listing OR call (734) 645-0944 and leave a message with your name, number of seats, and performance date; then pay at the door with cash or check.
No tickets are mailed; simply give your name at the door.
Doors open 30 minutes before show time.
Times are tough — money is tight. Music brings comfort and joy. If your budget prevents you from paying admission, please don’t stay away! At the door, simply pay what you can, or mention that you are on the guest list. It’s just not the same without you!
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Fri07Feb20208:00 pm1001 Green Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48105
Tickets $15
Michigan native Claudia Schmidt has covered a lot of musical ground, beginning with a stirring rendition of "Tammy," at age 4, around a neighborhood bonfire. Claudia's 3-decade career touring North America and Europe includes regular stints on "A Prairie Home Companion;" participating in the delightful Les Blank movie, "Gap-Toothed Women," contributing a song as well as an interview; and performing a lead role in The Gales of November," a musical retelling of the Edmund Fitzgerald tragedy from the point of view of three wives of the doomed crew of the Great Lakes ore-carrier. Claudia has recorded fourteen albums mostly of original songs, exploring folk, blues, and jazz idioms featuring 12-string guitar and mountain dulcimer. I Thought About You is her second effort leading her own swinging sextet, Claudia Schmidt & The JumpBoys. In 2003 she released a spoken-word CD, Roads, which includes poems and essays from her rich performance repertoire. In 2006 Claudia released her first self-produced folk/acoustic CD, Spinning, with a studio full of Michigan s finest musicians. Claudia describes herself as a "creative noisemaker." You may expect anything at a Schmidt concert: hymn, poem, bawdy verse, torch song, satire. She can weave the elements of music and stage into a program so full of life that one critic has described a Claudia Schmidt concert as "...a lot like falling in love. You never know what's going to happen next; chances are it's going to be wonderful; every moment is burned into your memory; and you know you'll never be the same again." www.claudiaschmidt.com -
Fri14Feb20208:00 pm1001 Green Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48105
Tickets $20
Vocalist and composer Carla Cooke is the youngest daughter of the legendary Sam Cooke, whose musical life encompassed religion, romance, and history. Carla’s career mirrors that of her father, in that she crafted her sound in the church. Carla sought not to use her father’s name, but to build her own reputation. Now the younger Cooke knows that her roots are firmly entwined in her father's as she connects with them through his music.
Carla Cooke’s style is diverse in gospel, Christian, R&B, soul, and pop styles. With a strong vocal range and warm personality, Carla shows that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, as she channels the raw talent, emotion, beauty, and charisma of the Cooke family persona.
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Fri28Feb20208:00 pm1001 Green Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48105
Tickets $15
You haven't heard "Pinball Wizard" or "People Are Strange" until you've heard it played on jugs and "various other sundries." Jug band music is blues, ragtime, swing and jazz combined in a strange concoction spawned in Loiusville, home of the Juggernaut Jug Band. Jug bands flourished in towns along the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers in the 1920s and 1930s.Today, as then, a jug band is the ultimate party band. The Juggernauts have been featured on the "Today Show" and radio's "Dr. Demento Show." Their current CD is Jugs Up! www.juggernautjugband.com
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Fri06Mar20208:00 pm1001 Green Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48105
Tickets $20
Her songs? They’re about as idiosyncratic as anything in the wide world of “popular music.” They’re painfully personal, yet they somehow infiltrate the souls of her listeners, no matter how different the paths they’ve followed through their lives.
Songs aren’t so much written as harvested by Gauthier. Though she lives not far from the hit-making mills of Music Row, she admits to knowing nothing about how to write on command. She says, “I have to be called to write. The call comes from somewhere I don’t understand, but I know it when I hear it.”
That call first came to her a long time ago. Her life to that point had led her to extremes, plenty of negatives and a few brilliant bright spots. An adopted child who became a teenage runaway, she found her first shelter among addicts and drag queens. Eventually she achieved renown as a chef even while balancing her restaurant responsibilities with the demands of addiction to heroin.
Two more successful restaurants, an escalating addiction, and a subsequent arrest led her into sobriety. It was rehearsal for what was to follow, when she wrote her first song in her mid-thirties. From that point, Gauthier channeled a long line of eloquent works, including the achingly beautiful, "Mercy Now." She says of her new CD, Trouble and Love, “I started the process in a lot of grief. I’d lost a lot. So the first batch of songs was just too sad. It was like walking too close to the fire. I had to back off from it. The truth is that when you’re in the amount of grief I was in, it’s an altered state. Life is not that. You go through that. We human beings have this built-in healing mechanism that’s always pushing us toward life. I didn’t want to write just darkness, because that’s not the truth. I had to write through the darkness to get to the truth. Writing helped me back onto my feet again. This record is about getting to a new normal. It’s a transformation record.”
Mary will be performing as a duo with Jaimee Harris — www.jaimeeharris.com
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Fri27Mar20208:00 pm1001 Green Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48105
CANCELED--Rescheduled to October 16, 2020
Stephen Bishop is a world-class guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter with a celebrated career of over four decades. His attraction to the music industry began at age 13, after seeing the Beatles perform on “The Ed Sullivan Show.”
Stephen ventured to Los Angeles in the hopes of landing a songwriting contract. A friend connected him with Art Garfunkel, and Art recorded two of Stephen's songs on his album, Breakaway.
Shortly thereafter, Stephen was signed to ABC Records. His first album, Careless, produced the hits, “On and On,” and “Save It For a Rainy Day." His song, “It Might Be You,” was the theme to the film, “Tootsie.” Stephen has been nominated for two Grammys and garnered an Oscar nomination. In Eric Clapton's autobiography, he mentions Stephen Bishop as one of his favorite songwriters. His latest album is Blueprint.
Fun fact: Stephen appeared as the “Charming Guitar Player,” in Animal House. In the toga party scene, John Belushi slams Stephen's guitar to smithereens. -
Fri03Apr20208:00 pm1001 Green Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48105
CANCELED due to COVID-19 concerns
Fred Eaglesmith can talk to you about almost anything. Chances are, he’s had that car, tractor, job, relationship, idea, and hat. But throughout his life and experiences there is always one thing that has remained the same: his undeniable gift for writing a song. Aspiring songwriters and performers of all ages call and write Fred with questions on how to have a career like his. And what can he say? Start writing songs when you’re 10 years old. Grow up with poverty, agriculture, religion, and eight siblings. Run away from home. Hop freight trains. Start a business. Loose a business. Struggle to get any gig. Drive to Nashville with no money and pockets full of songs. Get a record deal. Lose a record deal. Win a Juno Award. Break down on the side of the road everyday for days on end. Become a cult hero and amass a following of self-proclaimed “Fred Heads.” Tour relentlessly. Become everyone’s favorite. Becomes nobody’s favorite. Follow your gut. Smarten up. Don’t care what anybody thinks. Be fair. Be loyal no matter what. Keep going. Soften up. Give people a break. Expect nothing. Give everything. Keep going. Allow yourself to be happy. Find out who you are and deal with that. Don’t stay in fancy hotels. Write good songs.
After all these years touring the United States, Canada, and Europe, having his songs covered by some of the biggest names in music, and appearing on “The Late Show with David Letterman” – the enigmatic, countrified, Rock n’ Roll troubadour, Fred Eaglesmith, is carrying on with musical wife Tif Ginn.
Eaglesmith is a veteran of the music industry and at the same time is about as far away from actually participating in today’s music industry as one could be. Never operating within anyone’s boundaries, he continues to set the standard for independent artists everywhere.
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Fri10Apr20207:00 pm1001 Green Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48105
CANCELED
Windborne, Katie Geddes, and Michael Krieger present the story of Good Friday, told through the music of Indigo Girls, Natalie Merchant and Andrew Lloyd Webber, along with scripture and prayer.30 minute service repeats at 7:30pm and 8:00pm.Enter at any time; stay as long as you like.(Worship service; no admission charge) -
Tue14Apr20207:00 pm1001 Green Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48105
CANCELED due to COVID-19
Tickets are $15 cash at the door only. No pre-sales or credit cards.
A CD release concert / sing-along for the release of the The Far Si: The Si Kahn Funny Song Sing-along Songbook
Matt Watroba brings a very special set of talents to the stage whenever he appears as a folk musician. His excellent guitar playing, mellow voice, friendship with his audience, and knowledge of his presentations is impressive. Add to that Matt's own special brand of humor and you are in for a most entertaining and enlightening evening. You will feel his obvious love of folk music, both traditional and contemporary; its writers and performers, its heroes and villains. Matt sings songs of compassion, inner strength, humor, and everyday living.
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Fri17Apr20208:00 pm1001 Green Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48105
CANCELED due to COVID-19
Don will be back in 2021.
Don Campbell is a contemporary/country crossover and folk-rock singer/songwriter whose presentation of music supports the story in the song and welcomes the audience on board for the ride. Often compared to the sounds of Dan Fogelberg, Vince Gill, and Chris Isaak, Don and his ensembles are based out of New England. In 2012, Don released a double CD, "Kites To Fly: Celebrating the Music of Dan Fogelberg," and in 2013 began presenting live performances of this music around his own busy schedule of Don Campbell shows.
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Fri24Apr20208:00 pm1001 Green Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48105
CANCELED due to COVID-19
There are songs that transport you to good times remembered. Songs like, “I’d Really Love To See You Tonight,” “Nights Are Forever Without You,” and, “Love Is The Answer” have that effect on many of us. These songs and numerous others have made John Ford Coley a singing legend.
John is most revered as half of the duo England Dan and John Ford Coley. The classically-trained pianist and talented guitarist continues performing the gold and platinum record hits for audiences around the world. Some of Coley’s other hits are, “Gone Too Far,” “We’ll Never Have To Say Goodbye Again,” and, “Sad To Belong."
John’s experiences comprise a broad background. Although he performed throughout high school and college as a classical and rock pianist, he chose to major in English Literature in college, and is an avid student of history. In the mid-1980’s, John began acting in television and in feature films. He recently penned a book, "Backstage Pass," about his years in the music industry.
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Fri01May20208:00 pm1001 Green Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48105
CANCELED due to COVID-19
Back by popular demand! Don White combines heartfelt, serious lyrics with side-splitting laughs to provide an evening not to be forgotten. This Massachusetts comedian/singer/songwriter/author is best-known in these parts for his radio gems, "Rascal," "Psycho Mom and Dad" and "I Know What Love Is." A Don White show promises to delight new audiences and devoted "repeat offender" fans, alike.
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Fri08May20208:00 pm1001 Green Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48105
CANCELED due to COVID-19
“Over the last couple of decades, East Nashville fixture Amelia White has built a folk-pop catalog that's as unfussy as it is consistent in quality, and full of insinuating hooks, slyly sleepy singing and lean, jangly backing. "Rhythm of the Rain," the title cut of the album she released in January, looks at the current political frenzy from a seasoned, bohemian remove." -Jewly Hight, NPR MUSIC, Aug. 19 2019
Dave Coleman is a singer/songwriter/guitarist/producer/engineer based in East Nashville, Tennessee. He grew up on the Cumberland Plateau in Jamestown, Tennessee. The son of a small town attorney and a National Park ranger, He was isolated in a small town childhood that provided the time to pursue guitar and recording. His young talent found him with a publishing deal at age 20 at legendery Acuff-Rose Music Publishing. After two years of writing for a living, he struck out on his own with his band.
Website: www.thecoalmen.com & www.davecoleman.biz
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Fri15May20208:00 pm1001 Green Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48105
CANCELED due to COVID-19
In a career that spans 23 albums and includes three Grammy awards, Tom Chapin has covered a lot of creative ground. In addition to his work as a recording artist and concert performer, Chapin has acted on Broadway and worked in films, television and radio. Tom grew up in a family that encouraged artistic pursuits. He began performing professionally as a teenager in the early 1960s, playing in Greenwich Village folk clubs alongside his siblings, Harry and Steve, as one of The Chapin Brothers. In 1971, he began a five-year run as the host of the ABC-TV children's series, "Make A Wish." Chapin and his songs were also featured in the 1970 documentary film, "Blue Water, White Death," for which he spent six months sailing the Indian Ocean searching for great white sharks.
As a music-maker, Chapin has maintained two parallel careers, as a highly respected contemporary folk artist and as a pioneer in the field of children's music. In the former role, Chapin has established a reputation for insightful, heartfelt songcraft and charismatic live performances. In the latter, he continues to engage the hearts, minds and imaginations of young listeners with witty, life-affirming original songs delivered in a sophisticated array of musical styles. Chapin's infectious songs, sterling musicianship and personal warmth shine, whether he's performing on record or in a concert hall, an outdoor festival, a school, in front of a symphony orchestra, or in an intimate coffeehouse.
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Fri11Sep20208:00 pm1001 Green Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48105
This show is postponed until 2021
Warm as summer sunshine, real as the truth, intimate as a long overdue visit between old friends … such is a Jonathan Edwards concert. Four decades into a stellar career of uncompromising musical integrity, the man simply delivers, night after night – songs of passion, songs of isight, songs of humor, all rendered in that pure and powerful tenor which, like fine wine, has only grown sweeter with age.
This is one veteran performer who is neither grizzled nor nostalgic.
Jonathan's highly respected repertoire includes such classics as, “Sometimes,” “One Day Closer,” “Don’t Cry Blue,” “Emma,” “Everybody Knows Her,” “Athens County,” and everyone’s favorite ode to putting a good buzz on, “Shanty.” And then, of course, there’s the anthemic “Sunshine (Go Away Today),” that fierce proclamation of protest and independence that resonated with thousands and thousands of frustrated and angry young men and women when it was first released in 1971. Almost 40 years later, at show after show, the song continues to be embraced by faithful followers and new fans alike.
Since 1971, Jonathan has released 15 albums, including "Blue Ridge," his standard-setting collaboration with bluegrass favorites the Seldom Scene, and "Little Hands," his collection of children’s songs, which was honored with a National Library Association award. His brand new album is, "Tomorrow's Child." -
Fri18Sep20208:00 pm1001 Green Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48105
Canceled-
A brand new band made up of seasoned pros! Two veteran Michigan duos join forces in a new quartet/quintet: Diamonds in the Rust. In the group (Annie and Rod Capps and Jan Krist and Jim Beyser, along with percussionist/composer Alan Finkbeiner), everyone sings, everyone plays multiple instruments, and the band boasts a trio of respected, award-winning songwriters. Perhaps best of all is the palpable joy and camaraderie that happens between great musicians who are also good friends.
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Fri09Oct20208:00 pm1001 Green Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48105
Canceled-
After attending Manhattan School of Music as a percussionist for nearly a year, Sophie B Hawkins left to pursue a professional music career. She got her big break playing percussion for Bryan Ferry, and after he fired her she was inspired to write the hit single, “Damn, I Wish I Was Your Lover”.Her first album, Tongues and Tails, full of primal, fiery pop, was an immediate success, earning her a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist. Sophie followed that with Whaler, which featured the smash ballad, “As I Lay Me Down."
More recently, Sophie has displayed her versatility starring as Janis Joplin in the stage musical, "Room 105," receiving rave reviews during its sold-out run.
Sophie has earned six New York Music awards as well as an ASCAP award for “As I Lay Me Down”. Her music has been a part of major television shows and films such as "Dawson’s Creek," "Party of Five," "Community," "40 Days and 40 Nights," and "Mrs. Winterbourne."
Sophie is preparing to release a new album. She has two children and currently resides in Brooklyn, NY.
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Fri16Oct20208:00 pm1001 Green Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48105
Canceled-
Fred Eaglesmith can talk to you about almost anything. Chances are, he’s had that car, tractor, job, relationship, idea, and hat. But throughout his life and experiences there is always one thing that has remained the same: his undeniable gift for writing a song. Aspiring songwriters and performers of all ages call and write Fred with questions on how to have a career like his. And what can he say? Start writing songs when you’re 10 years old. Grow up with poverty, agriculture, religion, and eight siblings. Run away from home. Hop freight trains. Start a business. Loose a business. Struggle to get any gig. Drive to Nashville with no money and pockets full of songs. Get a record deal. Lose a record deal. Win a Juno Award. Break down on the side of the road everyday for days on end. Become a cult hero and amass a following of self-proclaimed “Fred Heads.” Tour relentlessly. Become everyone’s favorite. Becomes nobody’s favorite. Follow your gut. Smarten up. Don’t care what anybody thinks. Be fair. Be loyal no matter what. Keep going. Soften up. Give people a break. Expect nothing. Give everything. Keep going. Allow yourself to be happy. Find out who you are and deal with that. Don’t stay in fancy hotels. Write good songs.
After all these years touring the United States, Canada, and Europe, having his songs covered by some of the biggest names in music, and appearing on “The Late Show with David Letterman” – the enigmatic, countrified, Rock n’ Roll troubadour, Fred Eaglesmith, is carrying on with musical wife Tif Ginn.
Eaglesmith is a veteran of the music industry and at the same time is about as far away from actually participating in today’s music industry as one could be. Never operating within anyone’s boundaries, he continues to set the standard for independent artists everywhere.
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Fri23Oct20208:00 pm1001 Green Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48105
Canceled-
Laura Wortman and Kagey Parrish celebrate their 9th year of touring full time as The Honey Dewdrops, having played stages and festivals all over North America and Europe. With tight harmonies and musicianship that features claw hammer banjo, mandolin, and guitars, they offer up a handcrafted repertoire of heartfelt lyrics and moving melodies.
After leaving their home base of Virginia and living on the road for 2 years, Laura and Kagey now call Baltimore, Maryland home and it's where they wrote and recorded their fourth full-length album, "Tangled Country." Just like their stage performance, these songs rock, reel, and rollick.
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Fri30Oct20208:00 pm1001 Green Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48105
Canceled-
There is no better storyteller than Chuck Brodsky. Ranging from poignant to hilarious, his songs are about the little things in the lives of everyday people. Chuck's soulful and compassionate voice brings his characters to life, and is the perfect instrument for infusing his lyrics with heartfelt humanity or biting wit. His spoken introductions to his songs can be as spellbinding as his colorful lyrics, which he brings to life with a well-travelled voice and a delivery that's natural and conversational. His groove-oriented strumming and fingerpicking draw on influences from the mountains of western North Carolina where he now lives, and from lots of different good old traditional folk stuff of all kinds. Chuck is widely known for his many wonderful songs about the heroes -- and zeroes -- of baseball. His latest CD is The Tell Tale Heart.
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Fri04Dec20208:00 pm1001 Green Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48105Canceled-
Back by popular demand! Don White combines heartfelt, serious lyrics with side-splitting laughs to provide an evening not to be forgotten. This Massachusetts comedian/singer/songwriter/author is best-known in these parts for his radio gems, "Rascal," "Psycho Mom and Dad" and "I Know What Love Is." A Don White show promises to delight new audiences and devoted "repeat offender" fans, alike.
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Fri11Dec20208:00 pm1001 Green Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48105
Canceled-
Katie Geddes
Katie Geddes sings traditional and contemporary folk, country-folk, and folk-pop tunes. In deft interpretations of beloved songs, Katie's captivating voice and velvety-smooth delivery bring new life to the compositions of writers such as John Prine, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Michael Nesmith and Lennon and McCartney. Katie’s 2010 CD release, We Are Each Other’s Angels, has received extensive airplay across the country and around the world. When not doing her own gigs, Katie has been known to “moonlight” singing harmony for folk-rock legend Melanie and local favorite Matt Watroba. katiegeddes.com
Vocal trio All About Eve (Katie, Deb Wood, David Vaughn) offers up a variety of close harmony pop covers and traditional and contemporary folk and gospel songs.
Matt Watroba brings a very special set of talents to the stage. His excellent guitar playing, mellow voice, friendship with his audience, and knowledge of his presentations is impressive. Added to that is Matt's own special brand of humor. You will feel his obvious love of folk music, whether traditional or contemporary. Matt sings songs of compassion, inner strength, humor, and everyday living.
