Acclaimed Country Artist Junior Brown to Open for Greensky Bluegrass at Ann Arbor Folk Festival
The 49th Ann Arbor Folk Festival is set to kick off with a country twist, as renowned artist Junior Brown will take the stage as the opening act for Michigan jam band Greensky Bluegrass. The festival, scheduled to take place on January 30 and 31, has announced an updated format that promises a more traditional concert experience.
Junior Brown, known for his unique "guit-steel" double-neck guitar style, has been a staple in the Austin, Texas music scene since the 1990s. His genre-bending sound, which combines traditional country with surf rock elements, is reminiscent of musical legends Jimi Hendrix and Ernest Tubb.
Brown's involvement with the festival comes as no surprise, given his long history with Ann Arbor's nonprofit acoustic music venue, The Ark. The festival serves as a fundraiser for The Ark, and organizers have expressed their excitement about Brown's participation.
The festival lineup boasts an impressive mix of local and national acts, including Amos Lee, Dawes, The Crane Wives, Jon Muq, Rabbitology, and Ryan Montbleau. Tickets are now available, ranging from $56.60 to $281.50, on thearkevents.org/folk-festival-2026.
The Ann Arbor Folk Festival promises to be an unforgettable experience for music lovers, with a diverse range of genres and styles coming together in one event. With Junior Brown set to open for Greensky Bluegrass, fans can expect an energetic and captivating performance that showcases the best of country and Americana music.
The 49th Ann Arbor Folk Festival is set to kick off with a country twist, as renowned artist Junior Brown will take the stage as the opening act for Michigan jam band Greensky Bluegrass. The festival, scheduled to take place on January 30 and 31, has announced an updated format that promises a more traditional concert experience.
Junior Brown, known for his unique "guit-steel" double-neck guitar style, has been a staple in the Austin, Texas music scene since the 1990s. His genre-bending sound, which combines traditional country with surf rock elements, is reminiscent of musical legends Jimi Hendrix and Ernest Tubb.
Brown's involvement with the festival comes as no surprise, given his long history with Ann Arbor's nonprofit acoustic music venue, The Ark. The festival serves as a fundraiser for The Ark, and organizers have expressed their excitement about Brown's participation.
The festival lineup boasts an impressive mix of local and national acts, including Amos Lee, Dawes, The Crane Wives, Jon Muq, Rabbitology, and Ryan Montbleau. Tickets are now available, ranging from $56.60 to $281.50, on thearkevents.org/folk-festival-2026.
The Ann Arbor Folk Festival promises to be an unforgettable experience for music lovers, with a diverse range of genres and styles coming together in one event. With Junior Brown set to open for Greensky Bluegrass, fans can expect an energetic and captivating performance that showcases the best of country and Americana music.
... I mean, I'm sure it'll be fun for everyone who's into that stuff, but $281.50 for a ticket? Are they kidding me? 
And what's with the whole "tradition" thing? Just gonna be a bunch of old guys playing their guitars and singing about trucks and heartbreak... 
Can't wait to see Junior Brown's set, though - at least he's trying to bring some excitement to the festival. But I'm still not convinced it'll be worth the cash...
Junior Brown is gonna kill it opening for Greensky Bluegrass at Ann Arbor Folk Fest! 
I'm so down for a country twist on the festival vibes. His unique "guit-steel" style is gonna bring that Texas heat to the stage. Can't wait to see him shred with those legendary guitar riffs 
. And, of course, Greensky Bluegrass is always a jam-tastic addition to any lineup. This year's festival is shaping up to be EPIC 
!
Still, Junior Brown's gonna bring that Texas twang and guitar-steel vibes to the table, which should be awesome. And hey, it's for The Ark, so that's a win in my book! 
Plus, Greensky Bluegrass is always lit, so I'm hyped they're bringing them along. I'll def be checking out some of the other acts too - Amos Lee and Dawes are always solid choices. Anyone else excited? 
junior brown is going to KILL it opening for greensky bluegrass, I mean have you heard him play his "guit-steel" double-neck guitar? IT'S LIKE NOTHING YOU'VE EVER HEARD BEFORE!!! 
and the fact that he's been a part of ann arbor's nonprofit acoustic music venue, The Ark, for so long just makes it even more special. I'm definitely buying tickets and making sure to catch his set. And with all these other awesome acts lined up too, it's going to be an unforgettable weekend! 
I'm totally stoked! Junior's "guit-steel" sound is so unique and infectious, it'll definitely get the crowd moving. And, of course, his history with The Ark makes sense - that place has been a hub for awesome music in Ann Arbor for years. Can't wait to see him bring that energy to the festival 
since 2007, and his guitar skills are insane! I remember when he played at The Ark back in the day, it was like a party up in there 
. I'm loving the fact that they're keeping it traditional this year, no streaming or downloads for this festival 
. It's gonna be so cool to see all these talented artists play live together on one stage. And $56.60 for a weekend pass? That's like, what, 10 bucks an hour?! 
. Can't wait to see Junior Brown bring his energy to the stage, opening for Greensky Bluegrass - it's gonna be a wild ride! 
. I'm curious to see what else this lineup has in store - Amos Lee and Dawes are already high on my list 
. Junior Brown's unique sound is gonna bring such energy to the stage 
. And let's not forget The Ark gets a big shoutout for supporting local music 
. Can't wait to grab those tickets and rock out with Amos Lee, Dawes, and the rest of the lineup 
i mean have u ever seen him play live? 
anyway back to junior brown... i saw him play at the ark last year and it was INSANE 
. can't wait to see him bring the house down on jan 30 & 31 
and i'm loving the updated festival format - more intimate concerts, yeah! 
Can't wait to grab those tickets and experience the magic at the Ann Arbor Folk Festival! 
u guys gotta check this out!!! so junior brown is opening up 4 greensky bluegrass at ann arbor folk fest & i am DYING 
but trust me its worth every penny!
... but at the same time, I kinda think it's gonna be too traditional? Like, what if they don't mix it up enough with some newer artists? 
And $56.60 to $281.50 for tickets is a bit steep, you know? I mean, I love Greensky Bluegrass and all, but I'm not sure I wanna shell out that much cash... unless they're gonna have a huge merch table 
.