Ann Arbor Folk Festival Gains a Touch of Country with Junior Brown's Headlining Gig
The 49th Ann Arbor Folk Festival is about to take on a new flavor as country music sensation Junior Brown takes the stage alongside Michigan jam band Greensky Bluegrass. The collaboration marks an exciting shift in this year's festival lineup, which promises to deliver a unique musical experience for attendees.
A veteran of the Austin music scene in the 1990s, Junior Brown is known for his distinctive "guit-steel" double-neck guitar, a hybrid of electric guitar and lap steel guitar. His blend of traditional country and surf rock has earned him comparisons to legendary musicians like Jimi Hendrix and Ernest Tubb.
Brown's reputation as a live performer has led him to become a favorite at The Ark, the non-profit Ann Arbor acoustic music venue that hosts the festival. This year's event will see an updated format, with Greensky Bluegrass headlining on Friday, January 30, followed by a larger bill on Saturday, January 31.
Saturday's lineup boasts an impressive mix of local and national acts, including Amos Lee, Dawes, The Crane Wives, Jon Muq, Rabbitology, and Ryan Montbleau. Tickets for the festival are now available, ranging from $56.60 to $281.50, and can be purchased through theark.org/folk-festival-2026.
With Junior Brown joining forces with Greensky Bluegrass, fans of country and folk music alike can look forward to a dynamic performance that blends different styles and genres. The event promises to deliver an unforgettable experience for attendees, cementing its place as one of the most anticipated events in the folk festival circuit.
The 49th Ann Arbor Folk Festival is about to take on a new flavor as country music sensation Junior Brown takes the stage alongside Michigan jam band Greensky Bluegrass. The collaboration marks an exciting shift in this year's festival lineup, which promises to deliver a unique musical experience for attendees.
A veteran of the Austin music scene in the 1990s, Junior Brown is known for his distinctive "guit-steel" double-neck guitar, a hybrid of electric guitar and lap steel guitar. His blend of traditional country and surf rock has earned him comparisons to legendary musicians like Jimi Hendrix and Ernest Tubb.
Brown's reputation as a live performer has led him to become a favorite at The Ark, the non-profit Ann Arbor acoustic music venue that hosts the festival. This year's event will see an updated format, with Greensky Bluegrass headlining on Friday, January 30, followed by a larger bill on Saturday, January 31.
Saturday's lineup boasts an impressive mix of local and national acts, including Amos Lee, Dawes, The Crane Wives, Jon Muq, Rabbitology, and Ryan Montbleau. Tickets for the festival are now available, ranging from $56.60 to $281.50, and can be purchased through theark.org/folk-festival-2026.
With Junior Brown joining forces with Greensky Bluegrass, fans of country and folk music alike can look forward to a dynamic performance that blends different styles and genres. The event promises to deliver an unforgettable experience for attendees, cementing its place as one of the most anticipated events in the folk festival circuit.
the fact that greensky bluegrass is opening for him is already making me hyped but i'm also low-key excited to see some of these local & national acts too... who's gonna be there?
I'm soooo hyped for this!!! Junior Brown is literally my spirit animal 
and pairing him with Greensky Bluegrass is gonna be PURE MAGIC 
I mean, have you seen Junior Brown live at The Ark? 
and this year's festival lineup sounds AMAZING 
from Amos Lee to Dawes, it's gonna be a wild ride 
I need those tickets ASAP 
junior brown's gonna bring that country heat and greensky bluegrass is already on point 
can't wait to see what the rest of the lineup has in store for us, sounds like it's gonna be a wild ride 
the lineup is insane too, so many talented artists and I'm low-key obsessed with Amos Lee now too 
can't wait to see all these legends perform live 
I'm kinda surprised about this collab... Junior Brown's style is so country-rockish, but Greensky Bluegrass is more like a jam band. Not sure if it'll work out, but at least they're both doing their own thing, right? 
I'm hyped about this lineup! Junior Brown's gonna bring that country rock energy to Ann Arbor and get everyone movin' 
. Can't wait to see him shred on that "guit-steel" double-neck guitar 
. This festival is shapin' up to be one of the best ones yet, can't wait to see all these talented acts come together on stage 
. The Ark is always a great venue, but this festival is shaping up to be EPIC 
so excited for this year's Ann Arbor Folk Festival... finally something new besides the same old indie-folk vibes every year 
can't wait to see him shred with Greensky Bluegrass