Junior Brown to Open for Greensky Bluegrass at Ann Arbor Folk Fest
The country flavor is getting a boost this year's Ann Arbor Folk Festival, as acclaimed artist Junior Brown will take the stage as an opening act for Michigan jam band Greensky Bluegrass. The event is set to kick off on Friday, January 30.
A veteran of the Austin music scene in the 1990s, Brown is known for his unique sound, which combines elements of traditional country and surf rock. His signature "guit-steel" double-neck guitar - a hybrid of electric guitar and lap steel guitar - has become a staple of his performances.
Critics have likened Brown's style to that of Jimi Hendrix and Ernest Tubb, making him a standout in the country music world. He has long been a favorite performer at The Ark, the Ann Arbor acoustic music venue where the festival serves as a fundraiser.
For this year's event, organizers have opted for an updated format, with Greensky Bluegrass headlining on Friday, January 30, followed by a larger bill on Saturday, January 31. Saturday's lineup features a diverse mix of local and national acts, including Amos Lee, Dawes, The Crane Wives, Jon Muq, Rabbitology, and Ryan Montbleau.
Tickets to the festival are now available, ranging from $56.60 to $281.50, and can be purchased through theark.org/folk-festival-2026.
The country flavor is getting a boost this year's Ann Arbor Folk Festival, as acclaimed artist Junior Brown will take the stage as an opening act for Michigan jam band Greensky Bluegrass. The event is set to kick off on Friday, January 30.
A veteran of the Austin music scene in the 1990s, Brown is known for his unique sound, which combines elements of traditional country and surf rock. His signature "guit-steel" double-neck guitar - a hybrid of electric guitar and lap steel guitar - has become a staple of his performances.
Critics have likened Brown's style to that of Jimi Hendrix and Ernest Tubb, making him a standout in the country music world. He has long been a favorite performer at The Ark, the Ann Arbor acoustic music venue where the festival serves as a fundraiser.
For this year's event, organizers have opted for an updated format, with Greensky Bluegrass headlining on Friday, January 30, followed by a larger bill on Saturday, January 31. Saturday's lineup features a diverse mix of local and national acts, including Amos Lee, Dawes, The Crane Wives, Jon Muq, Rabbitology, and Ryan Montbleau.
Tickets to the festival are now available, ranging from $56.60 to $281.50, and can be purchased through theark.org/folk-festival-2026.
i mean who doesn't love a good folk fest?! i've heard of greensky bluegrass before but never got a chance to see them live. junior brown opening for them? that's a win in my book! his "guit-steel" thing sounds like so much fun 
can't wait to check out the ark venue, been wanting to try it out 
, kinda awesome that Junior Brown is opening for Greensky Bluegrass at Ann Arbor Folk Fest! I mean, his unique sound, like a mix of country and surf rock, is pretty cool. 
also love how the festival organizers have updated the format for this year's event, it sounds like there's gonna be some great music 
It's like they're trying to suck all the energy out of the event. Junior Brown's sound is cool and all, but it's just so... mellow. Where's the edge? The excitement? The thrill? Give me some real rock 'n' roll any day! And don't even get me started on the fact that it's at The Ark, of all places - I mean, come on, can't they think outside the box a little? 
. Anyone else excited for this festival? 
#CountryRockForever #GuitSteelLegend
can't wait to see him open for Greensky Bluegrass, been a fan of theirs for ages too. Ann Arbor is such a great music city, always so many awesome acts passing through 
. I've seen his live shows before and he puts on an amazing show, it's like a party in the audience 
. Greensky Bluegrass is awesome too, they always get the crowd moving 
. I'm definitely picking up a ticket, anyone else?
️ Got my ticket already, fingers crossed it won't sell out quickly 
! his "guit-steel" sound is so sick 
this updated format with Greensky Bluegrass headlining on Friday sounds lit 
Junior Brown is gonna bring the noise with his guit-steel skills 
I'm not sure if the new format for Saturday is gonna work out, but it's definitely gonna be an interesting lineup with all those talented artists 
! It's like, back in my day we used to go to these festivals just to see our favorite bands and make some amazing memories with friends. And now they're still putting on awesome shows like this one! I love how they're mixing it up this year with an updated format on Saturday... Amos Lee, Dawes, The Crane Wives - that's a sick lineup if you ask me! 
they're literally so good i had them with my coffee this morning and now i'm totally craving one again what's your go-to order from that place anyway?
Like, we're all there for the same reason - to experience something new and connect with others who share our passions. Junior Brown's unique sound is gonna be a total trip, and pairing him with Greensky Bluegrass is like, perfect. It's like he's gonna bring this whole other vibe to the festival, you know? And can we talk about how awesome it is that The Ark is hosting this event as a fundraiser? It's like, we're not just there for the music, we're also supporting our local community 
at Ann Arbor Folk Fest! I mean who doesn't love a good ol' fashioned country party with some surf rock vibes? it's like the festival is sayin', "hey, we know 90s country was made for dancin'!" and Junior Brown is like the life of the party 