Events
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Nightspots
65 North Pickers.: JD’s Stage
MoreJD’s Stage 117 ½ S. Main, Chelsea, Michigan, United StatesProgressive bluegrass band from Kentucky known for its lightning-fast picking and extended improvisational jams.
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Nightspots
Jordan Smith-Hays.: Moonwinks Tavern
MoreMoonwinks Tavern 5151 Plymouth Rd. (734) 994-5151.A mix of mostly instrumental funk, rock, jazz, R&B, and blues covers by this local guitarist.
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Nightspots
“Freakfest.”: Ypsi Alehouse
MoreYpsi Alehouse 124 Pearl, #100, Ypsilanti, YpsilantiWith various acts TBA.
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Nightspots
Rick Burgess Trio.: Earle
MoreEarle 121 W. Washington, Ann ArborJazz ensemble, named after the late jazz pianist and Earle cofounder Burgess, featuring drummer Robert Warren and a rotating roster of bassists and pianists.
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Nightspots
Erena Terakubo Quartet.
MoreEnsemble led by this acclaimed young Japanese saxophonist known for her nimble and powerful playing style.
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Nightspots
Pontiac Trail Blazers.: North Star Lounge
MoreNorth Star Lounge 301 N. Fifth Ave., Ann ArborLocal bluegrass quartet known for its beautiful vocal harmonies and instrumental prowess. Tonight they are joined by guitarist Mike Savina. 7–10 p.m. $10.
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Nightspots
Open Mic.: North Star Lounge
MoreNorth Star Lounge 301 N. Fifth Ave., Ann ArborAll invited to present a song, story, poem, monologue, comedy bit, magic act, other performance. Hosted by Annie Bacon & Forrest Hejkal. Sign-up starts at 6:30 p.m. 7–10 p.m. $5.
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Observer Editor
“Night Terrors”: Wiard’s Orchards
MoreEvery Fri.–Sun. A haunted hayride, a ghostly mental asylum, and three more scary attractions, all bristling with scores of costumed monsters. Refreshments available from the Wiard’s Country Store. Recommended for ages 12 & up. 7:15–11:30 p.m., 5565 Merritt, Ypsi. Tickets $36–$65 in advance only at hauntedhousemichigan.com. (734) 390–9212.
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Observer Editor
“Donnie Darko”: Fathom Entertainment
More(734) 973–8424 (Cinemark), (734) 316–5500 (Emagine). Tickets $12.50 (except as noted) in advance at fathomentertainment.com/events and at the door. Cinemark (4100 Carpenter, Ypsi) & Emagine (1335 E. Michigan Ave., Saline).
Oct. 2–4: “Donnie Darko” (Richard Kelly, 2001). Jake Gyllenhaal stars in this dark, original, and somewhat incoherent psychological sci-fi thriller about a hallucinating teen. Maggie Gyllenhaal, Drew Barrymore. 7:30 p.m. Cinemark only.
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Observer Editor
Bruce Hornsby & the Noisemakers: University Musical Society
MoreSinger-keyboardist Hornsby, who draws from a wide array of traditions, from classical and jazz to bluegrass, folk, and Motown, has played with the likes of Ricky Skaggs and the Grateful Dead. Now 71, he’s cited as an influence by a new generation of musicians, including Bon Iver and Haim. His sets with his touring band the Noisemakers are known for their spontaneity; the band often doesn’t even have a set list, relying instead on audience requests and songs chosen on the fly. Their 2026 album, Indigo Park, boasts guest appearances from Bonnie Raitt and Vampire Weekend’s Ezra Koenig, among others. 7:30 p.m., Hill Auditorium. Tickets $23–$87 (students, $20) in advance at ums.org/season, by phone, & (if available) at the door. (734) 764–2538.
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Observer Editor
“Joel Schoenhals: The Schubert Project”: Kerrytown Concert House
MoreOct. 2 & 4. EMU piano professor Schoenhals plays works by Schubert, from his poetic and introspective Sonata in G Major to his beloved Four Impromptus. 7:30 p.m. (Fri.) & 4 p.m. (Sun.), 415 N. Fourth Ave. $37–$47 (students, $25–$35) in advance at kerrytownconcerthouse.com & at the door. (734) 769–2999.
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Nightspots
Feral at 5.: Rumpus Room
MoreRumpus Room 506 N. Main, Chelsea, ChelseaLocal rock duo of singer-songwriters Kevin Revels and Mike Schorsch.
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Observer Editor
“Whose Live Anyway?”: Martin Media
MoreLive improv comedy games and sketches by the current cast of the Emmy-nominated TV show Whose Line Is It Anyway? A host TBA takes audience suggestions and assigns roles and scenarios to performers Ryan Stiles, Greg Proops, Jeff Davis, and Joel Murray, Bill Murray’s younger brother. Adult language. 7:30 p.m., Michigan Theater. $79–$89 in advance at ticketmaster.com or (800) 745–3000.
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Observer Editor
“Bastard”: Purple Rose Theatre Company
MoreEvery Wed.–Sun., Sept. 24–Dec. 20. Rhiannon Ragland directs retired Detroit newscaster and playwright Devin Scillian’s family comedy-drama about a conflict between brothers—an aging country rocker and a buttoned-down finance guy—after their mother’s death. Adult language and subject matter. 7:30 p.m. (Thurs.), 8 p.m. (Fri. & Sat.), 2 p.m. (Sun.), & 3 p.m. (Sat. & Wed.). 137 Park St., Chelsea. Tickets $31.50–$52.50 in advance at purplerosetheatre.org, (734) 433–7673, & (if available) at the door. Discounts available.
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Observer Editor
Ember & Ash: Rancho Tranquilico
MoreBarn concert by this duo of Alex Holycross, lead singer of the Oakland (MI) self-styled “thrash grass” country quartet the Native Howl, and Erin Zindle, the fiery fiddling frontwoman of the veteran local country-rock band the Ragbirds. Together they play an intense brand of outlaw Americana that blends Holycross’s edgy rasp and heavy metal power chord guitar with Zindle’s airy vocals and graceful fiddle playing. 8 p.m. (doors 7:30 p.m.), 11300 Island Lake Rd., Dexter. Park along the driveway. $30 in advance only (space limited) via Venmo @erin-zindle or PayPal @erinzindle. (734) 223–2321, [email protected].
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Observer Editor
“The Opera Ghost”: Penny Seats Theatre Company
MoreOctober 2–17. Brandy Joe Plambeck directs local actors in Joseph Zettelmaier’s new gothic drama. Deep beneath the famed Palais Garnier Opera House, a mysterious masked man recalls the events of his ghoulish life, which is nearing its end. Adult topics. 8 p.m. (Thurs.–Sat.) & 7 p.m. (Sun.). Cahoots, 206 E. Huron St. Tickets $28 (students, $20; seniors, $25), in advance at pennyseats.org & (if available) at the door. (734) 926–5346, [email protected].
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Observer Editor
“Maestro”: Theatre Nova
MoreEvery Fri.–Sun., Sept. 25–Oct. 18. Briana O’Neal directs local actors in Michigan playwright Michael Alan Herman’s cheeky comedy of manners about two 18th-century Viennese composers who go to ridiculous lengths to compete for a recently vacated royal court position. 8 p.m. (Fri.), 3 & 7 p.m. (Sat.), & 2 p.m. (Sun.). Theatre Nova, 410 W. Huron St. Tickets $33 (seniors, $30; students, $20) in advance at theatrenova.org & (if available) at the door. (734) 635–8450.
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Nightspots
Holly Bowling.: Ark
MoreArk 316 S. Main, Ann ArborAcclaimed California piano virtuoso who blends rigorous classical technique with the fluid, high-wire exploration of improvisational jam-rock. She’s best known for her intricate, note-for-note solo piano transcriptions of live performances by Phish and The Grateful Dead. $29.
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Nightspots
“Rhizome Roots Speakeasy.”: Water Tower Distilling Co.
MoreWater Tower Distilling Co. 23 N. Washington,, YpsilantiMusic and poetry open mic; all performers invited. 8–10 p.m.
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Observer Editor
“Time Passes: 8 Short Plays by Samuel Beckett”: U-M Theatre Department
MoreOct. 1–4 & 8–11. Malcolm Tulip directs drama students in short works by this celebrated Irish playwright known for his verbal play, visual precision, and political imagination. The plays, written between the late 1950s and the early 1980s, include Act Without Words II, Play, Come and Go, Footfalls, Rockaby, Catastrophe, What Where, and Quad. 8 p.m. (Fri. & Sat.), 2 p.m. (Sun.), & 7:30 p.m. (Thurs.), Arthur Miller Theatre, 1226 Murfin. Tickets $35 (students, $16) in advance at tickets.smtd.umich.edu & at the door. (734) 764–0583.
