OUR STORY

We are located at 301 N. FIFTH AVE, at the corner of Catherine St. — next door to Detroit Street Filling Station.

HOURS: Weds-Sat, 5pm to 11pm. Music goes from 7pm to 10pm. Happy Hour is from 5pm to 6:30pm Weds-Fri and 5 to 6pm Sat.

We have a weekly lineup of music and events as follows: Wednesday is music, events & open mic; Thursday is LGBTQ night, Friday is Bluegrass and Saturday is rotating artists/ticketed shows.

Come early for dinner and a drink; stay late for a nightcap and to play the free jukebox!

The club’s name pays homage to the courageous and brilliant Harriet Tubman, who led enslaved people to freedom following the North Star.
Portrait by Sam Nadon-Nichols

Pre-pandemic – from 2018 to early 2020–Detroit Street Filling Station (the vegan restaurant right next door) hosted live music 4 or 5 times per week- bluegrass, boogie-woogie piano, folk, and jazz of all stripes plus the occasional funk band or soulful beats-maker– as well as Lesbo Bingo, prisoner art openings, poetry readings and open mic nights. Sadly, during the pandemic our number of events shrunk considerably. The North Star Lounge pick ups where Detroit Street left off, by offering a real home to our myriad musicians and entertainers.

The North Star Lounge occupies a historic, red-brick two-story house located at the corner of N. Fifth Ave and Catherine St. The first floor holds a bar and seating. The second floor is an open space with a stage, piano, booths and tables, and a vintage jukebox.The building houses numerous plants and plant-like sculptures that, together with the numerous windows and brick-wall theme, blend indoor and outdoor design elements.

The purpose of the North Star Lounge is three-fold: to provide opportunities for musicians to showcase their talent; to bring people together to enjoy the events and each other and to have fun; and to put Ann Arbor on the map as having the first entirely vegan bar in the state. 

Let’s face it: the pandemic has been stressing us out. The North Star Lounge will provide opportunities to blow off steam and have some fun!

General questions? Reach us at northstarloungea2@gmail.com

To apply to perform please go here.

To inquire about a private event rental please go here.

  • Is the venue 21+

    No, we are an all ages venue.

  • Do you have a happy hour?

    Yes! Happy Hour is from 5-6:30pm Weds thru Fri, and 5-6pm Sat. $2 off all beverages and $1 popcorn.

  • Can I rent the North Star Lounge for a private party?

    The North Star is available for rental. It is a perfect venue for parties of 50 people maximum. We can provide food, drinks and entertainment. Send inquiries to northstarloungea2@gmail.com

  • Why the name 'North Star Lounge' ?

    Our name is inspired by s/hero, slave-liberator and activist-extraordinaire Harriet Tubman. The north star was the beacon followed by Harriet Tubman to lead enslaved people to freedom. A portrait of our patron saint – by local artist Sam Nadon-Nichols – adorns the first floor bar, with a backdrop mural of a starry night painted by members of our Detroit Street community: Miles Roper & Cameron Prudhomme. The North Star Lounge is our own symbol of hope and a beacon pointing towards a positive future.

  • Can I get a reservation?

    For most nights, the answer is no. Admission will be granted on a first-come, first-served basis. The exception is ticketed events, of which we will have a handful in the coming months. In those cases, your ticket purchase serves as your reservation.

  • How can I contact you?

    For general questions please email us at northstarloungea2@gmail.com

    For music & entertainment booking inquiries please submit your information HERE.

  • Do you serve food? What kind of drinks do you serve?

    Yes! From 5 to 8pm, we have available the entire menu of Detroit Street Filling Station, our vegan restaurant next door. We also have available during all open hours the following tasty vegan bar snacks:

    Mac & cheese, chili,, popcorn with various toppings, tortilla chips with spinach-avocado dip, sweet & savory nut mixes, and baked goods

    The North Star Lounge serves draft and canned beers, wine, classic and craft cocktails, and non-alcoholic mixed drinks.

    Come for dinner; come for drinks & snacks!

  • What about COVID safety?

    You may notice three air purification units in the space — one on the first floor and two on the second. They look like black cubes and are called Vollara Air & Surface Pros. They combine multiple complementary technologies, including HEPA, activated carbon, and ActivePure® Technology. Patented ActivePure is an advanced surface and air purification technology. It has been proven to reduce over 99.9% of many common airborne and surface contaminants. These units reduce: dirt and dust in the air; many common viruses, bacteria molds and fungi; and smoke, allergens, odors and VOCs.

    https://vollara.activepure.com/trust/

  • Is the space accessible to all?

    In a nutshell: the first floor yes, the second floor no.

    Sadly we are a small building with no elevator.Given the small size of the venue (600 square feet per floor), the building is exempt from accessibility requirements. An elevator is required only for spaces larger than 3000 square feet, and the North Star is about a third of that size. Additionally, due to structural considerations, an elevator is not feasible in space.

    Here is what are doing to maximize our accessibility:

    - The first floor is barrier-free.

    - People with accessibility requirements will be given priority seating in the first floor bar area.

    - There is a close-circuit screen and speakers on the first floor, allowing all to enjoy the musical experience happening upstairs.

TELL ME MORE ABOUT THE JUKEBOX

It’s true! We have a Rock-Ola Bubbler jukebox. And it is free for our patrons to use!

Select tunes from a curated collection of jazz, bluegrass, pride CDs– and more!

From the Rock-Ola website:

The Rock-Ola Bubbler is an instantly recognizable machine. It is an eternal staple of American culture and is the only true authentic brand-new American jukebox on the planet. Drawing inspiration from the Wurlitzer 1015, the world’s first ‘original jukebox’, this classic design has endured over 50 years with very few changes.

The Bubbler shares the Wurlitzer’s famous grille and gets its name from the pockets of air that float up to the top of the eight bubble tubes lining the machine. These bubbles slide through the deep, hypnotizing colors created by the rotating pilasters, making the Bubbler as enchanting to the eye as it is to the ear.