Join us for a free happy hour concert!
Jeremy started regularly performing in the late 90’s, founded theillalogicalspoon in Jackson, MI in the year 2000, and Little Spoon River in the Irish Hills Area in 2019. His solo performances are full of emotional intensity and intimacy with a focus on the poetry and stories. With songs full of the ecstasy and trauma of being alive he explores the tensions between wildness and civilization, spirit and matter. The music moves from acoustic-punk to experimental to versions of traditional folk tunes, country blues, hymns, and sing-a-longs.

Calling all language dancers, fancy mouths, and word weavers to share and revel. From quiet haikus read from your notebook (or phone) to seasoned slam performers, we welcome poetry across the wide and ever-evolving genre.
Hosted by Forrest Hejkal & cat h. bradley.

Join us for a free happy hour concert!
Deacon Earl, also known as Swervin' Ervin, was born and raised in Lansing, MI. The son of a preacher who grew up with gospel music in the home he ventured into the blues in his twenties. Since then he has been playing Mississippi influenced blues with roots in gospel around the Lansing, MI area, performing in bands and as a solo performer. He plays electric and acoustic guitars, bass, banjo, lap steel, harmonica, keys and the ukulele as well as toying with other instruments. He also mixes in a few reggae covers and originals during his performances. His main influences are Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Lightnin' Hopkins and Deacon Arnold.

Bring your song, story, poetry, comedy, expression, magic, monologue, mood, presence, attention, and appreciation to a safe and welcoming space in the beautiful queer community as we connect with each other and each other’s art. Sign-up begins at 6:30

Hosted by Coley Roberts and Thea Zuby.

Join us for a free happy hour concert!
Singing songwriter, Lauren Crane, returns to the fabulous North Star Lounge for yet another happy hour. Lauren’s songs include humor, imagination, puckish wit (so says her website, which she wrote, so add a grain of salt to that statement) and often end up in the barnyard. Fair warning. Pontiac Trail Blazers follow, so why not make a night of it?

Hailing from the Ann Arbor area, the Pontiac Trail Blazers have been the house bluegrass band for Detroit Street Filling Station since 2017. They are often joined by a bevy of special guests and focus on the beautiful harmonies and acoustic prowess that are unique to their Bluegrass roots. Joining them this week is Madcat Ruth on harmonica & ukulele.

$10 cover

Joshua Elwood has forged a unique musical path, moving between communities and immersing himself in multiple traditions along the way! He is enamored with the romantic charm of jazz, shaped by the discipline of classical study, and unapologetically drawn to the irresistible melody of a fiddle tune. Together with his “merry band” of adventurous and deeply committed peers, Josh blends counterpoint with companionship, crafting performances where virtuosity meets warmth and joy finds every listener!

Ticketed Show | 6:30 PM | 6 PM Doors

Award winning finger-style and slide guitarist Rollie Tussing teams up with trumpeter Ross Huff and bass player Serge van der Voo to perform timeless classic jazz and country blues, dewy-eyed tunes of the 20s and 30s, as well as godforsaken songs of the nineteenth century. Their own compositions are influenced by those same lonesome, haunted and abandoned melodies that we all forgot to remember.

Ticketed Show | 9 PM | 8:30 PM Doors

Join us for a free happy hour concert!
Weaving styles from around the globe, Mikey creates a tapestry webbed with romantic boleros, classic tunes, and Celtic melodies. As a writer, Mikey draws from a worldly pool of influences and classical study to evoke wonders of nature and musical tales. As a songwriter, his influences include Bob Dylan, Fleet Foxes, and Wilco.

The Fab Four, Mop Tops, Ringo and His Jolly Gentleman. Greatest hits, deep cuts, and everything in between.
You'll hear it all at this one! Join us for two sets of covers from the greatest to ever do it - come early if you're particularly into that early Beatles stuff, and late if you're not particularly interested in having a great seat. With a plethora of North Star Lounge familiar faces and special guests to be announced, you won't want to miss this one.

Ticketed Show | 7:30 PM | 7 PM Doors

Join us for a free happy hour concert!
Described as playing with “tasteful, elegant, beautiful blends… wonderful colors and mood” by Dr. William King, OUT Ensemble celebrates queer composers, represents diverse communities, and inspires listeners to embrace their authentic identities. Alongside uplifting queer composers of the past, OUT commissions contemporary composers. With six premieres to date and two commissions on their debut album Seasons of Change, OUT is at the forefront of new music. Most recently, the quintet presented their Second Annual Pride Concert Series across the state of Michigan in June and performed as a part of the 2026 WorldPride celebrations in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, to begin their third season.

Dyke Nights are monthly gatherings for queer babes to meet up, dance, and flirt at North Star Lounge✨🌈 This is a trans and non-binary inclusive space!

Join us for a free happy hour concert!
Randy Tessier & Starfish (Rich Dishman, Brigitte Knudson, and Patrick Little) are a dynamic ensemble rooted in friendship and musical passion. Together, they weave a rich tapestry of sound that blends sincere songwriting, tight instrumental work, and powerful vocals. Good time music for happy people.

Hailing from the Ann Arbor area, the Pontiac Trail Blazers have been the house bluegrass band for Detroit Street Filling Station since 2017. They are often joined by a bevy of special guests and focus on the beautiful harmonies and acoustic prowess that are unique to their Bluegrass roots. Joining them this week is Gregory Stovetop on guitar.

$10 cover

The H.O.M.E.S. Project started with Stephen Rush noticing erosion in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. We are thrilled to play at North Star! During Covid, Rush secured a small grant from U-M’s “Arts Engine” to fund trips to each of the Great Lakes, camp, take video/audio and rocks (!), then write pieces using depth data for each of the lakes. The result is five Jazz compositions being played by Rush, Andrew Peck (bass) and Michael Gould (drums). Rush used the data to determine rhythm, melody and harmony. The pieces will be played, rocks will be shown, and some commissioned poetry even recited!

Ticketed Show | 6:30 PM | 6 PM Doors

Dana Cooper is an award winning songwriter, insightful storyteller, and rousing musician who has 32 releases in his catalogue. His latest release was voted #1 Album of 2024 on Americana Highways Readers Poll and features several prominent musicians including Lyle Lovett & Hayes Carll.
Dana's mixture of flat-picking, finger picking & percussive strumming is legend among guitarists. His harmonica playing equally impressive. As one critic noted "He sings like an angel and plays like the devil."
Listen to "The Ghost of Tucumcari" on ALL Digital Platforms here

Ticketed Show | 9 PM | 8:30 Doors

Join us for a free happy hour concert!
Paul Sprawl quit his day job in Sept. 1997 and embarked on the long and winding road of being a full-time performer who writes and records his own songs. Leralee joined Paul 21 years ago and the two of them built a home base and artist residency space on 20 acres of off-grid land in Terlingua, TX near Big Bend National Park. Born and raised in coastal California, they eventually sold their desert hideaway and, after time overseas, they're returning in 2026 to North American touring far and wide.

Earthwork Music Collective believes in the intrinsic power of music to raise both community and self-awareness. Comprised of musicians, teachers, healers, farmers, water protectors, and community organizers, they encourage cooperation and collaboration, using music as a tool to serve, heal, inspire and empower. This monthly series features members from all around MI converging to create cosmic collabs, cultivate lasting relationships with our community, and elevate environmental and social justice movements.
This month’s show will feature performances by Amber Hasan, Jordan Hamilton, and Samantha Cooper.

Ticketed Show | 7:00 PM | 6:30 PM Doors

Join us for a free happy hour concert!
Two-piece, Cleveland based, adventure folk band the Baker’s Basement (tBB) features the eclectic musical stylings of vocalist/drummer Kate Dedinsky and vocalist/guitarist Adam Grindler. At their rhythmic core pulses an orange striped, homemade, bucket-drum concoction, the funky back beat on which Dedinsky performs standing up with her signature swagger and sway. The duo’s intimate sound, rooted in a spirited flavor of folk music and topped with playful vocal layers, often volleyed to-and-fro across the stage, offers a humorous yet heart-wrenching sonic signature that’s altogether their own.

Make friends, have fun, win prizes! Join us for a comedic bingo experience with Zooey and Taylor from the Heads over Heels Show.

Join us for a free happy hour concert!
Based in Bloomington, Indiana, the Ditch Tea Steepers are a stringband featuring fiddler janan alexandra, mandolinist Damon Berkley, and guitarist Logan Carithers. Sharing vocal duties, they play old-time country, Tin Pan Alley standards, and fiddle tunes from a range of inherited folk traditions.

Hailing from the Ann Arbor area, the Pontiac Trail Blazers have been the house bluegrass band for Detroit Street Filling Station since 2017. They are often joined by a bevy of special guests and focus on the beautiful harmonies and acoustic prowess that are unique to their Bluegrass roots. Joining them this week are the Ditch Tea Steepers, a Bloomington, Indiana based stringband featuring fiddler janan alexandra, mandolinist Damon Berkley, and guitarist Logan Carithers.

$10 cover

Four Roses is an acoustically driven cover band playing songs that audiences love. Passionate about vocal harmony, their joyful setlists range from Crosby, Stills & Nash to John Mellencamp, from Fleetwood Mac to Amos Lee.

Ticketed Show | 6:30 PM | 6 PM Doors

Esh Schaden is a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Drawing from his love of folk, and his roots in jazz piano; his music takes an ethereal approach to songwriting that will leave indie rock hooks and funk rhythms resonating in your spirit.

Ticketed Show | 9 PM | 8:30 Doors

Join us for a free happy hour concert!
Engaging and vulnerable, humorous and transcendent, Andy’s songs celebrate the ordinary and the mysterious, the head and the heart, highways and dirt roads, and the bonds that hold them all together. His recent accolades include winning the 2020 Kerrville Newfolk Songwriting Competition and the 2022 Great River Folk Festival Songwriting Competition, He presents his songs live on a number of instruments, including guitar, lap slide, octave mandolin, and even bass.

Join us for a free happy hour concert!
“An insightful composer and gifted interpreter of others’ material, Steff Kayser offers unique and diverse performances with a soulful soaring voice and musical talents that delight the most discerning of audiences.” -Nancy K Dillon

Test your knowledge! Come with friends; make new friends, enjoy LGBTQ trivia like you’ve never experienced before! Your host, Terry McClymonds (who was the resident trivia master at Aut Bar for 9 years) will take you through both a verbal and written round. Food and drinks available for purchase. Come early for happy hour; club opens at 5pm

Formed as the creative endeavor of musical couple Ashleigh and Cody Cooper, Blockhouse Valley quickly gained a reputation for their unique takes on popular songs. Their original music draws deeply from the American Rust Belt, capturing the textures of Midwest living and Appalachian roots. Influenced by regional folk and bluegrass as much as by the alternative, rock, blues, pop, and country of the 90s and 00s, Blockhouse Valley creates music that blends grit and heart with modern relevance.

Hailing from the Ann Arbor area, the Pontiac Trail Blazers have been the house bluegrass band for Detroit Street Filling Station since 2017. They are often joined by a bevy of special guests and focus on the beautiful harmonies and acoustic prowess that are unique to their Bluegrass roots. With a deep repertoire of traditional standards, originals, and unique covers, the Trail Blazers will keep you guessing with unexpected tunes and arrangements every week. Joining them this week is Bubba Wilson on mandolin.

$10 cover

Jake Manzi is a Los Angeles based singer/songwriter, raised in Western Massachusetts. With a subtle touch for turning up pure song-stuff out of life, channeling the likes of Marshall Crenshaw and Tom Petty, of Lucinda Williams and Bruce Springsteen, Manzi offers you his singular take on what contemporary pop-rock can be. Opening for acts like Dawes, NRBQ, Ron Sexsmith, Lori McKenna, and M. Ward and collaborating with artists like Don Was, Mikaela Davis, and Madison Cunningham, Jake Manzi is a songwriter to be reckoned with and a unique talent to be enjoyed.
Ann Arbor singer-songwriter Anne Erlewine explores gentle zones of sound with her deceptively stark acoustic guitar strum and delicate lyricism - kindred to her sensitivities as a fine artist - reflective and vulnerable in equal measure. Her debut album Over the Bones was produced by acclaimed singer-songwriter Chris Bathgate and recorded at High Bias Recordings in Detroit, with the musical support of local artists.

Ticketed Show | 6:30 PM | 6 PM Doors

Schmaltz, a modern klezmer band based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, gives Jewish traditional music a new flavor by fusing elements of jazz, balkan, funk, latin, and polka. The group is seen frequently as part of a monthly residency at the North Star Lounge in Ann Arbor, as well as at synagogues, bars, jazz clubs, and other music venues all across SE Michigan.

Ticketed Show | 9 PM | 8:30 PM Doors

Join us for a free happy hour concert!
“Kid Cooper Levy is an exemplary act, sat at the wheel of a massive bus full of empty seats, waiting to take willing boarders somewhere they haven’t been before." —The Huffington Post

Bring your song, story, poetry, comedy, expression, magic, monologue, mood, presence, attention, and appreciation and join the North Star creative community! Signup starts at 6:30.

$5 cover, though no one will be turned away due to inability to pay.

Join us for a free happy hour concert!
Tim McNary is a world traveled, pentecostal church raised Indie Folk artist with a connective, cinematic sensibility and energy similar to artists like Ben Howard, Foy Vance, or Leif Vollebek. Accolade wise, he's had many film and tv placements, written with recognized songwriters, and toured extensively around the United States and Canada

Bring your song, story, poetry, comedy, expression, magic, monologue, mood, presence, attention, and appreciation to a safe and welcoming space in the beautiful queer community as we connect with each other and each other’s art. Sign-up begins at 6:30

Hosted by Coley Roberts and Thea Zuby.

Join us for a free happy hour concert!
Jordan Smith-Hays is a guitarist from Ann Arbor, Michigan. He brings to stage a high-energy solo set of funk, blues, R&B, and rock, with many guitar solos and occasional vocals.

Hailing from the Ann Arbor area, the Pontiac Trail Blazers have been the house bluegrass band for Detroit Street Filling Station since 2017. They are often joined by a bevy of special guests and focus on the beautiful harmonies and acoustic prowess that are unique to their Bluegrass roots. Joining them this week is Mike Savina on guitar.

$10 cover

Shari and Dave throw a four handed acoustic party – street swing, stomp blues, mountain twang – music from the holler and swamp. Blues and gospel shouting, stellar fingerpicking, deep slide, banjo, dobro, mandolin, and Appalachian harmony singing. Gary Davis meets Dock Boggs and Muddy Waters and they share a jug.

Ticketed Show | 6:30 PM | 6:00 Doors

James Bourland has been a fixture of the local scene leading and playing in many groups across a wide range of genres and instruments. For a special show at The North Star Lounge he leads an all-star combo playing his original compositions. Delving into topics from heartbreak to redemption we welcome you to an evening on stellar musicianship and hard-won introspection.

Ticketed Show | 8:30 PM | 9:00 PM Doors

Join us for a free happy hour concert!
Starting her career as a DIY street busker, and now signed to Ani DiFranco's Righteous Babe records in the USA, distinguished British artist and ‘original folk voice’, Ruth Theodore has been steadily releasing critically acclaimed records for over a decade. An experienced stage performer, Theodore playfully pushes the boundaries of gender and genre with a sense of joyful rebellion, a touch of 1920’s vaudeville theatre and a healthy dose of punk rock attitude.

Calling all language dancers, fancy mouths, and word weavers to share and revel. From quiet haikus read from your notebook (or phone) to seasoned slam performers, we welcome poetry across the wide and ever-evolving genre.
Hosted by Forrest Hejkal & cat h. bradley.

Join us for a free happy hour concert!
Singer, Songwriter, Guitarists, Nicole Sutton and Mark McGee are the heart and fire behind Luvplanet and its musical mission! Together with undeniable chemistry they craft magnetic, feel good rock'n'roll filled with potent lyrics, lush vocal harmonies, psychedelic guitar jams and infectious optimism! Mixing Rock, Pop, Country and Blues their timeless songs ignite the hearts of the listeners. Together with drummer Michael Amos and bassist Zak Plantus, they generate a powerful presence and persuasive sound

Greg Austill is an Indie Folk Artist from Otisville, Michigan. From a young age, gospel and bluegrass music were a heavy influence on his musical direction, eventually leading to a love of Folk/Americana music. Priding himself on raw and authentic writing and performance style, Greg connects with his audience through original songs as well as thoughtfully arranged cover songs.
For this set, Greg will be joined by Critter Ruwart, a Michigan folk band rooted in authentic story telling and rhythmic instrumentation.

Two Shows | 6:00 PM & 8:00

Join us for a free happy hour concert!
A powerhouse guitarist, songwriter, and singer from the Philadelphia area. Drawing inspiration from bluesmen like Skip James, Mississippi John Hurt, Magic Sam, and Elmore James. He also draws inspiration from jazz, folk, outlaw country, and soul music. With a voice that has been compared to Frank Sinatra, he is known to soulfully belt while finger-picking like Doc Watson. James has been touring regionally, up and down the East Coast and beyond, performing original songs and choice covers from the blues, folk, and soul catalogs. Even getting the chance to open up for Willie Watson (of Old Crow Medicine Show) in April of 2024 at the famed West Virginia venue The Purple Fiddle, which has hosted James quite a few times.

Join us for a free happy hour concert!
DeVeaux Gauger is a singer/songwriter from Ann Arbor, channeling the ’70’s troubadour sounds of Harry Chapin, Jim Croce & James Taylor. He blends introspective, fun, storytelling acoustic/folk/rock originals and covers played on 6 and 12 string guitars. Join him for a musical journey on life’s interesting road.

Make friends, have fun, win prizes! Join us for a comedic bingo experience with Zooey and Taylor from the Heads over Heels Show.

Join us for a free happy hour concert!
Jaded Ravins are a duo based out of a van. They play songs you never knew you needed to hear. Life, love, passion, and stories.

Hailing from the Ann Arbor area, the Pontiac Trail Blazers have been the house bluegrass band for Detroit Street Filling Station since 2017. They are often joined by a bevy of special guests and focus on the beautiful harmonies and acoustic prowess that are unique to their Bluegrass roots. Joining them this week is Mark Lavengood on dobro.

$10 cover.

Join us for a free happy hour concert!
The Hot Boys of Jenison play an amalgam of Americana, country and alt rock – both originals, with influences ranging from Warren Zevon, the Pogues, Talking Heads – and covers from the 1960s thru now, from Creedence Clearwater to Tom Petty and Weezer.  Their music weds the native influences of the Pogues, Warren Zevon, and Basement Tapes-era Dylan to a head-full full of images and impressions that are singularly their own. They are working on an album slated for release in early 2027.

Test your knowledge! Come with friends; make new friends, enjoy LGBTQ trivia like you’ve never experienced before! Your host, Terry McClymonds (who was the resident trivia master at Aut Bar for 9 years) will take you through both a verbal and written round. Food and drinks available for purchase. Come early for happy hour; club opens at 5pm

Join us for a free happy hour concert!
Blou Reed (pronounced BLOO Reed) blends jazz improvisation and harmony with strong, groove based rhythms to create a sound that bares the torch of tradition to light the way to the future of modern music. The band presents a wide ranging catalogue of original compositions and hip arrangements of well known Jazz standards.

Blou Reed formed in 2022 when the members were still in their high school jazz programs and have been performing around Michigan ever since.

Founded in 2014 with a theatrical concept, Fangs & Twang has evolved into a genre-blending powerhouse that fuses gothic horror, cryptozoology, classic rock, Americana, and outlaw country into a high-energy live show. Their eclectic sound delivers both humor and substance.

Ticketed Show | 9 PM | 8:30 Doors

Bring your song, story, poetry, comedy, expression, magic, monologue, mood, presence, attention, and appreciation and join the North Star creative community! Signup starts at 6:30.

$5 cover, though no one will be turned away due to inability to pay.

Join us for a free happy hour concert!
The Bob Skon Trio, comprised of Bob Skon on guitar and vocals, Matt Steward on percussion and vocals, and Trent Collier on bass and vocal, have been playing throughout Southeast Michigan for two decades now. With inviting vocals and skillful instrumentation, they play classic covers of the singer-songwriters of the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s as well as some masterful originals.

Kenji Lee is a Japanese-American saxophonist, multi-instrumentalist, composer, and improviser. His work seeks to embody the vitality of experimentalism while staying diligently rooted in historical practices.

Kenji is an inaugural 2024 CultureSource ArcFund recipient. In 2023, he was a featured performer at the Detroit International Jazz Festival, and in 2024 was a featured performer at Edgefest.

Birjy is the wide-ranging, electro-acoustic project of violist & composer Lea Detlefs.

Alternating beautiful and intense, minimalistic and dense layers of distorted sound, with classical, folk, and post-rock influences - listening to her music is like ‘being transported to another world’.

Kenji and Birjy join forces this Halloween to write and perform an original, reimagined score to James Whale’s “Bride of Frankenstein” (1935).

Ticketed Show | 6:30 PM | 6 PM Doors