To fill up your November calendar, we’ve compiled a comprehensive list of arts-related events, exhibits, and more throughout Washtenaw County. Check out some local cool happenings in music, visual art, theater and dance, and written word and film.

MUSIC

Bill Edwards
November 11
Canterbury House, Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Bill Edwards performs tracks from his new Americana album, Thirteen Stories. Throughout his latest release, Edwards pens sentimental stories from different perspectives, including a hall-of-fame baseball player, a seasoned songwriter, and a nostalgic boater. Read our preview and interview here.

Nervous But Excited
November 11
The Ark, Ann Arbor

Ten years after their sold-out finale at The Ark, the local folk duo of Kate Peterson and Sarah Cleaver reunite for one of their final Nervous But Excited performances. Their repertoire ranges from smart, introspective narratives to the tactfully political while interspersing songs of love and loss.

Olivia Van Goor
November 11
Blue Llama Jazz Club, Ann Arbor

The Milford jazz vocalist is influenced by swing and bebop jazz from the mid-20th century. Van Goor unearths and reshapes gems from the Great American Songbook and other jazz standards in a way that’s beyond replicating what has already been done before. Read our past interview with Van Goor here.

Chris DuPont, Kylee Phillips, and Nadim Azzam
November 13
Northside Community Church, Ann Arbor

Chris DuPont, Kylee Phillips, and Nadim Azzam host a free Concert4aCause show benefiting the Early College Alliance (ECA) at Eastern Michigan University. ECA empowers college completion across economic, cultural, and racial divides.

Kelley Kimball and Djangophonique
November 16
North Star Lounge, Ann Arbor

Metro Detroit vocalist Kelley Kimball joins Ann Arbor’s Djangophonique for a “Hot Club Wednesday” show. Backed by the virtuosic, instrumentally driven quartet, Kimball draws from the Great American Songbook as well as legendary torch singers and chanteuses of the 20th century.

Judy Banker Trio
November 18
Triple Goddess Tasting Room, Ypsilanti

The Americana trio of Judy Banker (vocals, guitar), David Roof (acoustic/slide guitar), and John Sperendi (upright bass) perform tracks from Banker's recorded catalog as well as new tunes and favorite covers. Come support the band during their first appearance at Triple Goddess Tasting Room.

Berlin Philharmoniker
November 18-19
Hill Auditorium, Ann Arbor

The University Musical Society welcomes the next chapter of the Berlin Philharmonic’s legacy with the Ann Arbor debut of maestro Kirill Petrenko. He leads two programs that showcase the ensemble’s mastery across classical, romantic, and contemporary repertoire.

Tru Klassick Presents Bridging the Gap
November 19
Club Above, Ann Arbor

Tru Klassick hosts a monthly open hip-hop cypher featuring Dre Dev, Aareus Jones, Brad Spliff, Slim Ready, Xan Len, and Johnnie Morris. Special guests include Radcliff and DJ TJ.

Alex Anest’s Electric Four
November 22
Blue Llama Jazz Club, Ann Arbor

Alex Anest’s Electric Four performs original tunes as well as works by Duke Pearson, Emily Remler, Ernie Krivda, and Herbie Hancock. The quartet works together and connects with the audience through improvisation, groove, and feel. Gayelynn McKinney (drums), Jim Alfredson (organ), and John Sperendi (bass) join Anest for the show.

Ma Baker and Pajamas
November 23
The Blind Pig, Ann Arbor

These two Ann Arbor jam-fusion bands plan to celebrate Thanksgiving Eve in style. Bring your dancing shoes for a fun night of improvisational grooves, jams, and rock-outs. It’s also a birthday celebration for Ma Baker bassist Guy Williams.

Northern Threat Entertainment Presents: Gobble Wobble Dance Party
November 23
Ziggy’s, Ypsilanti

The Ypsilanti hip-hop collective hosts a Thanksgiving Eve dance party with good people, cheap drinks, and tasty moves. DJs Juice Patrol, Sleezy Hamilton, Dash Riot, and Ondemand B2B DJ Nitro plan to throw down some groovy tracks to get the crowd moving and grooving.

Jim Cherewick
November 25
Ziggy’s, Ypsilanti

Ypsilanti singer-songwriter and visual artist Jim Cherewick performs his intimate, stripped-down songs during a Thanksgiving weekend show.

Stormy Chromer
November 26
The Blind Pig, Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor’s Stormy Chromer performs with Grand Rapids jam quintet Desmond Jones and Rik Strange. Get improvisational and funky with this “jam-tastic” lineup at their Thanksgiving holiday weekend show.

Elephant Den, Ki5, and Mirror Monster
November 26
Ziggy’s, Ypsilanti

Psych-rock artist Elephant Den performs with pop-a-cappella vocalist Ki5 and electronic-experimental duo Mirror Monster for a Thanksgiving weekend show. Read our past interviews with Ki5 and Mirror Monster.

VISUAL ART

Conversations on Mortality
November 4-25
22 North, Ypsilanti
Curators: Artist Sharlene Welton & Photographer Tim Tonachella

Conversations on Mortality explores divergent thoughts on mortality and invites people to examine a subject they may not want to face—death. For the exhibit, 14 local artists share their own humanity and interpretations of impermanence, including “stories of love, separation, connection, memory, fear, bonding, isolation, pain, and change.”

Clay As Soft Power: Shigaraki Ware in Postwar America and Japan
November 12—May 7
University of Michigan Museum of Art
Curator: Natsu Oyobe, UMMA Curator of Asian Art

Clay As Soft Power explores how Shigaraki ware ceramics transformed the American public’s image of Japan and helped the country shift from being a World War II enemy to a Cold War ally to a global change maker. Originating from one of six ancient kilns of Japan, Shigaraki ware ceramics are known for their earthy tones, rough clay surfaces, and natural ash glazes. The exhibit examines the ware ceramics’ rich history from the 13th century to today and spotlights three distinct periods of that history.

100th All Media Exhibition
November 18—December 30
Ann Arbor Art Center
Guest Juror: Darryl DeAngelo Terrell

The 100th All Media Exhibition includes works by over 30 artists and features Detroit artist-curator-DJ-organizer-educator Darryl DeAngelo Terrell as the guest juror. Michigan Electronic Music Collective (MEMCO) DJs plan to spin some tunes as well.

Third Annual Holiday Artist Market
November 25—December 22
Gutman Gallery, Ann Arbor

The Third Annual Holiday Artist Market showcases fine art and handcrafted goods from local artists for holiday gift-giving, including jewelry, cards, ornaments, prints, ceramics, home goods, fiber arts, and more. Visit the gallery for one-of-a-kind gifts from 11 am—5 pm Wednesday through Saturday.

THEATER & DANCE

Much Ado About Nothing
November 4-13
Ann Arbor Civic Theatre
Director: David Widmayer

In this reimagining of William Shakespeare’s comedy, Much Ado About Nothing, “musicians and artists go off to war, but when they return, they lay down their arms to return to the arts. The time is now, but the titles and arrangements of Shakespeare’s world exist in this imaginary version of modern times.” Check out our preview here.

Sanctuary City
November 4-27
Theatre NOVA, Ann Arbor
Director: Carla Milarch

B and G are dreamers, lovers, and high school friends negotiating the broken promise of safety and the weight of responsibility in the so-called sanctuary city of Newark. When B learns that his mother will return to her country of origin, these two young people must fight to establish a place for themselves and each other in America. Proof of vaccination and masks are required.

Bernarda Alba
November 10-13
University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance
Arthur Miller Theatre, Ann Arbor
Director: Linda Goodrich

Linda Goodrich’s production of Michael John LaChuisa’s Bernarda Alba features wildly inventive sets and character-driven costumes in this musical tragedy featuring an all-female cast. It chronicles the ongoing repression of women, a story that’s timeless and never ends well. Check out our preview here. Suggested for ages 18 and up.

The Sweet Delilah Swim Club
November 10-19
Riverside Arts Center, Ypsilanti
PTD Productions
Director: Karrie Waarala

Five southern women meet up every August for a long weekend at the same beach cottage, the “Sweet Delilah,” on North Carolina’s Outer Banks to spend time together. The college swim team friends catch up, laugh, and meddle in each other’s lives during their getaway. The play follows their lives and friendships during four of their gatherings from their mid-forties to their late seventies.

A Christmas Story
November 25—December 18
The Encore Musical Theatre Company, Dexter
Director: Dan Cooney

This musical adaptation of the classic, hilarious 1983 movie brings it to life on stage and comes from the University of Michigan alumni songwriting team of Pasek and Paul. Get ready to wear those pink bunny costumes in time for these holiday-themed performances.

WRITTEN WORD & FILM

Predator: A Memoir, A Movie, An Obsession | Film Screening & Discussion
November 11
HOMES Campus, Ann Arbor

Literati Bookstore and HOMES Brewery Campus present a screening of the 1987 sci-fi classic movie Predator. Following the screening, author Ander Monson discusses his new book Predator: A Memoir, A Movie, An Obsession.

Vanessa A. Bee & Kiley Reid
November 16
Literati Bookstore, Ann Arbor

Vanessa A. Bee discusses her memoir Home Bound with author Kiley Reid. In this intimate memoir of identity and discovery, Bee explores the way we define “home” and “belonging”—from her birth in Yaoundé, Cameroon, to her adoption by her aunt and her aunt’s white French husband, to experiencing housing insecurity in Europe and her eventual immigration to the U.S.

Bruce Adams: You’re With Stupid: Kranky, Chicago, and the Reinvention of Indie Music
November 17
Downtown Library

Join Pulp’s chat with former Ann Arbor resident Bruce Adams about his new book, You’re With Stupid: Kranky, Chicago, and the Reinvention of Indie Music. It provides an insider’s look at the influence of Chicago’s underground music industry on the transformation of indie rock in the 1990s. Hosted in partnership with Literati Bookstore.

Ken Magee: The Ultimate Michigan Football Program and Ticket Guide
November 18
Malletts Creek Branch

Local historian and collector of Michigan memorabilia, Ken Magee, presents his coffee-table book co-authored with Brian Snider. The Ultimate Michigan Football Program and Ticket Guide includes over 2,500 color photographs of every University of Michigan football game day project and ticket stub as well as game summaries and more.

Poetry at Literati: Sarah Carson & C. Russell Price
November 21
Literati Bookstore, Ann Arbor

Join Sarah Carson in support of her new collection of poems How to Baptize a Child in Flint, Michigan. Spanning girlhood to motherhood, How to Baptize a Child in Flint, Michigan traces the lineage of four generations of a Flint, Michigan family. Guest reader C. Russell Price joins Carson.

Dr. Jason Karlawish: The Problem of Alzheimer’s
November 28
Literati Bookstore, Ann Arbor

In partnership with Michigan Medicine’s Alzheimer’s Disease Center, Literati Bookstore presents Dr. Jason Karlawish as he discusses his book The Problem of Alzheimer’s: How Science, Culture, and Politics Turned a Rare Disease Into a Crisis and What We Can Do About It.

Heather Radke: Butts: A Backstory
November 29
Literati Bookstore, Ann Arbor

Author Heather Radke discusses her book Butts: A Backstory. Whether we love or hate them, think they’re sexy, think they’re strange, consider them too big, too small, or anywhere in between people have a complicated relationship with butts.

Lori Stratton is a library technician, writer for Pulp, and writer and editor of strattonsetlist.com.