Empty Chair Night w/ Joel Palmer, Annie Capps, Allison Downey and John Latini

Don't miss this special evening of songwriters in the round.  Four audience members will have their names selected from a hat to perform a song and fill the empty chair.  A guitar will be provided. If you use an instrument other than guitar, you may bring that. However, space is limited in the theater so we’re asking guitar players not to bring their own. Joel Palmer will provide a really nice mahogany Martin guitar for use.



After years of performing solo, Joel Palmer joined forces with Jim Nichols to form the Blue Jays, a country blues duo. Jeff Royer joined the group on bass and sax and brought a jazz influence to the now trio.

He continued to hone his solo performance technique at various local venues and open mics around town. A regular at The Ark's Open Stage, Joel was selected as one of their "best of", and was featured at the annual Open Stage Showcase.
Joel and Jeff went on to create their own original blend of folk/blues with a touch of jazz in the duo Wanderin' Wheel.



With her sweet, wry, perspective on things, Annie puts herself – and a host of other subjects – on a laboratory slide, peers in close, and makes discoveries that ring satisfyingly true. A warm, earthy voice carries her rich and captivating melodies that are punctuated beautifully by the guitar work of husband, Rod Capps, who handles both electric and acoustic and the tenor banjo with equal rootsy grace. Married for 13 years, and making music together for many more, the Capps have a sound that reflects their deep and intuitive understanding of each other. They create “midwest urban folk” music that is both sophisticated and disarming - offering thoughtful, somber, tender and frisky songs that have at their core a warm, funky groove and a soulful glow.



With a Masters of Fine Arts in Theatre (now a Western Michigan University professor), Contemporary Folk Singer/Songwriter Allison Downey is a captivating performer and natural storyteller whose songs range from traditional folk to more rhythmically and dynamically complex arrangements. Her material includes whimsical pop songs, rocking love songs, social commentary, and melancholy laments.

Allison's "Midwestern Urban Folk" originals are complimented by the dynamic grooves of John's six-string bass. Allison's newest recording, Across the Sea (2008), produced by Michael Crittenden, features John Austin, Annie & Rod Capps, and Michael Crittenden & Brian Morrill of Troll for Trout. The songs from the new album have already produced accolades for Allison, including the People's Choice Award for Texas' 2007 Wildflower! Arts & Music Festival Performing Songwriter Contest. 



John Latini is the winner of the 2008 and 2009 Detroit Blues Challenge.  Describing John Latini’s performances in a single adjective is an impossible task. He’s a talented singer/songwriter, an outstanding musician, and a consummate Barnum & Bailey-style entertainer, but most of all, Latini is a musical chameleon. Whether he’s singing one of the old jazz standards from the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s, leading a folky sing-along, belting out the blues, or quoting from the classic rock catalog, his unique style makes every song his own. His delivery can be packed with emotion, mischievous or silly, but it is always heartfelt. He’ll make you laugh, he’ll make you sing, he may even make you dance! One thing is for certain, when John Latini performs, the audience always wants more.