'Jeff Daniels & Friends' Holiday Concert Returns to Celebrate Music Made in Michigan

CHELSEA, Mich., Nov. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Michigan actor, singer, songwriter Jeff Daniels announced today that he will once again host and perform at a special concert in November celebrating unique Michigan music and homegrown musicians. The Fourth Annual "Jeff Daniels & Friends" will take place Sat., Nov. 28, 2009, at Ann Arbor's historic Michigan Theater at 8:00 pm.

This year's lineup of Michigan-bred artists includes an unusual blend of folk, blues, and jazz musicians, as well as those expert in the art of the spoken word, Klezmer and world roots music. Artists include Lansing's "Shout Sister, Shout" (swing and jazz); Kalamazoo's "Red Sea Pedestrian" (klezmer, folk and world roots music); Ann Arbor's Paul Princen (spoken word); Chelsea's The Ben Daniels Band (roots and blues); and the Scottville Clown Band.

Just back from an eight-month run in Broadway's Tony Award-winning play, "God of Carnage," Daniels says the concert was modeled after an event hosted by folk legend Arlo Guthrie.

"Arlo and friends get together every year around Thanksgiving and take over Carnegie Hall in a huge celebration of folk music," says Daniels. "I wanted to do something similar to celebrate some of the great artists we have in Michigan." Daniels says the first three years of his event sold out quickly, so it was an easy decision to bring it back.

"We had nearly two thousand people on their feet singing and dancing in the aisles at last year's show and the shows before that," adds Daniels. "We've started something big and now have our own fun, festive, unusual, high energy holiday tradition."

The successful six year run of the Purple Rose Theatre's "Jeff Daniels Live & Unplugged" shows led the entertainer to believe that what works over Christmas and New Year's could also work over the Thanksgiving weekend.

"People are always looking for something fun to do when friends and relatives are in town over the holidays," adds Daniels. "This night is a celebration of real Michigan talent, and I'm looking for fun-loving, foot-stomping, music-appreciating folks to celebrate with us. It'll be another great turnout, and a fun evening. People will leave feeling good about Michigan music."

Tickets for "Jeff Daniels & Friends" ($22.50, $37.50, $75.00) are on sale at the same cost as last year at the Michigan Union Ticket Office 734.763.TKTS or www.ticketmaster.com. Concert info: Cynthia Dunitz, Fleming Artists, 734.995.9066, cynthia@flemingartists.com. Media inquiries: Joe Rohatynski Public Relations, 313.378.6570 or Joe@JoePR.com.

About (musician) Jeff Daniels: Unless you've seen his "Unplugged" concerts at the Purple Rose Theatre or in small Michigan towns at historic theatres or opera houses, you may not have known that Jeff Daniels can sing and play guitar. Or do both at the same time. Truth is, Daniels has been writing songs and playing guitar for 30 years. But, unlike numerous other celebrities, he's kept his music to himself for most of that time. His concerts and his first two CDs "Jeff Daniels Live and Unplugged" and "Grandfather's Hat," have created a new appreciation for the artist in his home state, while raising funds for the Purple Rose Theatre in Chelsea.

"For me, songwriting began as a way of passing time on movie sets," says Daniels, who has written more than 400 songs. "Over the years, I've turned the musical side of my life into a show for no other reason than I enjoy doing it." Like his film career, Daniels' ability to move back and forth between the comic and the serious is reflected in his music. While he has played all over the U.S., Daniels' CDs and concerts continue to connect with home grown music lovers across his home state of Michigan.