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

CHELSEA, Mich., Nov. 22, 2010 /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 Fifth Annual "Jeff Daniels & Friends" will take place Sat., Nov. 27, 2010, at Ann Arbor's historic Michigan Theater at 8:00 pm.

This year's lineup of Michigan-bred artists includes an unusual, eclectic blend of folk, blues, strings, American Roots and, for the first time, operatic musicians. Artists include the "Saline Fiddlers," (American Folk), Saline; Rev. Robert and Bernice Jones, (American Roots), Detroit; "Ben Daniels Band," (Roots, Blues), Chelsea; Brad Phillips, (multi-instrumentals), Chelsea; Jed Fritzemeier (Chelsea's "String Guy"); and from Comerica Park, Charley Marcuse, "The Singing Hotdog Guy."  

Daniels, currently on a multi-city concert tour on the East Coast, says the 'friends and family' aspect to the Thanksgiving weekend performance resounds with the audience.

"This has become one of my favorite events of the year, during a time when people naturally come together," says Daniels. "The audience behaves like a big, happy, boisterous family at Thanksgiving dinner... people are on their feet singing and dancing in the aisles. It's a crazy, festive, unusual, high-energy holiday tradition. I guarantee our guests will leave feeling good about Michigan music."

Daniels says the evening 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 here at home to celebrate some of the great artists we have in Michigan -- and as long as I am able to bring the talent together and fill the Michigan Theatre once a year -- I will."

The successful seven 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 look for something fun to do over Thanksgiving weekend, especially while friends and family are visiting. This is a great time to get out and celebrate."

Tickets ($22.50, $37.50, $75.00) are on sale at the same cost as last year at www.ticketmaster.com 800.745.3000. Concert info: Cynthia Dunitz, Fleming Artists, 734.995.9066, [email protected]. Media inquiries: Joe Rohatynski Public Relations, 313.378.6570, [email protected].

About (musician) Jeff Daniels: Unless you've seen his "Unplugged" concerts at the Purple Rose Theatre or in small towns at historic theatres or opera houses around the country, you may not have known that Jeff Daniels can sing and play guitar. Truth is, he can do both at the same time, and has been writing songs and playing guitar for 30+ years. His concerts and four CDs have created a new appreciation for the artist in his home state, while raising funds for the Purple Rose Theatre in Chelsea.

"Songwriting began as a way of passing time on movie sets," says Daniels, who has written 400+ songs. While he has played around the U.S., Daniels' CDs and concerts continue to connect with home grown music lovers across his home state of Michigan.

SOURCE Jeff Daniels