Mallory, Zeke (Bain, Aly; Barker, Les; Bern, Dan; Bromberg, David; Cunningham, Phil; DeGuglielmo, Greg; Gordon, Mike; Griffin, Patty; Griffith, Nanci; Mason, Molly; Murawski, Scott; Redbone, Leon; Stone, Gordon; Ungar, Jay; Werner, Susan et al.)

Original Concert Poster: The 20th Annual Ann Arbor Folk Festival 1977-1997 (Hill Auditorium, January 25, 1997)

Ann Arbor, MI, USA: Zeke Mallory, 1997. First Edition. Single Sheet. Signed by most festival performers. This poster (appx. 17” x 24”) memorializes the 20th annual Ann Arbor Folk Festival which took place on January 26th, 1997, at the Hill Auditorium. The Ark hosted their 47th annual Ann Arbor Folk Festival this past January 2024. This poster was designed and printed by local artist Zeke Mallory and features photos of Leon Redbone, David Bromberg, and Nanci Griffith. Leon Redbone (1949-2019) was a jazz & blues singer with influence from tin pan alley; his vertical signature is in silver near top edge, simply “L.R. ’97”. David Bromberg (b. 1945) is a multi-instrumentalist whose sound blends bluegrass, folk, country, and rock with a humorous edge in his lyrics; his signature is below his photo in silver ink. Nanci Griffith (1953-2021) was a folk singer-songwriter and guitarist; her signature is in gold-brown ink below her photo. Jay Ungar (b. 1946) & Molly Mason are a folk duo who are married; they both signed in silver ink to the right of the Folk Festival’s logo. Dan Bern (b. 1959) is a folk guitarist & singer/songwriter as well as a writer and artist; his signature is in gold-brown ink below his printed name. The Drop Caps are a single-performance collaborative group with members of Phish, highlighting bassist and founder of Phish, Mike Gordon (b. 1965). Greg DeGuglielmo, Scott Murawski, and Gordon Stone filled out the group as drummer, lead guitarist, and banjo/pedal guitar, respectively. These three all signed in silver ink near the bottom edge, and Mike Gordon’s signature is in silver just below the printed name of Patty Griffin. Patty Griffin (b. 1964) is a folk singer-songwriter & guitarist; her signature is in silver ink to the left of the Folk Festival logo. Aly Bain (b. 1946) & Phil Cunningham (b. 1960) are a Scottish folk group, one playing fiddle and the other on accordion. Bain’s signature is in silver ink on the guitar in the photo of Redbone, and Cunningham’s vertical signature is in silver ink near the center of the poster with the words, “Best wishes”. Susan Werner (b. 1965) is an American singer-songwriter who was heavily inspired by fellow festival performer Nanci Griffith; her signature is in silver ink below her printed name. Les Barker (1947-2023) was an English poet and comedic writer as well as a parody musician, and he served as M.C. for the event. His signature is in gold-brown ink below his printed name. Martin Sexton (b. 1966) is an American singer-songwriter and producer, and he is the only listed performer whose signature cannot be discerned, though there is an unidentifiable scribble in silver ink near the top right corner. Single sheet: presumed first edition, first-&-only printing, as is typical for events of this nature. In fine-to-very-fine condition with minor bumping to the fine edges and minor creasing to the top left corner. Verso is clean except for the signature of Mike Gordon bleeding through slightly. This item is too delicate to be rolled & must be shipped flat to assure no damage, therefore an extra handling fee of $5.00 will be required. Fine-Very Fine. [Item #7141]

Price: $200.00