Each year, the organizers of The Ark's monthly Open Stage pick one or two artists who they feel have really honed their stuff and are ready for prime time. This year's Open Stage Showcase features Casey Harwood. As a lifelong lover of good writing, and good music, Casey Harwood seeks to pen songs that are equal parts cerebral and personal, with a bit of humor sprinkled in. Though he hails from the Pacific Northwest, the past decade has carried him to New York, Alaska, Hawaii, and many places in between by air, sea, and land (on both two wheels and four). Since beginning his Ph.D. in Naval Architecture at the U-M four years ago, he has frequented The Ark’s open stage with guitar and ukulele in hand. Ed Scruggs is a familiar face on the local openmic scene. He can be seen around the area almost any night of the week. He is best known for taking songs that you think you know and singing them in his own way. Ed's voice of soulful gravel is often compared to those ofHarry Chapin, Tom Waits and Richie Havens. As one DJ put it, “He sings folk music with an attitude.” He will sing music of Paul Simon, Joni Mitchell, John Prine and many others.