Donovan Woods's work is guided by a mantra that only sounds simple: Good songs win. Donovan, a Juno Award nominee, was raised in the small city of Sarnia, Ontario, to the sounds of country music, with a healthy dose of folk and pop, a combination that instilled in him a strong belief in the power of a good melody, the importance of everyday language, and the potential of a carefully crafted song. While amassing a catalogue of rousing and acclaimed music of his own, he has worked with some of the top songwriters in North America to craft cuts for performers ranging from Alan Doyle to Billy Currington. It’s not that Woods makes music that is a product of both country and folk; it’s that he makes music that shows how distracting the line separating the two can be. Like with so many songwriters of note, what matters isn’t what you call it, or where it comes from, but the stories you tell, and the voice you use. Woods's is a voice that demands attention, and that attention has been quick in coming, bringing international accolades, a growing number of fans inside and outside the music industry, and proclamations like "Canada’s best-kept secret," "piercingly honest," and "quietly anthemic." He comes to Michigan with a new album, "Both Ways."

This show is free at the door to Ark members at the Solo level and above.