Over the last decade, Pokey LaFarge has won the hearts of music lovers across the globe with his creative mix of early jazz, string ragtime, country blues and western swing, all while writing songs that ring true n both spirit and sound. His music transcends the confines of genre, continually challenging the notion that tradition-bearers fail to push musical boundaries. Cleverly striding among numerous forms of traditional American music, Pokey has crafted a genre all his own, marked by its accessible ingenuity. Rather than merely conjuring up half-forgotten imagery of days past, Pokey is a lyrical storyteller, the plot delivered smoothly through his dynamic vocals. One moment he shouts a line and the next he croons above his archtop guitar. He transmits a rare distillation of old American sounds! Based in St. Louis, Missouri, Pokey honors the musical traditions of that town without aping them. He's an Ark favorite, heard most recently at the 2019 Ann Arbor Folk Festival.