Mayer Hawthorne reps Ann Arbor Neo-soul like no other. With a stage name combining his middle name (Mayor) with the street he grew up on (Hawthorne), he wears his hometown pride on his sleeve. 2016 saw him release an LP called Man About Town and Party of One – EP on Vagrant Records. Both releases evoke vintage vibes likening James Brown and Steely Dan through the filter of modern sensibilities. Hawthorne retains what made R&B and soul great in the first place and what keeps it relevant today.
Established as a home for blues musicians, the historical venue has famously hosted acts like Joan Baez, Sonic Youth, Pearl Jam and Nirvana.