On July 11, alternative-rock artist Michigander headlines the Ann Arbor Sonic Lunch 2024 with singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Young Ritual.
Since 2008, Sonic Lunch has been a Washtenaw County summertime tradition. This three-month showcase of artistry takes place in Liberty Plaza downtown Ann Arbor.
This upcoming performance marks Michigander’s third consecutive Sonic Lunch appearance, playing the series in 2022 and filling in for Madison Cunningham to play a short set in 2023. For Michigander, aka Jason Singer, the Michigan-born, Nashville-based front-man calls this upcoming performance one of his favorite shows because it allows him to reconnect with the city of Ann Arbor, where Singer performed some of his first shows.
“This is something that I always wanted to do growing up in Michigan, especially seeing so many bands I love come through and play Sonic Lunch,” Singer said. “It’s always a nice time to visit Ann Arbor. I played some of my first gigs at the Blind Pig, and now to come back and do the big outdoor show is a lot of fun.”
Musically, for those unfamiliar with Michigander, the Kalamazoo band embodies the audio equivalent of driving in the fall along the West Huron River Drive in Ann Arbor. Their sound is calming, rich, and lyrically paintable, as Singer’s words often tell a cheerful, if not encouraging, tale to the listener.
This is the case on the band’s 2023 EP “It Will Never Be The Same,” a tape chalked with fun melodies, playful tempos and easy-to-digest lyrics, creating a project that is head-nodding-ly infectious with high-replay value.
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Singer says fans will hear a good amount of music from previous projects like “It Will Never Be The Same,” along with new music from the band’s upcoming debut album, a self-titled project that he described as being refined and in the mixing process.
“The album sounds like what you would expect from a Michigander record,” Singer said. “The music and the sonic spaces are very different and refined. I figured out what I wanted to do, and I’m finally getting to do it how I want.”
While fans of the upcoming show will enjoy a host of new Michigander material, Singer said he’s equally excited to perform and visit his favorite Ann Arbor spots like Frita Batidos and Lab Cafe. Musically, however, Singer assures that their upcoming performance will be one to remember, saying his performance at Sonic Lunch will feel “Just like riding a bike.”
“There will be a piano,” Singer said. “We will play some new music for the first time in Michigan. I’m definitely going to play at least one new unreleased song. So that should be pretty special. We’re getting the gears greased up and ready to roll because we’ve taken almost seven months off. We’re going to jump back into things.”
Along with a new album, the band recently announced on social media a new national tour titled “The Broadcast,” visiting 43 cities from October to February.
“It is exciting that these are the moments that reaffirm that people care about what you are doing and want you to come to their town, hear your music, support you, and buy tickets, which is scary because you never know if anyone will show up,” Singer said.
Antonio Cooper is a freelance journalist from Detroit, Michigan. His coverage of music festivals and interviews with local celebrities appeared in The E-Current Magazine, The Detroit Metro Times, XXL Magazine, RichMagDigital, The Ann Arbor Observer, and Pop Magazine.
