A nationally respected acoustic and folk music venue that punches far above what you would expect from a 400-seat room in a Midwestern college town. The Ark books an impressive range of acts — folk, bluegrass, jazz, world music, singer-songwriters — and the intimate setting means there is not a bad seat in the house. The sound is excellent and the audience genuinely listens.
Check the calendar before your visit; the Ark hosts shows most nights of the week and tickets for popular acts sell out quickly. The venue is on South Main Street, an easy walk from downtown restaurants and bars, making it simple to build an evening around a show.