James Keelaghan

“Canada’s finest songwriter” –Dave Marsh, writer and critic for Rolling Stone

James Keelaghan is an artist who has proven to be a man for all seasons. As the calendar pages have turned, for almost a quarter of a century now, this poet laureate of the folk and roots music world has gone about his work with a combination of passion, intent and intensity, and curiosity.

Fusing his insatiable appetite for finding the next unique storyline Keelaghan also forges his pieces with brilliantly defined craftsmanship and a monogrammed artistic vision, making him one of the most distinctive and readily identifiable voices of not only the Canadian scene, but as a member of the international singer-songwriter community.

Admiration and respect for his work amongst his peers is best summed up by David Francey who recently stated that, “James Keelaghan is a voice in contemporary Canadian songwriting that has helped us define who we are as a people. He writes with great humanity and honesty, with an eye to the past and a vision of the future. He has chronicled his times with powerful and abiding songs, with heart and eyes wide open.”

You may also like the following events from The Ark - Ann Arbor:

• This Friday, 13th March, 08:00 pm, Dar Williams w/sg Joy Clark in Ann Arbor
• This Sunday, 15th March, 07:30 pm, Julianna Barwick and Mary Lattimore w/sg Fred Thomas in Ann Arbor
• Next Monday, 16th March, 07:30 pm, Cowboy Junkies - Live on Tour 2026 in Ann Arbor

Also check out other Arts events in Ann Arbor, Literary Art events in Ann Arbor, Music events in Ann Arbor.