Head shot of Scottt Morgan wearing sunglasses and a beret circa 1980

The Rationals playing the Windsor, Ontario-based TV show Swingin' Time in 1967

Back cover of the 2006 "City Slang" 7-inch reissue featuring a collage photo of Sonic's Rendevous Band

A young Scott Morgan wearing a suit and holding a guitar in his childhood home

Friday Five highlights music by Washtenaw County-associated artists & labels. This edition focuses on the music of Ann Arbor's Scott Morgan to celebrate @aadl.org's "Scott Morgan Collection," a large cache of interviews, newspaper clippings, gig flyers, photos & recordings.
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Will Higgs wears a black T-shirt of The High Children and stands in front of a laptop and turntables.

A portrait of Chuck Slay wearing a black shirt.

Scott Downer wears a leather jacket and stands in front of two turntables.

Jamil Powers holds a turntable.

The Roots:
Our “Hip-Hop History” series sheds light on the early days of the genre & the integral role it’s played in Washtenaw County since the ‘80s. To get a better idea of what it was like back then, we spoke to four pioneering local DJs about how they started in music. pulp.aadl.org/node/645064

Dylan Strzynski in his studio, with numerous paintings behind him.

The cover of Guadalcanal 2006, which is bright blue with black print and a line drawing up a hut next to palm trees and a skull.

Artist-musician Dylan Strzynski shares his short-story zine, “Guadalcanal 2006.” We spoke to the Dexter creative about his first self-published work, which includes a mix of 26 fiction and nonfiction stories that observe and expand on what is possible.

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“Yeah, it’s crazy that it’s the fifth year. The first year was like a test run, and then seeing people enjoy the fest so much the next couple years, I had to keep it going.”

- Taylor Greenshields on Fun Fest, which is 8/9 at Ypsi's Frog Island Park

@pulp.aadl.org story: pulp.aadl.org/node/645451

Dani Darling performs at Fun Fest in 2021.

Fun Fest gears up for its fifth edition at Ypsilanti’s Frog Island Park on August 9. We spoke to curator-host Taylor Greenshields about the music festival, which includes acts from Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, and Detroit.
pulp.aadl.org/node/645451

Two couples from different countries talk to each other through videoconferencing.

A wife comforts her husband when he’s sad.

A couple sits together on a couch.

Theatre Nova explores “Radical Empathy” in a time of war. David Wells’ play looks at the radical empathy movement through the relationship of an American couple & an Iraqi couple during the conflict between U.S. forces and ISIS. We reviewed the play, which runs until 8/24.
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Cover art for the music featured on Friday Five.

Friday Five highlights music by Washtenaw County-associated artists & labels.
This edition: jazzy pop by Dani Darling, classical-jazz works by Timothy McAllister & Liz Ames, modern jazz by Brynn Hilliker, indie pop by Skinned Knees & the Band Aids, & techno by Aventar.   
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The members of J. Michael & The Heavy Burden stand together.

Lighten the Load:
J. Michael & The Heavy Burden provides a cathartic outlet for processing emotions on “Where We Belong.” We spoke to the Americana-jam rock band about its latest album ahead of an August 1 set at the River Rhythm Music & Arts Festival in Manchester. pulp.aadl.org/node/645302

Four of the artists featured in Disability Network's annual exhibition, clockwise from upper left: Samantha Finley, Alex Menzor, Megan Braun, and Leora Druckman. Photos courtesy of the artists and Menzor image by Hayleigh Beadle.

Disability Network's art exhibition "In This Together" showcases joy & resilience across a variety of mediums. We spoke to curator Claire Moore & four of the 23 artists: Samantha Finley, Alex Menzor, Megan Braun, and Leora Druckman. The exhibit runs through August 15.
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Black and white photo of The Velvet Snakes shot from above as the four musicians sit on the floor and in chairs.

Garage-rock reptiles The Velvet Snakes make their album debut on "FIRST STRIKE." We spoke to the head of the snake, Logan Belz, about the Ypsi band's debut album ahead of the record-release concert at Ziggy's on Thursday, July 31.   
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#Ypsilanti #Michigan #AnnArbor #Music

Dollie Rot holds her arms above her head and wears a white dress.

Dollie Rot’s “Hidden Works” album explores themes of parental love, romantic relationships, and nostalgia. We spoke to the Ann Arbor artist about her bedroom-folk release and the inspiration behind it. pulp.aadl.org/node/645106

Tinn Parrow album cover.

Cover art for the other music featured in Friday Five.

This edition of Friday Five: music-hall-pop-psychedelic-circus-jazz by Tinn Parrow & Co. / Laurence Bond Miller, synthesizer music by Fred Thomas, alien electronica by The Evil Doings of an Intergalactic Skeleton, avant-R&B by Keif Skye & ukulele-led pop by Mother Mushroom.
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Michigan Supreme Court Justice Richard Bernstein with Zach Damon.

Fight for Your Rights:
Zach Damon’s film “Resilience Revealed” covers the history of Ann Arbor’s disability rights movement. We spoke to the director ahead of a July 27 pre-premiere of the film at @aadl.org's downtown location. pulp.aadl.org/node/644983

North Continent Ribbon book cover on the left; Dr. Ursula Whitcher author photo on the right.

Dr. Ursula Whitcher's "North Continent Ribbon" was nominated for the 2025 Ursula K. Le Guin Prize for Fiction. We spoke to the Ann Arbor author and mathematician about her debut book of sci-fi tales.
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@yarntheory.bsky.social @neonhemlock.bsky.social @ursulakleguin.com

Silky Grooves vintage and vinyl first of 3 shops inside downtown Ann Arbor library Three unique businesses are setting up shop inside the downtown Ann Arbor library.

Silky Grooves—your new go to for vintage & vinyl—is now open at Downtown Library, and two more unique shops are on the way! Stop by and shop local.

Read more from @mlive.com www.mlive.com/news/ann-arb...

Cover art for the Pastland Collection album showing a bare music speaker whose cones are different colors.

Other album art for the music featured in Friday Five.

Friday Five highlights music by Washtenaw County-associated artists and labels.

This all-electronic-music edition features sounds from Pastland, Stunna + Calculon, The Waffle Tower, evbp/Owasurenaku, and CrispySafe.   

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#AnnArbor #Ypsilanti #Michigan #Music

Left: Kim Gordon. Right: Jennifer Herrema and Mike Watt. All the artists are on stage performing at The Blind Pig for the Ron Asheton tribute concert in 2018.

Left: J. Mascis. Right: Don Fleming. All the artists are on stage performing at The Blind Pig for the Ron Asheton tribute concert in 2018.

Plus, you can read our account of Ron Asheton's 70th birthday tribute concert in 2018 at Ann Arbor's The Blind Pig.
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Three photos of Ron Asheton, two from films and one from backstage.

Starring Ron Asheton:   
In 2019, we did a roundup of all the times The Stooges' ax maniac acted in horror films. We're rerunning the story on what would have been the guitarist's 77th birthday.    
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Author portrait on the left; Midnight on the Potomac book cover on the right.

Turning Point:   
We spoke to U. of Michigan prof Scott Ellsworth about his book "Midnight on the Potomac: The Last Year of the Civil War, the Lincoln Assassination & the Rebirth of America."
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@scottellsworth.bsky.social is at @literatibookstore.bsky.social on July 22.

Kelsey Detering wears a red jacket and plays a red bass guitar.

Period Piece:
Kelsey Detering looks to new wave and a new artist name on her “Kelsey.” EP. We spoke to the Ann Arbor singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist about her latest projects ahead of a July 17 show at Lo-Fi Bar. pulp.aadl.org/node/644370

Cover of Petalwave's Morning Somewhere album

Cover art for the music featured in Friday Five.

Friday Five highlights music by Washtenaw County-associated artists and labels.
This edition features big-voiced indie rock by Petalwave, jazz vocals by Allan Harris, modular synths by The Chillennial, guitar explorations by Confusion Reactor, and punk by Reckless Manner.
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Shindig Machine cover art

Cover art for the music in Friday Five.

Friday Five highlights music by Washtenaw County-associated artists and labels.
This edition features melodic indie-punk by Shindig Machine, smooth jazz by John E. Lawrence, electronica by NYKNYAK and wøunds, and hip-hop beats by prod. P
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Poster art for Hometown Summer featuring a photo collage of 7 characters.

"Hometown Summer" was filmed in Ann Arbor & makes no secret that it's indebted to outrageous comedies of the past. We asked director-writer Benjamin Vomastek to discuss movies that influenced "Hometown Summer" ahead of its return to the Michigan Theater on Sat., July 12.
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Cover for Nothing Special

Cute With a Touch of Goth: 
Ann Arbor artist Katie Cook (@katiecandraw.bsky.social) discusses the third volume of her magic and fantasy comic "Nothing Special."
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For @pulp.aadl.org, I examined '80s hip-hop through the eyes of Washtenaw County media, combing through local publication archives to find album reviews, concert previews & reviews, and interviews to compile a story about the popularity of the music & culture at the time.

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Leonard the parrot, played by John Seibert. Photography by Sean Carter Photography.

Department of Veterinarian Affairs:   
@purplerosetheatre's "Bert & Trixie Visit the Vet" uses actors as animals to grapple with what it means to live free. This world premiere, written by Matt Letscher, runs through August 31.
Review:
pulp.aadl.org/node/643491

A turntable and a microphone

Whiz Kid with two turntables and a mixer

The three members of Run-D.M.C. wear black fedora hats and leather jackets

The three members of De La Soul

We examined 1980s hip-hop through the eyes of Washtenaw County media, combing through local publication archives to find album reviews, concert previews and reviews, and interviews to compile a story about the burgeoning popularity of the music and culture at the time.

pulp.aadl.org/node/643529

Leonard the parrot, played by John Seibert. Photography by Sean Carter Photography.

Department of Veterinarian Affairs:   
@purplerosetheatre's "Bert & Trixie Visit the Vet" uses actors as animals to grapple with what it means to live free. This world premiere, written by Matt Letscher, runs through August 31.
Review:
pulp.aadl.org/node/643491

A promo graphic for an upcoming author event featuring a photo of Eugene S Robinson in a yellow jacket posed against a blue sky. To the right is bold black text displaying the event title and details alongside an AADL byte.

A Walk Across Dirty Water and Straight Into Murder's Row, is Eugene S. Robinson's memoir of early days as a 1970s NYC punk rocker and his move into 1980s publishing while creating confrontational underground music.

Join us on Tuesday, July 8 at 6:30 PM at the Downtown Library.

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Kulkiran Nakai, Lillian Li, Ashley Hughes, and Matthew Kiser at an Extra Credit event. Photo courtesy of hear.say brewing + theater.

Extra Credit is a monthly event at hear.say brewing in Ann Arbor that features UMich researchers giving 10-minute lectures, which become springboards for improvised comedy. We spoke to Extra Credit founder Gabriela Marcu about this unique series, which next happens July 6.
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