If you've a musical or bust-a-gut act you're ready to air, open mic nights are the perfect opp to take to the stage at the likes of The Ark, Oz's Music, or the Ann Arbor Comedy Showcase. These venues give artists the chance to mix with other entertainment folkies and pick up a fan audience. And some, like The Ark, even have a winnowing system where the best musical and student songwriter talent get their own full-night gig.

Detroit has Motown. Seattle has grunge. Brooklyn has chamber pop. The Ann Arbor area has become ground zero for a new folk music movement, attracting both topnotch bands and rabid fans. Neofolk, folk-noir, alt-folk, indie folk rock... whatever you call it, it sounds damn good to us.

Rick DeVos is the creator behind ArtPrize and other ventures that have a common theme of empowering, expanding and enlightening conversation. His interest in using social media to decentralize control of the event has excited some and rankled others. Whichever side you fall on, one thing is certain: This inaugural year represents a huge social experiment. Rick's here to talk about it this week.

Ken Kozora says he's a composer, performer, educator, thinker and doer. We say he's really really busy. Ken's the founder and Director of Horns for the Holidays, teaches music to emotionally impaired children, does event planning for the Ecology Center and contracts as a solar and wind installer. He'll be writing about all that stuff. Read on!