The Ark :: Ann Arbor, MI / 7:30 PM / $20/ All Ages

Like a mix tape made by a well-traveled friend, The Ragbirds music is diverse and foreign, yet somehow familiar.  The voice at the front of The Ragbirds carries the freshness of the journey itself, and the lyrics point out the scenery like a friendly tour guide.

With a brand new album in 2012, this up-and-coming Michigan band has been traveling the country with their “infectious global groove”  gathering a passionate grassroots fan base of all ages.

The 2012 release of  The Ragbirds fourth studio effort Travelin’ Machine is a new milestone for the band.  It’s the soundtrack of the observant road-warrior, with layers of world grooves that stir the listener to move. The songs strike a balance between home and adventure, drawing upon elements of Pop, Gypsy, Afro-Cuban, Celtic, Middle Eastern and African sounds, with a little Cajun spice.

The energy of multi-instrumentalist Erin Zindle demands attention.  She is the songwriter and front woman of the band, skillfully switching between violin, mandolin, accordion, banjo and percussion, all while dancing. Zindle wears an infectious smile and a positive message, always spun through a poetic loom.