Daniels salutes Michigan musicians

CHELSEA, Mich., Nov. 24 (UPI) -- Actor and entertainer Jeff Daniels says he will once again serve as host and perform at a concert celebrating Michigan's homegrown musicians.

The Fifth annual Jeff Daniels & Friends event is to take place Saturday at Ann Arbor's historic Michigan Theater.

This year's lineup of Michigan-bred artists includes an eclectic blend of folk, blues, strings, American Roots and, for the first time, operatic musicians.

Artists include the Saline Fiddlers, Rev. Robert and Bernice Jones, Ben Daniels Band, Brad Phillips, Jed Fritzemeier and Charley Marcuse.

"This has become one of my favorite events of the year, during a time when people naturally come together," Daniels said in a statement this week. "The audience behaves like a big, happy, boisterous family at Thanksgiving dinner ... [and] people are on their feet singing and dancing in the aisles. It's a crazy, festive, unusual, high-energy holiday tradition. I guarantee our guests will leave feeling good about Michigan music."