Tanner Dane delivers a soul-touching performance (show review)

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On May 27, 2025, Tanner Dane made his debut performance in Ann Arbor, Michigan, at The Ark. Taking place in the beautiful Ford theater room, Tanner graced the stage with his contagious smile and unstoppable energy. From Chicago, Illinois, Tanner Dane has created his own unique sound, pulling from all different music genres and time periods. His bodies of work not only encapsulate deep meaning and raw talent, but also make for an unforgettable show.

Founded in 1965, The Ark was opened in an effort to preserve the sound of folk and underground music genres, forming a tight knit community of individuals who had a common appreciation for the deeper origins of music. The non-profit organization moved to their current venue one year later, which holds 400 seated guests on a first come, first serve basis.

Tanner Danes performance was part of a series hosted by The Ark, titled “Artist Spotlight.” This is a series of free nonprofit shows made possible by the support of Ford Philanthropy. These shows give an opportunity to not only the artist in growing their community, but also to the people of Ann Arbor and the availability of affordable live music. Prior to the show starting I had the opportunity to speak with audience members around me. One of which stated that she had found Tanner’s music through TikTok and had come to the show in order to discover a new artist.

Not one minute late, Tanner Dane began his set with his track “Like You’re Still Mine,” the lead single off of his EP released this February, Ten Fourteen. This song consists of powerful lyrics strung together with light yet heart-touching instrumentals. Tanner often refers to this as one of his more open or raw songs, reflecting on nostalgia and the heartbreak that can come with it. After this track, Tanner took the time to not only introduce himself and how far he has come, but to also show his appreciation for the audience members.

Second on the set list was “Cut Me Loose,” the title track off of Tanner Danes newest EP, which was released on March 21 of this year. Tanner spoke on how meaningful this project is to him, and how much hard work and energy went into its creation. It is truly a piece of work that he was proud to give to the world. This title track is yet another showcasing of how self-reflective and emotionally aware Tanner can become in his songwriting. Throughout his set, Tanner Dane played many other transformative songs such as “Porto Heartbreak,” “Down By Your Fire,” and “Ten Fourteen.”

An artist and crowd with the same passion for sharing music truly makes for a heart touching show. The community and appreciation felt during Tanner Danes performance was one that I’d consider unforgettable. Tanner was able to deliver a part of himself to the listener through melodies and words that mean everything to him, a deep field in which some artists fail to find ability. From cheers and roars between every song, to meaningful conversations at the merch table after the show, Tanner Dane made a soul touching impact on the people of Ann Arbor in many ways throughout his performance.