
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Legendary Ann Arbor Band Marks 50 Years of Song and Celebration
Contact: David Tamulevich (862) 206-9231 David@Tamulevich.com
Mustard’s Retreat, the folk music group once dubbed “Ann Arbor’s house band” is marking its 50th year with performances in Columbus, Ohio, and Flint and Ann Arbor, Michigan in the Spring of 2025. Headed by singer-songwriter David Tamulevich with vocalist Libby Glover, they will be joined in these anniversary celebrations by founding member Michael Hough. Tamulevich, Glover and Hough founded the band in Ann Arbor in the Spring of 1975 amid the growing popularity of their informal performances at the Old Heidelberg Restaurant. Mustard’s Retreat, is a tune Tamulevich wrote a few years earlier, the title a combination of a traditional fiddle tune, Bonaparte’s Retreat, and the last name of a friend, Nancy Mustard.
Since their launch the band has crisscrossed the midwest and northeast, though they have performed in Lithuania, Canada, Alaska,California, Florida, Louisiana, Washington, DC, and Texas, among others.. Wherever they have been they have delighted audiences with their trademark harmonies and humor, delivering socially conscious music and commentary with a gentle touch, and celebrating community and belonging.
Tamulevich and Glover will reunite for these 3 special performances with their long time partner Michael Hough, who retired in 2019.
Since its inception, Mustard’s Retreat has performed more than 7,000 shows, logged more than one million miles, and released 15 critically acclaimed recordings highlighting the talents of the songwriting of Tamulevich and Hough. Their latest CD, By Request, was released in 2024. Since then David and Libby have performed more than 50 concerts – from Minnesota to Maine to Virginia.
One of the keys to their success, David says, is their relationship with their audience. “The people in the folk community are like family to us whether we have ever met them or not: we feel every show is like a family reunion. A celebration. We came of age in the 1960s, and found in the folk community meaning, a welcome, and a place to be, and it still feels that way.”
“Folk encompasses many things: I believe it is an overriding approach to life and living no matter what you do. We just happen to be singers, storytellers and entertainers. There is a common bond of humanity, of shared consciousness, of caring. It is a community, a village. Being here, for us, is a conscious choice. it IS the community we want to perform for and be a part of.”
Then there are the songs themselves. David and Michael Hough, both individually, and as a creative team, have crafted songs and recordings that resonate with audiences and won them a loyal following. They are crafted to touch the hearts and the hopes of their listeners, and range from the humorous – The Michigan Mosquitoes and Ah-choo to You; to Celtic-tinged; Mallon’s Bridge, The Raven, Annie’s Bargain, to heartfelt; Part of Me Remembers, Moody Monday, to songs celebrating the family, including Gather the Family and Ours is a Simple Faith, which were included in the seminal Rise Again! songbook.
The songs are rooted in, and reach for, common ground: surprise, delight, recognition. “We want both our time on stage, as well as our interaction with audiences and volunteers off stage, to be of one piece, leaving everyone, including us, with the warmth of an evening well spent, and with memories that will last for a long time to come. For us, a successful evening has thoughtful content, as well as laughter, a few tears, and audiences singing along,” he concludes. “It doesn’t matter if we are telling stories or singing, the show is a celebration of who we collectively are.”
50th Anniversary
Concert Schedule
Thurs. March 27 – Columbus Ohio
Natalie’s Grandview, on Charlie’s Stage
945 King Ave. 8 PM https://nataliesgrandview.com
614- 436-2625
Columbus embraced the band in the 1990s and Mustard’s Retreat became a yearly fixture at the Central Ohio Folk Festival, helping it become the great success it is today.
Friday, March 28 – Ann Arbor Michigan
The Ark, 316 South Main St, Ann Arbor.
7:30 PM
Tickets: https://theark.org/ticket-information
!!!*** THIS SHOW WILL BE LIVESTREAMED, IN ADDITION TO BEING IN PERSON***!!!
The band’s success in Ann Arbor propelled them into a 50-year journey, making music and friends along the way.
Sat. March 29 Flint Michigan
The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Flint. 2472 South Ballenger Hwy.
Afternoon show: 3:00 PM
Call or write to make a reservation, though tickets are available at the UU office during business hours.
810-232-4023 | office@uuflint.org
Flint is Libby’s hometown and was the real crucible and coming of age for the band. Local audiences embraced Mustard’s Retreat and the trio hosted two radio shows on local NPR affiliate WFBE. They also recorded their first album in Flint which helped launch their career nationally.