Michigan Songwriter Showcase hosted by Steve Taylor and featuring Melanie Pierce, Jason Charboneau and Ali McManus
20 Front Street
November 12, 2026
•
7:00 pm
$24.79
Melanie picked up a guitar at thirteen chasing the same energy she heard in Paramore and Taylor Swift records, and she still writes with that same restless spark. She builds her songs from the ground up herself, playing, producing, and shaping every layer of the Stir Crazy EP and the singles that followed. This shows in her live set too. She knows exactly what she wants a room to feel, and she's got a loyal Detroit following that turns out to help her achieve that.
Website: melaniepierceofficial.com
Meet Jason Charboneau, a Detroit-based multi-string instrumentalist with a
passion for the cello and guitar. Starting his musical journey with the violin at the
age of 9, Jason later switched to the cello in high school and picked up the guitar
as a hobby, which eventually became his second instrument, leading to many
other string instruments which he has played in some capacity.
In 1986, Jason had an amazing opportunity to attend the International Congress of
Strings in New York, working with Hans Jensen and Joseph Silverstein and even
playing Carnegie Hall and the Lincoln Center.
After that, he attended Wayne State University to study Cello Performance under
the guidance of Richard Piippo, which exposed him to the vibrant and artistic
Detroit music scene of the mid-to-late '80s and fueled his passion for music even
more.
Jason's musical career soon took off. He became a part of various bands,
including notable ones like Ethan Daniel Davidson, the Mutes, Merge, Ryan Dillaha
(as a cellist), Carolyn Striho, Jackie Stahl and the White Russians, King Sleeves,
Rock Harley as Johnny Cash (a Johnny Cash tribute), and many more. He also
helped form the progressive alternative hard rock band Resurrection Story, which
released the album "String Theory and Collapsing Stars."
In addition, Jason was a part of many of the Detroit area's orchestras throughout
his years, including but not limited to the Macomb Symphony Orchestra,
Rochester Symphony, Birmingham/Bloomfield Symphony, Dearborn Summer
Festival Orchestra, Grosse Pointe Symphony, Saint Clair Shores Symphony, Warren
Symphony, Scandinavian Symphony, plus many others.
In recent years, Jason has been a part of the Moody Blues' John Lodge and the
10,000 Light Years Band as a cellist and occasional second guitarist, recording
multiple albums including the latest release, "Days of Future Passed – My
Sojourn." He has also contributed to the Guess Who's new album, "Plein D'Amour"
(now renamed Derek Sharp and the Champagne Jam), and has collaborated with
numerous other artists throughout his career. Jason's musical diversity and
adventurous style make him a sought-after session player.
With his blues and blues-rock influences, he has also pursued a solo career as a
frontman, releasing his first solo outing, "Troubled," in 2021 — a blues and blues
rock album of 12 original songs all written, engineered, produced, and played by
himself (other than the drums and harmonica). He is currently working on his
second solo album — more blues and blues-rock with a hint of country.
Jason is also the 2026 winner of the Detroit Blues Competition for "Solo/Duo" acts
and will be representing Detroit in Memphis, Tennessee, at the International Blues
Challenge in January 2027.
When you hear Ali McManus’s dynamic vocals, you’d be surprised to know her lung capacity
is only 30%. Born 3 months premature and weighing 2lbs 7oz at birth, she was given a 50/50 chance to live. Now 29 years old, the Detroit born singer/songwriter has beaten the odds. A rare bone disorder has left Ali in a wheelchair since the age of 7.
But Ali’s story is one of compelling talent and an indomitable spirit. Legendary producer Jack Douglas (John Lennon, Aerosmith, Alice Cooper) produced Ali’s debut album, that released in February 2018. “I see her as an artist first. Her pure, authentic voice and magnetic personality light up the room,” he says. “She's a natural -- a true artist with old soul sensibility and a powerful message to share with the world.”
Ali has endured 11 surgeries, halo tractions, steel rods to fuse and straighten her spine, a full body cast, and more. “I don't see myself as a person in a wheelchair, though,” Ali says. “I see myself as a regular person who just happens to sit down all day.”
Having spent much of her young life in hospitals, McManus credits music with saving her life. “One song means three minutes of no pain,” she says. “And I can say things with song that I can’t speak in words alone.”
A generous artist who believes in giving back, Ali donates her time and talent to perform for children and charitable organizations. She’s been honored as Youth Ambassador for charities, including Shriners Hospitals for Children, the Children’s Miracle Network, Dick Wagner “Remember the Child” Memorial Fund, DMAN Foundation, Axis Music Foundation and the Healing Notes Foundation.
Ali is a 5-time Detroit Music Awards nominee for Outstanding Americana Songwriter, Outstanding Americana Artist, Outstanding Americana Vocalist, Outstanding Americana Recording and Outstanding Music Video – Limited Budget.
Ali writes intimate original songs that reflect her life, aiming to connect with others through her lyrics and inspire them with her story.
Be on the lookout for Ali’s newest release “Anywhere in my Mind” coming soon…
Ali McManus www.alimcmanus.com
Steve Taylor graduated from Boston’s prestigious Berklee College of Music with a degree in Songwriting. After college, Steve returned home to Michigan and became a fixture in the Detroit music scene while earning a Master’s Degree in Music Theory from Wayne State University. Blending soulful music and intimate lyrics, Steve Taylor performs all over Michigan as a solo acoustic artist and with his band, The Steve Taylor Three. Their latest album “Temporary Heart” was released in 2024 all of their music is available on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube, or wherever finer music is streamed. The band’s single, “Raining on Christmas”, won the Detroit Music Award for “Outstanding Country Recording” in 2023. “Temporary Heart” won the Michigan Music Award for Best American Album in 2025. In 2026 their Christmas album “Welcome to the Jingle” won “Best Americana Album” at the Michigan Music Awards and Steve was named “Songwriter of the Year”.