An Evening with Shovels & Rope

Saturday, Oct. 07 | 8:00pm ET (7:00pm CT)

American folk duo Shovels & Rope make their Acorn debut! As Shovels & Rope, husband and wife Michael Trent and Cary Ann Hearst combine threads from their individual solo careers, blending traditional folk, rock and roll and country rock.

About the Artists

As the Brontë sister wrote, “The ties that bind us to life are tougher than you imagine.” Shovels & Rope, the musical duo of Michael Trent and Cary Ann Hearst, embody that bond. Married for a decade, their covenant extends to blood and beyond: as parents, bandmates, and creative collaborators who can now add the pursuits of festival curators, film subjects, and children’s book authors to that mighty list. Having released four studio albums and two collaborative projects (Busted Jukebox, Vol. 1 & 2) since 2008, Trent and Hearst have built their reputation on skill, sweat, and, yes, blood. Now, with the tough and elegant new record By Blood, as well as their High Water Festival in their hometown of Charleston, South Carolina, “Shovels & Rope: The Movie”, and the picture book “C’mon Utah!”, Shovels & Rope are primed for their biggest year yet.

Accomplished musicians in their own right prior to dedicating themselves full time to Shovels & Rope in 2011, Trent and Hearst have made a career together by seizing opportunities and never resting on their laurels or being complacent in doing something just because. Carving out a niche in the music world with strong, roots/indie/folk/rock inspired efforts like 2012’s O’ Be Joyful, 2014’s Swimmin’ Time, and 2016’s inward looking Little Seeds, as well as their powerful live show, far-reaching tours, and myriad TV and festival appearances, Shovels & Rope have earned the right to follow their own muse. And so, in an effort to satisfy their numerous creative interests and adapt to a changing industry, Trent and Hearst have firmly planted their flag in realms beyond recording and releasing albums.

The third annual High Water Festival curated by the band will be held over a weekend in April and will bring 10,000 fans to a park in North Charleston to witness a lineup of artists comparable to some of the best in the country—including Leon Bridges, The Head & The Heart, Lord Huron, Jenny Lewis, Mitski, and Shovels & Rope themselves. High Water benefits select organizations and water conservation charities in Charleston and aims to avoid the feeling of corporate inundation and discomfort that plagues many big-name music events. Trent and Hearst work with production companies and agencies to book acts, then serve as on-site hosts in addition to performing throughout the weekend.

“Shovels & Rope: The Movie” is a performance film that has been expanded into feature length with an external narrative weaving through and connecting the live performances. Directed by their frequent visual collaborator, Curtis Millard, the ‘live show’ portion of the filming took place over two nights at The Orange Peel in Asheville, North Carolina, during the tour for Little Seeds. The rest of the film was shot in various locations in and around the Southeast. The result can be described as a David Lynch meets John Hughes (a fun, silly, and tongue-in-cheek film for fans to enjoy that also represents the band at the peak of their live power.)

The children’s book, “C’mon Utah!”, sets the lyrics from the new song of the same name to illustrations by the artist Julio Cotto. It is an inspirational story, set in the future aftermath of the building and subsequent destruction of the southern border wall. The separated and displaced families are figuring out how to start to put the pieces back together. Communities form to organize and support each other. The parents in these communities tell stories to lift the children's spirits and maintain hope through sadness and despair. One such story is about a magic horse named Utah who has the power to help to reunite them with their families on the other side of the devastation. The book is intended as a conversation starter for parents and children to discuss immigration and diversity.

Trent and Hearst have learned to juggle their busy schedules by relying on each other as well as their team, and by seizing every chance for efficiency. They realized one such opportunity by building a modest studio at home, which is where they began to record By Blood in May of 2018. The new space in their backyard provides a sanctuary where their gear can remain at the ready, a luxury conducive to their creative process—especially when sharing a home with kids.

By Blood’s ten songs are vignettes that focus on vulnerable, human characters laid bare, while the textures are gritty, sweeping, and profound. These are tales of inherently good yet incomplete people whose faults are on the table in plain sight, a trait that endears the subjects to the listener and that the songwriters recognize in themselves.

The first single “The Wire” is about accepting your own faults and learning to say you’re sorry. Its stylishly minimal verses and wall of sound chorus recall some raw, girl-group era drama as well as timeless rock and roll. As the gorgeous, dark lullaby of the title track brings the album to its end, the beautiful, cinematic journey of By Blood has left its mark.

And so, bound by blood, by sweat, and by love—of creativity, craft, and family—Shovels & Rope are coming out swinging. From the bind in their band name itself to the shared life they have built from scratch, it’s clear that Trent and Hearst are in constant pursuit of their best selves—together.

RESERVED SEATING DONATION option includes a $25 tax-deductible donation to The Acorn and guarantees you a seat with optimal sightlines. $25 Donation per ticket holder in your group.

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The Accidentals

Saturday, Jul. 15 | 8:00pm ET (7:00pm CT)

The Accidentals return to The Acorn. The female fronted power trio features an eclectic blend of Indie Folk, Pop and Rock. Think Brandi Carlile meets The Avett Brothers.

About the Artists

Long before glowing acclaim from ​NPR ​and ​Billboard​, packed shows, unforgettable festival appearances, millions of streams, and collaborations with everyone from BTS to Kaboom Collective, the journey of The Accidentals commenced in a public high school classroom in Traverse City, MI. As the story goes, concertmaster​ ​violinist Savannah Buist, and cellist Katie Larson, raised their hands at the request for volunteers to play a music boosters concert and wound up being musical soulmates.

After Sav and Katie attended a school presentation by The Moxie Strings, their collective fate would be sealed forever. “If the Moxie Strings hadn’t come to our school, we might not have pursued music professionally,” admits Sav. “We didn’t see many other girls playing popular music on violin and cello in sustainable careers. We didn’t even know that career path existed until those two women walked through the door. That’s when we realized it was possible.”

“We live and breathe music,” adds Katie. “Music helped me ​survive those awkward middle school years when I wasn’t sure ​where to identify myself. ​​It’s​ helped us figure out who we are, given us confidence, allowed us to travel the world, and completely opened up our minds.”

The Accidentals now host and lead workshops across the country, hoping to inspire other young musicians. They opened a nonprofit in 2020 called Play It Forward, Again and Again, to help provide access to instruments, lessons, and mentors for all aspiring musicians.As advocates for youth music and youth empowerment, they focused extensively on “getting out the young vote” in the 2020 election. They donated over twenty livestreams to raise money for causes including the #iVoted festival, Headcount, Rock the Vote, Arts Quest youth programming, Michigan Music Alliance, Musicians Treatment Foundation, Sweet Relief, MusiCares, Lighthouse Shelter Detroit, Headstart, TREES, Concert for Hunger Chicago, NIVA, and more, while delivering their new single, “How Many Hands” to the 2020 compilation ​U.S.P.S.​ – ​United Songwriters for the People’s Sovereignty​. “We’re just paying it forward,” says Sav. “We have an incredible support system and core base of music family that help afford us the opportunity to give back.”

Following the 2016​ ​release of​ Parking Lot​ EP, ​Huffington Post​ touted The Accidentals among its ​“Sweet 16 of 2016​.​”​ Billboard​ called them “the band to watch.”

On its heels, they signed a deal with Sony Masterworks label, and 2017’s ​Odyssey rapidly accelerated the momentum. The 13-track trip boasted collaborations with Kaki King, Jenny Conlee of The ​Decemberists, Lily & Madeleine, and​ jam band guitar virtuoso Keller Williams, whom the band later paired up with to form the Keller Williams Accident ​at​ Millennial Music Conference in 2019. Garnering praise from ​Yahoo! Music,​ ​Pop Matters​, ​Billboard​ , and more, ​NPR​ claimed, “[The Accidentals] are some of the most compelling songwriters of our time…they display equal interest in the focused musical forms of indie rock and pop and the expansive potential of orchestral arrangements, jam band open-endedness, and impressionistic singer-songwriter expression.”

The journey of The Accidentals has only just begun. “The goal of our music has always been shared experiences. Music helps us process things that are hard to process,” Sav leaves off. “A lot of the writing comes from touring, and touring is just a myriad of extremes, triumphs, and failures. It’s how we connect with people in those moments that shape our experiences. Hopefully, people can relate to something we’re creating in a way that feels like understanding. Maybe, it offers a different perspective, and that leads to less loneliness and more community.”

The band tours full time, playing 200+ shows a year at such festivals as Electric Forest, Rocky Mountain Folk Fest, Summerfest, and SXSW, and on stages with the likes of Brandi Carlile, The Wailers, Joan Baez, Arlo Guthries, Andrew Bird, Martin Sexton, Rusted Root, The Decemberists, and more.

RESERVED SEATING DONATION option includes a $25 tax-deductible donation to The Acorn and guarantees you a seat with optimal sightlines. $25 Donation per ticket holder in your group.

Brett Dennen w/ Certainly So

Thursday, Aug. 10 | 7:00pm ET (6:00pm CT)

Brett Dennen See the World (Mick Music) Brett Dennen is telling us to get out and see the world at a time when we need it more than ever. Flame-haired, six-foot-five, and with a singular gift for meditating on life's most meaningful subjects with equal parts innocence and razor sharp wit, you know Dennen from his decade-plus career as a singer/songwriter. With a successful string of albums and four Top Ten AAA singles like "Make You Crazy," "Wild Child," and 2018's "Already Gone," which achieved his highest chart position yet, Dennen has cemented himself as a fixture in American folk music.

What you may not know about Brett is that he did not set out to be a professional musician. It is a surprising revelation for someone who embodies the best of songwriting: singular storytelling, singability, and the unique capacity to hold up a mirror to our lives, our society, and the greater world.

Before all that, he was a painter -- a skilled visual artist with a well-honed perspective and a style very much his own. Perhaps it is not so surprising, then, that his lyrics have always seemed to bloom before one's eyes, somehow both stark and colorful, intricately constructed and sweeping in their scope.

Tickets go on sale Friday, June 2nd at 10am ET.

RESERVED SEATING DONATION option includes a $25 tax-deductible donation to The Acorn and guarantees you a seat with optimal sightlines. $25 Donation per ticket holder in your group.

Michigan Rattlers

Friday, Jun. 30 | 8:00pm ET (7:00pm CT)

Michigan Rattlers are a folk-rock band composed of Graham Young (guitar), Adam Reed (bass), Christian Wilder (piano), and Tony Audia (drums). Meeting as childhood friends, they began writing music and performing together in their hometown of Petoskey, Michigan. Their self-titled Michigan Rattlers EP attracted reviews from No Depression, Bluegrass Situation, B3 Science, and Rolling Stone, who named the band one of their “Ten New Country Artists You Need To Know” in 2016. They’ve continued to evolve beyond the “country” label ever since.

In 2018, following a summer tour that included stops at Bonnaroo, Firefly and Electric Forest; the band released their debut full length album, ‘Evergreen’. “This is a band with solid songwriting chops and instrumental skills,” says No Depression. “ ‘Evergreen’ shows this four-
piece from Petoskey, Michigan making a stand, making their way.”

Growing into a more expansive sound, the band’s second full length album, ‘That Kind of Life’, was released in 2021 to positive reviews.

With live shows being at the core of the band’s identity, the Rattlers continue to tour relentlessly, bringing their honest songwriting and high energy rock n roll to stages across the U.S and Canada.

RESERVED SEATING DONATION option includes a $25 tax-deductible donation to The Acorn and guarantees you a seat with optimal sightlines. $25 Donation per ticket holder in your group.

Robbie Fulks w/ Sarah King

Thursday, Aug. 24 | 7:00pm ET (6:00pm CT)

Acclaimed folk artist Robbie Fulks returns to the Acorn. His most recent release, 2017’s Upland Stories, earned year’s-best recognition from NPR and Rolling Stone among many others, as well as two Grammy® nominations, for folk album and American roots song (“Alabama At Night”).

About the Artist:

Robbie Fulks is a singer, recording artist, instrumentalist, composer, and songwriter. His most recent release, 2017’s Upland Stories, earned year’s-best recognition from NPR and Rolling Stone among many others, as well as two Grammy® nominations, for folk album and American roots song (“Alabama At Night”).

Fulks was born in York, Pennsylvania, and grew up in a half-dozen small towns in southeast Pennsylvania, the North Carolina Piedmont, and the Blue Ridge area of Virginia. He learned guitar from his dad, banjo from Earl Scruggs and John Hartford records, and fiddle (long since laid down in disgrace) on his own. He attended Columbia College in New York City in 1980 and dropped out in 1982 to focus on the Greenwich Village songwriter scene and other ill-advised pursuits.

In 1983 he moved to Chicago and joined Greg Cahill’s Special Consensus Bluegrass Band. He taught music at Old Town School of Folk Music from 1984 to 1996, and worked as a staff songwriter on Music Row in Nashville from 1993 to 1998. His early solo work -- Country Love Songs (1996) and South Mouth (1997) -- helped define the "alternative country" movement of the 1990s. His music from the last several years hews mainly to acoustic instrumentation; it returns him in part to his earlier bluegrass days, and extends the boundaries of that tradition with old-time rambles and sparely orchestrated reflections on love, the slings of time, and the troubles of common people.

Radio: multiple appearances on WSM’s “Grand Ole Opry”; PRI’s “Whadd’ya Know”; NPR’s “Fresh Air,” “Mountain Stage,” and “World Cafe”; and the syndicated “Acoustic Cafe” and “Laura Ingraham Show.” TV: PBS’s Austin City Limits; NBC’s Today, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, Later with Carson Daly, and 30 Rock. From 2004 to 2008 he hosted an hourlong performance/interview program for XM satellite radio, “Robbie’s Secret Country.” Artists who have covered his songs include Sam Bush, Kelly Hogan, Andrew Bird, Mollie O’Brien, Rosie Flores, John Cowan, and Old 97s.

Robbie’s writing on music and life have appeared in GQ, Blender, the Chicago Reader, DaCapo Press’s Best Music Writing anthologies for 2001 and 2004, Amplified: Fiction from Leading Alt-Country, Indie Rock, Blues and Folk Musicians, and A Guitar and A Pen: Stories by Country Music’s Greatest Songwriters. As an instrumentalist, he has accompanied the Irish fiddle master Liz Carroll, the distinguished jazz violinist Jenny Scheinman, and the New Orleans pianist Dr. John. As a producer his credits include Touch My Heart: A Tribute to Johnny Paycheck (Sugar Hill, 2004) and Big Thinkin’ by Dallas Wayne (Hightone, 2000). Theatrical credits include “Woody Guthrie’s American Song” and Harry Chapin’s “Cottonpatch Gospel.” He served twice as judge for the Winfield National Flatpicking Guitar competition. He tours yearlong with various configurations.

Besides country and bluegrass music, Robbie is fiercely fond of Charles Mingus, P.G. Wodehouse, quantum mechanics, his wife Donna, comedy in almost all forms, cooking, swimming laps, the past, Arthur Schopenhauer, Universal horror movies, his grandson and even his sons, coastal towns in the off-season, and rye whiskey, though in nothing like that order.

Sarah King:

Known for her powerhouse voice and “fiery, vulnerable songs,” Sarah King creates thought-provoking, versatile Americana music. Her genuine stories about real-life emotions and situations also draw on classic folk-blues themes, balancing songs about the devil and booze with hard-won moments of reflection and acceptance. Her acclaimed 2021 EP The Hour, produced by Simone Felice and David Baron, earned her recognition as the New England Music Awards Songwriter of the Year and performances at the 2022 Folk Alliance International and Philadelphia Folk festivals, as well as supporting slots for acts including Blues Traveler and The Steel Woods.

RESERVED SEATING DONATION option includes a $25 tax-deductible donation to The Acorn and guarantees you a seat with optimal sightlines. $25 Donation per ticket holder in your group.

Art at The Acorn - Artist Reception for Frank Kurland: Dreamscapes and more

Tuesday, Jun. 27 | 7:00pm ET (6:00pm CT)

The Acorn Center for the Performing Arts will transform into a visual art space as we launch our new initiative, Art at The Acorn. As a part of our ongoing Pride festivities, we welcome our first artist, Frank Kurland and his exhibit Dreamscapes and more. Artist Reception is free and open to the public.

• Light bites | Cash bar
• Artist Q&A with moderator Janet Davies

Frank will also share a special body of work the night of the Artist Reception only – Love is in the Air, the exclusive debut of Frank's new series of original paintings celebrating queer pride and men in love.

Registration for the free Artist Reception is encouraged. Please click the “Get Tickets” button at the bottom of this page to register.

Artist Statement:

I was born and raised in suburban Chicago. Our weekends and vacations were simple outings in nature—camping, fishing, hiking, canoeing. That love of nature has stayed with me all my life. I spent my career in graphic design and marketing—working with color, shape, contrast, form and pattern, but always in an office environment.

When retirement approached and my time at work began to wane, I started—timidly at first—to paint. I found inspiration in the outdoors, the elements, the forms and colors I was familiar with. Sunsets. Woods. Lakes and rivers.

As I grew more confident in painting through the support of family and friends, I came to the realization that I wanted to capture moods, not pictures. I didn’t want photographic realism, I wanted to create paintings that required you to look into—and mostly, to feel. I came to call these “Dreamscapes”. For they truly come to life from out of my mind’s eye, based on cumulative years of observations in nature.

And I discovered the impressionists. As described in one book, "They were interested in painting everyday reality instead of monumental scenes. The Impressionists redefined what it meant to capture reality to mean: to capture a specific moment. This moment of light now, as compared to the moment of light in an hour from now. There was also the idea of painting the impression of a first glance at something. When we look at a landscape, or a crowd of people, we do not instantly see every face or leaf in detailed focus, but as a mass of colour and light. Impressionist painters tried to express this experience."

My work now generally evolves in layers—as is nature itself—with depth, light and movement. Subtle tones as well as vibrant colors. Finding balance and focus. Evocative and moody. Sometimes calming and sometimes turbulent, but always expressive of a memory, a mood, a moment in time that’s cherished. As a queer artist, I thank you for letting me share a bit of myself with you.

Trouble Ahead: A Jerry Garcia Birthday Show

Friday, Aug. 04 | 8:00pm ET (7:00pm CT)

Trouble Ahead is a Grateful Dead inspired group of seasoned Chicago-area musicians who blend harmonies, chord voicing and improvisation to offer faithful renditions of classic Dead tunes - bringing the Dead to life.

Come join us as we mine the vast catalog of the Grateful Dead, Jerry Garcia Band, Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin, The Band, Jefferson Airplane and more and go "searching for the sound". Bring your dancing shoes and, as always, tie-dye and twirling are optional.

TROUBLE AHEAD IS:
Brett Baxter – Drums, Vocals
Jim Bilger – Guitar, Vocals
Jimmy Chrzan - Keyboards, Vocals
Tyler Mattson - Lead Guitar, Vocals
Craig Urban - Bass, Vocals
Judith Weirauch - Vocals

RESERVED SEATING DONATION option includes a $25 tax-deductible donation to The Acorn and guarantees you a seat with optimal sightlines. $25 Donation per ticket holder in your group.

Steve Earle: Alone Again, Solo & Acoustic w/ Ben Chapman

Monday, Aug. 14 | 7:00pm ET (6:00pm CT)

Steve Earle is one of the most acclaimed singer-songwriters of his generation. A protege of legendary songwriters Townes Van Zandt and Guy Clark, he quickly became a master storyteller in his own right, with his songs being recorded by Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Joan Baez, Emmylou Harris, The Pretenders, and countless others. 1986 saw the release of his record, Guitar Town, which shot to number one on the country charts and is now regarded as a classic of the Americana genre. Subsequent releases like The Revolution Starts...Now (2004), Washington Square Serenade (2007), and TOWNES (2009) received consecutive GRAMMY® Awards. Restlessly creative across artistic disciplines, Earle has published both a novel and collection of short stories; produced albums for other artists such as Joan Baez and Lucinda Williams, and acted in films, television (including David Simon’s acclaimed The Wire), and on the stage. In 2009, Earle appeared in the off-Broadway play Samara, for which he also wrote a score that The New York Times described as “exquisitely subliminal.” Earle wrote music for and appeared in Coal Country, a riveting Public Theater play that dives into the most-deadly mining disaster in U.S. history, for which he was nominated for a Drama Desk Award. Mr. Earle was recently inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.

The recent release of Ben Chapman’s self-produced Amber Sound, Vol. 1, featuring his band Ben Chapman & Co., combines dynamic guitar licks, groove-driven bass lines, guitar solos with swagger, and dreamy lyrics you’ll float away on while singing along. After touring the country as direct support on Lainey Wilson’s sold-out Country With A Flare Tour, this album continues to be the soundtrack to the Ben Chapman movement, converting a room of strangers to newly established groupies feeding off his rockin’, energetic set. Akin to the Black Crowes while channeling the classic intimacy of Willie and soul of The Allman Brothers Band, Ben is drawing folks in across festival stages from MerleFest to CMA Fest to Carolina Country Music Fest. You can expect to get your face melted at Chapman’s live show, but don’t be surprised when you find yourself looking inward with the reimagined release of his track “Is It Ever Really Gone?” now featuring co-writer and friend, Ashley Monroe.

Tickets go on sale Friday, May 5 at 10am ET.

RESERVED SEATING DONATION option includes a $50 tax-deductible donation to The Acorn and guarantees you a seat with optimal sightlines. $50 Donation per ticket holder in your group.

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Tim Stop

Friday, Aug. 11 | 8:00pm ET (7:00pm CT)

Tim Stop is a Midwest singer/songwriter, who's recently played on several major international tours, opening for classic bands like Chicago, REO Speedwagon and others. He's performed to sold-out crowds at historic venues like Red Rocks and the Greek in LA, and his single "Perfect Fool" can be heard on SiriusXM's "The Pulse". His cover of Michael Jackson's "The Way You Make Me Feel" became a mainstay on SiruisXM's "The Coffee House" channel. In April 2023, he released "Silver Lining", an album featuring drum legend Keith Carlock.

Tim is joined by Michael Tahlier (Berklee guitar graduate), Kindred Priest on bass, and Terrence Brown on guitar.

RESERVED SEATING DONATION option includes a $25 tax-deductible donation to The Acorn and guarantees you a seat with optimal sightlines. $25 Donation per ticket holder in your group.

Open Mic Night featuring Help Hounds

Wednesday, Aug. 16 | 7:00pm ET (6:00pm CT)

Where else in Harbor Country can you go for an evening filled with amazing talent? Come experience Harbor Country’s most exciting array of acts, packed into one night on the fabulous Acorn stage with a state of the art, professional sound system.
No Admission Fee, Donations Encouraged

Performer Inquiries: Email openmic@acornlive.org

About the Artists:

Help Hounds are a four piece band from Northwest Indiana writing Americana, indie/folk songs. Describing themselves as "self-reflective and a little self-deprecating at times," Help Hounds sing about nice weather and the human condition. Each member brings a little something different from toe-tapping melodies to classical cello, airy guitar sweets to driving banjo picking. It’s the peoples’ romp and roll!

This activity is supported in part by the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs and sponsored by The Frederick S. Upton Foundation.

RESERVED SEATING DONATION option includes a $25 tax-deductible donation to The Acorn and guarantees you a seat with optimal sightlines. $25 Donation per ticket holder in your group.