Executive Director | Interview with an Acorn Artist | Volunteer Spotlight | Acorn News | Acorn Updates
Letter from the Executive Director
Dear Friends,
This summer has been such a rich celebration of arts in Three Oaks, Harbor Country, and beyond. Thank you for joining us for this incredible array of performances and events!
Highlights certainly included our 2nd ever Acorn Music Festival - with stand-out performances by Chuck Prophet and the Mission Express, Red Wanting Blue, Bee Taylor, Heartless Bastards, The Verve Pipe, and so, so many more phenomenal musicians. This year's festival incorporated our fantastic community partners and local artists in pop-up performances at businesses around Three Oaks - showcasing our community's talented artists and top-tier businesses together right here in Harbor Country.
Music is the heartbeat of any vibrant community. It has the power to bring people together, to spark joy, and to cultivate a more innovative and empathetic society. Our local music scene is a living, breathing testament to the creativity, resilience, and connectedness of Harbor Country. We are honored to share that the Frederick S. Upton Foundation has offered a matching grant of $10,000 to support The Acorn's local artist and family programming initiatives - including Midwest Made, Acorn Open Mics, and Acorn Tree House Series. If you'd like to make a contribution and double the impact of your gift, please visit our Support The Acorn page at our website.
Another way to get involved and support The Acorn's community programs include our first-ever Swing for The Arts Golf Fundraiser! If you are a talented golfer, or simply enjoy the sport - or if you'd just like to have a lovely day on the course with friends! - please join us at Briar Leaf Golf Club on September 5th! More details at acornlive.org/golf.
This summer has been a truly magical culmination of what The Acorn represents; showcasing world-class artistry, supporting local talent, curating enriching youth and family programs, and connecting our community through great live music. We are so grateful to all of you for making programs like these possible! Let's continue to champion the music that moves us and the artists who inspire us!
Sincerely,
Ashley Magnus
Executive Director
Interview with an Acorn Artist
Sadie Gustafson-Zook
Every time Sadie Gustafson-Zook carves a linoleum block, sews a pencil case out of scraps, or admires the way the ink in her Pilot G-2 glides over her journal, she thinks, “I should be doing this all the time.” The act of creating something tangible is the air Sadie breathes. Her songwriting is the same – weaving an internal dialogue, the stories she tells herself, warm melodies and clever chords into something real, something she can physically feel with her hands and her throat. And chances are that you’ll be able to feel them too.
Based in Goshen, Indiana, Sadie’s songs have been endorsed by some of the most respected songwriting contests from across the country, winning Kerrville Folk Festival’s 2022 New Folk Contest (as well as placing as a finalist in 2020), earning second place at the Rocky Mountain Folk Fest’s Songwriter Showcase, and winning first place at the NewSong + LEAF Songwriting Contest. Sadie has been featured on the Basic Folk podcast and on Folk Alley. Most recently, Sadie was named the Winner of our 2024 Acorn Singer-Songwriter Competition last month.
Q: Who and what are your biggest musical influences?
A: The soundtrack to my elementary school years was a mix of country/bluegrass (the Chicks and Alison Krauss), the Beatles, and musical theater songs. Middle and high school brought a folk-pop era (the Weepies, Ingrid Michaelson, Priscilla Ahn, Kings of Convenience). In college while I was studying classical voice, I dug into the niche world of Boston’s progressive bluegrass/adjacent scene (Joy Kills Sorrow, Lake Street Dive, Crooked Still). Since then I’ve listened to a lot of jazz, gotten into Jim Croce, PJ Morton, and befriended a lot of really talented songwriters and musicians who are perpetually inspiring.
Q: Tell us about your songwriting process if you can. When did you start writing songs? And how have you changed as a songwriter over time?
A: Although I have memories of writing as a 5 or 6 year old, my first fully formed song came about in fifth grade when a traumatic recess-related incident offered inspiration. Although I’ve gotten better at the guitar over the years, I think the process of finding an inspiration, sitting down and working out my feelings while I sing and play guitar, has pretty much stayed consistent. I edit a bit more now and I like trying out different approaches, but my lyrics still mostly start from a feeling and my melodies mostly come from a cool chord progression.
Q: You have won a number of songwriting awards, including Kerrville Folk Festival’s 2022 New Folk Contest, the NewSong + LEAF Songwriting Contest, and this past summer you were named the winner of our own 2024 Acorn Singer-Songwriter Competition. Do you have a favorite song of yours that has been honored with a win at one of these competitions?
A: I really like my song Maybe I Don’t Know. It’s often a crowd-pleaser because the chorus is pretty acrobatic and people can relate to the concept of being unsure. Content-wise, I wrote the song at a time when I was trying to figure out my queer identity, and audience members sometimes get so invested in the chorus that they don’t even realize that this song has very strong queer undertones. It’s been cool to hear that even though the song is about my specific experience, most people can relate to the sentiment of trying to figure out what they want.
Q: Who is your favorite musician to listen to when you’re not making music of your own?
A: Right now I’m spending a lot of time with the new Iron & Wine album (Light Verse) and the new Anna Tivel record (Living Thing).
Q: Did you always want to be a musician? What advice would you give to young artists?
A: When I was in 5th grade we had to write a paper about what we wanted to be when we grew up and I said I would be an Irish fiddle player. That hasn’t quite happened, but yeah, I’d say my career trajectory has been pretty consistent throughout my life.
In terms of music advice, I’d say to listen to music really intentionally so you can figure out why you like what you like. If you want a musical career I’d encourage you to find ways to make music a team activity (maybe that looks like being in a band, or finding other individual songwriters who you can start a club with, or becoming a regular at a specific venue). That way you have accountability and inspiration to keep going and you get your creative and social needs filled in one activity.
Q: What is your favorite memory from a live performance (of your own or someone else’s)?
A: In high school I took voice lessons and at one recital I got to sing a love duet (“Say It Somehow” from the musical The Light In The Piazza) with this dreamy older guy from another school. We staged it on the balcony in the back of the recital hall. Since no one could see my feet, I decided not to wear shoes so I could feel extra grounded. He was so cute, I still get chills. Lol. That probably wasn’t what you were asking about, but it was a highlight!
Q: What is up next for you project-wise? What should our audience be watching for from you?
A: I have a trio of breakup songs that I’ll be releasing throughout the fall! I got the opportunity to record these songs last summer in New York with my friend and co-collaborator Alec Spiegelman. The arrangements are really lush, with string arrangements and a solo piano/voice piece. They’re so sad and beautiful and I’m looking forward to sharing them!
Q: Anything else you think our Acorn audience would like to know about?
A: If you enjoyed what you heard at the contest and are looking for a really tangible way to support my career, I have a Patreon page! I like to give my Patreon subscribers access to unreleased demos, cover videos, and insights into my life/career that I don’t post for the general public. Join for as little as $5/month! All membership levels get access to the same content, so you can choose a level that works well for your situation!
The Acorn thanks Sadie for taking the time to be interviewed! Be sure to check out our September Open Mic Night, when Sadie takes the stage as our Featured Artist, and watch for other future musical events with our 2024 Acorn Singer-Songwriter Competition Winner!
Volunteer Spotlight
Chuck Osgood & Dianne Burgis
If you’ve attended an Acorn show over the past dozen or so years, chances are you may have been greeted at check-in by the smiling face of Dianne Burgis. As you watched the show, you may have noticed a quiet photographer sneaking a shot here and there, and may have even noticed a ‘Photo Credit: Chuck Osgood’ in one of our posts.
Chuck Osgood and Dianne Burgis began volunteering at The Acorn in 2012, each drawn to pitch in for their own reason. Dianne’s commitment to help started with a conversation with the Executive Director at the time. Chuck, a photographer who specializes in performance art, had been a fan of The Acorn since its earliest days.
When asked about their favorite musicians they’ve seen perform at The Acorn over the years, neither Chuck nor Dianne could limit themselves to only a couple. Dianne asserted that it was “impossible to choose” but cited Corky Siegel, Bonnie Koloc, Jeff Daniels and Chicago Farmer (while also noting “and dozens more!”). Chuck echoed a couple of Dianne’s favorites (Corky Siegel and Bonnie Koloc), expanding to add: “Graham Nash was fantastic! I’ve always been a CSNY fan and didn’t realize how many of my favorite songs he wrote. Bill Beilby offered us a reunion of his old band, which never got old. Many of the cover bands are really good, especially The Doors!”
When it comes to favorite memories from volunteering at The Acorn, for Chuck it was Bob Swan’s Christmas shows, while for Dianne it was “helping a diva into her Oscar de la Renta gown.” (Dianne didn’t name names, so if you want to know who the diva was, you’ll have to ask her!)
Q: What is your occupation?
Dianne: Retired Graphic Designer.
Chuck: Photographer.
Q: How do you define success?
Dianne: Having good people around me.
Chuck: Reaching those slippery goals of life. We rarely reach them all since they keep transitioning, reproducing.
Q: Where is your favorite place to travel?
Dianne: Everywhere. However, New Zealand is still a favorite.
Chuck: Paris is my fave reprise trip, but anywhere I can find new surprises, ideas, cultures, languages, humor.
Q: Who inspires you?
Dianne: Talent.
Chuck: Besides Dianne, anyone who is organized, calm, and uses their talents passionately.
Q: If a biography were to be written about your life, what is one story that would be a MUST to be included?
Dianne: I was once invited to a party at John Denver's house in Aspen and did not go. (It included the Nitty Gritty Dirt band - but didn't start until 3 am. I wanted to ski the next day.)
Chuck: I flew with Led Zeppelin on Starship and interviewed Jimmy Page. There is more to the story, but I’m sworn to secrecy.
Acorn News
Six Finalists Dazzled the Audience for the 12th Annual Acorn Singer-Songwriter Competition
Sadie Gustafson-Zook Crowned the 2024 Winner
Left to right: 3rd Place Winner Sam Robbins, 1st Place Winner Sadie Gustafson-Zook, Emily Barnes, Runner-Up Andy Sydow, Hannah Baird and Alex Austin.
Applications poured in from all around the country for the 12th annual Acorn Singer-Songwriter Competition. Six Finalists were chosen to compete in the Finals on Friday, July 19th at The Acorn. Hailing from as far away as Nashville, Boston and Colorado, the group included artists from Michigan and Indiana, with this year’s winner calling Goshen, Indiana home.
Emily Barnes, Andy Sydow, Hannah Baird, Alex Austin, Sadie Gustafson-Zook and Sam Robbins each performed two original songs in the first round of the competition, vying for a spot in the Top 3 – chosen by our panel of judges Acorn Talent Buyer Donnie Biggins, musicians Jayne Kelli & AJ Swearingen, and Acorn Singer-Songwriter Alum Maggie Kubley. Ultimately Sam Robbins, Andy Sydow and Sadie Gustafson-Zook advanced to the second round and each artist performed again.
The audience votes were tallied and this year’s winner was named – Sadie Gustafson-Zook from Goshen!
Nashville artist Andy Sydow took Runner-Up honor, edging out 3rd place Boston musician Sam Robbins.
TADA! The Acorn Dramatic Arts Camp Presented Alice In Wonderland
Four-Week Long Camp Culminated in a Delightful Performance
Cast of Alice In Wonderland – the 2024 Summer production of The Acorn Dramatic Arts Camp.
The Acorn Dramatic Arts program exists to introduce and grow a love of musical theater to children and teens in the community with all levels of experience. We believe that there is something for everybody to love about theater – whether that’s the stage, set building, stage managing, backstage tech, or any other little detail that goes into a production. This year’s summer camp captured all of these elements and more as our campers set out to stage a production of Alice In Wonderland as the culmination of the 4-week program.
Over the course of the four weeks, camp staff and a team of volunteers helped our campers learn all about theater, characterization, memorization, costuming, sets, singing and dancing, and so much more!
As we wrap the second year of The Acorn Dramatic Arts camp (or TADA, for short), big thanks to all who made it possible – Cassidy Vlietstra, Einra Leie Baker, Michael Bond, Ashley Magnus, Janet Davies, Amy Black, Laura Madsen Jolly, Miki Stamenkovich, Kathy Sprau, Marilyn Mussman, Kris Zook, Jeff & Jeannette Alberson, and Belle Schmidt – and of course, our campers and their families!
We are grateful to the sponsors of our 2024 TADA Summer Camp – the VanDerhoff Family Fund, in honor of Sedona Tubbs, and Amy Black.
Inaugural Acorn Swing for the Arts Set to Raise Funds
September Golf Outing to Support The Acorn’s Community Programs
Acorn Swing for the Arts will tee off on Thursday, September 5th, 2024. The inaugural Acorn Swing for the Arts is a golf outing to raise money for The Acorn Center for the Performing Arts community programs.
Registration for the 18 hole four person scramble includes bag drop, cart, swag bag, 2 drink tickets, lunch, post-outing cash bar with appetizers, putting green, driving range, contests and raffle drawing. The golf outing will be held at Briar Leaf Golf Club in La Porte, Indiana.
Raffle Prize! The Acorn Loft reserved overnight for 4 (based on availability) and balcony tickets for a show that evening. One free round of drinks with a dedicated server included.
Outstanding Artistry Continues with Our Fall Programming
Cracker, The Cactus Blossoms, Meagan McNeal, Shemekia Copeland, Los Lobos and More
Artistry is shining as brightly as ever at The Acorn in 2024. So far this year we have hosted over one hundred events including a 3-day Music Festival, live theater, community programs including monthly open mic nights and showcases for area dance studios, and 70+ concerts. We’ve been home to local and regional musicians, and rising stars like May Erlewine, Kyshona and The Bergamot. Stellar touring acts such as Beth Orton, Fruition, Lissie, Alejandro Escovedo and more have connected with our audience in our intimate space. We are known as the “one and only Acorn” for good reason.
As our summer season winds down – a season that included names like The Jayhawks, 10,000 Maniacs, Mavis Staples and Steve Earle, in addition to our June 3-day Music Festival which featured 25 Artists both inside and outside of The Acorn – we are looking ahead to all the talent that will be coming to our stage this fall. We can’t wait for you to sit under our iconic stars and take in a show.
By no means an exhaustive list, make plans now for these upcoming events:
Cracker
Thursday, September 12
Co-founders David Lowery and Johnny Hickman have been at it for over a quarter of a century–amassing ten studio albums, multiple gold records, thousands of live performances, hit songs that are still in current radio rotation around the globe, and a worldwide fan base.
Danielle Nicole
Friday, September 13
Hailing from Kansas City, Missouri, American blues/soul artist Danielle Nicole has spent her life making music and pleasing fans, domestically and abroad.
Duke Tumatoe & The Power Trio
Saturday, September 28
Duke Tumatoe is a blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter who has been entertaining audiences for over four decades with his unique blend of humor, talent, and showmanship.
The Cactus Blossoms w/ Lou Hazel
Friday, October 4
Brothers Jack Torrey and Page Burkum’s airtight harmonies are delivered with a soulful, ’70s-inspired palette of playful Wurlitzer, breezy guitars, and muscular percussion.
Neighbor by Neighbor Fall Fundraiser "Do It With Love" Featuring Meagan McNeal
Saturday, October 5
Powerhouse singer/songwriter and recording artist Meagan McNeal headlines this benefit for Neighbor by Neighbor.
BoDeans
Thursday, October 10
Long known as one of the best live acts in the business, BoDeans continue to tour year round and continue to deliver amazing, high energy, performances.
Dave Alvin & Jimmie Dale Gilmore & The Guilty Ones
Friday, November 1
Grammy winner Dave Alvin and Grammy nominee Jimmie Dale Gilmore bring their fondness for a broad range of American music forms as they transcend genre limitations.
Shemekia Copeland
Friday, November 15
Award-winning blues, soul and Americana singer Shemekia Copeland has been called “the greatest blues singer of her generation” by The Washington Post.
Los Lobos
Thursday, November 21
Los Lobos celebrates 50 years! And in that time Los Lobos have created an unprecedented body of work, a legacy of greatness.
Program Recap
Highlights
Check out some of these recent moments at The Acorn.
Fernwood Botanical Garden provided a stunningly beautiful backdrop for a night of fabulous music from Acorn Fan-Favorites The Bergamot on July 13th. Husband and wife duo Nathaniel Hoff and Jillian Speece entertained the crowd, many of whom got out of their seats throughout the evening to dance on the green (sometimes joined by Jillian herself!).
The Acorn Center for the Performing Arts transforms into a visual art space with Art at The Acorn. Art lovers and supporters of our newest Artist gathered on July 30th to celebrate Amy Renzulli and her exhibition, Full Circle. Here, Amy answers questions from Janet Davies, who led the Artist Q & A. Artwork rotation periods run approximately three months. Anyone interested in applying should visit our website for more information.
A sold out audience was swept away by artistry and the magnificence of a music icon on Saturday, August 17th when Mavis Staples graced the stage. From the first note it seemed that everyone knew how special the evening would be. From ‘I Belong to the Band’ to ‘Far Celestial Shore’ to ‘You Are Not Alone,’ the legendary R & B singer truly gave us a “One and Only Acorn” night to remember. Photo credit: Susan Trestrail
2023 Acorn Singer-Songwriter Competition Runner-Ups Stone & Snow captivated our audience throughout their appearance in this summer’s Midwest Made concert series. Multi-instrumentalists Clint Thomson and Karen Bridges, who comprise the folk duo, shared stories about their songwriting throughout the evening. The concert series brought back a number of other Singer-Songwriter Competition Alumni this season – Kelly Hoppenjans, Abbie Thomas and Tim Stop – along with 6 additional weeks of live music which put the focus on local and regional artists, independent musicians, and emerging talent. Thank you to our series sponsor, The Frederick S. Upton Foundation for their support.
What's Next
Friday, August 30
Rocks Off: A Tribute To The Rolling Stones
Saturday, August 31
The Acorn Tree House Presents Deep Fried Pickle Project
Saturday, August 31
Wild Earp & The OK Chorale Performing Marty Robbins’ “Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs”
Thursday, September 5
Acorn Swing for the Arts
Friday, September 6
An Evening with River Raisin Ragtime Revue
Saturday, September 7
Tom Carey and the Ghost Runners
Thursday, September 12
Cracker
Friday, September 13
Danielle Nicole
Tuesday, September 17
Red Cross Blood Drive
Friday, September 20
Toronzo Cannon & The Chicago Way with Jack Whittle Trio
Saturday, September 21
Led Zeppelin 2
Sunday, September 22
Open Mic Night featuring Sadie Gustafson-Zook
Friday, September 27
Terrapin Flyer: A Tribute To Grateful Dead
Saturday, September 28
Duke Tumatoe & The Power Trio
Friday, October 4
The Cactus Blossoms w/ Lou Hazel
Saturday, October 5
Neighbor by Neighbor Fall Fundraiser "Do It With Love" Featuring Meagan McNeal
Thursday, October 10
BoDeans
Friday, October 11
The Erly
Saturday, October 12
MegaBeatles
Friday, October 18
Peach Jam - A Tribute to The Allman Brothers Band
Saturday, October 19
Corky Siegel
Friday, November 1
Dave Alvin & Jimmie Dale Gilmore & The Guilty Ones
Saturday, November 2
2024 Spectacular Tournament of Playwrights Finals
Saturday, November 9
Marrakesh Express – Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young - Deja Vu
Friday, November 15
Shemekia Copeland
Thursday, November 21
Los Lobos
COMING SOON!
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- More Fall Announcements
- The Return of our Halloween extravaganza: Boo Ball
Save the date — October 25! - Holidays at The Acorn
- More Fall Announcements
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