The Flat Five

Friday, May. 16 | 8:00pm ET (7:00pm CT)

The Flat Five is Chicago’s beloved band of in-demand music biz touring and recording ringers – Kelly Hogan and Nora O’Connor (Neko Case, Mavis Staples, The Decemberists, The New Pornographers) Scott Ligon and Casey McDonough (NRBQ, Brian Wilson) and Alex Hall (J.D. McPherson, The Cactus Blossoms).

About the Artists

For over 17 years, these shameless harmony junkies have come together in their limited off-time to make their own kind of twisted sunshine pop. Their 2016 debut album It’s a World of Love and Hope scored big with critics and fans alike (including high-profile Flat Five fanatics like Nick Lowe and Wilco) and their 2020 follow-up Another World has kept the flame burning bright.

From the laid-back simple to the oddly romantic to the slightly subversive, there is a spirit of wide-eyed sweetness at the heart of The Flat Five’s music. The charms of this band are manifest — in-the-pocket harmonies, a vastly diverse genre-hopping repertoire, the infectious energy of their sold-out live shows, and their undeniable love for the music and each other.

“Though never nostalgic, the harmony-laden, crisply- arranged results recall the era when popular music was making the switch from AM to FM, and singles to albums. Imagine the Fifth Dimension scoring Twin Peaks... The Flat Five are a song’s best friend.” – No Depression

“Singers Nora O’Connor and Kelly Hogan harmonize with dreamy precision, covering a broad stylistic range with ease, while the top-notch band—drummer Alex Hall, bassist Casey McDonough, and guitarist-keyboardist Scott Ligon— forge a dazzling hybrid of vintage-pop verities... I’m not sure if another record this year has given me more unalloyed pleasure.” – Chicago Reader

“The Flat Five are like a fine cocktail, a perfect blend of the finest ingredients all blending together in an orgasmic experience that leaves you wanting more. In these strange times The Flat Five rise like the sun, giving us warmth and a bright loving feeling.” – Alejandro Escovedo

Please note Week of Show price increases by $5 per ticket.

RESERVED SEATING DONATION option includes a $30 tax-deductible donation to The Acorn and guarantees you a seat with optimal sightlines. $30 Donation per ticket holder in your group.

Tickets will go on sale Wednesday, March 26 @ 10am ET.

The Chicago Experience

Saturday, Aug. 02 | 8:00pm ET (7:00pm CT)

The Chicago Experience recreates the sound and feel of Chicago’s music, whose hit songs have touched generations of fans spanning several decades. The Chicago Experience invites you to relive memories of the music that captured everyone’s hearts – from the early hits off Chicago Transit Authority’s 1968 self- titled album, such as “Beginnings” and “Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?” through the 1980s, with Chicago’s hits “Hard To Say I’m Sorry” and “You’re The Inspiration,” you will share in the joy these songs bring.

About the Artists:

The Chicago Experience is just as it sounds – a group of musicians who call Chicago home, and who share a love for the music of one of the greatest rock n’ roll bands of all time... Chicago. Together, the band recreates the sound and feel of Chicago’s music, whose hit songs have touched generations of fans spanning several decades.

Please note Week of Show price increases by $5 per ticket.

RESERVED SEATING DONATION option includes a $30 tax-deductible donation to The Acorn and guarantees you a seat with optimal sightlines. $30 Donation per ticket holder in your group.

Tickets will go on sale Wednesday, March 19 @ 10am ET.

Second Hand News: A Tribute To Fleetwood Mac

Friday, Jul. 25 | 8:00pm ET (7:00pm CT)

Made up of veteran Chicago musicians, Second Hand News features spot-on vocal harmonies, careful attention to detail, and electric live shows.

About the Artists

Made up of veteran Chicago musicians, the band features spot-on vocal harmonies, careful attention to detail, and electric live shows. Through the talents of these seasoned performers, the spirit and musicianship of Mick Fleetwood, John and Christine McVie, Stevie Nicks, and Lindsey Buckingham come to life on stage. Audiences are energized by dynamic deliveries of favorites from the band’s extensive catalog of hits as well as deep cuts beloved by superfans. The fun these musicians have recreating these classic songs together is infectious, and will bring you to your feet in shared appreciation for one of the greatest bands of all time.

Please note Week of Show price increases by $5 per ticket.

RESERVED SEATING DONATION option includes a $30 tax-deductible donation to The Acorn and guarantees you a seat with optimal sightlines. $30 Donation per ticket holder in your group.

Tickets will go on sale Wednesday, March 19 @ 10am ET.

PettyBreakers: A Tribute to Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Thursday, Jul. 10 | 8:00pm ET (7:00pm CT)

From the jangly chords of "Free Fallin'" to the raw energy of "Runnin' Down a Dream," the PettyBreakers transport audiences to a time when Tom Petty's music defined the soundtrack of American life.

About the Artists:

The PettyBreakers, a tribute band dedicated to the legendary Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, have become a beacon of musical homage, channeling the spirit and essence of one of rock and roll's most iconic figures. Paying homage to Tom Petty, the quintessential American rock musician, the PettyBreakers have captured the heart and soul of his extensive catalog with unparalleled precision and genuine passion. Led by their charismatic frontman, Ozzie Mancinelli, the PettyBreakers replicate not only the distinctive sound but also the electric charisma that made Tom Petty an enduring force in the music industry.

From the jangly chords of "Free Fallin'" to the raw energy of "Runnin' Down a Dream," the PettyBreakers transport audiences to a time when Tom Petty's music defined the soundtrack of American life. Each note, each lyric, and each gesture on stage is a heartfelt tribute to the man whose poetic songwriting and authentic performances left an indelible mark on the hearts of millions.

Please note Week of Show price increases by $5 per ticket.

RESERVED SEATING DONATION option includes a $30 tax-deductible donation to The Acorn and guarantees you a seat with optimal sightlines. $30 Donation per ticket holder in your group.

Tickets will go on sale Wednesday, March 19 @ 10am ET.

Heartache Tonight - A Tribute to The Eagles

Saturday, Jun. 28 | 8:00pm ET (7:00pm CT)

From the powerful guitar duel in “Hotel California” to the shimmering harmonies of “Peaceful Easy Feeling” a Heartache Tonight show is a true Eagles concert experience featuring all the timeless classic songs from one of the greatest rock bands of all time. With meticulous attention to every detail, Heartache Tonight brings together music from all eras and incarnations of this huge American rock powerhouse that produced hits over four decades.

A Heartache Tonight concert is filled with moments designed to thrill classic rock fans: the soaring a cappella harmonies of “Seven Bridges Road,” the snarling guitars of “Life In The Fast Lane,” the anthemic country rock of “Take It Easy,” and Don Henley’s beautifully evocative “Heart Of The Matter.” Close your eyes and you’ll swear you’re hearing the real thing.

Please note Week of Show price increases by $5 per ticket.

RESERVED SEATING DONATION option includes a $30 tax-deductible donation to The Acorn and guarantees you a seat with optimal sightlines. $30 Donation per ticket holder in your group.

Tickets will go on sale Wednesday, March 19 @ 10am ET.

Marrakesh Express: Crosby, Stills, & Nash

Saturday, May. 31 | 8:00pm ET (7:00pm CT)

At certain concerts this year, Marrakesh Express will choose a setlist from Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young's touring heyday and perform it live during their first set. This will be one of those concerts! The band will then take a short break and perform a second set of classic songs that were not performed in Set One. Re-live one of CSNY's performances from their early days!

About the Artists:

There are hundreds, if not thousands of tribute bands performing the music of the Beatles, Rolling Stones, AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, U2, and other monsters of rock. But Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young? Next to none.

A band dedicated to tributing CSNY is unheard of due to the difficulty in replicating the 3- and 4-part vocal harmonies that made the group international superstars. Marrakesh Express excels at reproducing CSNY's complex songs and cascading, layered harmonies, and takes the audience back to the late 1960s with energetic musicians who bring an authentic hippie vibe and visuals to the stage.

CSNY was arguably the biggest band in the world after the demise of the Beatles, and is one of the most enduring and influential musical groups of all time. The band, born in the turbulent years of the late 1960s, released hit after hit that spoke directly for their generation. Their songs remain in heavy rotation on classic rock radio stations to this day.

Marrakesh Express upholds the integrity of that music with their vivid and realistic performance of CSNY’s most recognizable songs. Featuring four harmonizing vocalists backed by a top-flight band, they deliver a unique and energetic concert performing the classic CSNY hits, deep cuts, and fan favorites.

Marrakesh Express has played to literally tens of thousands of appreciative fans, including headlining a Woodstock 40th Anniversary Tribute Concert. The music of CSNY has stood the test of time and fans of the classic rockers, as well as young people who are curious about “the 60s,” are anxious to venture out to hear it represented live.

Please note Week of Show price increases by $5 per ticket.

RESERVED SEATING DONATION option includes a $30 tax-deductible donation to The Acorn and guarantees you a seat with optimal sightlines. $30 Donation per ticket holder in your group.

Tickets will go on sale Wednesday, March 19 @ 10am ET.

Steve Earle Solo & Acoustic: Fifty Years of Songs and Stories

Sunday, Jun. 22 | 8:00pm ET (7:00pm 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.

About the Artist:

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.

Most recently, Earle’s 1988 hit Copperhead Road was made an official state song of Tennessee in 2023. Subsequent releases like The Revolution Starts...Now (2004), Washington Square Serenade (2007), and TOWNES (2009) received consecutive GRAMMY® Awards. His most recent album, Jerry Jeff (2022) consisted of Earle’s versions of songs written by Jerry Jeff Walker, one of his mentors.

Earle has published both a novel I’ll Never Get Out Of This World Alive (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt 2011) and Dog House Roses, a collection of short stories (Houghton Mifflin 2003).

Earle produced albums for other artists such as Joan Baez (Day After Tomorrow) and Lucinda Williams (Car Wheels On A Gravel Road).

As an actor, Earle has appeared in several films and had recurring roles in the HBO series The Wire and Tremé. 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, for which he was nominated for a Drama Desk Award. Earle is the host of the weekly show Hard Core Troubadour on Sirius Radio’s Outlaw Country channel.

In 2020, Earle was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. And in 2023, Steve was honored by the Bruce Springsteen Archives & Center for American Music.

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.

Tickets will go on sale Monday, March 17th at 10am ET.

Pub Choir 'Something To Do Tour'

Sunday, Jun. 15 | 8:00pm ET (7:00pm CT)

Pub Choir is returning to the US in June 2025 for our ‘Something To Do’ tour (STD for short). We want to spread our happy singing seed across your nation and we’re coming from down under (Australia, that is) to get it done.

What is Pub Choir? It’s a casual night of singing where even the most untalented voices will be distracted to musical glory. Created by loveable lunatic and choir mistress of myth and legend, Astrid Jorgensen, Pub Choir is an entirely improvised, comedy music lesson. At every show, Astrid teaches a brand new arrangement of one song in 3 part harmony to whoever turns up and, well… that’s it! There’s no sheet music, or auditions, or rehearsals = no pressure!

We don’t care if your voice isn’t great. If you’ve got a mouth, you’ve passed the entry requirements. Even if you don’t have a mouth, we are respectfully curious about your situation and would still encourage you to come along.

Come and stand with a room full of average strangers and share a common goal for 90 minutes. Think of all those yells you’ve been bottling up and come let ‘em out at Pub Choir. You’ll feel better, ok? And if that sounds too intimidating, bring along your weird choir friend from school who loves this stuff!

Pub Choir is joyful, it’s achievable, and it’s not as annoying as you think it’ll be. Also, it’s low key life changing to take a break from droom-scrolling your phone, and instead make an analogue piece of art with a bunch of people you just met.

In short, Pub Choir is Something To Do.

Come and catch Pub Choir’s STD singing bug this Summer. Our joy is contagious! We will make less venereal jokes at the live show.

Pub Choir is 18+

Please be aware that this event will be filmed & photographed. By purchasing a ticket and attending this event, you are giving your consent to be filmed & photographed during this event.

Please note this event is standing room only. Seats will not be assigned nor guaranteed. Please come prepared to stand, move into parts as needed, participate in learning the song and have a great time!

Tickets for this event will go on sale on March 14 at 10am ET.

Acorn Open Mic featuring Watershed Ramblers: Midwest Made

Sunday, Aug. 24 | 3:00pm ET (2:00pm CT)

The final week in our 2025 Midwest Made season is an Acorn Open Mic featuring Watershed Ramblers! Hailing from Chesterton, IN, the Watershed Ramblers are a bluegrass quartet drawn from a diverse group of influences.

Part of our Midwest Made afternoon summer concert series – Sundays throughout the summer!

About the Artists:

Hailing from Chesterton, IN, the Watershed Ramblers are a bluegrass quartet drawn from a diverse group of influences. From bluegrass to rock to funk/RnB, the Ramblers are an acoustic outfit that will take you on a ride from traditional to contemporary using their songwriting and wide range of genre-bending pickin! Known for fast paced tempos and train-like grooves, the Ramblers bring the energy with their own style of the music that everyone knows and loves.

Formed in the fall of 2022, as friends gathered in the basement of a Northwest Indiana home to explore the world of bluegrass. Over the past few years, the Ramblers have honed their craft through countless performances at local venues, music festivals as well as hosting their own events in and out of Northern Indiana. Whether it's a foot-stomping hoedown or a soulful ballad, the Rambler's performances are a journey through the heart and soul of American roots music.

Always continuing to evolve and explore new musical territories, the Ramblers remain true to their roots, drawing inspiration from the rich heritage that has shaped American music for generations. With a passion for storytelling and commitment to preserving traditions of the past, the Ramblers are a musical force to be reckoned with, promising a journey through the heartland with every note they play.

Open Mic performer inquiries: please email openmic@acornlive.org.

RESERVED SEATING DONATION option includes a $30 tax-deductible donation to The Acorn and guarantees you a seat with optimal sightlines. $30 Donation per ticket holder in your group.

Lake Effect Jazz Big Band: Midwest Made

Sunday, Aug. 17 | 3:00pm ET (2:00pm CT)

The Lake Effect Jazz Big Band continues to be one of the premier big bands in the Midwest, specializing in new arrangements of classic standards, new compositions for contemporary big bands, and golden oldies.

Part of our Midwest Made afternoon summer concert series – Sundays throughout the summer!

About the Artists:

The Lake Effect Jazz Big Band continues to be one of the premier big bands in the Midwest. Specializing in new arrangements of classic standards, new compositions for contemporary big bands, and golden oldies, the band performs music from the libraries of Stan Kenton, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie, Chuck Mangione and others. The Lake Effect Jazz Big Band is committed to preserving the uniquely American art form of big band jazz in concert and jazz festival settings across Southwest Michigan.

The band is led by Steven L. Reed, retired instrumental music teacher for the St. Joseph Public Schools, where he taught jazz ensemble, orchestra, and band for 35 years. Several members of the Lake Effect Jazz Big Band are current or retired music educators and jazz education is a priority for the LEJBB.

The band performs between twelve and fifteen concerts each summer including Jazz Festivals and full length concerts. Featured artists that have performed with the Lake Effect Jazz Big Band include vocalists Rebecca Derbas-Selvidge, Michelle Bythrow, Paul Mow, Katie Rohrer, Lisa Dabrowski, Andrew Fisher and Chicago jazz vocalist Tammy McCann. Instrumental soloists have included local trombonist Ed Bagatini, Chicago vibraphonist Jim Cooper, Ann Arbor alto saxophonist Doug Horn, and Grand Rapids area percussionist Kevin “Bujo” Jones.

RESERVED SEATING DONATION option includes a $30 tax-deductible donation to The Acorn and guarantees you a seat with optimal sightlines. $30 Donation per ticket holder in your group.