The Ron Burgundy's

Saturday, Apr. 08 | 8:00pm ET (7:00pm CT)

Yacht Rock $ Softcore Rock 60s 70s 80s
Hits from Toto, Hall and Oates, Kenny Loggins, Neil Diamond, Paul Simon, Billy Joel, Fleetwood Mac, Boz Scaggs, Christopher Cross, Michael McDonald and MORE!

A Club Acorn Show – limited seating available at this dance-party event!

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 Jack Whittle

Wednesday, May. 17 | 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

This activity is supported in part by the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs.

Featured Artist:

Jack Whittle’s love of music was forged from an early age, taking up saxophone and later guitar during his formative years in the Chicago area. But where the youthful infatuation with making music typically fades, for Jack it only burned with increasing ferocity as he traveled to IU Bloomington with guitar in tow. It was during his college years that he truly cut his teeth on the blues and roots sound that has come to epitomize him, going from jam nights to bands of various incarnations, developing perhaps the most understated but no less important skill in his tool-belt: that of a consummate and efficient bandleader. His travels have also taken him to Holly Springs, MS, where he attended the North Mississippi Hill Country guitar seminar, for which he won a scholarship. These skills and lessons have followed him from Bloomington to Northwest Indiana, his current residence, where he’s a mainstay of the thriving regional music scene. He’s found himself jamming alongside talent such as Jason Ricci, DuWayne Burnside and Kenny Kinsey, among others, and never fails to impress. From his rock-steady, razor-sharp blues trio to all manner of various mercenary performances as a skilled side-man and lead guitarist, Jack’s talents are in increasing demand in bars, breweries, wineries, and festivals all over the Chicago area and further beyond.

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 Jen Lawson

Sunday, Apr. 23 | 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

This activity is supported in part by the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs.

Featured Artist:

Jen Lawson, originally from the Detroit area, naturally grew up listening to Country Music because it was always playing everyday somewhere in the background of her home and her life. She grew up listening to George Strait, George Jones, Merle Haggard, Reba, and her favorites, The Judds, amongst all of the greats from the ‘80s & ‘90s Country Era. Jen learned to play guitar from her dad who was an Elvis Impersonator. He and his band opened for the likes of Eddie Rabbit. It is through her dad that she inherited the musical gene and thus her musical journey began.

Jen has been playing guitar since she was 15 and started writing songs about 12 years ago and discovered the connection she could reach with audiences by creating and playing her own content. She also enjoys entertaining audiences by covering some of her favorite artists’ popular tunes and putting her own style/spin on them.

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.

Three Oaks Flag Day Prince and Princess Pageant

Sunday, Mar. 30 | 2:00pm ET (1:00pm CT)

Join us as the 2025 Three Oaks Flag Day Princes and Princesses are crowned! Children will participate in two different age groups – ages 6 to 8 and ages 9 to 11.

This is a FREE Community Event; registration is encouraged to ensure seating availability.

2025 Singer-Songwriter Competition SUBMISSION DEADLINE

Thursday, May. 08 | 12:00pm ET (11:00am CT)

Perennial Acorn fan favorite Singer-Songwriter Competition Finals returns for its 13th consecutive year to The Acorn. An esteemed panel of judges and our beloved Acorn audience will participate as six finalists take the stage for this thrilling performance, with the field narrowing to the 'top three' artists over the course of two rounds.

The deadline for entry is Thursday, May 8 @ 12pm (noon) ET. Six Singer-Songwriters will be selected as Finalists to perform on Saturday, July 19. Click "Get Tickets" to complete the online entry form now!

Learn more

You can also visit our Acorn Singer-Songwriter Competition FAQ page for more information.

Midwest Made – Mark Ficks & The Significant Others

Sunday, Aug. 06 | 7:00pm ET (6:00pm CT)

Mark Ficks brings rock, blues, pop, and country influences to the stage with him each time he performs, as well as an energy and lyrical style that engages his audience. Mark's music comes from the heart and is rooted in his Southern Indiana and Kentucky upbringing.

About the Artists:

Family is a common theme in Mark’s lyrics and he draws inspiration from his personal experiences and the people around him. Because of this, listeners can easily relate (and laugh and cry) to the stories and messages in his music. Mark will be joined by the "Significant Others" band which is an extremely appropriate name for them, as they are not just musicians in his band, but close friends and family members, including his son, Tristan "T-Bone Willie James" Ficks, manning the keys, and his Uncle Roger Wright on lead guitar. Father/Son duo Aaron & Nolan Youngstedt will be on guitars, Greg Collins and Phil Molloy covering the drums, and Mark's Dad, Bill "Smooth Sticks" Ficks will be making an appearance on the skins!

With our gratitude to The Frederick S. Upton Foundation for being a Series Sponsor of The Acorn Midwest Made summer concert series.

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.

Midwest Made – The Water Street Wranglers

Sunday, Jul. 30 | 7:00pm ET (6:00pm CT)

The up and coming Acoustic Americana band The Water Street Wranglers make their return to our Midwest Made summer concert series. Band members Aiden Schnell, Wes Shuck and Caleb Kibby are Southwest Michigan natives who connected with the other three members of the band – Max Petersen, Chandler Harris and Alayna Whitkanack – at Berklee College of Music in Boston.

About the Artists:

The Water Street Wranglers is an Acoustic Americana Band out of Boston Massachusetts established in 2021. The band’s sound is inspired by traditional and contemporary Bluegrass and Folk music. The band consists of 6 members made up of multi-instrumentalists, vocalists and songwriters from different corners of the country brought together at the Berklee College of Music.

Max Petersen on the 5 String Banjo, Chandler Harris on Lead Vocals, Aiden Schnell on Guitar and Vocals, Wes Shuck on Bass and the one string Yo-Yo, Alayna Whitkanack on Fiddle and Vocals, and Caleb Kibby on Mandolin and Vocals.

With our gratitude to The Frederick S. Upton Foundation for being a Series Sponsor of The Acorn Midwest Made summer concert series.

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.

Resurrection Blues Band – Midwest Made

Sunday, Jul. 07 | 7:00pm ET (6:00pm CT)

Our Midwest Made summer concert series continues with heavy blues from the Resurrection Blues Band – Rodney Mills, Scott Ovens and William Stone.

About the Artists:

The Resurrection Blues Band has been a local Southwest Michigan favorite for many years now. Between Good Times, Bad Times, & the Blues, the Resurrection Blues Band has kept a faithful following throughout the years, and they have no plans on slowing down. With a live concert video available on YouTube to their upcoming EP release, The Good, The Bad, & The Blues set to release in 2024, you won't be sorry to have witnessed the Resurrection & Rise of Southwest Michigan's Power Blues/Rock Trio, the Resurrection Blues Band!

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.

Midwest Made – NEWSKI

Sunday, Jul. 16 | 7:00pm ET (6:00pm CT)

Wisconsin’s ‘90s alternative revivalists NEWSKI make their Acorn debut in our Midwest Made summer concert series. American Songwriter says of NEWSKI : “Showcases the unapologetically frank but not overly aggressive nature of 90s alt. rock perfectly."

About the Artists:

A revival of 90s alternative.

Coming off recent collaborations with Nada Surf's Matthew Caws, Barenaked Ladies co-founder Steven Page, and Brian Vander Ark of the Verve Pipe, 90’s influenced alt-rock outfit BRETT NEWSKI & the No Tomorrow launches eight new tracks, a soundtrack to his book titled “It’s Hard to be a Person: Defeating Anxiety Surviving the World, and Having More Fun.”

He has been featured on Rolling Stone, NPR, American Songwriter, SiriusXM, Boston Globe, Paste and SPIN.

Newski has played alongside acts like Pixies, Violent Femmes, Courtney Barnett, Manchester Orchestra, Better than Ezra & New Pornographers. He continues to tour over 100 dates per year.

Newski's podcast Dirt from the Road dives into strangest travel stories, mental health boosts, and how to navigate the hurdles of being a person in modern times. Guests include The Lumineers, All American Rejects, Dashboard Confessional, Guster, Heartless Bastards, Verve Pipe, Toad the Wet Sprocket and Frank Turner. Hear here: https://brettnewski.biglink.to/dirtfromtheRoad

"I like the sound and the way he is forcing the world to contend with him." -Brian Ritchie, Violent Femmes

With our gratitude to The Frederick S. Upton Foundation for being a Series Sponsor of The Acorn Midwest Made summer concert series.

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.

Midwest Made – Mike Struwin Band

Sunday, Aug. 13 | 7:00pm ET (6:00pm CT)

Presented in our Midwest Made summer concert series – Mike Struwin Band: Incorporating a myriad of genres, including Americana/Blues & Bluegrass/Roots/Folk/Soul/Jam and even Reggae, Mike Struwin’s latest project- “Mike Struwin Band” has forged a truly unique style all their own.

About the Artists:

Mike Struwin, who began playing music at the age of 13, has long been a force in the Michigan region for lyrics and music imbued with a sense of honesty, empathy and authenticity. The St. Joseph, Michigan native released his first CD at age 17 and hasn’t looked back since, putting out eight albums to date and performing on stage for over 20 years.

In 2020, amidst lockdowns and the Pandemic, Struwin teamed up with members from the Sypian Family Band; Matt Sypian (drums) and Mike Nelson (bass) and enlisted long-time friend Mike Kinney to play lead guitar in hopes of finding a sound that truly reflected his musical vision, versatility and style. After two years of woodshedding and gigging out, the group of friends began making a name for themselves, not only as “Three Mikes & a Matt or as Matt (the drummer) likes to call the band “My Three Mikes,” but also as one of the area's most exciting music acts. Slipping and sliding through various genres, Mike Struwin Band presents their own original music to crowds while also paying tribute to musical greats like Paul Simon, Bill Withers, Little Feet, The Grateful Dead and Bob Marley.

In 2022, to support his latest record drop “Ginger Peach,” Struwin invited his old buddy and bandmate, Josh Bolt from Pura Vida (circa 2014) to play mandolin and Kyle Kish (piano/keys/synthesizer) for a few shows and the rest, as they say, is history!

Now a six piece outfit, Mike Struwin Band takes their fans on a journey with their original sound. Grooving in and out of reggae rhythms and jams, intertwined with funky swamp rock and folky alt-country, Struwin leads the way with his singer-songwriter approach. To sum it up, Mike Struwin Band is Pure Michigan music!

With our gratitude to The Frederick S. Upton Foundation for being a Series Sponsor of The Acorn Midwest Made summer concert series.

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.