CHICAGO FARMER with opener Morse & Wagner Band

Sunday, Jul. 11 | 7:00pm ET (6:00pm CT)

This Three Oaks event will now take place indoors on the Acorn Stage!

Chicago Farmer, whose genre-busting music honors small-town roots and hard work, but also draws inspiration from city streets, with songs that tell a story, inclusive, for everyone. Opening for Chicago Farmer is the Morse & Wagner, whose unique covers, as well as their own originals, oscillate between acoustic and electric.

“You can smell the dirt in the fields, hear the wind as it blows across the plains, and see the people that Chicago Farmer sings about. Each track captures a moment in time, whether for a person or a particular place. Imagine if a John Steinbeck short story had been written as a song, and this will give you a fairly good idea as to what Chicago Farmer accomplishes on his albums.” — HONEST TUNE

All COVID-19 safety requirements will be followed in accordance with Michigan state regulations. This event will take place, rain or shine. Every ticket purchased helps us bridge the gap till we can be fully operational again. Thank you!

About the Artists:

Chicago Farmer
The son of a small-town farming community, Cody Diekhoff logged plenty of highway and stage time under the name Chicago Farmer before settling in the city in 2003. Profoundly inspired by fellow Midwesterner John Prine, he’s a working-class folk musician to his core. His small-town roots, tilled with city streets mentality, are turning heads North and South of I-80.

“I love the energy, music, and creativity of Chicago, but at the same time, the roots and hard work of my small town,” he shares. Growing up in Delavan, Illinois, with a population less than 2,000, Diekhoff’s grandparents were farmers, and their values have always provided the baseline of his songs.

He writes music for “the kind of people that come to my shows. Whether in Chicago or Delavan, everyone has a story, and everyone puts in a long day and works hard the same way,” he says. “My generation may have been labeled as slackers, but I don’t know anyone who doesn’t work hard - many people I know put in 50-60 hours a week and 12-hour days. That’s what keeps me playing. I don’t like anyone to be left out; my music is for everyone in big and very small towns.”

He listened to punk rock and grunge as a kid before discovering a friend’s dad playing Hank Williams, and it was a revelation. Prine and Guthrie quickly followed. The name Chicago Farmer was originally for a band, but the utilitarian life of driving alone from bar to bar, city to city - to make a direct connection to his audience and listener, took a deeper hold.

Morse & Wagner Band
Taylor Morse and Jamie Wagner are an acoustic and electric singer-songwriter duo who play their own originals as well as a slew of unique covers. Morse & Wagner are both independent singer-songwriters. Jamie has recently relocated to Three Oaks Michigan and Taylor resides in Chicago, Illinois. The team has been writing, composing and performing their original music throughout Chicago and the Midwest for the last four years. Taylor and Jamie will be backed on this show by Larry Beers (Percussion) and Mike Pryzgoda (Keyboards, Guitar). Jamie and Taylor have hosted and performed at The Acorn’s monthly open mics

RESERVED SEATING option includes a $25 tax-deductible donation to The Acorn and guarantees you a seat near the stage with optimal sight lines. $25 Donation per ticket holder in your group. BRING YOUR OWN CHAIR. 

The Acorn is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Your donations help us to continue to operate and offer wonderful programming to the community.

The Great American Songbook featuring The Dean Allrick trio w/special guest, Livia Gazzolo

Saturday, May. 22 | 7:00pm ET (6:00pm CT)

Join us for our first outdoor Acorn Anywhere! event of the season, featuring the music of The Dean Allrick Trio, with special guest, the luminous performer and local favorite, Livia Gazzolo. Enjoy beloved jazz standards in the intimate Allan Boyd Memorial Gazebo Garden of The New Troy Community Center. Bring lawn chairs, beverages and snacks and experience the perfect evening.

In addition to a great evening of music, Classic Catering is treating everyone to their famous Strawberry Shortcake dessert!

All COVID-19 safety requirements will be followed in accordance with Michigan state regulations. This event will take place, rain or shine. Every ticket purchased helps us bridge the gap till we can be fully operational again. Thank you!

About the Artist(s):

The Dean Allrick Trio
Jazz drummer Chuck Hartzell began performing with local jazz musicians at a very early age. His love of jazz and steady solid rhythm quickly advanced his reputation, and he became the 'first call' choice  of many seasoned local band leaders.  Chuck has been performing for more than 45 years with local jazz groups.
Tim King was musically educated at St. Joseph High School in Southwest Michigan, Lake Michigan College, University of Michigan and on-the-road touring with a variety of bands.  He has a great ear and plays tenor saxophone and upright bass.
Dean Allrick started playing the keys around the age of six. His first keyboard experience was with a funky four-octave electric chord organ. After a year of advancing through standards and literature, he moved on to the piano to expand as a musician.  His interest in The Great American Songbook and Jazz has led Dean to perform across Southwest Michigan at various locations.

Livia Gazzolo
Livia Gazzolo is a jazz singer mostly inspired by Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, and Chet Baker. She is currently working to integrate jazz, improvisation, and Kurdish music. She has been producing and performing in a monthly cabaret-like variety show called, 'The Mouse House,' “when the cat’s away," in Chicago for the past two years. She has performed around Chicago at esteemed venues such as Soho House, Hotel Zachary, The Up Room on the rooftop of The Robey Hotel, Sea and Olive, and Bordeaux Wine Lounge, as well as other notable locations, This past summer, Livia performed outside at Cafe Gulistan in Harbert, Michigan every Thursday with her piano accompanist and long-time mentor, David Lahm. For this concert, Livia will be partnering with Reynaldo Certain, an accomplished classical, flamenco and bossa nova guitar player who performs around Chicago in jazz bars including The Green Mill and Andy's Jazz Club. 

The Allan Boyd Memorial Gazebo Garden, New Troy Community Center
With its expansive views of the woods and Weesaw Township Park, The Allen Boyd Memorial Gazebo Garden may be rented by the hour, half-day or full-day. Rentals may include access to the Community Center’s kitchen, bathrooms, and other indoor facilities. For information, contact Friends of New Troy Rental Committee Chair Victoria Petroff at 269-200-7271.

This is a BYO event! Bring your own beverages, snacks and chairs.

RESERVED SEATING option includes a $25 tax-deductible donation to The Acorn and guarantees you a seat near the stage with optimal sight lines. $25 Donation per ticket holder in your group. BRING YOUR OWN CHAIR.

The Acorn is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization. Your donations help us to continue to operate and offer wonderful programming to the community.

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SUBMISSION DEADLINE June 15th - Singer-Songwriter Competition 2021 - click for details

Wednesday, Jun. 16 | 1:00am ET (12:00am CT)

IF YOU ARE HAVING ANY ISSUES WITH THE SUBMISSION PROCESS, call Sandra Thompson. 269-336-9141

We want to highlight the positive, unifying and uplifting impact that music brings to the world. Singer songwriters, here is your chance to shine! Submit your entries to the 2021 Singer Songwriter Competition and help show how music can help bring us all together!

The Acorn Singer Songwriter Competition offers cash prizes totaling $1500 plus lots of opportunities to perform at future events. All different types of music are welcome. Up to 3 people are allowed in your group but going solo is just fine!

Submission deadline is Tuesday, June 15th @ 11 PM ET.

TO PAY SUBMISSION FEE: Click "Get Tickets" button

The finals will be held at the Common, in Buchanan, MI on Friday, July 16th.

Learn more about the Competitions.

​We Banjo 3: Live From Ireland​!

Saturday, Mar. 13 | 5:00pm ET (4:00pm CT)

We Banjo 3 perform an epic virtual experience for the Acorn LIVE from Ireland! Tickets for this online event are on sale now

"It’s as if the Punch Brothers, Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas and the Chieftains all got together for a battle of the bands but decided to pool their resources instead. The future of World Music has arrived." - Elmore Magazine

"Their blend of Celtic and Bluegrass with dashes of folk-pop and country is perfectly suited for the Americana scene...." - AXS

One of the best live acts to come out of Ireland in recent years is the multi-award winning We Banjo 3. With a 7-time all Ireland banjo champ, a 4-time banjo champ, and another member who is an all Ireland champ on both fiddle and Bodhran, and boasting superb 4-part harmonies as well, they have not surprisingly taken the North American Celtic and Bluegrass worlds by storm.

WB3 has headlined virtually every major US Celtic fest, as well as many performing art centers, for several years in a row. In recent years they rapidly gained favor in the Bluegrass and Americana world as evidenced by their return invites to Merlefest, ROMP Fest, Sisters Folk Fest, Old Settlers Fest, Four Corners Fest and others.

We Banjo 3 released their 6th CD, Roots To Rise Live, in July of 2019 in conjunction of the band’s summer and fall 2019 U.S. tours. Recorded at The Ark in Ann Arbor, Michigan, the CD features a mix of original material, traditional compositions, select cover songs, and two previously unreleased tunes. The CD debuted at the beginning of August at # 1 on Billboard’s Bluegrass Albums Chart spending 4 weeks in the peak position.

QUESTIONS OR ISSUES ACCESSING THE SHOW: https://shop.webanjo3.com/pages/livestream-faq

Acorn Watch Party: The Bergamot's Holiday Concert!

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

The Acorn invites you to an evening of an extraordinary Christmas performance featuring singer-songwriters and unity activists Jillian Speece & Nathaniel Hoff of The Bergamot. The Bergamot's Holiday Concert is an intimate night of music and storytelling where founding members Nathaniel and Jillian warm the hearts of listeners with songs and stories of inspiration and hope. You can expect to see The Bergamot with their full-band perform a mix of uplifting Christmas classics as well as original songs written by The Bergamot.

Join us for the FREE YouTube Premiere Watch Party event.

Acorn Live Stream: Bryan Lubeck Hosts Christmas at The Acorn

Saturday, Dec. 12 | 8:00pm ET (7:00pm CT)

Bryan Lubeck received an email out of the blue from Rick O’Dell, one of the most respected contemporary on-air personalities and radio programmers in the country. Attached was O’Dell’s famous Top 20 list of holiday albums of all time. In the Top 10 was Bryan’s album We Three Strings with the likes of Mannheim Steamroller, The Carpenters, Dave Coz, and Mariah Carey. Since then Bryan’s career has blossomed with his latest album Tuscan Sky which has spent more than 14 weeks on the various adult contemporary instrumental charts. Still his holiday CD receives regular radio play and his version of The First Noel earned him a "Critic's Choice" in the industry leading Billboard Magazine. His on air radio play is always in the top 20 on Sirius/XM with three songs played on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day on their contemporary jazz stations last year -- prime spots for an artist of any caliber. Bryan has recorded with five Grammy Award winners and performed with 12 Grammy Award nominees and winners. Live shows are his forte with his high-energy, fiery Spanish guitar and smooth urban grooves along with an ability to connect with an audience like no other.

Ted Yoder is a National Hammered Dulcimer champion. He has released five beloved and critically acclaimed solo albums and has become a master educator of the instru - ment. Ted has been profiled in the Kearney Hub, Huffington Post, and on NPR’s All Things Considered, among many other features, pro - files, and reviews in regional and taste-making outlets. On Wednesday, August 24, 2016, Ted became a household name when his Facebook Live video of his Live from the Orchard series playing Tears for Fears’ “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” went viral. The video rocketed up to 53 million views in four days, and has now surpassed the 100 million view mark.

Jeff Daniels Online and Unplugged!

Friday, Dec. 18 | 8:00pm ET (7:00pm CT)

Join Emmy award-winning actor, director, and singer/songwriter Jeff Daniels on Friday, December 18 for an intimate concert experience full of original songs, personal stories from his stage and movie career that only he can tell - and plenty of smiles.

Stick around for a 15-30 min audience Q&A following the show. The questions submitted will be reviewed, with some then passed along to Jeff for reply.

About Jeff Daniels:
Since 2000, Jeff has played such venues as The Birchmere, Club Passim, Cafe Lena, New York City’s 54 Below and Birdland, the City Winery in New York and Nashville, The Barns at Wolf Trap, Austin’s Cactus Cafe, Ram’s Head Tavern in Annapolis, Houston’s Mucky Duck’s, the Dakota Room in Minneapolis, The Ark in Ann Arbor, Chicago’s Old School of Folk Music, Seattle’s Third Door, Alaska’s Latitude 62 in Talkeetna, as well as numerous other opera houses and PACs throughout the country. With his son’s band, the Ben Daniels Band, he has toured both coasts. He has shared the stage with Lyle Lovett, John Hiatt, Joe Ely, Cheryl Wheeler, Guy Clark, Christine Lavin, Keb Mo’ and Bruce Hornsby. He performed at David Bromberg’s 70th Birthday Bash at NYC’s Town Hall. In 2012, the Martin Guitar Company began selling the OM Jeff Daniels Custom Artist Edition Guitar. He also narrated their award winning documentary, “The Ballad Of The Dreadnought.”

“In 1976, I moved to New York City to become an actor. What I didn’t plan on was being so influenced by so many Off Broadway playwrights. In particular, Lanford Wilson, who would later go on to win a Pulitzer Prize for his play TALLEY’S FOLLY. Lanford taught me so much about the writing process, imagery, the love/hate relationship one has with such a solitary pursuit and the endless rewriting as you search for a better way to say it. In Hollywood, the joke is if you ask any actor what he really wants to do, he’ll say, “Direct.” Not me. I wanted to write. So I did. With a guitar in my hands.”

HOW TO VIEW THIS SHOW LIVE

1) When you click the Acorn ticket button below, you will be brought to a new website called Crowdcast.

2) Click the purchase ticket button on Crowdcast to complete the transaction

3) 1 Ticket per device (laptop, tablet or smartphone)

4) You’ll receive ticket confirmation from Crowdcast

5) Just before the show you will be sent a link to click on that will take you to Jeff’s livestream.

6) If Cloudcast asks you to login, you use the email associated with your ticket purchase

7) You do not need to be a subscriber to Crowdcast to access Jeff’s show

All ticket proceeds go to support The Acorn during these dark times to bridge the gap to when we can be operating at full capacity again. Thank you.

The Empty Pockets perform Abbey Road LIVE from The Acorn stage

Saturday, Apr. 10 | 8:00pm ET (7:00pm CT)

Fantastically talented and totally fun, The Empty Pockets are making a pit-stop at The Acorn to perform a special, FREE 100% LIVE STREAM concert from The Acorn stage of one of the best albums of all time — The Beatles’ Abbey Road. 

This event is FREE but we ask that you register by clicking the ‘Get Tickets’ button. Donations encouraged!

The show will stream LIVE on The Acorn's Facebook and Empty Pockets' YouTube!

About Empty Pockets:

Sincerity, pathos and powerhouse vocals. “Polished yet rootsy Chicago outfit Empty Pockets” (Rolling Stone) celebrates old-school classic rock, folk, and the blues, skillfully blending singer/songwriter catharsis with rich harmonies and real players. Bold Americana flavors straight from the soul.

When not busy recording in their personal studio, The Empty Pockets are out on the road headlining or opening for acts like Bob Schneider, Rev. Peyton’s Big Damn Band, Dickey Betts (Allman Brothers) and Dave Mason (Traffic), among many others. They also have passionately served as backing band for a number of artists of note, including Kenny Loggins, Al Stewart, Gary Wright, Richie Furay (of Buffalo Springfield), and Simon Kirke (of Bad Company).

In 2015, The Empty Pockets released their debut full-length album, The Ten Cent Tour, entering both the Billboard Indie and Heatseekers charts for the first time. With the 2017 release of Voices, The Empty Pockets entered a particularly prolific period with four Billboard-charting independent albums, releasing a holiday EP, Snow Day, in 2018, followed a year later by a new studio album, Tanglewoods, and then the live concert album, Live in Seattle.

Acorn Live Stream: Eliot Lewis of Hall & Oates fame

Thursday, Nov. 19 | 8:00pm ET (7:00pm CT)

The Acorn's live event streaming returns November 19th featuring Eliot Lewis!

Join us online for a very unique evening of live music and incredible stories of legendary moments with Elliot Lewis who apart from being an amazing solo artist in his own right, has also been the only musician on every Daryl's House and been a part of every Hall and Oates Tour in recent memory.

Bryan Lubeck, host of the popular online event series IT Unplugged which has him sitting down and talking with/performing icons like Lindsey Buckingham, Seal, Sheryl Crow, Kenny Loggins, Vince Gill and many others will lead the Q & A with Eliot. Bryan is a nationally touring artist who has graced The Acorn stage on several occasions.

About Eliot:

Eliot Lewis has a career most musicians could only dream of. Eliot is not only a member of Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees, Daryl Hall & John Oates band, but also the original featured musician on the award-winning web and Tv show, "Live From Daryl's House”. Eliot has played alongside Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top), Joe Walsh, Todd Rundgren, Train, Grace Potter, Ben Folds, Cheap Trick, Rob Thomas, Jason Mraz, Darius Rucker, Gavin DeGraw  and many, many others.

Touring as a solo artist, Eliot has captivated audiences all over the country with his electric performances.

HOW TO VIEW THIS SHOW LIVE

Join us for the FREE Facebook LIVE event. This event will be hosted by Spanish guitarist Bryan Lubeck. With improvements to our live streaming, this show will be a must-see event.

Acorn Homegrown Fall Fest

Saturday, Oct. 24 | 3:30pm ET (2:30pm CT)

There are a few tickets left, but they are only available by contacting the box office!

A wonderful gathering of music in the vibrant foliage of Michigan closes our outdoor season, as we present Acorn Homegrown Fall Fest on a beautiful farm in the Three Oaks area!

Featured at the festival is Mike Felten, Morse & Wagner, Jake Borowski, Doug Harsch, Rachel Drew, Emma Hamel  and special guest Anne Harris with Ernie Hendrickson.

	Mike Felten Award-winning singer/songwriter Mike Felten has been playing since the 1960's. A veteran of rock, country and blues bands, Mike has been on one long tour all over the United States performing 60-100 roots/blues shows a year. He defines the word "troubadour," with six albums to his credit and a lot of living behind him. Some have taken to calling him a legend. He just calls himself "Johnny Lunchbucket". His latest album, Fast Mikey Blue Eyes features collaborations with Barry Goldberg, Corky Siegel and others.
	Morse & Wagner Taylor Morse and Jamie Wagner are an acoustic/electric songwriter team who play their own original music. Morse & Wagner are both independent songwriters and each bring their own style and creativity to the project. The team is based in Chicago who have been writing, composing and performing their original music at many of the local music venues. Morse and Wagner have hosted the Open Mic at Three Oaks Acorn Theatre in the past.
	Doug Harsch Doug Harsch is a singer/songwriter in the time-honored tradition--writing and singing songs with a heart covered in the dust of life with a sound that invokes the grand American story. His smart, fun, hand-clapping, foot-stomping songs are full of both the joy and grit that life brings with it.
	Rachel Drew Rachel Drew grew up in a musical household on the north side of Chicago. She entered the Chicago music scene in 2015, having already written hundreds of songs, and has quickly become a highly sought after performer.
	Emma Hamel Singer/songwriter Emma Hamel spent many of her high school years scrawling lyrics in class and singing in her bedroom before she began performing her original music all around Southwest Michigan. Her music pairs poetic lyrics with haunting vocals and stripped down arrangements that let the story take center stage. Her deeply heartfelt songs are filled with the hopes, insecurities, and uncertainties that accompany the transition from youth to adulthood. Emma has been featured on numerous radio and TV programs and was the 2018 winner of the Acorn Singer Songwriter Competition.
	Jake Borowski
	Anne Harris with Ernie Hendrickson Anne Harris’ sonic signature is steeped in myriad American Roots traditions from Blues, folk, and gospel to country and rock. She has spent the last 10 years touring internationally as a blues musician. “Once you have witnessed Anne Harris play the violin, you aren’t likely to forget the experience any time soon… She inhabits the music, or maybe the music inhabits her, but it is impossible not to be drawn under her spell”. -BluesWax Chicago based Americana/Folk/Rock guitarist and singer-songwriter Ernie Hendrickson spent a great deal of time honing his skills in Nashville. His deeply personal songs recall influences from Tom Petty to Tom Snider, but his sound and vision are truly singular and ring with intensity, revelation, and aching honesty.

This is a BYO Event - Bring your own chair or blanket. Bring your own snacks and beverages. Like our Acorn Anywhere events, space is limited and tickets will sell out quickly!

All COVID safety requirements will be followed including wearing masks when moving about and 6 foot social distancing.

For an additional donation of $25, we will reserve a premium seating area for you. The Acorn is a 501c3 non profit. Donations are fully tax deductible.

RAIN DATE: Sunday October 25th

There are a few tickets left, but they are only available by contacting the box office!