Spencer LaJoye and Grace Theisen Trio: Celebrating Queer Indie Folk + Androgynous Americana
Friday, Jun. 26 | 8:00pm ET (7:00pm CT)
In a celebration of queer indie folk and androgynous americana, this special co-bill features two fresh voices in music – Spencer LaJoye and Grace Theisen. Both have their roots in Michigan and are pushing beyond traditional genre and gender boundaries.
This concert serves as our next recording partnership activity with 88.1 WVPE Public Radio which will air in a future "The Sauce Live from The Acorn" broadcast on WVPE! We'll be capturing LIVE footage at the show - come get in on the action!
About the Artists:
Spencer LaJoye
Spencer LaJoye With a crystalline voice, a multi-instrumentalist’s command of harmony, and a virtuosic mastery of the loop pedal, LaJoye is a one-human tour-de-force, winning ears and hearts everywhere they go.
If LaJoye’s work as a songwriter had to be ruthlessly boiled down to one word, “craft” is a solid contender. Spencer’s songs dance effortlessly between theatrical grace and unhinged sincerity, with melodies that make you exhale, and turns of phrase that make you shake your head with a satisfied smirk.
LaJoye is a relentless wordsmith, harvesting endless insight out of lived experience. Since the providential and cathartic breakout of their anthemic hymn “Plowshare Prayer,” Spencer has been in non-stop motion. Spencer won the Kerrville New Folk singer/songwriter contest in 2021, and the Songwriter Serenade contest in 2024. They’ve shared stages and tours with The Crane Wives, David Wilcox, Dar Williams, Mary Gauthier, and countless greats in the singer/songwriter community.
The accolades, though exciting, pale in comparison to the word-of-mouth fervor around LaJoye’s music and ethos. Listeners of every background are finding voice for their own stories, and often driving several hours to catch a concert. Listening rooms across the continental US are selling out. Fellow songwriters are buzzing and taking note of an artistry they are excited to witness. A robust community of dedicated long-time monthly patrons (500+ and counting) is on the edge of their seats.
Spencer is a midwesterner by birth and demeanor, and a Californian by residence and street smarts. But judging by the frequent flier miles and exhausted Honda odometer, Spencer is more a citizen of the road. Their concerts are typically a fully solo endeavor brimming with more energy than many eight-piece bands. They are a curious blend of pastoral sobriety and nimble playfulness. A Spencer LaJoye concert isn’t exactly a worship hour, a one-act drama, a melodic composition masterclass, or an unplugged emo show. But it’s never not those things.
Spencer LaJoye released their technicolor debut LP Shadow Puppets in 2024, followed by the mournful Death Drive EP in 2025. Their most recent release Gentle Songs has been a fan favorite, featuring ten single-minute songs that are bite sized but fully formed.
Grace Theisen
Grace Theisen is a queer Americana artist originally from Kalamazoo, Michigan. She coined her music as “Androgynous Americana” to celebrate queerness in all its forms. Her songwriting explores both masculine and feminine energies, blending elements of Americana, Folk, World, Blues, Pop, and Rock while pushing beyond traditional genre boundaries.
Her music spans a wide emotional range — from her journey of coming out to fighting for social justice — balanced with upbeat, danceable tracks that celebrate joy, connection, and resilience. With Androgynous Americana, Grace captures the emotional landscape of where we are today — both individually and as a country — reminding listeners that even in uncertain times, it’s still possible to fall in love, find joy in everyday life, and stand up for what’s right. Her debut full-length album, Androgynous Americana, is set for release in 2026.
Her songs “Behind the Rain" and” Wild Wild Woman" were featured on Spotify’s official playlist Home At Last. The music video for “Master of Fire" was a finalist at the Toronto Women’s Film Festival and screened at the Hell’s Half Mile Film & Music Festival. Grace and her band have performed at major Michigan venues and festivals including Kalamazoo Pride, Hoxeyville, Frederik Meijer Gardens, Blissfest, Buttermilk, Dunesville, and Earthwork Harvest Gathering. She is also one-third of the girl band The Rebel Eves.
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. $30 Donation per ticket holder in your group.
All ticket purchases are non-refundable, non-exchangeable.
The Acorn is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
