Some musicians try to fill every space with sound. Lone Canary seems more interested in what happens when a room grows quiet. When I asked Jesse Fox and Heather Camacho about their music, the first three words they chose were "intimate, honest, and haunting." As I read their responses, I realized those weren't just descriptions of their performances. They were descriptions of their entire approach to making music. The Lone Canary grew out of a long musical friendship. Jesse a

Dan Maguire hopes they remember how they felt. When I asked him how he would describe one of his concerts, he didn't begin by talking about guitars or songwriting or even rock and roll. Instead, he told me what he hopes happens to the audience. "I hope that for at least a little while," he said, "everything's gonna be ok." That answer stayed with me. Dan's music is rooted in Rockford, but his story began long before he arrived there. He fell in love with music growing up in T

One of the things I wanted to understand in talking with Keith Grimwood and Ezra Idlet of Trout Fishing in America was what happens to two musicians after decades on the road together. Not the polished version. The real version. The answer, unsurprisingly, was funny, thoughtful, and occasionally chaotic. Keith and Ezra first crossed paths in Houston in the mid-1970s. Keith was playing bass with the Houston Symphony Orchestra while Ezra was performing in a band called St. Elmo

Keith Grimwood & Ezra Idlet There are very few musical groups that can honestly say they have audiences spanning three generations. Trout Fishing in America is one. Over the years, Keith Grimwood and Ezra Idlet have created something that almost nobody else has managed to sustain. Parents who first heard them years ago are now bringing their own children to concerts. In some cases, grandparents are coming too. That does not happen accidentally. And it definitely does not happ

Monique Byrne and Andy Rogovin There are some performers whose music feels designed for large stages and bright lights. Crowes Pasture feels built for a listening room. The first thing most people notice is the harmony. Not polished in a slick commercial way, but close, human, and deeply connected. The voices of Monique Byrne and Andy Rogovin seem to move together naturally, as though the songs were written specifically for the two of them to sing side by side. And in a way,

Pete Seeger will be honored on May 8 by Mark Dvorak and the Power of Song singers If you come to Wesley’s Place next Friday for our annual Pete Seeger Birthday Celebration, you are not just coming to hear songs. You are stepping into a tradition that shaped how this country understands music, protest, and community. Pete Seeger did not invent folk music, but he may have done more than anyone else to bring it into the American living room and into the American conscience. He b

Anne Hills There are some artists who can change a room. Anne Hills belongs firmly in that category. As I talked with Anne recently, what struck me most was not just her history, though there is plenty of that, nor even the beauty of her voice, though that has been unmistakable for a long time. What struck me was how seriously she takes the exchange between artist and audience. For Anne, a concert is not something delivered to people. It is something created with them. When I

Barbara Barrow, Anne Hills and Michael Smith at Fir, CO When I think about Anne Hills, and the times I’ve heard her sing, there is one moment that often comes to mind. It started, as a lot of things do for me, with Mark Dvorak. Mark was part of a group called Weavermania, a tribute to The Weavers organized by Michael Smith. Michael took the Lee Hays part. His wife Barbara sang Ronnie Gilbert’s part. Chris Walz was Fred Hellerman. Mark, of course, was Pete Seeger. I knew Micha

Ian Tyson and Anne Hills, Rio Grande Scenic Railroad, Colorado There are moments in music that you don’t plan for, and you wouldn’t know how to do it again if you tried. This was one of those. As many of you know, for years my railroad ran a concert series at the top of La Veta Pass, at a place called Fir. We were in the club car, on the way back down from La Veta Pass. By that point in the day, everything had already happened. The train ride up. The meadow. The concert, Anne

If you have gone to the "About" page, you may have read a little about my love of music and trains , and about the magic at Fir, which is at the top of La Veta Pass, a remote place reachable only by train, where some of the most amazing music happened. I grew up riding on the City of New Orleans. My Grandma lived in Grenada, MS and it was about a four hour train ride from Western Kentucky where we lived. So I knew the club car that Steve Goodman wrote about in the song abou

Mardi Gras was the actual club car on the City of New Orleans. Michael Martin Murphey and his band rode with me many times to Fir If you have gone to the "About" page, you may have read a little about my love of music and trains , and about the magic at Fir, which is at the top of La Veta Pass, a remote place reachable only by train, where some of the most amazing music happened. The meadow at La Veta Pass was where the music opened up, and the club car was where it came bac

Mountain Rails Live, Fir, CO at the top of La Veta Pass, 9,242 feet. USA Today called it one of the top outdoor venues in the country. 300+ concerts were staged there. If you have gone to the "About" page, you may have read a little about my love of music and trains , and about the magic at Fir, which is at the top of La Veta Pass, a remote place reachable only by train, where some of the most amazing music happened. When we first brought music to La Veta Pass, I don’t thi

When people think about a concert, they usually think about the performers. But in a listening room like Wesley’s Place, there is another role that quietly shapes the entire evening: the host. On March 13 , that role will be filled by Mark Dvorak , someone who has spent decades performing, teaching, and carrying forward the living tradition of folk music. Mark will open the evening with a short set and help frame the night before welcoming Jim Gary and The Milkman’s Kids to

On March 13, Jim Gary will bring his songs to Wesley’s Place as part of a two-act evening of music. Jim has been writing and performing for many years, with seven albums and more than 75 original songs to his credit, and what stands out most about his work is his commitment to the craft of songwriting itself. When I asked Jim to describe his live show in three words, he answered quickly: clever, upbeat, entertaining. That feels exactly right. Jim’s performances have a natural

At Wesley's Place March 13 with Jim Gary, hosted by Mark Dvorak One of the things I appreciate most about Wesley’s Place is that we are not trying to manufacture moments. We are simply creating a space where good music can unfold honestly. That’s one reason I’m especially pleased to welcome The Milkman’s Kids back on March 13. This will be their second appearance at Wesley’s Place, nearly three years after their first visit. I remember the warmth and easy chemistry they broug

Lil' Rev is great on blues harmonica Ahead of Lil’ Rev’s return to Wesley’s Place on March 6, I sent him a few questions about performance, songwriting, humor, and why intimate rooms matter so much to him. His answers offer a wonderful glimpse into how he thinks about music and connection. How would you describe your live show in three words? Edu-Tainment, because I love to share music history and I love being an entertainer. Heartwarming, because I like to sing songs that to

Lil' Rev is great on blues harmonica One of the things I’m paying close attention to this year at Wesley’s Place is how a night feels from start to finish. Not just the music, but the welcome, the pacing, the way the room settles in and listens together. We saw that clearly at our recent Buddy Mondlock show. We had a big crowd, people really listened, and the night unfolded in a way that felt easy and connected. It confirmed something important for me. People like the room,

Buddy has written songs recorded by other artists, worked with legends like Peter, Paul and Mary, and maintained a long career as a touring artist himself.

Buddy has written songs recorded by other artists, worked with legends like Peter, Paul and Mary, and maintained a long career as a touring artist himself.

Mark Dvorak will host at Wesley's Place One of the things I value most at Wesley’s Place is intention. I want each concert to feel thoughtfully shaped from the moment the doors open to the final applause. That is why I am especially excited to have Mark Dvorak hosting several shows this year. Mark will be hosting Buddy Mondlock , Lil Rev , and Anne Hills , and in May he will lead our annual Pete Seeger birthday celebration . For each of these nights, Mark will open the show