Today we're visiting my friends over in Three Oaks, Michigan.

And Ashley, thank you so much for joining me.

Always good to see you.

Likewise, the Acorn is doing some amazing stuff this year and switching it up to the winter season, right, 100%.

So, this is typically, you know, after a really, really robust holiday season and year end, we have typically a quieter period January, February.

And so we're utilizing that time within the space to make some exciting, infrastructure and safety upgrades.

Okay.

Got to the actual facility that no investment in that building and just making sure that it serves this community for generations to come.

I love that, we have an acorn anywhere, a series that we typically do in the summer.

Okay.

And how long have you been doing that series?

So it's sort of born out of Covid, honestly.

So around 2020 I think we 2021.

That's right.

Yeah.

Was a need to find outdoor safe ways to still continue to connect with artists and community.

And so that was born really out of necessity.

But it's something that is so lovely and something we've continued to do, go beyond our four walls of the theater and out into the community that we serve the space, right?

That's correct.

And so, and some important institutional partners.

And so, doing it in the winter is, is the first time for us doing that.

It's just fun.

So much fun.

I have to ask now, is it outdoor concert?

They're all indoor, right?

Yeah.

It's not yeah.

For a myriad of reasons.

Good good, good.

Oh, they're all indoor.

But, you know, some really exciting partnerships.

Certainly.

Commun and Marquette here in Three Oaks, right across the street from the Acorn has a fabulous event space that will be featuring artists and will be at the Vickers theater again, also an important partner here in Three Oaks.

And we'll talk about all the artists in a moment.

And then, actually up in Benton Harbor will be at Ghost Light.

They're just kind of expanding across there.

That's right, that's right.

Heather.

Country Michiana.

Okay.

Now we have some exciting artists they're going to be playing to.

The first one that's coming up is okay.

You have to explain to me there there is new grass.

That's correct.

What is.

Yes.

So, January 24th, 8 p.m.

at Community Market in the event space.

Okay.

Which is what we're in right now.

That's that's correct.

This is the event space.

Oh, it's a fabulous space.

It's going to be such an incredible set up.

So, we'll talk about the debutantes.

It's actually a seven piece string band.

Cellos, fiddles, guitar, everything string instrument you can think of traditionally in bluegrass, but then also in what's lovingly referred to as new grass.

So they have, many different influences bluegrass, indie, folk, rock.

It is a blast.

They have an incredible sound, you know, check any of these artists out online and they put out a couple albums over the years.

That's correct.

Definitely.

Especially in their current format.

They put out an album in about 2023.

That's pretty incredible.

Again, check out online.

But it's going to be a fabulous event.

There is a stage that will be set up kind of in the middle of.

So it'll be like that, right?

So it's a performance in the round.

Folks will be on two levels being able to observe, the performance and just it'll be an incredibly immersive, intimate experience not to be missed.

January 24th at 8 p.m.. Coming to market.

January 31st, we are moving into the moving to the Vicker’s Theater and with a totally different event.

So we have three incredible singer songwriters, all finalists and winners of the Acorn Singer Songwriter competition.

Just like my actually seen these people before.

Then Jeff and I definitely you'll recognize Kylie Phillips, was our winner most recently will be featured as well.

Sadie Gustafson Zook, who was the winner the year before.

And then Emily Barnes is also a crowd favorite who was a finalist in prior years.

The three of them will be doing singer songwriters in the round.

And so very interesting right at the Vickers Theater, a place that is ripe with storytelling.

Storytelling is so essential to their mission and atmosphere.

And so, these three artists will be performing, original pieces that they've written and then talking about the stories behind them.

Oh, I love that.

So kind of, a conversational comes to it as well.

Very much so.

I love when you have the opportunity to kind of talk to the artists, whether that be, you know, theater or performing arts.

That's really cool.

That connection is so essential.

It it really enhances your appreciation of the art and also your experience with it.

So these artists, are they going to be collaborating together or kind of doing their own pieces with a little bit of both.

So, you know, they have had some meetings ahead of time.

They're going to be featuring their own stories, their own songs.

But typically collaboration is born out of these kinds of.

So I'll be so curious to find out January 31st, 8 p.m.

at the Vickers Theater.

And I do want to point out, do people need tickets for this because it is indoors, correct.

They you do need tickets for this show?

Yeah.

You can purchase tickets at Acorn live.org to any of these three shows.

We'll talk about the third in a moment.

And you also still have the opportunity to make a reserved seat donation.

Just a little extra donation that helps to support these kinds of community programs here at the Acorn Theater.

Many people don't know a nonprofit performing arts center.

50% of costs are covered by ticket sales.

And the rest we rely on donations.

That's amazing.

I love that and helps with the infrastructure that you guys.

That's right, that's right.

It's very important that you as well.

Yes, indeed.

The final and this Acorn anywhere winter assist is a three part series.

The three part series Saturdays.

All Saturdays.

Okay.

This will be the final Saturday, February 7th, 8 p.m., at Ghost Light Theater in Benton Harbor.

It will be featuring Andy Sit Out, another alum of our singer songwriter program.

But, this will be also featuring, his program that is, arrangements he's done for a string quartet.

Interesting.

And so he, we'll be working closely, with not only, you know, us and Ghost Light Theater, but also partnering with Citadel Dance and Music Center.

Oh, so what does that look like then?

So, he is performing with a faculty quartet, a string quartet, and, and performing together.

And then, there's actually also a student quartet that will be performing, on the opening number with them, the closing, it'll be, a real youth and education component to this piece, which is an important part of the Acorn's mission as well.

Is it more of a classical component?

Cause I know you mentioned orchestras.

Sure, sure, sure.

You know, I love that you ask that question.

It will have, those kinds of fusion overtones.

So it's still rock, folk, pop music.

You know, we still have, kind of that familiar music you listen to in your car with a twist.

And I think Christie is so fabulous and he's amazing.

Oh, Andy said is brilliant, brilliant songwriter.

I think he's been on the show before.

Yeah, I think so.

And I mean, you guys have been trying to get him here for this kind of performance for a little bit.

And this, this is, and so much of what we do relies on collaboration.

And, this piece in particular really needed the right string quartet and the right institutional partnership.

And so between Ghost Light, Citadel Dance and Music Center and Andy, of course, this is all came together just for this event on February 7th.

Doors are going to be dancers on the stage for that.

There was I'm not.

Okay.

Okay.

So dance.

And I'm like, that's right.

Oh, gosh.

It's, can we get up and dance right now?

Yes.

In the audience.

You are welcome to always welcome to experience the music.

However, I, we love experiencing things here in Michiana.

Right.

And this is a great way to do it.

So you guys can get your tickets online.

Will you have, seats available day.

Oh, potentially.

Or yeah, you can certainly purchase tickets walking like standing room only.

These are intimate venues.

I would encourage you to get your tickets ahead of time.

They're all much, smaller capacity, much more intimate, you know, in the accord which we pride ourselves in, how intimate the a part is.

So definitely get your tickets ahead of time, Acorn Lord.

But if there are still tickets available, you can certainly purchase as walk up and then we reopen our space.

February 13th I love it.

So, business as usual with some little upgrades you'll be able to notice when you see us February 13th.

That's awesome.

And I know you guys have a full lineup coming in as we head into 2026.

That's right.

We have just maybe a minute left.

You want to touch on anything coming up after this?

Sure.

We have Cowboy Junkies have been announced, which is always a favorite that sells out.

We just announced David Cook.

I don't know if you remember his season of American Idol, but you won.

Are you kidding?

I'm not.

So he'll be here?

I don't know, engineering venue is incredible music, actually.

You can follow his career sense.

Absolutely.

Okay.

Very cool.

You guys have exciting stuff coming.

You do?

And I mean all of this, really, it's a gift within the community, you know, being able to collaborate and bringing out into the community, I think is just a really cool idea.

And I'm glad that you guys have an opportunity to do that, especially in the winter season.

Thank you so, so much.

Truly, it's such an important part of who we are and what we do, and a thriving and vibrant arts scene in any community means a vibrant and thriving community.

Awesome.

All right.

Well, we'll see you guys.

And the performances.

Yes, indeed.