Fall 2025 Tour
We are so thankful for every person who made our midwest adventure possible by hosting us in their homes, preparing food, loading and unloading gear, arranging venue spaces, connecting us with new folks, and of course showing up to listen. Every offered gesture of support and kindness, and the many words of affirmation, embolden us to continue this work of writing and sharing songs that we hope will challenge, heal, and bring people together.
Our string of fall shows began mid-October in Bentonville, Virginia, with an appearance in the Just Right House Concert Series. Our experienced hosts Roger and Carole knew just how to make us feel generously at home in their cozy living room, surrounded by art and supported by an attentive audience. It was a happy prelude to the midwest tour.
On October 30 we headed for the hills, winding through Christopher’s West Virginia hometown en route to Pittsburgh Mennonite Church, where Phoebe and Peter provided logistical support for an evening concert. Our small but warmly enthusiastic audience included Christopher’s brother and his family, so we got to spend time with them before taking off the next day.
Friday found us in Dalton, Ohio, at the home of our hosts Tim and Jennifer. Their art studio-workshop-venue (“The Shudio”), nestled in the backyard among golden trees, was the perfect setting for gathering friends for an evening of intimate music and seasonal sweets like apple cider and pumpkin muffins. Listeners told us they were “blessed” by our “music and message” and “blown away” by our songwriting.
Tim, who plays in the band Honeytown, spiced up a few of our songs with electric guitar and mandolin. Here we are in souncheck:
Saturday morning we drove several hours northwest to Archbold and the home of long-time friends Heather and Tim. After homemade pizza and a brisk walk along the gray gridlines separating vast fields of corn stubble, we packed up for the nearby Pettisville Community Park pavilion. While we set up the stage and our hosts prepared the dessert table, we were dazzled by late afternoon sunlight through the amber and vermilion maples outside the window.
Among the folks who gathered to listen in Pettisville, we discovered lots of connections with friends and family back home, and learned that several had come from Bluffton (an hour and a quarter’s drive) to attend our concert. One remarked, “Live music is worth the drive,” and another, “There was something in every song that I connected with [that was] pleasant to listen to, and a little heartbreaking.”
Our Sunday afternoon house concert hosts in Goshen, Indiana were (as we discovered after we first began booking the event) relatives of Christopher’s. Several of Kim and Eric’s family showed up – two even flying from Pennsylvania – and we enjoyed getting (re)acquainted over a colorful buffet and bowls of hearty vegan chili. After our performance in the sunny dining room we mingled with listeners (including two of Maria’s local aunts and uncles!) who described our music as “powerful” and “marvelous.”
“You have rendered me speechless,” said one retired musician.
The final stop on our tour was in Kidron, Ohio. We had accepted the challenge of claiming the attention of 300+ school students on a Monday morning – and had a great time sharing songs we’ve found meaningful as we continue growing up. We were delighted to again be joined on stage for two songs by our Friday night concert host Tim, who is a legendary music teacher at the school.
Gratitude all around – for life away and the road leading home, too:
