By Rick Zeigler—
MUNCIE, IN—The Muncie Three Trails Music Series is pleased to officially announce its 2024 lineup. This will be the 11th season in which the series presents critically acclaimed national recording artists in four FREE concerts at Canan Commons in downtown Muncie. All shows begin at 7 PM and are all ages. Complete information on the series and all artists, including samples of their music, can soon be found at www.munciethreetrails.com. We are proud to announce that our entire 11th season is presented by Ball State University.
Josh “the Reverend” Peyton photo provided
Josh “the Reverend” Peyton and his Big Damn Band
Acclaimed country-blues guitarist to Canan Commons to open our series on Saturday, July 27th. Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band has built its reputation the long, slow, hard way. After many years of playing as many as 300 shows each year, in a total of 37 countries, the biggest little band in the country has pieced together one of the most dedicated followings out there. Reverend Peyton is now recognized as one of the world’s foremost country blues finger-style pickers, playing the bass with his thumb while picking the lead at the same time. His prowess has drawn notice, with multiple Blues Music Awards nominations, including in 2021 for “Best Blues Rock Artist,” as well as being the cover subject for Vintage Guitar magazine. This show is sponsored by Defur Voran.
Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers photo provided
Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers
Bluegrass five-piece will grace the Canan Commons stage on Saturday, August 10th. Mullins’ music is best described as authentic bluegrass, marked by consistently clean harmonies, Joe’s driving Scruggs-style banjo playing, and his band’s entertaining showmanship. Mullins has recorded over 22 albums and had eleven #1 songs, and has received over a dozen awards, including “Banjo Player of the Year” in 2023 from the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music Association (SPGMA), as well as the International Bluegrass Music Association’s (IBMA) 2019 award for “Entertainer of the Year” (with the Radio Ramblers), the highest award a band can earn within the genre.
Sensational Barnes Brothers. Photo by Bill Reynolds
The Sensational Barnes Brothers
Making their 2nd appearance at the Muncie Three Trails Music Series will be Memphis-based soul-gospel greats The Sensational Barnes Brothers on Saturday, August 24th. The Sensational Barnes Brothers are a melting pot of the old and the new, effectively capturing the sound of Memphis during the heyday of Stax Records, the Bar-Kays, and Booker T. & the M.G.s, while also drawing modern-day gospel and soul sounds into the mix. Fueled by harmonies that resonate with both their blood ties and their kindred souls, this is a show you will not want to miss. This concert sponsored by The Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County.
SYBARITE5 photo provided
SYBARITE5
The critically acclaimed chamber string quintet SYBARITE5 will close out our 2024 season on Saturday, September 14th. Comprised of Sami Merdinian and Sarah Whitney, violins; Angela Pickett, viola; Laura Metcalf, cello; and Louis Levitt, bass, SYBARITE5 has taken audiences by storm all across the US, forever changing the perception of chamber music performance. Dubbed the “Millennial Kronos,” SYBARITE5’s eclectic repertoire includes music with roots in classical, rock, jazz, hip-hop, Armenian folk, and the avant-garde. From David Bowie to Radiohead, John Coltrane to Astor Piazzolla, Pete Seeger to the Punch Brothers, and Akiho to Komitas, their selections, when combined with their commanding performance style, are turning heads throughout the music world.
The Muncie Three Trails Music Series is a non-profit partnership between Muncie Downtown Development Partnership and Rick Zeigler, series founder and organizer. The mission of the series is to bring critically acclaimed, national recording artists to perform at Canan Commons, Muncie’s premier outdoor performance venue, located in the heart of Downtown Muncie. A second mission is to promote the many recreational, artistic, and cultural attractions located along, or in close proximity to, Canan Commons and Muncie’s popular “Three Trails” — The White River Greenway, Cardinal Greenway, and Muncie Arts and Culture Trail.
We hope attendees will heed our slogan, “Explore the Trails, Enjoy the Music.”
