2026 Season Schedule
Showtime: 7:00 p.m.
Price: $10/Adults | $5/Under FREE
Once again, we are starting a new season at the historic Ellisville Opera House! I have heard so many compliments about the space and how much folks enjoy being there. I want thank Paula Helle, Becky, and all of the folks in HERO that that make this possible and a big thank you to Mike Franke who has been handling our sound!
I am activly booking 2026 right now and here is where we are so far. Keep an eye on Hickory Ridge Concerts on facebook to stay in the loop. That's the place where you can keep up to date with the latest happenings and find out about weather cancellations. I'll also email to folks on the mailing list if there are issues. You can also drop me an email at vallillo@macomb.com and say you want to be added to the Hickory Ridge e-list.
For anyone not familiar with the series, Hickory Ridge concerts presents acoustic music of all styles in a unique, intimate listening room; the historic The Ellisville Opera House. The Ellisville Opera House in an 1891 Opera House right along the Spoon River in rural West Central, IL. It still retains it's original bent wood chairs, the painted backdrop and all it's original detailing plus there is in house sound, lights and air conditioning! Though in keeping with tradition, the Opera House is a second story venue, the elevator is installed and working!
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I'll be varying the third Saturday of the month schedule on occaision this year due to previous conflicts and artist availability but I'll continue to feature the best in roots, folk and acoustic music of all kinds.
Coffee, drinks, and a variety of desserts are available! Desserts provided by Becky of Lunch Wagon Concessions, all locally made and delicious! Here is a google Map link for the Ellisville Opera House: ELLISVILLE MAP
Thanks to our media partner, WIUM, FM, your source for NPR programming, local news and a variety of music
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PERFORMERS: CLICK HERE FOR THE POTENTIAL PERFORMER LETTER WITH ALL THE GIG DETAILS
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This program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency through federal funds provided by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Two Rivers Arts Council.
2026 Lineup
Wattle and Daub are Tim and Susan Mocarski, a folk singer-songwriter duo currently based in Grayslake, Illinois. They met in 2013 and started writing and performing together soon after. In addition to original songs chronicling people and places they love, they include folk favorites from John Prine, Pete Seeger, Utah Phillips, to name a few.
https://youtu.be/z363s9mNB0E?si=SugPjQ0JFPJoFjn_
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February 21st, TBA
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March 14th, Chris Farrell
For over 50 years Chris Farrell has been a pillar of Chicago’s famed singer-songwriter scene. He easily flows from ballads to satire, from comic songs to social commentary while always finding room for the sweet tunes you’ll hum on the way home. Presenting his finely crafted songs with solid clear finger picking, beautiful melodies and rich vocals, he adds stories and humor to offer a well-paced show and first-rate command of the stage that only decades of experience can produce.
April 19th Low Gap
Brothers Gus and Phin Johnson are finishing up the final touches of their sophomore album, which will be released in early 2026 and is bound to expand their ever-growing audience to new heights. Gus and Phin, known for their well-crafted songs and animated concerts, have roots planted in Ohio and Eastern Kentucky, which show up clearly in their music.
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https://youtu.be/5jztdx26lAM?si=Vt95i6ML-mOQmiVa
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May TBA
TBA
June 20th Lyal Strickland
Lyal Strickland is an Americana singer-songwriter, whose music is as authentic as the Ozark hills from which it hails. With a background deeply embedded in the rural landscapes of Missouri, his lyrics resonate with the experiences of small-town life, weaving tales of struggle, resilience, and the unyielding human spirit. Strickland’s songs are a reflection of his upbringing in a small town, where the values and hardships of rural life imbue every note and word.
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https://youtu.be/p152tQLi-pU?si=A-jojnLptYxaBtMQ
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July 18th, Bobcat Opossum
Bobcat Opossum is Ellen Coplin and Sean Hoffman, a genre-bending duo from the back alleys of the Midwestern wilderness. They draw inspiration from Irish, bluegrass, old time, and classical music. They believe that music should be accessible to all and is an essential part of life. They tour, perform, and teach extensively across the country. They are co-founders and co-directors of the Folky Fish Jam Camp, Debutants Hoot Camp, and the Fairfield Falcon Fiddle Club. They also play with Indiana newgrass band Debutants and Irish traditional band Soltre’.
August 15th Joe Gorka
Since moving to Chicago in 2023, Joe Gorka has made a name for himself in the local and regional singer-songwriter scenes, playing well-loved local rooms such as Schubas Tavern, City Winery, and Uncommon Ground. Selected for the 2025 "Emerging Artist" showcase at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival in Connecticut, Joe's debut EP "Evergreen" is out now. Produced by Grammy-nominated producer Rob Genadek (Uptown Sound Recording), the EP features spare but powerful tracks ranging from piano ballads to dynamic guitar-driven folk songs.
September 19th Barak Hill
Barak Hill is a singer-songwriter from Springfield, Missouri. Barak’s songs and sound run in the same vein as Amos Lee, Josh Ritter, Steve Earle, and Gillian Welch. It’s heartbroken Americana hanging on to a fistful of hope that things might just get better. Honest, well-crafted lyrics set to strong melodies connect with people on an intimate, personal level.
October 17th Lil Rev'
Lil Rev is a longtime series favorite and an award winning master of the harmonica and the ukulele. He’s a witty, engaging performer whose fast paced shows covering a wide range of styles from Stephen Foster songs to Delta Holler Blues to the music of Tin Pan Alley. A seasoned multi-instrumentalist equally adept with a flat-pick guitar, old-time banjo, or blues mandolin, he was Hohner's 1996 National Blues Harmonica Champion and was inducted into The Traditional Old-Time Country Music Hall of Fame in 2003.
November 21st, Burr Oak Band
The Burr Oak String Band offers up a crowd-pleasing mix of lively instrumentals and heart-felt harmonies. Masters of a variety of instruments and styles – old-time, raggy blues, bluegrass, folk – they appeal to a range of musical sensibilities and can perform in a variety of settings, including concerts, festivals and dances. In different combinations the members of Burr Oak played together in several old-time or bluegrass bands before we decided to play together in the spring of 2015.
December 14th, TBA
