5 upcoming events with the country music tag

Seamlessly merging hits from Pop, Rock and Oldies to Americana and Country, the genre smashing, vocal/instrumental trio, TAKE3, lives at the intersection where art and pop culture collide.

Described by audience goers as a mini–Trans Siberian Orchestra experience, TAKE3 is nothing short of exhilarating and has electrified audiences at hundreds of venues and performing arts centers throughout the U.S. Known for their infectious and down to earth onstage personalities, this threesome leaves their indelible mark on captivated crowds around the country. 

TAKE3’s interactive lighting shows, comedic stories of their journey from scales in conservatory practice rooms to pop music in packed stadiums, come together in unforgettable experiences that have fired up concert goers all over the nation.

World-class artists and musicians brought together in the Coffee and Cabernet Series. Experience these internationally renowned artists in the intimate setting of Pruis Hall and enjoy a selection of wine, craft beer or coffee while attending the performance. 

Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper

GRAMMY-winning bluegrass greats Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper will be performing a FREE outdoor concert as part of the 2026 Muncie Three Trails Music Series. This concert is sponsored by the Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County. Locals The John Beatrtice Band will open the show. Widely considered the best bluegrass fiddler of his generation, Michael Cleveland has been recognized 12 times as the International Bluegrass Music Association’s (IBMA) “Fiddler of the Year,” and in 2018 he was inducted into the National Fiddler’s Hall of Fame. His recording Fiddler’s Dream was nominated in 2018 for a GRAMMY for “Best Bluegrass Album,” and in 2019, his album Tall Fiddler won that award. In 2022, he, like his idol Bill Monroe, was awarded the National Endowment for the Arts Heritage Fellowship. And most recently, Michael’s latest recording with Jason Carter, Carter & Cleveland,  won IBMA’s 2025 “Album of the Year” award and has been nominated for a 2026 GRAMMY for “Best Bluegrass Album.”

Pokey LaFarge

Critically acclaimed musician Pokey LaFarge and his band will be performing a FREE outdoor concert as part of the 2026 Muncie Three Trails Music Series. This concert is sponsored by Defur Voran. Locals Jerry Barker & the Onion Cutters will open the show.

LaFarge never wanted to be an artist that had one gigantic record and then kept repeating the same thing over and over. His last three albums, including his newest, Rhumba Country, gives evidence that he is in no danger of doing that. 2020’s Rock Bottom Rhapsody, hailed as a “Best of 2020” by NPR’s Fresh Air, was dark, lean and melancholy, without horns or anything else that might interfere with the vocals and the lyrics. By contrast, 2021’s In The Blossom of Their Shade showcased Pokey’s positivity, capturing the vibe of a perfect summer afternoon soundtrack. And as with all his previous works, In The Blossom of Their Shade continued to mix and match a wide variety of styles and traditions, this time around drawing on sounds from hot swing, ragtime, country blues, and Americana, as well as incorporating influences from the Southwest, South America, and the Caribbean. And now, on Rhumba Country, his latest full-length, LaFarge revels in his newly heightened devotion to making music that channels pure joy. As Pokey immersed himself in the album’s creation, he once again began dreaming up a kaleidoscopic sound informed by his love of music from far-ranging eras and corners of the globe, including mambo, tropicália, rocksteady, and mid-century American rock-and-roll. Wherever his musical inspirations may take him, there is one thing you can be sure of – when Pokey LaFarge takes the stage, he will continue to entertain audiences everywhere with his unique mix of styles and dynamic showmanship. We are extremely pleased to be able to welcome Pokey LaFarge back to the Three Trails stage.

Cristina Vane

Critically acclaimed Americana/blues artist Cristina Vane and her band will be performing a FREE outdoor concert as part of the 2026 Muncie Three Trails Music Series. This concert will take place at 7:00 PM on Saturday, August 8th  at Canan Commons (600 S. Walnut St.) in the heart of downtown Muncie, IN. Locals Lovesick Moan will open the show.

More than a mere practitioner of her craft, Cristina Vane has a breadth and depth of serious musical skill compiled from countless miles across all kinds of geography. On her third studio album ‘Hear My Call,’ the pairing of a lifetime pursuit and growing treasure trove of songs makes for a record that demands to be heard.

A deft multi-instrumentalist and captivating vocalist, she began writing songs and playing guitar in her teens, before the power of slide guitar captured her attention one summer in London and changed her trajectory. Her sound is a product of a merging of numerous worlds- her classic rock, 90s indie, and heavier roots with her passion for prewar blues, old time fiddle banjo music, country and bluegrass. On Hear My Call, Vane refuses to bend herself into a box, writing excellent bluegrass songs that exist cohesively alongside her blues, rock, and hill country blues inspired tunes. Indeed, a decade of finding herself has brought her full circle; in her words, “ “When it came to the album, I wanted it to be a reflection of who I am, not just of the old music that I’ve come to love”, she explains, “and I’m essentially a rock kid who is obsessed with old music. After being exposed to all of this music that was foreign to me, I am slowly figuring out how to find my own voice within it." 

Blue Moon Marquee

Acclaimed Canadian blues/jazz group Blue Moon Marquee will be performing in a FREE outdoor concert as part of the 2026 Muncie Three Trails Music Series. Locals The Prairie Creek Sirens will open the show.

Blue Moon Marquee writes and performs original compositions influenced by anything that swings, jumps or grooves. A.W. Cardinal (vocals/guitar) and Jasmine Colette a.k.a. Badlands Jass (vocals/bass/drums) have played for a vast gamut of crowds at jazz clubs, Lindy Hop dance halls, folk venues, blues haunts, hospitals, prisons, markets, motorcycle joints, dive bars and prestigious festival stages. The vast repertoire of this band is a reflection of their bounteous years on the road, and the result is a trademark blend that pulls the different parts of their musical worlds together, taking the tones of early blues, the expressions of jazz, the heart of country, the spirit of folk, the swagger of soul and the rhythm of rock ‘n’ roll. Their gift is bringing all these elements together without anything sounding out of step. For their Canan Commons show, the duo will be joined by Alison Young on sax and Darcy Phillips on keys.

In recognition of the band’s excellence, Scream, Holler & Howl, their 5th album, won the JUNO Award (the Canadian equivalent of the GRAMMY) for Blues Album of the Year. The album was also honored with the Blues Foundation’s award for Emerging Artist of the Year (2023), and it swept the 2023 Maple Blues Awards (Canada’s highest honour in blues) with four wins. including Album of the Year, Songwriter of the Year, Acoustic Act of the Year and Entertainer of the Year.  Co-produced by GRAMMY-winning guitarist Duke Robillard and recorded live to tape, the album blazes forward with its astonishing mix of genres. As Mr. Robillard states, “To say A.W. and Jasmine are old souls is an understatement. They are poised for worldwide recognition in a brilliant and unique genre-bending ride through American blues and folk, Gypsy jazz, Native American themes, jump blues, swing and more. These century-old traditions have been redefined and delivered in a new light here”. Unbound by genre or era, Blue Moon Marquee has an edge that demands you take notice. With an authentic mixture of tempo, melody and imagery, they are timeless artists perfect for this time.