3 upcoming events with the world music tag

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.

Lost Bayou Ramblers

Acclaimed progressive Cajun band and GRAMMY winners Lost Bayou Ramblers (LBR) will be performing in a FREE outdoor concert as part of the 206 Muncie Three Trails Music Series. The Lost Bayou Ramblers will also be performing a special traditional acoustic set at 7 PM to open the show. 

Lost Bayou Ramblers’ evolution as a perversely progressive band rooted in Cajun traditions continues to excite, challenge, and redefine both genre expectations as well as cultural preconceptions. The band was formed in 1999 by brothers Andre and Louis Michot, performing the roots Cajun music they learned as members of Les Frères Michot, the family band their father and uncles formed in the 80's. The current LBR line-up is headed-up by Louis (fiddle and lead vocals) and Andre (accordion and lapsteel), now joined by Bryan Webre (electric bass), Johnny Campos (electric guitar), Eric Heigle (electronics and acoustic guitar), and Kirkland Middleton (drums). The group stands at the crosscurrents of Louisiana culture by inhabiting the gray area between Cajun and Creole, convention and innovation, mystery and a revelation, experimenting and growing the show to what it's become today: an eclectic mix of modern sounds and rhythms with ancient Cajun melodies and lyrics.  With eight albums, a GRAMMY win in the Best Regional Roots Music category for their most recent studio album, Kalenda, contributions to the score of the Oscar-nominated Beasts Of The Southern Wild, and touring with both Arcade Fire and the Violent Femmes, Lost Bayou Ramblers continue to swing wide from their Louisiana home base. 

Flor De Toloache

Latin GRAMMY winners Flor De Toloache, an all-female Mariachi ensemble, will be returning to Muncie and performing in a FREE outdoor concert as part of the 2026 Muncie Three Trails Music Series. Cincinnati-based Estrada Do Sol will open the show.

Flor De Toloache, which translates as “deadly flower” and also refers to a main ingredient in traditional love potions, was founded in 2008 by singers Mireya Ramos and Shae Fiol. The group weaves a variety of influences (e.g., salsa, bactata, cumbia, gypsy, Latin jazz, pop, hip-hop, soul) into their unique sound, giving them an edgy, versatile and fresh take on traditional Mexican music. They perform original songs, new arrangements of classic Mariachi tunes, as well as an eclectic selection of covers that can include songs by artists such as Adele, AC/DC, and Erykah Badu. Their mélange of the traditional and the modern pushes the boundaries of the genre and brings Mariachi music to new audiences. Flor De Toloache’s critically acclaimed self-titled debut album received a Latin GRAMMY nomination for “Best Ranchero/Mariachi Album” of 2015, and their 2017 release, Las Caras Lindas, won that award. Indestructible, a 2019 GRAMMY nominee for “Best Latin Rock, Urban, or Alternative Album,”  showcased their collaboration with multi-platinum singer-songwriter John Legend. National Public Radio says the album “… pushes the boundaries of mariachi music and its instruments through reimagined pop covers, originals and original collaborations.”

Over the course of the last few years, Flor de Toloache have played to sold out audiences in the UK, Germany, Holland, Italy, France, as well as performing at Coachella and at such legendary venues as First Avenue in Minneapolis, The Vic in Chicago, Terminal 5 in New York, DC’s 930 Club, and Nashville’s Ryman Theater (The Grand Ole Opry). The group was invited to perform at the GRAMMY Museum’s Latin Music Gallery Exhibition ribbon-cutting. They were also invited to pay tribute to Linda Ronstadt at the 42nd Annual Kennedy Center Honors. Needless to say, their previous performances at the Muncie Three Trails Music Series they have brought down the house.