Celebrating “The Wake” And The Songs of “If”
with Bonnie Bishop and Ryan McMullan

After decades of writing toward one destination, Foy Vance found himself somewhere entirely new. Following the completion of 2026’s The Wake—the seventh and final installment in a cycle of albums he began in the aftermath of his father’s sudden death in 1999—the Northern Ireland-born singer/songwriter felt called to revisit a vast archive of material he’d written over the course of 27 years but never shared with the world. As he sorted through over a hundred songs he’d kept closely guarded for so long, Vance examined how the passage of time had altered or deepened their meaning, revealing new truths in their collective exploration of devotion, grief, longing, and forgiveness. Produced by Anderson East (Lukas Nelson, The Lone Bellow), his eighth album IF gathers a selection of those newly reimagined songs into an intimate but sweeping meditation on transformation and possibility.

Featuring co-writes with luminaries like Lori McKenna, Natalie Hemby, Gabe Simon and Ross Copperman, IF marks a bold new chapter in a body of work including landmark albums like Vance’s 2013 international breakthrough Joy of Nothing (featuring guest spots from Bonnie Raitt and Ed Sheeran) and 2016’s The Wild Swan (executive-produced by Elton John). As it unfolds across three distinct acts—IF: WE, IF: YOU, and IF: I—the album gradually narrows its focus from our place in the wider world to the complexities of love to the inner workings of the self. A rare dialogue across time and experience, the result is a deeply human portrait of the infinite ways in which love changes us, the lasting imprints of what we endure, and the seemingly small choices that end up shaping a life.

$1 per ticket goes to HER Campaign

To truly understand Bonnie Bishop, you need to experience her music live. Everything else is just bullet points. Raised between Texas and Mississippi, Bonnie got her start in the outlaw country scene around Austin, where her raspy vocals and powerhouse performances made her a standout. From 2002-2008, she released three independent albums (“Long Way Home, “Soft To The Touch,” and “Things I Know”) and often opened shows for legendary songwriter Robert Earl Keen, who helped expose Bonnie to a national audience. In 2008, she moved to Nashville and signed a publishing deal with Writer’s Den Music; her song “Not Cause I Wanted To” (co-written with NRBQ’s Al Anderson) was recorded by Bonnie Raitt, who won a Grammy for Best Americana Album in 2012. The following year, another of Bonnie’s songs (“The Best Songs Come From Broken Hearts”) was featured in the hit TV show “Nashville” and voted Top Ten Songs of the Year by New York Times (Jon Pareles.) In 2015, Thirty Tigers signed Bonnie and released “Ain’t Who I Was” (Dave Cobb) followed by “The Walk” (Steve Jordan) but the pandemic halted all touring plans. So in 2020, Bonnie went back to school to earn a master’s degree in creative writing from Sewanee University of the South; while there, she wrote a book about her stepfather, legendary college football coach Jackie Sherrill, a story that was later licensed into a documentary (“The Last Outlaw.”) In 2022, Bonnie returned to the musical stage thanks to Irish singer-songwriter Foy Vance, who took her on the road as his backing vocalist (“Signs of Life Tour”) and opening act (2023-2024 “Joy Of Nothing Ten Year Anniversary Tour.”) During their travels, Vance and Bonnie co-wrote her forthcoming seventh studio album “What If None Of This Is Real?” (Vance) which they plan to release in conjunction with a 2026 world tour.

Ryan McMullan is a rising star in the world of singer-songwriters, captivating audiences with his soulful vocals, heartfelt lyrics, and dynamic performances. Hailing from Portaferry, Northern Ireland, McMullan discovered his passion for music at an early age, inspired by the rich musical heritage of his homeland.

Drawing on influences ranging from folk and rock to blues and soul, McMullan crafts deeply personal songs that resonate with
listeners on a profound level. With a knack for storytelling and an emotive vocal delivery, he effortlessly transports audiences to the heart of his music, evoking a range of emotions with each performance.

McMullan’s journey as a musician gained momentum with the release of his debut EP, “A Winter’s Coat,” in 2016, which garnered widespread acclaim and established him as a formidable talent to watch. Since then, he has captivated audiences worldwide with a string of successful singles and EPs, earning praise for his raw authenticity and genuine passion for his craft.

Known for his electrifying live shows, McMullan has shared the stage with some of the biggest names in music, including Ed Sheeran, Dermot Kennedy, Snow Patrol, and Kodaline. Whether performing in intimate venues or on the grandest of stages, he leaves an indelible mark on audiences with his captivating stage presence and magnetic charisma.

With his highly-anticipated debut album on the horizon, Ryan McMullan is poised to make a lasting impact on the music industry and solidify his place as one of the most compelling voices of his generation. From sold-out shows to prestigious festival appearances, McMullan continues to inspire and connect with audiences around the world through his powerful music and authentic storytelling.

Tickets go on sale 8/28 @ 11 AM!

Over the Rhine
2026 Christmas Tour Thoughts

One December, not long after Over the Rhine began recording and touring, we were invited to perform some seasonal songs on a public radio station in Cincinnati. It was Christmastime and apparently they thought we were up to the task. We worked up a few carols and traditional
tunes and Karin even read a poem by Thomas Hardy called, The Oxen.

It actually felt really good and conjured up an unusual mix of feelings from childhood: innocence, loss, wonder, joy, sadness. I think we were surprised.

People must have tuned into the radio broadcast, because we began receiving inquiries as to whether we had recorded any of our Christmas songs. I don’t think we had considered it at the time, but any young, struggling songwriter is open to the suggestions of the marketplace, and
people were persistent.

In December of 1996 – can it really be 30 years ago? – we recorded and released our first song cycle of some of the Christmas carols that still haunted us. We included a few original tunes and called our wintry mix The Darkest Night Of The Year. We played a special “darkest night”
release concert on winter solstice in an old 1300-seat theater in Cincinnati. Every last seat was full. Folks began snatching up copies and seemed to agree that they hadn’t heard anything quite like it.

We began playing concerts around the Midwest every December and found that the rooms were usually packed full of people who had bundled in out of the cold with prized companions. Hats and scarves abounded. If you stepped outside during intermission, you could make ghosts with your breath in the crisp night air. And it was dark – oh so dark: a time of year with its own music.

A decade later, in 2006, we released our first full collection of original Christmas/holiday songs called Snow Angels. What is it about Christmas music and the undeniable gravitational pull it exerts on some songwriters? So many Christmas songs have already been written. I think we
have always been genuinely curious about the ones that haven’t yet been written.

We continued to tour every December and these special year-winding-down concerts began to feel like an annual tradition – gatherings of extended musical family, without whom, we’d be homeless.

By the time we released our third holiday album of original songs, Blood Oranges In The Snow, in December of 2014, Karin suggested we had discovered a new genre of music: Reality Christmas.

It’s true: if you’ve buried a loved one, or lost a job, or battled a chronic illness, that stuff doesn’t go away during the holidays. It can be a complicated season for many of us.

And then there’s family.
When Karin and I make the annual holiday pilgrimage home to visit family and pull into the driveway and turn off the car, one of us inevitably looks over at the other and says, “Tie a rope around my waist, I’m goin’ in.”

In 2026, 30 years after releasing our first holiday CD, we are still at it. This year, we will be leaning into some harmonies and making an intimate but hopefully holy ruckus. It won’t be all Christmas music: we’ll certainly mix in tunes from many of our records along the way. But
hopefully it’s still true: hopefully you haven’t heard anything quite like it.

Maybe a midnight snow will fall and turn each streetlight into its own private snow globe. Maybe, regardless of whatever reality Christmas brings, we’ll hear a faint echo of a song once rumored to have been sung by angels, a song of peace on earth, goodwill toward all…

We’ve never heard anything quite like it.

We hope you’ll join us,
Linford Detweiler
With Karin close by
Nowhere Else
Clinton County, Ohio

Following critically acclaimed sell-out runs at The Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Adelaide Fringe, and sold-out shows in the UK and the US, The Carole King & James Taylor Story comes to a theatre near you. Taking you on an incredible journey through the careers of the six-time Grammy Award winner, twenty-time platinum hit maker Carole King, five-time Grammy Award winner, and American folk legend James Taylor, this is a show not to be missed.

Featuring passionate renditions of Fire and Rain, Sweet Baby James, I Feel the Earth Move, Natural Woman, You’ve Got a Friend, and many more, this astonishing back catalogue is realised with authenticity by Phoebe Katis and Dan Clews, both well-established artists in their own right.

“Dan Clews is too great a talent to ignore” Sir George Martin
“sent chills down my spine” ***** The Upside News
“Will leave any folk-rock fans wholly satisfied” **** BroadwayBaby
“Wow, what an experience” BBC Radio
“performance was immaculate” **** Three Weeks

Jake Speed & the Freddies, Cincinnati’s long-running folk/Americana band, host a night rooted in toe-tappin’, foot-stompin’ original tunes that muse on Cincinnati’s unique past & present. Known as the Woody Guthrie of Cincinnati, Jake Speed uses a traditional folksy delivery to compose timely and timeless songs that tell great stories with a bit of a lyrical edge. This special Queen City-centric concert celebrates 25 years of music-making, storytelling, and deep ties to the region, featuring cameo appearances by Mike Oberst of The Tillers, Ed Cunningham of The Comet Bluegrass Allstars, and Chris Cusentino of The Turkeys. The concert also marks the release of the band’s sixth studio album with 12 new songs, some of which pay tribute to Cincinnati musical icons Katie Laur, The Comet Bluegrass Allstars, dancing with daffodils at Washington Park, and their roots in Ohio. More than a performance, this 25th Anniversary concert is a celebration of Cincinnati’s music, stories, and community. Proceeds benefit Cincinnati Public Radio, helping sustain the local voices and institutions that preserve the past, enrich the present, and guide the journey ahead.