Debutants

Debutants Concert and Workshop

Saturday, May 16, 2026

Workshop:  5:30 pm ET (check in at 5:15)

Concert:  7:00 pm ET (doors open at 6:15)

Debutants Concert: 7 p.m.

Debutants is a genre-blurring seven-piece string band based in Fort Wayne, Indiana. With roots in bluegrass, folk, Irish reels, and indie rock, their boundaryless approach to songwriting and live performance has drawn comparisons to everyone from Nickel Creek to Old Crow Medicine Show, and is infused with a high-energy playful wink and a jam-band soul.

Their sound dances between vintage and modern influences, with punchy fiddle lines, blistering banjo, rich vocal harmonies, and foot-stomping grooves that swing from tender storytelling to all-out revelry. Whether they’re playing a quiet riverside ballad or an electrifying onstage hoe-down, Debutants bring a contagious energy that turns any space into a party.

Since their formation by friends Lynn Nicholson and Jon Swain, Debutants have released a string of projects – including the spirited Indiana Newgrass EP and the live-recorded River on the Moon – earning them praise for both their instrumental chops and heartfelt songwriting. Their latest single, “Scrollin’ Through,” showcases the band’s ability to weave humor and honesty into a toe-tapping anthem for the digital age.

Craving a sound that’s wild at heart and rich in soul? Come see the show! Debutants just may be your next musical obsession.

 Workshop: 5:30 pm – 6:10pm

 Sing and Play in Harmony

As a bonus, your concert ticket includes an optional pre-concert workshop, led by multi-instrumentalists and educators Sean Hoffman and Ellen Coplin, two members of Debutants!

This workshop will guide you through a friendly, accessible introduction to harmony.  Expect playful ear-training, approachable music-theory tips, and the joy of learning a song together.  Bring your imagination and get ready to have a whole lot of fun exploring how to hear harmonies and express them with your voice and instrument. No experience required; instruments welcome but not necessary.

This workshop is made possible by a grant from the Indiana Arts Commission, a state agency, the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency, and Noblesville Creates, our Regional Partner.

The workshop and concert will be held in the performance space of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Indianapolis, located at 615 W. 43rd. St., Indianapolis, IN 46208 (near Butler University.) Follow these DIRECTIONS to join the fun.