Jon Shain

Jon Shain Concert and Workshop

Saturday, October 17, 2026

Workshop: 5:15 – 6 PM

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

A few years back, veteran singer-songwriter Jon Shain was asked by a reporter about the difficulty he had getting gigs as a young performer, before he had established a reputation for fiery acoustic guitar work in service of improvised blues and other roots styles.  Jon said, “I’m not trying to be cool, I’m just trying to make good music. People who are really into music get that, you know?”

Over the course of his long and prolific career, Jon has certainly managed to connect with a wide-reaching audience that values him as a musician, “cool” or not.  Growing up in the 1970s in a Massachusetts mill town in decline, Jon discovered his love of American roots music and songwriting, specifically drawn to narratives about regular people and themes of social justice. While majoring in history at Duke University, he continued his musical journey by taking classes in jazz and getting to know and play with masters in the piedmont blues tradition.  

Now, almost half a century out from that mill-town childhood, Jon has certainly established his credentials as a bluesman, with more than nine solo albums and many more with various collaborators, not to mention winning the 2019 International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN in the solo/duo category.  With all this under his belt, it’s no wonder that critics have dubbed his music “a breezy, open-air train ride through the history of American music, moving seamlessly through folk, swing, ragtime, Piedmont and country blues.” 

Don’t miss that train at this Indy Folk Series show!

Workshop: 5:15 PM- 6:00 PM

Acoustic Blues with Jon Shain

As a bonus, your concert ticket includes an optional pre-concert workshop, led by Jon Shain, the 2019 International Blues Guitar Challenge winner.

This workshop is for anyone with an interest in acoustic blues playing. He’ll cover some iconic riffs and elements of the blues in the context of one of the classics.  For a hands-on experience, you are welcome to bring your guitar, but it’s not necessary.

The 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 concert and workshop 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.