IU Arts and Humanities Presents:
An Evening With Gillian Welch & David Rawlings
Granfalloon Concert Series at Switchyard Park | 1601 S. Rogers St., Bloomington, IN
Gillian Welch and David Rawlings are pillars of the modern acoustic music world and their rich and remarkable careers span over twenty-five years. They have been hailed by Pitchfork as “modern masters of American folk” and “protectors of the American folk song” by Rolling Stone and the New York Times says “their combined voices operate beyond simple sonic harmony. There are emotional inquiries at play. If Welch’s voice delivers the good news or the hard news of the world, Rawlings’s voice comes underneath, asking how much deeper the sadness can go or what fresh heights the ecstatic can climb to.”

Their most recent 10th studio album, Woodland, won the 2025 Best Folk Album GRAMMY. Woodland was named for and recorded at Welch and Rawlings’ own Woodland Sound Studios in Nashville, TN. Of the album and studio, Welch said, “Woodland is at the heart of everything we do and has been for the last twenty some years. The past four years were spent almost entirely within its walls, bringing it back to life after the 2020 tornado and making this record. The music is (songs are) a swirl of contradictions, emptiness, fullness, joy, grief, destruction, permanence. Now.” The new 10-song collection mingles full band tracks with intricate duet performances all tied together with the duo’s signature sound and lyricism and cements the pair’s iconoclastic position at the forefront of acoustic music.

Welch and Rawlings continue to tour the world in support of their music while simultaneously writing and lending their talents to countless fellow artists’ projects. They are continuously working to release their acclaimed catalog on vinyl of the highest possible fidelity. The vinyl edition of the new album Woodland is mastered by David Rawlings directly from the original analog master tapes to his own custom lathe. Acony Records is proud to be partnering with the all-new Paramount Pressing & Plating in Denver, Colorado, a joint venture between Rawlings and esteemed plating craftsman Gary Salstrom, to produce superior vinyl records.

GRANFALLOON 2026

Presented by the IU Arts and Humanities Council and inspired by legendary Hoosier author Kurt Vonnegut Jr., Granfalloon brings together musicians, artists, thinkers, and good people from all walks of life for a celebration of art, ideas, and community.

The series connects the academic year with the Bloomington summer arts season and highlights the creative spirit of our region by tapping into the enduring ethos of Vonnegut’s life and work: promoting civic engagement, encouraging independent thought, and championing art and creativity as essential to the spiritual life of individuals and the health of our democracy.

Granfalloon is presented in partnership with the Indiana University Office of the Vice President for University Relations, the City of Bloomington, Visit Bloomington, and the Buskirk-Chumley Theater. Events take place in venues all around Bloomington and encompass a wide range of creative forms including live music concerts, literary readings, art exhibits, film screenings, theatrical performances, panel discussions, interactive demos and more! The full schedule is available at granfalloon.iu.edu

E-tickets:
All tickets purchased online will be sent as e-tickets to the email address associated with your account. The e-tickets will be listed within your confirmation email. You can reach us at (812) 323-3020 ext 1. We are open Tuesday - Friday from 11am- 5pm and Saturday from 12pm - 5pm.

This event is not happening at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater but at Switchyard Park located at 1601 South Rogers Street, Bloomington, IN, 47403.