Big River Theatre

10/22/2026

We are excited to welcome Hiroya Tsukamoto to Big River Theatre coming up in November!! Check out this song: "Wide Clear Sky"
If you haven't seen him perform before you do not want to miss it - he is truly world-class.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07tX2y0y84M

Hiroya Tsukamoto
Friday, November 13 • 7pm
https://www.bigrivertheatre.com/event-details/hiroya-tsukamoto-3

Experience the spellbinding artistry of Hiroya Tsukamoto, a Japanese-born master of fingerstyle guitar and evocative storytelling, as he returns to Big River Theatre to perform songs from his newest album, Rainshadow. On this latest project, Tsukamoto uses his composing and songwriting talents to hone in on crafting compelling, memorable, and singable melodies. He writes, “Through this record, I hope you will find some melodies that resonate with you and that you end up humming in your daily life.”

Recognized for his agile fingerpicking and his soulful performances, Tsukamoto invites audiences into his world of musical exploration and emotional expression. Come witness a performer who has been celebrated for his “delicate, fluid, and beautifully detailed” style (Acoustic Guitar magazine), and for his ability to take listeners on an “impressionistic journey” (Boston Herald).

Tsukamoto, an alumnus of Berklee College of Music, has been recognized for his talents on stages such as Blue Note in New York City, Japanese National Television (NHK), International Storytelling Center, and United Nations. He scored second place at the International Fingerstyle Guitar Championship in 2018 and 2022.

1 of 9 Wide Clear Sky, by Hiroya Tsukamoto www.hiroyatsukamoto.co...

10/22/2026

It's hard to put into words how sweet it was last Friday night with Julie . I'm not sure we have ever met someone who believes in the power of music and connection quite as much as she does. Thank you to Julie for bringing this show to us - what a GIFT and beautiful collaboration with your dear Bruce. Thank you to everyone who joined us for this special show! A man in the audience pulled me aside right after performance and said "thank you, I am better man because of this show". Wow. I can't add to that!

10/22/2026

This Saturday Forrest and Margaret are coming again to the Big River Theater! It's never a dull show, the the quick poetic quips are bountiful, the music is excellent, the connection is real!

Forrest & Margaret McCurren
Saturday, October 24 • 7pm
Tickets & more info: https://www.bigrivertheatre.com/event-details/forrest-mccurren-2

Meet Forrest & Margaret:
You may recognize Forrest from the CBS competition 'The Road' - but this time Forrest and Margaret McCurren will return to Big River Theatre for another night of songs, story, and spats of poetic soliloquy. It's ALWAYS a good time with Forrest and Margaret - come on down!!

Forrest McCurren comes from the heart of the heartland, where the foothills of the Ozarks meet the Big Muddy: The Middle-of-Missouri. Blazing his own trail while stylistically tipping his hat to the songwriting giants of the past, McCurren wields the magic of lyricism to cast a light on the many intricacies of everyday life set against vignettes of Middle America. Tackling topics such as: wise words from waitresses, heartbroken high school football standouts, and tattooed trailer park lovers, McCurren writes songs for good people that got bad grades in school, are drunk on dreams, and still trying to figure out if life is sour or sweet.

10/20/2026

Twice a year we host a Local Artist Spotlight at Big River Theater - this time with David Janakey and his band, altogether going under the name Janakey. We are super excited for this one - it's something a little different from what we usually do and we hope you can join us for it!

Local Artist Spotlight: Janakey
Saturday, November 7 • 7pm
https://www.bigrivertheatre.com/event-details/local-artist-spotlight-janakey

A little about Janakey:
D. Janakey cut his teeth as a folk artist in the Midwest DIY circuit, honing his blue-collar heartbreaker in basements and bars across the frozen tundra and beyond. Then a landmark 2023 link with the Eau Claire noise rock band Gash unearthed a joyful and unholy country rock sound, thereafter simply called Janakey. Eclectic but tried-and-true, Janakey's fuzzed out h***y tonk recalls the classics with a dose of rock realness, easy to love, hard to miss, and impossible to forget.

Take a listen to "Angel on Fire" here: https://youtu.be/v80rr03ZuJs?si=fI1ba7ogi4khIXHS

10/19/2026

Guess who's passing through next Saturday?? Forrest and Margaret McCurren play next Saturday, October 24th at 7pm! If you've seen them before you know that even if you come as a stranger you leave feeling like you have a new friend. Excellent people, excellent music - join us!

Forrest & Margaret McCurren
Saturday, October 24 • 7pm
https://www.bigrivertheatre.com/event-details/forrest-mccurren-2

Meet Forrest & Margaret:
You may recognize Forrest from the CBS competition 'The Road' - but this time Forrest and Margaret McCurren will return to Big River Theatre for another night of songs, story, and spats of poetic soliloquy.

Forrest McCurren comes from the heart of the heartland, where the foothills of the Ozarks meet the Big Muddy: The Middle-of-Missouri. Blazing his own trail while stylistically tipping his hat to the songwriting giants of the past, McCurren wields the magic of lyricism to cast a light on the many intricacies of everyday life set against vignettes of Middle America. Tackling topics such as: wise words from waitresses, heartbroken high school football standouts, and tattooed trailer park lovers, McCurren writes songs for good people that got bad grades in school, are drunk on dreams, and still trying to figure out if life is sour or sweet.

10/19/2026

One of our favorite shows of the year - the incredible Hiroya Tsukamoto returns to Big River Theatre Friday, November 13th! If you haven't had the chance to see him yet, don't miss it - he is a world class guitar fingerstyle and vocalist, creating an atmosphere all on his own that for most would only be possible with a whole band.

He is also offering a 60-minute master class for fingerstyle guitar shortly before his performance. The class is $40 and is limited to 10 spots and will take place at Big River Theatre. Head to our website for more details.

Hiroya Tsukamoto Fingerstyle Masterclass
Friday, November 13 • 5pm
https://www.bigrivertheatre.com/event-details/hiroya-tsukamoto-fingerstyle-guitar-masterclass

Hiroya Tsukamoto performance
Friday, November 13 • 7pm
https://www.bigrivertheatre.com/event-details/hiroya-tsukamoto-3

About Hiroya:
Recognized for his agile fingerpicking and his soulful performances, Tsukamoto invites audiences into his world of musical exploration and emotional expression. Come witness a performer who has been celebrated for his “delicate, fluid, and beautifully detailed” style (Acoustic Guitar magazine), and for his ability to take listeners on an “impressionistic journey” (Boston Herald).

Tsukamoto, an alumnus of Berklee College of Music, has been recognized for his talents on stages such as Blue Note in New York City, Japanese National Television (NHK), International Storytelling Center, and United Nations. He scored second place at the International Fingerstyle Guitar Championship in 2018 and 2022.

"Hiroya Tsukamoto may play the guitar with the skill of a virtuoso, and he may write compelling music that draws from many different cultures and genres, but if I had to choose one word to describe him it would be orchestrator. " - Acoustic Guitar Magazine

"Hiroya Tsukamoto takes us to an impressionistic journey " -Boston Herald

"...chops, passion and warmth. Zealously recommended!" -Jazz Review.com

10/16/2026

Julie Patchouli TONIGHT at 7pm!

FYI - we have only 2 more tickets available for Julie's show tonight. However we keep 15 tickets reserved for walk-ins! So if you still need a ticket you are in luck, come on down!!!

See you soon!

10/15/2026

It's tomorrow!! Julie Patchouli performs Landscape of Guitar at Big River Theatre.. there are still tickets left but might not be for long! We can't wait, this will be a truly special show.

Julie Patchouli
Friday, October 16th
https://www.bigrivertheatre.com/event-details/julie-patchouli

About Patchouli:
For over 30 years and 5,000 global concerts, Julie Patchouli has defined the heart of the #1 charting folk duo Patchouli & Terra Guitarra. A professional multi-instrumentalist since age 18, Julie built a legendary career alongside her husband and musical partner, master guitarist Bruce Hecksel. After years of touring, they settled in Maiden Rock, WI, in 2003, becoming pillars of the music and art community through 22 years of concerts and exhibits.

Through the years, in the background of their thriving musical lives, Bruce was also painting and many of his pieces became album artwork. In 2015 they created a multi-media production, The Landscape of Guitar, The Animated Painting Concert Experience, a live music performance with projected animation of Hecksel’s Terra Guitarra® acrylic paintings of “guitar landscapes” where every element is a guitar shape, colorfully glittering like stained glass that creates a vivid concert of frequency, color and sound.

Their creative journey was a shared one until July 2025, when Bruce passed away following a three-year battle with stage IV cancer.

In the wake of his passing, Julie returned to the studio to complete their 23rd recording, releasing the album Everything It Takes in April 2026.

"The Big River theatre has been so supportive and formative in our artistic careers," Julie says, "that I want to celebrate that connection to Bruce's life in the Arts."

This special performance of The Landscape of Guitar, honors that legacy, featuring fan-favorite classics alongside the new album songs, while sharing Buce's vibrant animated paintings—a moving tribute to a partnership that transformed the landscape of international guitar folk.

10/13/2026

We all have a good time at Big River Theatre but NOBODY has a better time than the Big River Baby in the lobby during a show 🤩