Events

November 6 listening-room concert puts a Quad Cities songwriter’s original work in the spotlight 

Lewis Knudsen writes and records in the basement of his church in the Quad Cities, but his songs have traveled well beyond the neighborhood. The singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, whose work has appeared in film and television, will perform Friday, November 6, 2026, at Bishop Hill Creative Commons, 309 N. Bishop Hill Street. The concert begins at 7 p.m., following an optional 6 p.m. potluck and social hour.

Knudsen’s career brings together the close observation of a songwriter and the practical versatility of a working musician. He writes, performs, and produces music full time, moving across genres rather than building his catalog around a single style. His influences include James Taylor, Randy Newman, Ben Folds, and Tom Waits, a range of songwriters with distinctly different approaches to melody, character, and storytelling.

That range has found audiences in unexpected places. His song “I Need To Get Free” appeared in the Hallmark film Love, Fall & Order, while “All My Sins” was featured on FOX’s UFC Road to the Octagon. In a 2020 interview with QuadCities.com, he described adapting his writing to specific assignments and exploring commercial composition as live performance shut down during the pandemic. The Bishop Hill concert offers a more direct encounter with that work: hearing songs from the person who wrote them, with time to listen beyond a brief soundtrack appearance.

Knudsen has also made a practice of finishing songs and putting them into the world. In 2018, he wrote and released a new song each week while touring in the Midwest. His catalog includes the album 2018, along with recordings such as Philip and Joy Pain Love Songs. A recent live video, “Jobs I Worked,” takes listeners into his church-basement workspace for a preview of his music.

His own story includes studying theology, teaching English in South Korea for two years, and meeting his wife while playing music at a coffee shop. Those everyday connections are an apt introduction to an evening built around discovering an artist close to home. The Commons’ intimate setting gives listeners a chance to make his original music the focus of the night.

Guests are welcome to come early for food and conversation and should bring a dish to share if joining the optional potluck. The concert is open to all ages, with a suggested donation of $20–30. Reservations are available through Eventbrite.

Presented by Crossroads Cultural Connections, this concert continues the organization’s mission of bringing meaningful, high-quality live music experiences to Henry County and surrounding communities.

Reservations: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lewis-knudsen-bishop-hill-il-tickets-1999704313432
Artist information: https://lewisknudsen.com/