Events

November 1 concert offers an up-close introduction to a former Nashville staff writer and 2026 Kerrville New Folk finalist

Iowa Americana songwriter Robert Deitch will perform Sunday, November 1, 2026, at Bishop Hill Creative Commons, 309 N. Bishop Hill Street, bringing songs shaped by small-town life and a career that began far from the stage. The concert starts at 7 p.m. Claudia Coltrain will join Deitch, providing harmonies and instrumental support.

Deitch was approaching 40, attending business meetings with songs running through his head, before he learned to play guitar. That unlikely beginning eventually led him to Nashville’s songwriting community and, later, to a new chapter performing the songs himself.

His career now includes work as a Music Row staff writer, songs recorded by other artists including Country Music Hall of Fame member Bobby Bare, and recognition as a 2026 Kerrville New Folk finalist. His songs draw on small-town life and the experiences people accumulate along the way: family relationships, mistakes, hard-earned perspective, and the possibility of starting again.

His third album, Legacy, marks a deliberate move toward telling those stories in his own voice. In a 2025 Americana Highways interview, Deitch explained that he began performing because he wanted songs that had not found another singer to reach listeners. Rather than assembling another collection of songwriting demos, he spent roughly a year making Legacy, returning to the studio a few days at a time to shape the sound around each song’s message.

The details behind his writing can be as recognizable as the songs themselves. “Better Things,” a song about moving beyond heartbreak, started with his wife’s request that he take out the trash. His joking response supplied the idea, and the song was finished in less than two hours. The trash, he recounts on his website, was still waiting. “Truck Stop Souvenirs” began with roadside signs spotted on an Iowa-to-Nashville drive and developed into a story about a father’s love.

For listeners who enjoy country and Americana built around words and characters, the Commons offers a chance to hear the writer behind the recordings in an intimate setting. The evening also makes room for conversation before the music: an optional potluck and social hour begins at 6 p.m., and guests participating in the meal are invited to bring a dish to share.

The concert is open to all ages, with a suggested donation of $20–30. Seats may be reserved through Eventbrite, including an option to reserve online and donate cash at the concert.

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/robert-deitch-bishop-hill-il-tickets-1992648573524
Artist information: https://www.robertdeitchmusic.com/