The concert series is sponsored by the Warren Concert Association. Doors open at 6 p.m.. Tickets are available for $20 at the theatre box office or online at www.strutherslibrarytheatre.com.

Emerging from the region between Morgantown, W.V., and Millheim, Pa., The Wild Shoats are redefining Appalachian music with their alt-folk interpretations and original songwriting. With rich harmonies, evocative fiddle lines, and a reverence for tradition, the band offers a fresh yet grounded take on American roots music.

The group features brothers Gus and Huck Tritsch of Millheim, Mary Linscheid, and Alex Heflin, both from Morgantown. Their musical influences range from Old-Time Appalachian string band traditions to experimental folk, creating a genre-blending style that recently earned them first place in the 2023 Appalachian String Band Music Festival’s Neo-Traditional Band Competition. In February 2025, the band released their debut album, Yell In The Shoats, named after a well-loved fiddle tune.

“We’re rooted in tradition, but we’re not afraid to explore and reinterpret,” said Linscheid, a songwriter and fiddler who said she is deeply connected to Appalachian singing traditions.

Photos submitted to the Times Observer Pictured is the opener for this performance is Banjo Player with “the Horse Flies” and “the Renegades” Richie Stearns.

Her 2022 EP A Place to Grow Old blends original songs with traditional tunes and solidifies her as a standout voice in the Appalachian folk revival.

The Tritsch brothers bring youthful vitality and deep experience to the stage. Gus Tritsch has toured internationally with acclaimed folk scholar and artist Jake Blount, and both brothers have played venues like The Kennedy Center, KEXP Radio, and Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in San Francisco. They also appeared in Blount’s NPR Tiny Desk Concert in 2023.

Alex Heflin, originally from Los Angeles, contributes cinematic flair with his background in composition. His music has appeared in productions by Disney, Adult Swim, and Ari Aster, and on shows like Bojack Horseman. His eclectic style adds texture to the band’s grounded folk roots.

The Wild Shoats have spent the past year sharing stages with acts such as The Steep Canyon Rangers, Charles Wesley Godwin, and The Local Honeys, and touring the East Coast with Colorado-based string band Big Richard.

Joining the Shoats as the evening’s opener is legendary banjo player Richie Stearns, a founding member of The Horse Flies and The Bubba George Stringband. With a résumé that includes performances and recordings with Donna the Buffalo, Jim Lauderdale, and 10,000 Maniacs (including on their MTV Unplugged album), Stearns brings decades of genre-defying experience to the stage.

For updates and more information, visit www.strutherslibrarytheatre.com or follow the Warren Concert Association on social media.