Homewood's Trail Mix rebrands as Roots Music Series starting with ‘gritty banjo' act

Chicago Tribune

10-06-2025

Homewood-based Trail Mix Productions, which has produced a mostly acoustic concert series annually, will present its first Trail Mix Roots Music Series show to begin its outdoor season.
The Lowest Pair, from Olympia, Washington, will headline a June 13 concert at Homewood Izaak Walton Preserve. The Team Love Records artist consists of Kendl Winter and Palmer T. Lee.
'It had that gritty banjo feel to it. I really like their music,' said Steve Ploum, founder and director of Trail Mix Productions. 'I like Kendl's voice. She's got a unique voice. They have some sweet songs.'
Ploum said Trail Mix Productions' presentation of Nathan Graham on April 4 at Thornton Distilling Company's Cooper's Hall in Thornton inspired the change from what had been the Trail Mix Acoustic Concert Series to the newly focused Trail Mix Roots Music Series.
'He didn't play any acoustic instruments. We knew that coming in, and we thought, 'Jeez, let's expand this.' Making it a roots music festival seemed to open up things for us,' he said.
Ploum leads the 501(c)(3) nonprofit Trail Mix Productions board, which includes fellow Homewood residents Steve Buchtel, Jeff Maharry and Kristen Ryan, along with former Homewood resident Andrew Palmer, who now lives in Chicago.
'This is a great night out. We do try to curate a really fun event that is relaxing,' Ploum said.
Past performers who he said pushed them to roots music included blues artist Donna Herula, jazz artist JC Duo, Chicago blues musician Nigel Mack, jazz/pop artist Nellie McKay, soul/jazz vocalist Kenya McQuire Johnson, jazz artist Andy Pratt, Randolph Street Blues Band and blues/folk/punk guitarist Sunny War.
'It's been trending toward that idea of roots music probably from the get-go,' Ploum said about Trail Mix, which began in 2016 as an acoustic music festival produced by teens in Theatre & Arts Leadership Kouncil, which he ran at the time, and evolved into an adult volunteer-run effort.
Ploum, who called Trail Mix Productions a passion project, plays guitar and does some vocals for Butterfield Creek, which describes itself as Americana and pop-folk with a pinch of bluegrass and a dash of fun.
'I've always liked lyric-driven songs. That has included folk music essentially, but I also like rock 'n' roll and that type of stuff. Then I got into blues because I liked the energy of those things. Roots music feels like a pretty wide umbrella but it encompasses all those elements,' he said.
The Lowest Pair is touring in support of its 2022 album 'Horse Camp,' which was done in collaboration with another duo named Small Town Therapy, which is Leif Karlstrom and Adam Roszkiewicz.
The June concert in Homewood also features opener Bad Hand, from Chicago's South Side. The folk/bluegrass band includes banjo player Matt Williams, a former banjoist in Butterfield Creek.
'When we have a show I try to curate something where they're not just single artists,' Ploum said. 'This one we have a band and then the duo. That's going to be a nice mix.'
Doors will open at 6 p.m., when mingling music by Bugs Still Fly will be featured for the first time. The folk duo of Izzy Asche and Kate Gleason, who are both Homewood-Flossmoor High School juniors, previously performed on March 8 for Trail Mix's Home Grown showcase at the preserve's Senior Hall.
'We like the idea of folks mingling and making an evening of it. We certainly would like for concessions to be sold. We would love the Flossmoor Station to be able to be helped that way and to create the vibe for the day. I also like to give the opportunity to some of the local acts,' Ploum said.
He proudly noted the Trail Mix Roots Music Series concert headlined by The Lowest Pair is that performer's only Chicagoland show in 2025, which is also the case for headliner Hackensaw Boys, who will perform on Aug. 22 to close the series' outdoor season at Homewood Izaak Walton Preserve.
Based in Virginia, Hackensaw Boys is celebrating the 20th anniversary of its 'Love What You Do' album, which was released via Nettwerk Productions. The most recent releases by the Free Dirt Records artist, which describes its members as roots music shapeshifters, include a self-titled album issued in 2022.
'They have some fun, bouncy songs. I thought, 'They'll bring a really good energy,'' Ploum said. 'I was surprised that we were able to secure them. We ended up being a good routing option for them.'
After meeting Brice Clark at a performance at Paul Henry's Art Gallery in Hammond, Indiana, Ploum booked the national touring artist to open the August Trail Mix Roots Music Series concert in Homewood.
'He was a really talented musician,' Ploum said. 'He plays fiddle, plays guitar and is in a number of bands. I saw him as a solo artist. He is awesome. Surprisingly, some friends of mine said they saw him and were amazed. He was a good fit for us.'
Tickets for both concerts are lawn seating. Attendees may bring blankets, chairs and coolers. Some picnic tables are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
For each paid ticket, a student up to 18 years old with a school ID may attend free. Also, people looking to avoid the $2 internet processing fee may purchase tickets in advance at The Rock Shop, 18109 Dixie Highway, Homewood.
'I would love the south suburbs to not be flyover territory for artists who play the Chicagoland area,' Ploum said. 'The south suburbs bring a lot more to the table than what people give us credit for as far as being music fans and having a viable group of folks that want to go out and do things.'
Ploum's future hopes include a live music barn dance and a singer-songwriter stroll through nature.
When: 7 p.m. June 13
Where: Homewood Izaak Walton Preserve, 1100 W. Ridge Road, Homewood
Tickets: $22
Information: 708-297-0102; trailmixmusic.org