LIVE: The Spine Stealers + Ross Thorn + Just Clark

The Spine Stealers are a two-gal duo making “spooky folk” influenced by the north-wood Wisconsin pines, 24/7 truck stop diners, heartbreak and dark lakes. Kate and Emma started learning guitar together around bonfires in their shared hometown during the height of the pandemic, soon writing songs inspired by lonesome winters, the heartaches of nostalgia and broken ideas of love. The duo started frequenting open mics in July of 2022, which led them to a whirlwind first year as performers. It began with opening for Dead Horses at Madison’s Majestic Theater for Folk Fest 2023, then winning the 2023 Blue Ox Music Festival Virtual Band Competition, and releasing their first ever EP, “River Teeth Tapes” in July, 2023. 2024 brought the release of several singles, a feature in DAYBREAK magazine, and most proudly, the recording of their debut album “If the Sky Falls, Beyond the Sidewalks”, released in October, 2024. The duo is making a name in the Midwestern folk scene, and anxiously await the introduction of their sound to new corners of the country. Opening acts for the evening are Just Clark, followed by Ross Thorn. Just Clark is a singer-songwriter reviving the roots of American-made music. Digging into a woody sound that echoes through the hollers, Clark's music embodies a timeless resonance that harks back to the cherished sounds of classic Americana folk. From poet to picker, the native Texan conjures a sound as bright as the Lone Star herself. Being more than the stand alone folk type, “Just Clark & Company” is an electrifying extension that goes beyond a guitar and a pretty voice with the addition of electric leads, bass and crashing drums, it’s full steam ahead for the band. Always on the move, Clark is a true troubadour whose lust for the open road is never ending. With a pastoral upbringing in northern Wisconsin, Ross Thorn’s music emanates as a warm and soulful hymn, waking up optimistically beside a snow-covered window. His sharply crafted and often humorous lyrics—distinctly reminiscent of great folk artists like John Prine—reveal internal struggles of empathy, questions of human character and virtue, and a search for hope, often finding solace in some unanticipated truth. In 2023, Thorn released his debut album, Hugo, a thoughtful exploration into mortality, loss, and identity. The 9-track record leans heavily into his folk and country roots, showcasing introspective and melancholic songwriting along with political fervor and compassion for others—an album for anyone that appreciates an old sound with a forward-looking message. These songs caught the attention of Trampled By Turtles, who selected Thorn to open for them and Jenny Lewis at their annual sold-out show in Duluth. His second album, Fitting In, is set to release in August of 2025. The album showcases fine-tuned songwriting through traditional and contemporary folk tunes that explore the humorous and somber sides of the human condition.Live MusicPT2H2025-08-12LIVE: The Spine Stealers + Ross Thorn + Just Clark"LIVE: The Spine Stealers + Ross Thorn + Just Clark"Live music

Showtimes

August 12, 7:30 pm