The 2026 Al Sears Music Fest committee, welcomes
Chicken Wire Empire
The Al Sears Music Fest opens this year’s festival with bluegrass band Chicken Wire Empire at the Goldfarb Center for the Performing Arts on Wednesday, September 16th at 7:30 pm. Concessions open at 6:00 pm and doors open at 7:00 pm. Tickets are $10 and available at westernpresents.com.
About Chicken Wire Empire
Chicken Wire Empire is a Wisconsin-based bluegrass band known for their dynamic musicality, thorough arrangements, and true-to-life songwriting. Since emerging in 2016 with their debut self-titled album, the band has released a prolific catalogue of studio projects and live performances. Their sixth album, Growing Pains, is a culmination of the band’s growth through the past decade.
Chicken Wire Empire continuously captivates audiences with thoughtful, energetic performances. Capturing the ever-evolving sights and sounds of the road through the lens of their Midwestern roots, the band has been recognized worldwide for its performances and recorded works, with Americana UK calling their latest album “a variety which transcends genre and rewards careful listening.” The band has partnered with artists including Sam Bush, Peter Rowan, Vince Herman, Keller Williams, Jerry Douglas, and Kyle Tuttle, helping shape its identifiably authentic yet original sound.
Bring your family, invite your friends, and celebrate Al Sears and Macomb’s unique place in American music history. This program is supported in part by a grant from the Performing Arts Society.
The Goldfarb Center for the Performing Arts is located on the Western Illinois University campus at 571 N. Western Avenue in Macomb, Illinois. For more information contact: goldfarbcenter@wiu.edu
The building is fully accessible with free accessible parking.
For information, call 309-837-2750, text 309-837-2613, or email info@wimuseum.org.
