According to series founder and music coordinator Rick Ziegler, the Muncie Three Trails Music Series is the only all-original concert series in Indiana.
Ziegler, who previously owned the Indianapolis-based record store Indy CD & Vinyl from 2002 to 2014, says his passion lies in sharing music.
“For me, the thing I miss about owning a record store is turning people on to new music,” he says.
For the past 11 years, Ziegler has brought original, critically acclaimed national recording artists to Muncie through the series. The 2025 lineup includes Steep Canyon Rangers, Afro-Peruvian Jazz Orchestra, The Harlem Gospel Travelers and Blue Moon Marquee.
This year, the series is partnering with Ball State University to expand by three dates and include two venues: Canan Commons in downtown Muncie and the Brown Family Amphitheater on the Ball State campus.
Bluegrass band Steep Canyon Rangers will kick off the series May 31 at Canan Commons, with local opener Mike Martin and the Beautiful Mess.
Since 2009, Steep Canyon Rangers have recorded, performed and toured with actor and comedian Steve Martin. They collaborated on several of Martin’s albums, including the Grammy-nominated “Rare Bird Alert” (2012), “Love Has Come for You” (2013) with Edie Brickell, and “The Long-Awaited Album” (2017).
“It’s amazing working with Steve after all these years,” says singer-songwriter and banjo player Graham Sharp. “In a lot of ways, he was the seventh member of the band.”
The Rangers’ solo album “Nobody Knows You” won a Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Album in 2013. Sharp released a solo album, “How Do We Do It,” in April.
He says audiences can expect a wide-ranging and dynamic live performance.
The band will return to Indiana on Oct. 25 to perform with Steve Martin and Martin Short in “The Dukes of Funnytown!” at Old National Centre in Indianapolis.
Latin Grammy Award winner and Grammy-nominated Afro-Peruvian Jazz Orchestra will perform Sept. 20 at the Brown Family Amphitheater. Co-founder and saxophonist Anibal Seminario describes the 20-piece ensemble’s sound as a unique fusion of jazz with traditional Afro-Peruvian music.
“We’re very energetic. There’s a deep meaning to our music,” Seminario says. “We believe in the talent that comes from Peru.”
Their shows include singing, dancing and presentations of Lando, Festejo, Marinera and Zamacueca rhythms. The Ball State University Jazz Ensemble will open the show.
Vanessa Collier, 2024 Blues Music Award “Horn Player of the Year” winner, will perform Aug. 23 at the amphitheater, with The Fierce as the opening act.
“An essential purpose of our Brown Family Amphitheater is to strengthen the bond between the university and Muncie community,” says Seth Beckman, dean of the Ball State College of Fine Arts. “This series and partnership is a powerful example of vision in action.”
Beckman adds that the amphitheater, opened in 2023, was made possible through gifts from Charles W. Brown and Dr. Louise Tetrick. The venue was designed to inspire creativity, foster innovation and build community connections.
“This series is a wonderful example of what makes life here in Muncie so special,” Beckman says. “Music and people—coming together as a unified community.”
Longtime sponsor The Downtown Farm Stand supports the series by catering for performers and vending at events with organic, local and sustainable menu options.
The series also promotes Muncie’s three trail systems: White River Greenway, Cardinal Greenway and Muncie Arts & Culture Trail.
All concerts begin at 7 p.m. and feature an opening act from Indiana. The series is free, all-ages and open seating. Lawn chairs are welcome.
2025 Muncie Three Trails Music Series Schedule
- June 13: Harlem Gospel Travelers | Opener: Doc and the Little Chicago Band | Canan Commons
- Aug. 16: Blue Moon Marquee | Opener: Lonesome with Company | Canan Commons
- Aug. 23: Vanessa Collier | Opener: The Fierce | Brown Family Amphitheater
- Aug. 30: Jennie DeVoe | Opener: Cory Hill | Canan Commons
- Sept. 6: Colby T. Helms & the Virginia Creepers | Opener: Stampede String Band | Brown Family Amphitheater
- Sept. 20: Afro-Peruvian Jazz Orchestra | Opener: Ball State University Jazz Ensemble | Brown Family Amphitheater
Rain Venues
- Canan Commons concerts will move to Cornerstone Center for the Arts.
- Brown Family Amphitheater concerts will move to Pruis Hall.
Locations*
- Canan Commons: 600 S. Walnut St., downtown Muncie
- Brown Family Amphitheater: Between Park Hall and Pruis Hall, Ball State University campus
The Muncie Three Trails Music Series is privately funded. Sponsors for the 2025 series include Ball State University, Muncie Downtown Development Partnership, Ball Brothers Foundation, George and Frances Ball Foundation, and the Sherman and Marjorie Ziegler Foundation.
For more information, visit munciethreetrails.com.
