Name: Jon Shain and FJ Ventre *Seated Show* – with Kari Sickenberger and Laurelyn Dossett of Polecat Creek
Start: 2025-08-29T20:00:00-04:00
Location: Cat's Cradle Back Room

$Jon Shain and FJ Ventre *Seated Show* \u2013 with Kari Sickenberger and Laurelyn Dossett of Polecat Creek$

Jon Shain and FJ Ventre
with Kari Sickenberger and Laurelyn Dossett of Polecat Creek
Friday, August 29
Doors: 7pm : Show: 8pm
Cat’s Cradle Back Room
This is a seated show.
TICKET LINK: https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/67037704/jon-shain-and-fj-ventrewith-polecat-creek-carrboro-cats-cradle-back-room
Hailing from Durham, NC, Jon Shain is a veteran singer-songwriter who’s been turning heads for years with his words, his fiery acoustic guitar work, and his evolved musical style – combining improvised piedmont blues with bluegrass, swing, and ragtime. Jon has released nine solo albums to date, along with two albums with duo partner FJ Ventre, a Jon Shain Trio live album, and one album of co-writes with Joe Newberry. Shain’s newest album, Restless Soul Syndrome, recorded at Good Luck Studio this past year, was released this spring and went to #5 on the folk radio chart. Shain is also the author of the music books Gettin’ Handy With the Blues – a Tribute to the Legacy of W.C. Handy and Jon Shain’s Fingerstyle Guitar Method, both published by Mel Bay Publications. In 2019, Shain won the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN in the solo/duo category.
Shain cut his touring teeth from 1989-1998 founding the Chapel Hill, NC folk-rock group, Flyin’ Mice and their spin-off group, WAKE. The band performed with acts such as David Grisman, Tony Rice Unit, Hot Tuna, and the Dixie Dregs, released four CDs, and played clubs, schools, and festivals up and down the East Coast, building a legion of fans.
After the band’s breakup, Shain went solo, returning to his roots by touring in the folk and blues circuit. Shain has also become a sought after guitar teacher and studio producer. In 2021, he produced Donna Herula’s blues radio chart-topping album, Bang at the Door.
Over the last several years, Shain has headlined listening rooms both as a solo and with duo partner FJ Ventre throughout the US and he’s done two solo tours in Europe. He has opened shows for John Hiatt, Keb’ Mo’, Little Feat, and many other roots legends. When Shain is not recording, producing other artists, or performing, he stays busy giving private instruction in guitar, and teaching group workshops in songwriting and blues guitar.
FJ Ventre began playing music with Jon in 1982 when they met in high school and have developed a brotherly connection that continues to this day. Since relocating to Chapel Hill, NC in 2000, Ventre has performed with his own group The Swang Brothers, as well as with Chris Stamey, Wes Collins, Huzzah, and a who’s who of NC music groups. In addition to being a sought-after bassist, Ventre spends his time behind the mixing board, producing and engineering at his own Good Luck Studio as well as songwriting.