About this Event
Mark Stoffel, and Rayna Gellert & Kieran Kane are next up in Kitchen Table Songwriters Series at the Varsity on Saturday, March 21, 2026, when tunes will bloom during the spring equinox.
The concert series is produced by the Varsity, and Mila Maring and John Reimbold. Carbondale Hearing Center is the series sponsor, which is also made possible in part through a grant from the Illinois Arts Council. It also is supported by an anonymous donor.
The show begins at 7 p.m. on Saturday, March 21, 2026. Doors and the Varsity Bar open at 6. Tickets are $10 and are available in advance at Eventbrite (see link). They also will be available at the venue on the night of the show for $15.
The Varsity is in the heart of downtown Carbondale at 418 S. Illinois Ave. Go to www.thevarsitycenter.org for more on the historic venue and upcoming events.
The Artists
Mark Stoffel
Originally from Munich, Germany, Mark has been a Southern Illinoisan for a couple of decades. A self-described bluegrass addict, he was introduced to the music in 1979. Today, his mandolin performances can be heard on countless recordings, including his latest solo release, “Coffee and Cake,” on Mountain Home Records. Mark’s third solo album was released in 2025, titled “True Tones,” featuring all original instrumental compositions, accompanied by Gina Furtado, Marshall Wilborn, Rob Ickes, Billy Cardine, Niall Murphy, Chris Luquette, Alan Bibey, Marc Pruett and Jens Kruger, among many others.
Rayna Gellert & Kieran Kane
Kieran’s seminal work in The O'Kanes and Kane Welch Kaplin, as well as co-founding the independent label Dead Reckoning Records, laid the foundation for the contemporary world of Americana music. A successful solo artist, collaborator and songwriter (with songs recorded by Alan Jackson, John Prine, Emmylou Harris and many more), Kieran is a musician's musician; his playing is always understated, always groove-oriented, and always serving the song.
If Rayna Gellert seems a preternaturally gifted songwriter, it’s because she’s seen farther into the old songs than most. Growing up in a musical family, she turned to Appalachian, old-time music at a young age, becoming a prodigious fiddler and leading a new revival of American string band music through her work with the acclaimed roots band Uncle Earl. An in-demand collaborator, she has toured and recorded with artists such as Scott Miller, Abigail Washburn, Toubab Krewe and Robyn Hitchcock.
Fans of either artist will recognize the musical kindred-spiritedness in their restrained and roots-oriented approach to both songs and arrangements. They are touring behind their latest album, simply titled “Volume 4,” which captures their less-is-more philosophy, but with some fresh twists.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
The Varsity Center, 418 South Illinois Avenue, Carbondale, United States
USD 11.49 to USD 16.74
