Name: Mae Simpson and Maygen & the Birdwatcher back at the Factory
Start: 2026-04-10T20:00:00-05:00
Location: 603 W College Ave, Appleton, WI, United States, Wisconsin 54911

Mae Simpson and Maygen & the Birdwatcher back at the Factory

7:30 - Doors
8:00 - Maygen & the Birdwatcher
9:30 - Mae Simpson
$15 - Advance / $20 - Day of
Maygen & the Birdwatcher
Maygen & The Birdwatcher weave a rich tapestry of Americana, blending folk and country with an eclectic twist. Named by the iconic First Avenue in Minneapolis as one of the Best Bands of 2025, singer/songwriters Maygen Lacey and Noah Neumann lead a collective of talented musicians. Multi-instrumentalist Nik Pellinen adds depth with his banjo, lap steel, electric guitar, and vocals while Jesse Moravec brings a vibrant touch with mandolin and harmonies and Evin Haukos soars on fiddle. Bassist Joe Barron and drummer-percussionist Peter Anderson round out the ensemble, crafting a fresh take on bluegrass-infused folk. It’s a hyphenated hybrid that can come only from a seasoned—and tightly knit—band.
The Americana Dream is a journey of a record that finds Maygen & The Birdwatcher expanding their horizons in multiple ways. The second record from the Minnesota-based group is a sonic travelogue that charts where they have been and where their collective gaze is headed. The record follows the group’s 2021 debut Moonshine, as well as festival opportunities to share stages with fellow genre luminaries like Sierra Ferrell, Hozier and Sheryl Crow, and being awarded Album of the Year from the Midwest Country Music Organization. Along with co-producer John Fields (Brandi Carlile, Soul Asylum, Miley Cyrus), Maygen & The Birdwatcher’s new album represents a full embrace of the literal definition of Americana. Lacey interprets that notion as “experiencing all that this country—this life, this craft as a musician—has to offer”. The record expresses their love for the nature and people that surround them. On The Americana Dream, the group continues to push themselves while making it sound easy and effortless through the pure strength of their creations.
Mae Simpson
Growing up in South Carolina, Mae Simpson remembers her mother wearing out the records of Tina Turner and Patsy Cline. You can hear their echo in the music of the Minneapolis-based artist. Turner can be felt in Simpson’s fiery soulful voice, stage energy, and rock and soul feel on songs like Tryna be Right and Why. The timeless lyricism of Cline finds its home in nostalgic ballads like Cap Guns and Monsters.
Mae Simpson is known for their high energy and stage presence that speaks for itself. Tight horn and Rhythm section set the tone, immediately pulling fans to engage.
The band includes Jorgen Wadkins on guitar, David Kellerman on bass, drummer and background vocalist Aaron Silverstein, Mae also includes a horn section. In 2023 they released Chandelier & Bloom, Simpson’s debut full-length Album and have been a ISC Finalist in 2024 and 2025.
"Recording Mae Simpson required a trick on their part,” said Tom Garneau, recording engineer on the album. “The band needed to carefully and faithfully distill the energy and passion of their live show into the vessel— and snap the lid shut. Catching lightning in a bottle is not just a clever phrase. They did it. They are a force and they brought it all to bear. It was truly my honor to help with this magic.”
Garneau, a longtime staff engineer at Paisley Park Studios, has gold and platinum records with Prince, MC Hammer, REM, the Moody Blues, and the Time. The album was produced by New Orleans native Brian Powers.
Simpson has opened for acts including Dermot Kennedy, Grace Potter, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, Robert Clay, Ike Reilly, Langhorn Slim, RubbleBucket, and Pert Near Sandstone. She has performed multiple times on the iconic First Avenue main room, The Fillmore in Minneapolis, the Basilica Block Party, Live On King Street in Madison, Wisconsin, and the Blue Ox Music Festival. In 2024 the song Cap Guns was chosen as a finalist in the Americana category of the International Songwriting Competition. That 2023 single was inducted into Minnesota Public Radio 89.3 The Current’s Chart Show Hall of Fame after spending 10 weeks on the Chart, as well as “Cap Guns” being a finalist on the International Songwriting Competition 2024.