Article Contributed by Richlyn Marketing
Published on November 6, 2025
Poplar Hall invites you to celebrate Valentine’s Day with an evening of live music as Sierra Hull and The Milk Carton Kids take the stage together on Saturday, February 14, 2026. This special co-headline performance brings together two exceptional Americana artists for a night along the Appleton riverfront.
Mandolin virtuoso Sierra Hull, a two-time Grammy nominee and six-time International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Mandolin Player of the Year, returns to Poplar Hall with her signature blend of bluegrass tradition and contemporary innovation. Her first independent release, A Tip Toe High Wire, spotlights her songwriting and instrumental prowess, featuring guest appearances by Béla Fleck, Tim O’Brien, and Aoife O’Donovan.
Joining her for their Poplar Hall debut are The Milk Carton Kids. Composed of Kenneth Pattengale and Joey Ryan, their songwriting, harmonies, and intricate guitar work captivate audiences worldwide. Their instrumental and vocal style draws comparisons to Simon & Garfunkel and Gillian Welch & David Rawlings.
Together, Sierra Hull and The Milk Carton Kids will create a Valentine’s evening perfect for celebrating love, friendship, or simply a shared appreciation for live music.
Tickets: $45 general admission / $70 mezzanine seating. Artist presale begins Thursday, November 6 at 12 PM CST (password: HARMONY) and ends Thursday, November 6 at 10 PM CST. General on sale begins Friday, November 7 at 12 PM CST. Tickets available via Eventbrite. For more details, visit popshall.com/events.
Sierra Hull is a seven-time IBMA Mandolin Player of the Year, two-time Grammy nominee, and one of the most dynamic voices in bluegrass and Americana. Her latest album, A Tip Toe High Wire, marks a bold new chapter—her first independent release—spotlighting her songwriting and instrumental mastery with guest appearances by Béla Fleck, Tim O’Brien, and Aoife O’Donovan.
“She’s positioning herself as a musical force not only in bluegrass, but in various genre circles.” – Rolling Stone
“A Tip Toe High Wire upholds her reverence for bluegrass traditions, while simultaneously looking forward with unique collaborations.” – Billboard
Hull has shared stages with legends including Alison Krauss, Eric Clapton, Sturgill Simpson, Slash, and Robert Randolph. In 2025, she performed on NPR’s Tiny Desk and The Kelly Clarkson Show, became the first female artist honored with a Gibson signature mandolin, and received the Tennessee Governor’s Distinguished Arts Award.
The Milk Carton Kids are a neo-traditional folk duo from Los Angeles, California. Kenneth Pattengale and Joey Ryan formed the group in early 2011, shelving their solo careers in favor of a collaboration that celebrates harmonized vocals, entwined acoustic guitars, and timeless songwriting. They released their debut albums—the live Retrospect and studio LP Prologue—in 2011, and quickly built a devoted following.
Known for their Smothers Brothers-style humor and virtuosic musicianship (Pattengale’s intricate picking and Ryan’s airtight rhythm guitar), the duo added a backing band for their 2018 release, All the Things That I Did and All the Things That I Didn’t Do, expanding their sound without losing their signature intimacy.
Poplar Hall has quickly become a cornerstone of artistic expression and cultural vibrancy in Appleton since opening in 2021. Nestled along the riverfront as part of the RiverHeath project, this architecturally acclaimed venue has hosted standout performances from Sam Bush, Dark Star Orchestra, and Keller Williams, offering concertgoers a warm, intimate space to connect with live music. The adjacent Courtyard Marriott Appleton Riverfront Hotel makes it easy to turn show night into a weekend getaway.
