Article Contributed by Dan Ward
Published on 2026-02-25
photos by Dan Ward
John Prine lives on in the hearts and minds of musicians. His simple yet profound lyrics speak directly to the human psyche, and his music continues to inspire new generations. It is this truth that drives musicians to study his compositions, weave his songs into their performances, and look forward to opportunities to gather with fellow artists to bring his catalog to new audiences.
Mark Lavengood loves people and music. It is self-evident to anyone who has ever met “Huggy Bear” in the flesh. Each year, Mark puts on a festival at Smiling Acres that showcases local talent in a setting that feels more like a family gathering than a formal event. To help finance the festival, he gathered some friends to present a memorial concert featuring the works of John Prine at one of the friendliest venues around, The Livery.
The floor is packed as Mark begins the show with “Everything Is Cool.” The laid-back, feel-good tone is set immediately, and Mark welcomes the immense talent of Grace Theisen to the stage. The statuesque songstress delivers beautiful renditions of “Summer’s End” and “All the Best” before requesting Mark return to accompany her on dobro. Together they perform “Be My Friend Tonight” as the room gently sways.
Chris Zehnder from Hatchwing Rider steps up to help with the perennial Prine standard “In Spite of Ourselves.” The crowd sings along enthusiastically, hamming up the chorus with delight. Chris keeps the stage and launches into a string of Prine favorites: “Long Monday,” “Spanish Pipedream,” and “Souvenirs.” His voice is powerful, and the lyrics resonate throughout the room. This is how Prine should be heard — live and loud.
Mark returns for “Grandpa Was a Carpenter” before introducing Jen Sygit. Jen beams with a huge smile as she eases into her own mini-set with “That’s the Way the World Goes ’Round,” “Speed of the Sound of Loneliness,” and “Dear Abby.” She closes with “I Remember Everything,” one of John’s timeless songs that feels both intimate and universal — a perfect way to end her set.
The second set begins with Mark’s band featuring Dutcher Wright Snedeker (piano), Jeremiah Wenger (bass), and Ricky LaDuke (drums). The ensemble is tight and provides strong support as Mark fully embraces his John Prine mode. He was made for this kind of folky, funky, feel-good music — the songs roll out naturally. “Illegal Smile,” “Please Don’t Bury Me,” and “They Ought to Name a Drink After You” supercharge the happy atmosphere before shifting into one of Prine’s most poignant tunes, “Sam Stone.” The song remains as powerful today as it was in the 1970s, stirring the same emotional depth.
To lift the mood, Grace returns for “Fish and Whistle,” drawing a strong sing-along from the crowd. Chris comes back for “Paradise,” and though the tone is more reflective, John Prine fans sing even louder.
Jeremiah switches to guitar to perform “Your Flag Decal Won’t Get You into Heaven Anymore,” earning an enthusiastic response from the audience. Mark belts out “Living in the Future” before bringing Jen back for “Killing the Blues.” The evening has been a heartfelt retrospective of John Prine’s body of work, but one song calls for the entire ensemble.
Mark invites all the artists back to the stage and welcomes the vivacious local fireball Morgan Ingle for the finale, “Angel from Montgomery.” The performers trade verses before joining together on the chorus. Morgan delivers the final verse with a voice reminiscent of Susan Tedeschi — absolutely stunning.
The entire evening is a resounding success. Fans reconnect with beloved songs and rediscover others they may have forgotten. The musicians clearly revel in the shared experience, and the event raises both money and awareness for the Smiling Acres Music Festival.
oin Mark and all the merrymakers in Trufant, Michigan, June 26–28 for more feel-good music and community spirit.
