The band Old 86 emerged from its members’ shared love of acoustically driven music in a wide range of styles prevalent along the winding route of Old Highway 86 through the North Carolina Piedmont. Alfred Reid (guitar, vocals), Susan Johnson (guitar, vocals, percussion) and Matt Velkey (bass, vocals, harmonica) found they loved to set vocal harmonies and instrumental arrangements to folk, blues and Americana music. They also perform original music that ranges from heart felt folk ballads to whimsical upbeat blues and bluegrass. This will be their 2nd concert here after a very successful debut.
June 6, 2026 – Birdsong
This is a Family acoustic trio consisting of Wendell Thornton and his 2 very talented daughters who are both award winners on the mandolin and fiddle. Sounds of Appalachia with folk, country, bluegrass, and gospel sprinkled in! Sharing God’s love through music and entertainment. They have been very popular at Sacred Grounds. We’re extremely happy to have them back.
June 13, 2026 – Danny Smith
Danny has been a favorite at Sacred Grounds since his first appearance with Trilogy – he has had music ministry experience in the local church areas of choir, soloist, and praise and worship leader. He was in a solo ministry before forming Trilogy, a contemporary Christian vocal trio, and is now returning to solo ministry. His talent as a songwriter won him a finalist position in the nation Kentucky Fried Chicken Songwriting Contest in 1983. God began giving Danny lyrics for Christian songs in 1999. Five of those songs are on the Trilogy CD “Hungry World” and another all-original music project, “I Surrender”, was released in September 2005. Danny has performed with national Christian singer, Alan Asbury and wrote the lyrics for 2 songs with music director Ivan Hampton Jr. who was the drummer for Luther Vandross for 17 years. Danny desires his gifts to be used to bless the body of Christ and reach the lost. Danny’s first set is primarily oldies such as My Girl, Only You, Lady and a bunch of other favorites. The 2nd set is primarily Contemporary Christian, both from his previous CDs and other cover songs.
June 20, 2026 – Graybirds
Graybirds is a three-piece Americana band. Cathy, Tom, and George have been playing in various bands together for over 10 years. Their unique sound incorporates folk, a dash of rock, a little country, and some original songs. They draw inspiration from such artists as Allison Krauss, Rosanne Cash, Nanci Griffith, and the Meadows Brothers.
June 27, 2026 – Elizabeth June
Elizabeth June is a storyteller through word and song. Acting on stage and screen, her TV Credits include: Criminal Minds, As The World Turns, Fresh Off The Boat, Manhunt (AppleTV), a recurring role on Hightown (STARZ), Tyler Perry’s Young Dylan (Nickelodeon) and she got to play her favorite historical character Harriet Tubman on Black-ish. Theatre Credits include Jesus Christ Superstar, The Colored Museum, Balm in Gilead and she is a company member of The Robey Theatre Company founded by Ben Guillory and Danny Glover. June and her husband, Jason S. Williams, have co-founded SilverLox Films, an indie film company that has produced several short films featured in film festivals across the country. She is currently touring her award-winning one woman show NOTES from a NARCISSISTIC NEGRO & Other N Words which has been performed Off-Broadway and in Los Angeles. June is happy to be a regular guest of Sacred Grounds to sing easy listening songs from the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s. For more info visit: elizabethjune.com/official.
July 4, 2026 – CLOSED FOR THE 4TH
July 11, 2026 – Walter Miller & Rich Scher
Walter Miller started writing songs in 2007. He performed with Phil Hatchett in a duo called “Dackel”. Dackel played a mix of cover songs and songs written by Walter at many venues and festivals across Noth Carolina. In 2020, Phil’s work schedule limited Dackel’s performances as a duo. Walter went on to perform solo; in 2025 Walter went into the studio and recorded 23 songs. In May, 2025 the CD “Dackel’s Midnight Special” was released. The CD features acoustic versions of 17 songs written by Walter and one traditional song (Midnight Special).
Rich Scher’s early love for music only deepened as he discovered the magic of songwriters like Jim Croce, Gordon Lightfoot, and John Prine. Rich wrote his first song the first week of college, but for many years songwriting continued in fits and starts as he pursued and was blessed with a long career as a physician and surgeon. His brand of Southern Folk with a Northern Edge reflects the places and people that shaped him—from gritty Massachusetts mill towns and Midwestern Ohio cities and farmlands, to Virginia’s tobacco fields and his adopted home in the Triangle of North Carolina. In 2025 Rich released his debut album of original music, Mill Pond. Mill Pond explores the people, places, and experiences that shape our idea of “home.” The album and several songs charted on the 2025 Folk Alliance International charts and have received radio airplay nationally and as far away as New Zealand and Canada.
July 18, 2026 – Don Smith & Jack Deason
July 25, 2026 – Blake Addison
August 1, 2026 – Tokyo Rosenthal
“Rosenthal can draw you into his lyrics much the same way that James Taylor and Don Henley can”. “Take Jackson Browne’s personal confessions and wrap them in Kris Kristofferson’s world weary tales of broken relationships and you have an idea of what to expect from Tokyo Rosenthal.” “This is Americana with real teeth in the lyrics”. This and more is what the critics are saying about Tokyo Rosenthal. Tokyo has opened for America, Stephen Still and other recording stars plus toured the US, Canada, Europe, Japan, Scotland, Netherlands , etc. To save room listing his accomplishments, please go to tokyorosenthal.com and see for yourself. This should be an interesting night of music you don’t want to miss.
August 8, 2026 – The Parsons
Jon and Caroline Parsons have shared the joys and trials of their lives together with audiences for 25 years. It’s all there – the love, the loss, the work, the celebration – and it’s the real thing. Their songs, stories and voices are built for audiences ready to embrace the humor, beauty and mystery of life. They live in rural southeastern NC (Grays Creek) just south of Fayetteville.. Caroline is a gifted songwriter, singer and bassist, and Jon will juggle guitars, banjo, and mandolins – in addition to doing his best to keep up with Caroline’s singing! This duet is seasoned by more than 18 years of playing and singing together – and it shows.
August 15, 2026 – New Direction
New Direction is one of our favorite Bluegrass Gospel Bands at Sacred Grounds and always give a great performance. Bobby Gales plays guitar and banjo, Charity Dixon Gales plays a bass guitar, Brice Hursey plays guitar, Bobby’s son, Kendall, plays the mandolin and Sarah Walters plays the fiddle. Brice is an excellent guitarist and has performed several solo guitar performances at Sacred Grounds; Sarah is the latest addition to the group and has been in her family gospel bluegrass band since she was young! Very talented!!This group is comprised of fine musicians and singers – New Direction is also a fan favorite for their annual Christmas Special.
August 22, 2026 – Peggy Harris
Peggy Harris has been singing since the age of five years old and competing vocally since the age of nine. She is self-taught on the guitar. She has been a member of many musical groups, an active member in several arts councils including Rose Hill Arts Council in Aiken, South Carolina and the Franklin County Arts Council in Louisburg, NC. She has also participated on
the stage in many musicals and dramatic performances. Peggy went on the road professionally in the duet Dawnshadow for an East Coast tour with the hotel chain Rodeway Inns, including Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Indiana, Kentucky and New York state. Upon her return from the East Coast tour, Peggy became the front performer with the seven-member Southern Rock group Lady Luck. She was soon joined by her future and now deceased husband, Buck Harris for a ten-year stint and then a five-year stint with the contemporary Christian group Joyful Noise. She started performing professionally primarily at the age of 16
giving concerts for arts groups, civic groups and public events. At the passing of her husband Buck, she formed the Java Jivers trio, graced by the amazing talent of Tokyo Rosenthal and played many venues, private parties and public events. The group dissolved during the Covid epidemic and she is now playing for weekly church services, fundraisers and public events. This will be Peggy’s 5th solo concert here in the past year and a half and we are really excited having her back at Sacred Grounds Coffeehouse.
Sacred Grounds Coffeehouse 