Rising stars, international hitmakers, a local “Idol” and local favorites are among the eclectic collection of bands and musicians taking the stage for the 35th anniversary season at Door County Auditorium in 2026-27. And the schedule, announced May 1, isn’t all that’s new at the venue.
For one, there’s the name, which you may have noticed above is now Door County Auditorium instead of the Door Community Auditorium it’s been since its opening.
Also, there’s The Cramer Exchange, DCA’s new, smaller venue across the street from the auditorium that will host acoustic musicians; comedy and dance shows; a movie screening; dance classes for children and adults; and more in a building more right-sized for these events than DCA’s 725-seat Main Stage house. The Cramer will also be open two hours prior to all summer Main Stage shows to offer refreshments and music.
“This is one of the most exciting season rollouts I can remember in my years at DCA,” executive director Cari Lewis said in a news release. “Not only is our slate of Main Stage performers vibrant and delightful, we are also looking forward to exploring the incredible potential of our new space The Cramer Exchange. We’ll be celebrating a new venue, new branding, new programs and new possibilities, all while serving the same caring and inspiring community.”
As for the schedule, among the biggest names taking the Main Stage include The Wallflowers, the Jakob Dylan-led band whose season-opening June 12 concert sold out within hours of tickets going on sale in January, and Don McLean on July 29, playing DCA 55 years after his eternal hit “American Pie” topped pop charts around the world.
For those looking for more classic hits, the Happy Together Tour, featuring bands of the 1960s and early ’70s playing their biggest hits, comes to DCA Sept. 10, and the Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band tribute act Hollywood Nights plays Aug. 2.
Other well-known veteran bands coming to DCA include 1970s funk-rockers Little Feat on June 26, Milwaukee-based heartland-rockers BoDeans on July 23 and the soul/hip-hop blend of G. Love and Special Sauce on Aug. 23, with pop singer-songwriter Todd Carey opening.
Rising stars and Grammy Award nominees playing DCA this season include innovative bluegrass mandolin virtuoso Sierra Hull on June 27 and soul-country husband-and-wife duo The War and Treaty on Oct. 9. Other unique acts are soulful folk outfit The Wood Brothers on July 24, all-female Americana trio I’m With Her on Aug. 25, indie singer-songwriter Valerie June on Sept. 11, New York-based multi-genre collective ShoutHouse on Sept. 19, classical/hip-hop duo Black Violin on Nov. 18 and Swedish jazz multi-instrumentalist Gunhild Carling on Dec. 11.
For those looking for more classic hits, the Happy Together Tour, featuring bands of the 1960s and early ’70s playing their biggest hits, comes to DCA Sept. 10, and the Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band tribute act Hollywood Nights plays Aug. 2.
Shows with Door County ties are headed by Genevieve Heyward, a Top 20 finalist in the current season of “American Idol” who now works out of Nashville but calls Door County home and often has played on the Peninsula, in concert July 17 with all-female roots supergroup Big Richard. The world premiere of a concert film featuring Sturgeon Bay-based rocker pat mAcdonald will be screened June 14.
Another show with a kind-of local tie has JT Nero, who with Allison Russell frequently played Door County as the alt-folk duo Birds of Chicago, on stage July 10. Nero since has won a Grammy Award for Best American Roots Performance in 2024 as co-writer of “Eve Was Black,” performed by Russell on her album “The Returner,” which Nero co-produced and earned four Grammy nominations.
Two shows for early 2027 are “World on a String: Swinging Songs of Broadway” by the Jazz at Lincoln Center combo from New York on Feb. 16 and dance/theater troupe NoGravity on April 4.
The inaugural season for The Cramer Exchange includes more local acts and acts with close ties to the Peninsula, such as Memphis string instrumentalist and frequent Door County performer Eric Lewis in an in-the-round concert with singer-songwriter Josh Harty, a showing of the cult hit movie “Hundreds of Beavers” starring longtime Door County theater performer Doug Mancheski, a “hedgehog wedding” and dance party with Billy Dave Sherman & The Hedgehog Republic, and two Christmas shows by Three Springs.
In addition to the Main Stage shows, DCA plays host to the classical music of the Peninsula Music Festival season over the first three weeks of August.
FYI
Door County Auditorium is at 3926 State 42, Fish Creek, with The Cramer Exchange across the street at 3931 State 42. Tickets for the 2026-27 season go on sale to the general public May 14, with pre-sales for DCA VIPs beginning May 6 or 7 depending on the VIP’s giving level. Season subscriptions with discounts are available for those who plan to attend multiple shows. The auditorium also continues to seek sponsors and volunteers for the season.
For tickets or more information on shows, subscriptions, volunteering or becoming a DCA VIP, go to the DCA box office, now at The Cramer; call 920-868-2728; or visit dcauditorium.org.
The Door County Auditorium 2026 Main Stage season:
The Door County Auditorium 2026 season at The Cramer Exchange:
Contact Christopher Clough at 920-562-8900 or cclough@usatodayco.com.
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This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Door County Auditorium announces 2026 season, plus new name and venue
Reporting by Christopher Clough, Green Bay Press-Gazette / Green Bay Press-Gazette
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
