Tickets Sales Begin March 1 for The French Family Band

With the promise of spring just around the corner, the Mentone Arts Center is filling in our calendar for classes and musical events.

We kick off the month as tickets go on sale March 1 for the return of one of our most popular musical acts . The French Family Band returns for two shows June 20 and 21. Originally from Australia and now based in Nashville, the band takes inspiration from the country and western swing icons of decades past, creating and performing American roots music that’s most assuredly vibrant and fully alive. The group appeared on the legendary Grand Ole Opry four times in 2023. Their core lineup is an actual nuclear family that just happens to be incredibly talented. Guitarists/vocalists Stuie French (Dad), Camille French (Mum), and Sonny French (Son) are a clan of uncommon gifts and skills that rival the stars of country’s Golden Age. Their combined sound is smooth, sweet, and ferocious. Echoes of Chet Atkins, Anne Murray, and Merle Haggard can be detected, but their style and spirit are all in the family. Their sophisticated twin guitar harmonies and blended vocals set them apart from practically everyone. “Stuie and Sonny French have invaded Nashville with the best country guitar playing the town has heard in years.” – Marty Stuart

Stuie, Camille, and their three kids moved to Nashville in 2019 after building a strong reputation back home. Over the course of nearly 20 years as the duo Camille and Stuie, they became one of Australia’s best-loved musical acts. They won three Australian Golden Guitar Awards, which are equal to the CMAs, and won another one in 2023 as The French Family Band. When Covid hit, they pivoted from playing traditional gigs to doing Facebook Live concerts from home. This turned out to be a winning strategy that exposed their music to the world. They built a Facebook following of nearly 180,000 people and created a new, global fan base that loves their music. Their outstanding songwriting, fearless playing, and tight family harmonies seem to have an unlimited appeal.

Tickets are $30 per person. The Saturday night show will be from 7-9 p.m., and the Sunday matinee will be from 2-4 p.m. All times are Central. A link will be provided on the Mentone Arts Center Facebook page, or you can contact us at the number at the bottom of this article to reserve your seats.

We also have scheduled visiting artist/instructor Lisa Opelinski for a weekend class in April and artist/instructor Bradley Wilson will have weekend classes in both June and July. Look for more information on these classes in next month’s Groundhog as well as on our Facebook page.