The Esbenshade Series and Marietta College will welcome Grammy Award-winning artist Dom Flemons to The Gathering Place on Thursday, Jan. 22, at 7 p.m., for an evening celebrating American roots music.
Known as “The American Songster®,” Flemons is widely regarded as one of the most influential and highly decorated voices in American roots music today. His body of work spans more than a century of musical traditions, honoring the sounds, stories, and culture that shaped American folk and string band music.
A Black country artist and folk musician, Flemons is a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, music scholar, historian, actor, slam poet, record collector, curator, podcaster, and cultural commentator. He is also the creator, host, and producer of the American Songster Radio Show on WSM in Nashville, Tennessee. Flemons is the co-founder and original member of the groundbreaking Carolina Chocolate Drops, the first Black string band to win a Grammy Award.
Over the past 25 years, Flemons has received numerous national honors and earned worldwide media recognition. His 2018 solo album, Black Cowboys, was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Folk Album. Flemons became the first Black artist to win the grand prize for the International Acoustic Music Awards in 2024. In 2025, Flemons was honored with induction into the American Banjo Museum Hall of Fame.
“The Esbenshade Series is honored to present the Grammy-winning American Songster® on the Marietta College campus,” said Todd Burge, director of the Esbenshade Series. “It’s the perfect way to kick off the new year with yet another internationally celebrated performer!”
Flemons’ compelling and dynamic performances blend music and storytelling, offering an experience that is both entertaining and enriching for longtime fans of folk music and newcomers alike. He weaves historical insight with live performance, inviting listeners to connect with the roots of American music while considering how those traditions continue to shape the music of today.
The event is free and open to the public thanks to the Frederica G. Esbenshade Memorial Fund. The performance will take place at The Gathering Place on Marietta College’s campus. Doors open at 6:00 p.m., and seating is first-come, first-served.
Marietta College is committed to continuing its longstanding tradition of bringing world-class artistry to campus and the local community. For additional information about the 2025–26 Esbenshade Series, visit marietta.edu/esbenshade-series.