Kentucky Songwriter Grayson Jenkins @ Chalfonte Theatre

Kentucky country and Americana songwriter Grayson Jenkins will perform live on The Platform at the Chalfonte Theatre on Thursday, July 23, 2026. Doors open at 6:00 p.m., with the concert beginning at 7:00 p.m.

Born and raised in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky — the same coal country memorialized in John Prine’s “Paradise” — Jenkins has steadily built a reputation as one of the most compelling independent voices emerging from the modern country and Americana landscape. Drawing inspiration from rural life, travel, personal experiences, and conversations with everyday people, Jenkins blends thoughtful storytelling with country, folk, and rock influences rooted deeply in Kentucky tradition.

Over the past decade, Jenkins has released four independent albums while touring extensively throughout the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, logging more than a quarter-million miles on the road. His music and songwriting have earned praise from publications including American Songwriter, The Bluegrass Situation, and Lexington Herald-Leader, while his live performances have taken him to festivals such as Railbird Music Festival and Master Musicians Festival.

American Songwriter described Jenkins as embodying “one of country’s more abstract, yet most important qualities: its philosophical soul,” while Lexington Herald-Leader praised his music as “effortlessly melodic folk and country drenched pop appeal that sounds like it could have been forged in 1973.”

Jenkins’ 2021 album "Turning Tides" spent 12 weeks in the Top 20 of the Roots Music Report chart, while his single “Mockingbird” reached the Top 10. His song “Cowboy Dream” was also recognized among Saving Country Music’s Top 25 Songs of 2019.

With a sound shaped by country, folk, southern rock, and the storytelling traditions of Appalachia, Jenkins has shared stages and touring routes with artists including Pony Bradshaw, Vincent Neil Emerson, and Nicholas Jamerson. His performances are known for balancing reflective songwriting with energetic live delivery and audience connection.

Advance tickets for the concert are $20 and may be purchased online or at the box office. Tickets will be $25 at the door on the evening of the performance.

The performance is presented as part of The Platform, a live performance series curated by the nonprofit Chalfonte Foundation, which brings nationally and internationally recognized artists to Elk Rapids in an intimate setting.