Indie-folk artist Sierra Cassidy is set to return to Marquette on June 27, 2026, for a performance at Blackrocks Brewery under her moniker, i.am.james. Sharing the bill with Eliza Thorp and Big Air, Cassidy views the night as an eclectic showcase where her own genre-fluid style bridges the gap between Thorp’s delicate, introspective piano pieces and Big Air’s driving rock-and-roll energy. Cassidy will be joined on stage by her Nashville-relocated drummer, forming a duo that intends to deliver a sound tailored for a summer kickoff while still preserving pockets of quiet, lyric-focused intimacy.
The upcoming set list draws heavily from her August 2025 debut full-length album, "The Garden," a project that serves as a sonic documentation of a pivotal five-year chapter of her life. The album was recorded in an unconventional and personal setting—the basement of Cassidy's own secluded cottage in the Northern Michigan woods—where producer Michael Dause relocated his studio equipment over the course of a year. Tracking the record was a unique exercise in balance, as Cassidy navigated the creative process alongside the demands of early motherhood, occasionally letting the ambient sounds of her household bleed into the record's background.
Public Radio 90's Kurt Hauswirth spoke with Cassidy about the upcoming show and her album "The Garden:"
Cassidy’s musical identity is the byproduct of a geographic and artistic journey, stretching from her upbringing surrounded by traditional folk music in Leelanau County to classical training at Interlochen, European club-hopping during her college years, and pandemic-era van travels. As she embarks on a busy summer tour schedule across the region, Cassidy is already quietly constructing her next musical chapter behind the scenes.
Blackrocks Brewery will host i.am.james., Eliza Thorp, and Big Air on Saturday, June 27th, 2026, with music starting at 7:00 pm.
Find out more at iamjamesmusic.com.
The preceding interview was also broadcast as part of The Shuffle on Saturday, June 20th, 2026.
