It wasn’t long after local music-lovers piled into the lobby of the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts that Grace Bowers unleashed the electrifying rasp of her guitar. It was all leather combat boots and silver waist chains as she took the stage with her band, The Hodge Podge, performing an opening set that fired off the first day of the ELLNORA Guitar Festival.
Bowers, an award-winning guitarist and singer-songwriter living in Nashville, took the stage for ELLNORA’s 20th anniversary at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday. Her solo rendition of the national anthem set the tone for the night: soulful, bluesy and unmistakably her own. Her band then joined her for a whirlwind of funk, blues and rock ’n’ roll.
Faces across the venue lit up under green stage lights as Bowers leaned her head back, gritted her teeth and tore through solo after solo. Bass, drums and tambourine seemed to be in conversation with her guitar, all bouncing riffs off one another in a seamless dialogue.
“The guitar riffs were my favorite,” said Riya Patel, senior in LAS. “I like feeling the music, and, especially when it gets louder, I like feeling it in my body.”
For Bowers, the night was just another step in her rapidly rising career. She first gained attention by posting guitar videos online and eventually performed with Chris Martin at the 67th Grammy Awards. In 2024, she independently released her debut album “Wine on Venus.”
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For KCPA, Bowers’ set was more than just an exciting concert — it was the kickoff to one of its signature traditions. The ELLNORA Guitar Festival, which runs Thursday through Saturday, brings together artists across multiple genres: classical, blues, jazz, funk and more. Some of this year’s lineup includes Jackie Venson, Samantha Fish, Marel Hidalgo Quartet, Strings for Peace and Rosanne Cash.
“As always, the artists are at the core,” said Mike Ross, director of KCPA. “And the diversity of artistry in each of our festivals has been so inspiring and beautiful.”
The ELLNORA Guitar Festival is named after Ellnora Krannert, co-founder of the center alongside her husband, Herman. According to KCPA’s website, her vision was to create an inviting space where community members could come together and celebrate the arts.
Shenika Glover, communication coordinator for the Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning at the University, said she came to ELLNORA to broaden her music taste.
“My colleagues are big fans of the artists that are playing today, so they were like, ‘You need to check it out!’” Glover said. “I was like, ‘Okay! Why not open up my own musical appetite and be able to tap into this genre?’”
For audience members, that sense of celebration was palpable. Bowers’ performance bridged generations, drawing in listeners who had been following her rise and newcomers who were hearing her for the first time.
Bowers mixed classic and contemporary sounds in her set — incorporating the funk staple “Play That Funky Music” by Wild Cherry, along with new original songs titled “Out of Sight Out of Mind” and “Eat Shit and Live.”
When Ross first heard Bowers, he was stunned.
“I couldn’t believe what I was hearing, and I couldn’t believe how young she is,” Ross said. “Her collaborating musicians are just awesome.”
By the end of her set, the energy on Stage 5 was high. Grace Bowers & The Hodge Podge closed with a groove that had fans bopping their heads and swaying in rhythm. Their instruments volleyed sound back and forth up until the final note.
It was both a showcase of Bowers’ prodigious talent and a reminder of what ELLNORA has stood for over the past two decades: the power of music to bring people together.
