Photography by: Terry Mayer

ELKHORN -- It wasn't a barn, but it did have that comfortable, well-worn feel when the Barnstormers Tour stop in Walworth County finally kicked off Thursday night.

Organized by the Rock Island, Ill., music website Daytrotter.com, the shows have played Midwestern barns because, as promoter Sean Moeller says, “They’re pretty natural venues, really. It’s been incredible — the vibes and atmospheres created with these shows.

But there was no vibe at the Linn Township farm of Kate Gardiner, which ran into permitting problems, so the venue had to be quickly moved to the Walworth County Fairgrounds.

When finally under way, the crowd at the third annual Barnstormer tour stop listened to the soulful rock of Delta Spirit, NY-based chamber-pop band Ra Ra Riot, along with Philadelphia rockers Free Energy, and indie-singer/songwriters Nathaniel Rateliff and Pearly Gate Music (aka Zach Tillman).

Kate Gardiner, whose family has owned Knotty Pines Farm for the last seven years, is co-hosting the event.

So far the Barnstormer tour has yet to travel outside of Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin. When asked if he had plans to expand the tour on a larger, national level beyond America’s Heartland Moeller was quick to respond, “Nope, we’re sticking around here. We’re Midwest and we’re proud.”

This uniquely Midwestern tour is put together and presented by the popular music website Daytrotter, run by Sean Moeller, that records an eclectic mix of music acts touring through the Rock Island, Ill. area and then features these live in-the-studio recordings as free mp3 downloads to visitors.

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