Music Sunday with SWARME of BEESE

Acoustic Americana group SWARME of BEESE from Austin, Texas will play a free afternoon concert at Ernest Hüpeden’s Painted Forest to kick off Edgewood College’s annual summer concert series. Set against the backdrop of Hüpeden’s vivid, hand-painted murals, the event invites visitors to enjoy original music in a truly one-of-a-kind setting.

The band features singer-songwriters Lynne Adele and Stephen Canner on vocals and guitar, with Stefan Keydel on violin. Performing together since 2008, the group describes their sound as “mutant folk” and released their third studio album in late 2024.

“This show is special to us,” says Adele. “We’re passionate about preserving culturally significant places like this one, and our music fits naturally in a space with such deep Americana roots.”

Built in 1897, the venue is now maintained by Edgewood College and known for its vivid murals by itinerant artist Ernest Hüpeden. It’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places and continues to serve as a site for art, music, and community gatherings.

Adele, an art historian focused on outsider artists and fraternal societies, co-authored As Above, So Below: Art of the American Fraternal Society, now in its third printing. A copy is available onsite. Canner, a former Madison resident, and Keydel, a folklorist and former festival director, round out the group—bringing a mix of musical, academic, and regional influences to the stage.

Learn more about the band at swarmeofbeese.com and listen to their music at swarmeofbeese.bandcamp.com.