Dan Bern to Travel Worth County by Tractor for Free Community Concert Tour
Five Nights. Five Towns. One Tractor.
Acclaimed singer-songwriter Dan Bern will take to the backroads of Worth County this June 23-27 for a unique musical journey unlike any other. Traveling by tractor from town to town, Bern will present a series of free community concerts as part of the inaugural Worth County Tractor Tour, bringing live music directly to rural communities across the county.
The tour will visit five Worth County communities over five consecutive evenings, with each performance beginning at 7 p.m. Residents are encouraged to join the experience by driving their own tractors to one or all of the performances. Tractor parking will be available at every location.
Worth County Tractor Tour Schedule
Tuesday, June 23
Fertile, Iowa – Rhodes Mill Park
Wednesday, June 24
Manly, Iowa – Kaleidoscopes to You
Thursday, June 25
Kensett, Iowa – Kensett Community Center
Friday, June 26
Bolan, Iowa – Bolan Schoolhouse & Cultural Center
Saturday, June 27
Northwood, Iowa – Art Farm Iowa
All performances begin at 7 p.m. and are free and open to the public.
The tour will culminate at Art Farm Iowa in Northwood during the first Rust & Roots Antique Tractor & Equipment Show, a weekend celebration of agricultural heritage, rural ingenuity, and community. Bern's final Tractor Tour performance will take place on Saturday evening at Art Farm Iowa.
Why a Tractor Tour?
The Worth County Tractor Tour draws inspiration from a rich American tradition of bringing arts and culture directly to communities. During the Great Depression, the Federal Music Project (1935–1943), a New Deal initiative under the Works Progress Administration, employed thousands of musicians as performers and teachers while providing free and affordable concerts to the public. The program left a lasting legacy on American music education and appreciation..
The project also echoes the spirit of folk legend Woody Guthrie's Columbia River Collection, during which Guthrie famously wrote 26 songs in just 30 days while traveling and documenting the people and places he encountered.
Like those historic efforts, the Worth County Tractor Tour seeks to connect people through music while celebrating the character and culture of rural communities.
"The Tractor Tour brings live music directly to our communities, reaching people where they live and gather," said Steve Hanson, founder of Art Farm Iowa. "It's a celebration of small-town life, connection, and the belief that creativity thrives even in small communities."
Known for his insightful songwriting, humor, and captivating live performances, Dan Bern has built a devoted following through decades of touring and recording. The Tractor Tour offers audiences a rare opportunity to experience Bern's music in intimate community settings while celebrating Worth County's agricultural roots.
Community members are invited to attend, bring a lawn chair, and, if they choose, arrive by tractor to become part of the journey.
For more information about the Worth County Tractor Tour and the Rust & Roots Antique Tractor & Equipment Show, visit Art Farm Iowa or follow Art Farm Iowa on social media.
About Dan Bern
Dan Bern is an American singer-songwriter whose extensive catalog spans more than three decades. Celebrated for his thoughtful lyrics, memorable melodies, and engaging performances, Bern has released dozens of albums and performed for audiences across the United States and around the world.
About Art Farm Iowa
Art Farm Iowa is a rural arts and culture destination in Northwood, Iowa, dedicated to connecting creativity, agriculture, and community through exhibitions, performances, workshops, and unique cultural experiences that celebrate the spirit of rural America.
For more information about exhibition dates, workshop details, memberships, and upcoming events, visit Art Farm Iowa at https://www.artfarmiowa.com/events.
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