Michigan Songwriter Showcase hosted by Bill Arnold and featuring Reggie Harrison, Adam Carpenter and Mary Hartman
20 Front Street
April 16, 2026
•
7:00 pm
$24.79
Bill Arnold is a Clarkston, MI based singer-songwriter, session musician and music producer. He currently fronts the band One Ton Trolley, which features his songwriting. His are thoughtful songs steeped in the Midwest narrative, collectively defying the label of genre, yet individually providing a comfortable ride for the listener. One Ton Trolley released a 5-song EP, No Simple Highways, in March 2022. A full-length 12-song LP , Sunday Morning Cigarettes, was released in February 2023. In addition, Bill is co-creator of the new multi-media project Echoes in the Iron that seeks to celebrate and further ignite the revitalization of rustbelt towns through the transformative power of music, storytelling, and community.
Reggie Harrison’s musical roots go back to the harmonies she learned from the nuns in elementary school. A lifelong singer and seasoned performer, Reggie’s evolution took a pivotal turn the day the world locked down and she picked up an acoustic guitar. That guitar became her COVID companion, songwriting partner and the catalyst for a wave of new stories. Her performance is defined by an authentic, heartfelt style—a blend of life experience and a "soulful something" that is entirely her own.
Adam Carpenter spent the last 24+ years as a founding member of the hard driving bluegrass band, Chasin’ Steel. Penning many of their fan favorited songs, Carpenter has always been a songwriter first and foremost. Producing or co-producing all three of Chasin’ Steel’s albums afforded Carpenter immeasurable experience for a future pre-destined project.
Changing waters prompted an opportunity for Carpenter to pivot one foot into a new project while continuing to perform a handful of shows each year with Chasin’ Steel.
Adam Carpenter & the Upper Hand was spawned in 2019 out of a compelling need to arrange, perform and penultimately, record a backlog of new material Carpenter had been continually composing. Adam fronts the band while holding down the cedar swamp style rhythm on the guitar and (occasionally) mandolin.
“I’m not sure if the journey shaped the music or the other way around. Prolly a little bit of both. I just try listen to the ethers of the universe and be as true as I can be.”
Bill and Adam forged a long standing friendship on the banks of various trout streams and stages over the last 20 years. They have co-written and performed many original songs and ACUH actually performs some of Bills solo material. Bill is an honorary member of both Chasin’ Steel and Upper Hand accompanying with dobro and lapsteel both onstage and in session work.
Born in Detroit, Michigan to an Auto Factory Worker and a Stay at Home Mom. Mary was one of 10 children and at age 14 Mary bought her first guitar from a Sears Catalog and never looked back. She honed her Songwriting skills in their big, old house day after day, night after night. Many of her songs come from her upbringing in a blue collar, hardworking, church going Family.
She ended up in Nashville and lived there for 15 years before returning to Michigan in 2019. While in Nashville Mary played with some of the best Songwriters in Rounds at The World Famous Bluebird Cafe, Douglas Corner, The Nashville Palace and The Listening Room just to name a few.
She's had a couple of her songs pitched to the labels in Nashville. But where she's the happiest is "writing" Mary has embraced the "Songwriting" Community since she has returned to Michigan....and what a Wonderful, Talented Community it is!
Sit back and enjoy her "homemade" songs and if you feel the need to sing along....please do!