River Glen

River returns to The Cornerstone in Guelph. Come hungry for tasty grooves, moving melodies, thought-provoking lyrics, a pinch of instrumental shredding, a dash of silliness, a few laughs, and also good food and beverage. Sure to be a wonderful evening, so don't miss it!

DOORS 7:30PM MUSIC 8:00-10:30PM Tickets: $15 (PWYC available, just email riverglenmusic@gmail.com)

RIVER GLEN: River Glen was born at home alongside the Mississippi River in the Driftless Area of Dubuque, Iowa. He was homeschooled, primarily on music, beginning the Suzuki method on violin before he was three years old. River’s childhood was filled with adventures traveling the U.S. with his parents and siblings in their kinda-sorta folksy bluegrass band, The One Hat Band. From busking on street corners to playing the main stage at summer festivals, River earned his chops before losing all of his baby teeth. Over a decade later, while attending the University of Iowa, River got his heart broken for the first time; an experience that jump-started his path to becoming the prolific lyricist he is today.

River’s songwriting strikes a delicate balance of pop-appeal and lyrical substance. From wonderings about love, family, and belonging, to the celebration of death and loss as a natural part of life, River critiques modern pop-culture through the lens of familiar, traditional folk themes. Always with tasty grooves and clever rhymes. With over thirty years of experience performing, River Glen holds audiences with a comfortable confidence as he shares his original music, playfully blending elements of folk, pop, and rock. Every performance is an opportunity to showcase his proficiency in guitar, violin, and mandolin, alongside powerhouse vocals.

In 2017, River was named Fellow by the Iowa Arts Council for his original music. While serving in this honorary position, River began work on “As Above, So Below”, an album of original music featuring over one hundred and fifty singers/musicians, almost entirely from his home state of Iowa. “As Above, So Below” is set to release on May 1st, 2023 and will be accompanied by a state-wide tour across Iowa. More information about River’s original music, videos, etc…can be found at www.RiverGlenMusic.com.

Music in Middle Grey presents

An Evening of Pop-Folk, Americana, Old Country & Storytelling

River Glen and Michael Glenn with special guest James Nowak.

Come one, come all to Annesley in Markdale to experience From Iowa to Ontario; An Evening of Pop-Folk, Americana, Country, and Storytelling. This performance features songwriters Michael Glenn and River Glen, who are also father and son, as well as storyteller and poet, James Nowak. River, Michael, and James will take listeners on a musical journey through themes of love, heartbreak, healing, mystery, history, and maybe even a little hope. This performance will be family-friendly and appeal to listeners of all-ages.

River Glen was born at home alongside the Mississippi River in the Driftless Area of Dubuque, Iowa. He was homeschooled, primarily on music, beginning the Suzuki method on violin before he was three years old. River’s childhood was filled with adventures traveling the U.S. with his parents and siblings in their kinda-sorta folksy bluegrass band, The One Hat Band. From busking on street corners to playing the main stage at summer festivals, River earned his chops before losing all of his baby teeth. Over a decade later, while attending the University of Iowa, River got his heart broken for the first time; an experience that jump-started his path to becoming the prolific lyricist he is today.

River’s songwriting strikes a delicate balance of pop-appeal and lyrical substance. From wonderings about love, family, and belonging, to the celebration of death and loss as a natural part of life, River critiques modern pop-culture through the lens of familiar, traditional folk themes. Always with tasty grooves and clever rhymes. With over thirty years of experience performing, River Glen holds audiences with a comfortable confidence as he shares his original music, playfully blending elements of folk, pop, and rock. Every performance is an opportunity to showcase his proficiency in guitar, violin, and mandolin, alongside powerhouse vocals.

In 2017, River was named Fellow by the Iowa Arts Council for his original music. While serving in this honorary position, River began work on “As Above, So Below”, an album of original music featuring over one hundred and fifty singers/musicians, almost entirely from his home state of Iowa. “As Above, So Below” is set to release on May 1st, 2023 and will be accompanied by a state-wide tour across Iowa. More information about River’s original music, videos, etc…can be found at www.RiverGlenMusic.com.

Michael Glenn was a solo artist in the ’70’s and gave his first performances at open mics on the campus of Pacific Lutheran University in WA, USA. After graduating, Micheal returned to The Farmers’ Market in his hometown of Dubuque, IA with his guitar, and his future got locked in. He started a family band with his wife, The One Hat Band, which featured their five children and performed together for over 18 years. The family band busked at festivals in New York and Texas, across the Midwest and all around Iowa. The appeal of the family band was a slightly edgy, yet good-spirited with a sense of humor, proudly keeping folk, bluegrass, and americana music alive and healthy in Iowa.

Michael has taken the stories from those years and carried them forward under the name Broken Rubber Band. He continues to write original country, bluegrass, and blues songs, telling stories about his home, community, and history. www.michaelbreitbach.com.

James Nowak is a writer and a performing storyteller from Hillsburgh who now lives in Guelph. He studied furniture making at Sheridan College and medieval English at the University of Toronto. His poems have appeared in a few humble publications, and a long essay of his, ‘Between Home and Hell’, was published in Dark Mountain. If you are a lover of the English language then you'll love hearing James tell a story and recite a poem.

"As Above, So Below", featuring 150+ singers/musicians from Iowa, is coming to your ears on May 1st, 2023! Purchase your copy at www.RiverGlenMusic.com

Iowa Arts Council Fellow, River Glen Breitbach, has united many of Iowa’s finest and hardest working musicians to create an epic album of original music that captures the many sounds and styles of Iowa like no other. “As Above, So Below” spans a variety of genres; from folk to pop and rock, from bluegrass to hip-hop and jazz. The project began in 2017 as River marked his 25th year as a working musician. With support from the Iowa Arts Council, River offered up his original songs to serve as a vessel capable of holding this sonic snapshot of the many artists who proudly call Iowa their home. As beloved Iowa radio DJ, Bob Dorr, states on the opening track of the album, “As Above, So Below; a love letter to Iowa.”

Notable features on the album include appearances by Bob Black, Kevin B.F. Burt, John Busbee, Bob Dorr, Denny Garcia, Courtney Krause, Ginny Luke, Penny Peach, Jim Post, Bo Ramsey, Alyx Rush, Annie Savage, Abbie Sawyer, Dustin Smith, and Dave Zollo, as well as members of Bridges 2 Harmony Gospel Choir, Flash in a Pan, The Host Country, Jack Lion, The Maytags, NOLA Jazz Band, The Uniphonics, and so many more.

The release of “As Above, So Below” is being supported by a statewide tour of release shows featuring River, his band, and special guests Alyx Rush, Wxlley, Abbie Sawyer, and Kristina Casteñeda.

May 1, 7pm @ Bryan’s Blue Plate, Waterloo, IA May 3, 7pm @ Galena Center for the Arts, Galena, IL May 5, 7:30pm @ The James Theater, Iowa City, IA May 6, 7pm @ Convivium Urban Farmstead, Dubuque, IA May 7, 6pm @ xBk Live, Des Moines, IA

River Glen & Band “As Above, So Below” Album Release Tour 2023

Don't miss the leadoff performance at Bryan's Blue Plate in Waterloo. The show is all-ages and free, so spread the word! Doors: 6:00pm Show: 7:00pm.

Iowa Arts Council Fellow, River Glen Breitbach, has united many of Iowa’s finest and hardest working musicians to create an epic album of original music that captures the many sounds and styles of Iowa like no other. “As Above, So Below” spans a variety of genres; from folk to pop and rock, from bluegrass to hip-hop and jazz. The project began in 2017 as River marked his 25th year as a working musician. With support from the Iowa Arts Council, River offered up his original songs to serve as a vessel capable of holding this sonic snapshot of the many artists who proudly call Iowa their home. As beloved Iowa radio DJ, Bob Dorr, states on the opening track of the album, “As Above, So Below; a love letter to Iowa.”

The release of “As Above, So Below” is being supported by a statewide tour of release shows featuring River, his band, and special guests Alyx Rush, Wxlley, Abbie Sawyer, and Kristina Casteñeda.

Purchase your copy of the album on May 1st, 2023 at www.RiverGlenMusic.com

River Glen & Band “As Above, So Below” Album Release Tour 2023

Catch this special mid-week performance at Galena Center for the Arts! Doors: 6:30pm Show: 7:00pm Tickets: $15, Kids 12 and under: Free. Purchase tickets at www.GalenaCenterfortheArts.org

Iowa Arts Council Fellow, River Glen Breitbach, has united many of Iowa’s finest and hardest working musicians to create an epic album of original music that captures the many sounds and styles of Iowa like no other. “As Above, So Below” spans a variety of genres; from folk to pop and rock, from bluegrass to hip-hop and jazz. The project began in 2017 as River marked his 25th year as a working musician. With support from the Iowa Arts Council, River offered up his original songs to serve as a vessel capable of holding this sonic snapshot of the many artists who proudly call Iowa their home. As beloved Iowa radio DJ, Bob Dorr, states on the opening track of the album, “As Above, So Below; a love letter to Iowa.”

The release of “As Above, So Below” is being supported by a statewide tour of release shows featuring River, his band, and special guests Alyx Rush, Wxlley, Abbie Sawyer, and Kristina Casteñeda.

Purchase your copy of "As Above, So Below" starting May 1st, 2023 at www.RiverGlenMusic.com