Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation announces a new show at the Foellinger Outdoor Theatre this summer – Debutants Present: The Hoot with special guest Booze Hounds Bluegrass on July 24, 2026.
Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation news release:
Debutants Present: The Hoot! Newgrass Grows Here: With Special Guest Booze Hounds Bluegrass and Performance by Hoot Camp Students
Photo courtesy of Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation.
Fort Wayne, Indiana (June 11, 2026) – Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation announces a new show at the Foellinger Theatre this summer. Debutants Present: The Hoot with special guest Booze Hounds Bluegrass on Friday, July 24, at 7:00 p.m.
Debutants is a seven-piece “Indiana Newgrass” band from Fort Wayne, Indiana, blending bluegrass instrumentation with indie folk, Americana and a fearless sense of exploration. Featuring guitar, mandolin, banjo, two fiddles, cello and upright bass, the band delivers high-energy performances full of earnest songwriting, rich vocal harmonies and dynamic, genre-blurring arrangements. Fun, eclectic and deeply connected onstage, Debutants creates music that feels alive—and leaves audiences smiling.
Debutants have released four albums in the past five years; Indiana Newgrass, Nobody Knows, River on the Moon and most recently Fiddle & a Rose.
Born from a love of traditional bluegrass and down-home storytelling, Booze Hounds Bluegrass was founded in 2017 by Eric Lee Reel. Guided by the motto, “Bringing Mountain Music to the Flatlands,” the band has grown into a high-energy five-piece known for heartfelt musicianship, humor, and genuine chemistry on stage.
The July 24 concert follows a week of Hoot Camp in partnership with Purdue Fort Wayne Community Arts Academy, an opportunity for students in grades 4 -12 to explore ear training and improvisation in an acoustic string band setting. Hoot Camp will be held July 20-24 from 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Students can register for violin/fiddle, guitar, mandolin, banjo, upright bass, cello or viola and learn from the touring performers and licensed educators that make up Debutants. Students learn, create and collaborate in an immersive, hands-on musical experience, culminating in a special opportunity to join The Debutants onstage at Foellinger Theatre. Visit link for more details about Hoot Camp.
Tickets are at TicketMaster.com or in-person at the Parks and Recreation Department, 705 East State Blvd., during regular business hours beginning Thursday, June 11, at 10:00 a.m. For more information, visit www.foellingertheatre.org.
