ArtistDirect News
Greg Garing to Perform Intimate Set at The Deanery School of Music on Oct. 1
Greg Garing, the country singer lauded by Johnny Cash, will take the stage at the Deanery School of Music in Davenport, Iowa, on Sunday, Oct. 1 at 7 p.m. The venue will seat only 40 people, and the show will forego a public‑address system, leaving the audience to hear Garing’s guitar, piano, and voice in their rawest form.
Tickets are priced at $20 when purchased in advance and $25 at the door. Fans can secure their spot through a short‑link ticketing page at bit.ly/greggaring.
Cash once described Garing as “the best country singer I’ve heard in 30 years,” a compliment that places the artist among the country elite. Garing’s reputation is built on a career that spans decades and crosses multiple genres, from traditional country to blues and bluegrass.
The Deanery performance will therefore be a rare chance to hear the singer’s nuanced storytelling and raw vocal power in a setting that emphasizes authenticity over production.
Garing’s musical journey began in the 1970s when he played fiddle with bluegrass legend Jimmy Martin. The partnership introduced him to the rigors of touring and the authenticity of bluegrass performance.
In the 1990s, he emerged on Nashville’s Lower Broadway, performing at clubs such as Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge and Robert’s. During that period, he shared the stage with Lucinda Williams, who regularly joined him in the club’s intimate environment.
After his Nashville tenure, Garing relocated to New York City, where he was backed by the Harlem All‑Stars. The group featured musicians such as Al Casey, Tootsie Bean, and Bubba Brooks, among others. The collaboration broadened Garing’s stylistic palette, incorporating elements of jazz and R&B into his country foundation.
Garing’s songwriting reflects a blend of rural American soul and straightforward storytelling. His compositions have attracted other artists; Wanda Jackson recorded two of his songs on her 2012 album Unfinished Business. Critics note that his music draws from the traditions of Bill Monroe, Hank Williams, and Johnny Cash, while also echoing the blues of Robert Johnson, Leadbelly, and Howlin’ Wolf. The result is a repertoire that feels both timeless and contemporary.
His recording career includes several albums and singles released on independent labels. His discography features titles such as Alone, available on streaming platforms including Apple Music and Amazon Music. Setlists posted on setlist.fm show that he frequently performs songs like “Where Has All the Promise Gone” and “Take Now My Hand” at venues ranging from the Mercy Lounge in Nashville to small clubs across the Midwest.
Michael McCall, a curator at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, praised Garing’s resilience and authenticity. He stated that Garing “taps a deep vein of rural American soul music and transports it to the underbelly of modern urban nightlife… He’s survived deadly ailments and the tentacles of the corporate music industry with all of his powers, integrity, and authenticity intact. He proves it every time he takes a stage.”
Tickets for the Oct. 1 show are available online at bit.ly/greggaring and will sell for $20 in advance, with a $25 door price. The Deanery School of Music’s limited capacity of 40 seats makes the event a rare opportunity for listeners to experience Garing’s live performance in an unadorned setting. The show is part of Garing’s 2026 touring schedule, which includes appearances in several U.S. cities.
The event is expected to attract listeners who appreciate authentic country and blues storytelling.
Tickets are priced at $20 when purchased in advance and $25 at the door. Fans can secure their spot through a short‑link ticketing page at bit.ly/greggaring.
Cash once described Garing as “the best country singer I’ve heard in 30 years,” a compliment that places the artist among the country elite. Garing’s reputation is built on a career that spans decades and crosses multiple genres, from traditional country to blues and bluegrass.
The Deanery performance will therefore be a rare chance to hear the singer’s nuanced storytelling and raw vocal power in a setting that emphasizes authenticity over production.
Garing’s musical journey began in the 1970s when he played fiddle with bluegrass legend Jimmy Martin. The partnership introduced him to the rigors of touring and the authenticity of bluegrass performance.
In the 1990s, he emerged on Nashville’s Lower Broadway, performing at clubs such as Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge and Robert’s. During that period, he shared the stage with Lucinda Williams, who regularly joined him in the club’s intimate environment.
After his Nashville tenure, Garing relocated to New York City, where he was backed by the Harlem All‑Stars. The group featured musicians such as Al Casey, Tootsie Bean, and Bubba Brooks, among others. The collaboration broadened Garing’s stylistic palette, incorporating elements of jazz and R&B into his country foundation.
Garing’s songwriting reflects a blend of rural American soul and straightforward storytelling. His compositions have attracted other artists; Wanda Jackson recorded two of his songs on her 2012 album Unfinished Business. Critics note that his music draws from the traditions of Bill Monroe, Hank Williams, and Johnny Cash, while also echoing the blues of Robert Johnson, Leadbelly, and Howlin’ Wolf. The result is a repertoire that feels both timeless and contemporary.
His recording career includes several albums and singles released on independent labels. His discography features titles such as Alone, available on streaming platforms including Apple Music and Amazon Music. Setlists posted on setlist.fm show that he frequently performs songs like “Where Has All the Promise Gone” and “Take Now My Hand” at venues ranging from the Mercy Lounge in Nashville to small clubs across the Midwest.
Michael McCall, a curator at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, praised Garing’s resilience and authenticity. He stated that Garing “taps a deep vein of rural American soul music and transports it to the underbelly of modern urban nightlife… He’s survived deadly ailments and the tentacles of the corporate music industry with all of his powers, integrity, and authenticity intact. He proves it every time he takes a stage.”
Tickets for the Oct. 1 show are available online at bit.ly/greggaring and will sell for $20 in advance, with a $25 door price. The Deanery School of Music’s limited capacity of 40 seats makes the event a rare opportunity for listeners to experience Garing’s live performance in an unadorned setting. The show is part of Garing’s 2026 touring schedule, which includes appearances in several U.S. cities.
The event is expected to attract listeners who appreciate authentic country and blues storytelling.