I’m excited for our next Main Stage concert for two reasons: I love John Prine and I love stories about brothers. Really I’d say our May 9 event feels less like a concert and more like a heartfelt conversation between family, memory and song. Billy Prine’s “Songs and Stories of John Prine” is exactly what the title promises: a deeply personal tribute to one of America’s most beloved songwriters, told by the person who knew him best — his brother.

Billy Prine isn’t just performing John’s music — he’s carrying it. Known as a “natural-born storyteller,” Billy brings a rich voice and a lifetime of shared experiences to the stage, weaving together the songs with the moments that shaped them. Audiences won’t just hear classics like “Paradise,” they’ll hear the story of the first time John played it for their father at the kitchen table — an intimate glimpse into the roots of a song that would become an American standard.

John Prine’s genius lies in his ability to capture the human experience with clarity, humor and devastating honesty. Whether writing about loneliness in “Hello in There,” addiction in “Sam
Stone” or nostalgia in “Paradise,” his songs feel like short stories — simple on the surface but layered with meaning. That storytelling instinct extended into his collaborations as well. Prine
frequently co-wrote songs throughout his career, including the iconic “You Never Even Called Me by My Name,” written with Steve Goodman — a playful yet influential piece of country music history.

While Billy and John didn’t co-write in the traditional Nashville sense, their creative connection runs deeper than a credit line. Growing up together, absorbing the same musical influences and
sharing a lifetime of stories, Billy helped shape the world John would later write about. This show highlights that bond — less about authorship on paper and more about the shared roots behind the songs themselves.

Ultimately, this performance is a celebration of John Prine’s enduring greatness. Widely regarded as one of the finest songwriters of his generation, he had a rare gift for turning everyday moments into timeless art. As one admirer famously put it, if there were a “favorite songwriter,” it might well be John Prine.

So come join us at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 9,. at the Chocolate Church Arts Center as Billy Prine brings that legacy to life — not as an imitation but as a continuation. Through music, memory and story, audiences are invited to experience not just the songs but the soul behind them.

Matthew Glassman is executive and artistic director of the Chocolate Church Arts Center.

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