Joliet's Nashville On The Hill Music Series Returns to Bishops Hill Winery With 4 Shows

(The following edited press release is from Joliet's Tim Placher.)

JOLIET, IL — “Nashville On The Hill,” Bishops Hill Winery’s popular summer Sunday music series featuring touring Music City singer-songwriters, is back for its third season with four shows at the winery’s iconic 1892 limestone castle. This year’s events take place on June 14, July 19, August 16 and September 13 from 3 to 5 p.m. Full series and single show tickets are available now at www.bishopshill.com. Each ticket includes a complimentary glass of wine.

Among this year’s talented performers are a 2026 Grammy nominee, a Songwriter Magazine “Song Of The Year” winner, a RIAA Gold record and Top Ten songwriter, the winner of two $10,000 singing contests, a classically-trained pianist turned critically-acclaimed Nashville songwriter, and an internationally-known musician/birding influencer.

June 14: Ava Suppelsa & Bonner Black

Ava Suppelsa, nine-year Nashville veteran and daughter of retired WGN-TV anchor Mark Suppelsa, co-wrote Ryan Griffin’s 2023 Top 40 hit “Salt, Lime and Tequila” and earned her first RIAA Gold record in 2026 with Max McNown’s Top Ten smash hit “Better Me For You (Brown Eyes).” Her compositions have amassed more than 200 million streams. Bonner Black, originally from Hot Rock, TN, is touring in support of her new release, “Little Bird In a Big Sky.” Combining her music talents with a love of birding, Black has gained a legion of fans as one of America’s fastest-rising birding influencers, including relationships with Audubon Society, Wild Birds Unlimited, the “Merlin” birding app and Zeiss binoculars.

July 19: Makena Hartlin, Simon Martensson & Mary Marguerite Hall

Makena Hartlin is an award-winning songwriter who moved to Music City in 2020 after winning two $10,000 Chicago singing contests. Dubbed the “Songbird Of Nashville,” she has played stages around the country, recorded with Grammy-winning producer Tyler Chester and won numerous songwriting awards, including Songwriter Magazine’s “Song Of The Year” in 2025. Mary Marguerite Hall has a varied career as both a music artist and actor in several feature films. They are joined by 2026 Grammy-nominee Simon Martensson, a multi-instumentalist, producer and band leader who has collaborated with several Grammy-nominated producers and artists, most notably, multi-platinum artist CAM. In 2025, he co-wrote and produced the song “Daughter” on Beyonce’s Grammy-winning album “Cowboy Carter.”

August 16: Stacy Antonel & Sophie Gault

A genre-defying artist, Stacy Antonel blends Country, Jazz and Surf Rock with a powerhouse voice to create a sound all her own. Originally from San Diego and trained as a classical pianist, she built upon success in her band “Ginger Cowgirl” and moved to Nashville in 2017 to pursue her career under her own name and original songs. Sophie Gault, a Blues-infused Country artist originally from Maryland, is touring in support of her critically-acclaimed 2026 album “Unhinged,” which has received stellar reviews and enjoyed a long run near the top of the Americana music charts.

September 13: Caroline Kid & Nicholas Kenton

Caroline Kid is a singer/songwriter originally from Iowa whose music lives at the intersection of Country, Americana, and Pop. A one-time Miss Oregon in the Miss America Pageant, her decade in Nashville has earned her a reputation for sharp lyrics and songwriter-driven melodies. She’s received recognition from CMT, ACM, CMA and Entertainment Tonight, and Authority Magazine named her one of “Nashville’s Rising Stars.” Nicholas Kenton is a songwriter, musician and producer with over a decade of Music City experience. Working as a producer and performer at Gibson USA, he has played over 500 live shows and written, produced, or mixed songs for artists across all genres. His most recent single, “Let Me Down,” was released in 2025.

“Nashville On The Hill” shows take place outdoors in the east lawn at Bishops Hill Winery, 310 Bridge St., Joliet. Patrons bring their own chairs and the winery provides numerous beverage and food choices. In the event of inclement weather, Bishops Hill has partnered with nearby University of St. Francis for the use of its indoor theater as an alternate location.

Tickets for “Nashville On The Hill” are available at www.bishopshill.com or by calling 312-320-1610. “Early Bird” full-series tickets are available until May 15 for the discounted price of $70. Full-series tickets increase to $80 from May 16 until the first show on June 14. Single-show tickets are available for $25. Each ticket includes a complimentary glass of wine per show. More detailed artist info and FAQ can be found at the Bishops Hill Winery Web site.