The Bacon Brothers to headline Sept. 19 gala
3/10/2026 12AM
Hollywood star Kevin Bacon and Emmy-winning composer Michael Bacon have performed for nearly three decades as The Bacon Brothers, developing an original mix of folk, rock, soul and country music they call “forosoco” | photo by Jeff Fasano.
Tables and sponsorship opportunities available for Center Celebration 2026
CARMEL, Ind. – Roots-rockers The Bacon Brothers, featuring composer Michael Bacon and actor Kevin Bacon, will deliver the headline performance at Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts’ annual fundraiser, the Center Celebration 2026 presented by Ice Miller.
Hosted by Artistic Director Michael Feinstein, the Sept. 19 gala at the Payne & Mencias Palladium will include cocktails, dinner, a live auction, and two after-parties following The Bacon Brothers’ set. All proceeds support Allied Solutions Center’s performance programming and its wide array of education and enrichment opportunities for people of all ages. Information on table reservations, sponsorship opportunities and more is available at TheCenterPresents.org/Gala.
Kevin Bacon, of course, is the A-list Hollywood star known for roles in classic films including Footloose, National Lampoon’s Animal House, JFK, A Few Good Men, Apollo 13 and Mystic River. Michael, an associate professor at New York’s Lehman College, is a multi-instrumentalist and the Emmy-winning composer of hundreds of film and television scores.
The Philadelphia natives have spent nearly three decades creating an original mix of folk, rock, soul and country music – “forosoco,” they call it – and sharing it around the world, from headlining gigs in Japan to performances at iconic venues like Carnegie Hall and the Grand Ole Opry. In 2024, they released their 12th album, Ballad of the Brothers. They have visited once before, performing in October 2011 during Allied Solutions Center’s first full season.
Programs supported by Center Celebration proceeds include the Peanut Butter & Jam performance series for families with young children; the Prism Project, a performing arts summer camp for youth with disabilities; free matinee performances and science presentations for school groups; a donor-funded Transportation Grant Program that reimburses transportation costs for school groups attending events; and arts classes for adults, including vocal music, songwriting, two levels of stand-up comedy instruction and three levels of ukulele instruction.
The gala revenue is generated through table reservations, corporate sponsorships, direct donations, and the auction for prize packages including luxury getaways and VIP professional sports experiences, donated by Allied Solutions Center supporters. This year’s Gala Steering Committee is led by Carmel residents David and Annette Greene, now serving their second year as co-chairs, and Carl Butler and Jeffrey Goens, serving the first of two years in the role.
Last year’s Center Celebration 2025 presented by Ice Miller, with rocker Richard Marx as the headliner, generated a record $708,000 in support of Allied Solutions Center’s mission “to inspire and engage the Indiana community with enriching arts experiences.” Other past headliners have included Chris Botti, Amy Grant, Straight No Chaser, Chris Isaak and Dionne Warwick.
About Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts
The mission of Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts, celebrating its 15th anniversary in 2026, is to engage and inspire the Indiana community through enriching arts experiences. The nonprofit organization’s campus in Carmel, Indiana, includes the 1,500-seat Payne & Mencias Palladium concert hall, the 500-seat Tarkington proscenium theater and the black-box Studio Theater. Allied Solutions Center presents and hosts hundreds of events each year, including the annual Center Presents performance season, featuring the best in classical music, jazz, pop, rock, country, comedy and other genres. Educational and experiential programming for all ages includes children’s concerts and camps, book clubs, lectures, and classes in music and stand-up comedy. Allied Solutions Center is home to the affiliated Great American Songbook Foundation and provides space and support services for six resident arts companies. More information is available at TheCenterPresents.org.
