Bloomington-based band Chicago Farmer and the Fieldnotes announced that its Last Harvest Tour will mark an end of an era for the group.
The group is known for its “Americana Folk N’ Roll N’ Soul” music, which includes a debut LP, Homeaid, released earlier this year.
Singer/songwriter and Fieldnotes frontman Cody Diekhoff, known as Chicago Farmer, will continue his solo career with plans to perform, make solo records and front new projects. Diekhoff announced the disbandment in a Facebook post on July 23, expressing gratitude to his band and attributing the split to career changes over time.
“New career paths, new opportunities and the juggling of our current hustle and side hustles have made it impossible for us to carry on as the consistent creative force that we need and want to be,” Diekhoff shared.
The band formed shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and the group went six years without releasing new music. Chicago Farmer had three previously released albums before Homeaid, which marked Diekoff’s first album with his touring band, the Fieldnotes.
Chicago Farmer and the Fieldnotes will continue to perform through Thanksgiving weekend. Their last show will take place on Nov. 27 at Kenny’s Westside in Peoria.
“I love this band. I love playing in it and I love being in it on stage and off,” Diekhoff told WGLT. “While we’ve had an abundance of roadblocks, I’ll always look back at this moment in time with gratitude and great pride.”
While Chicago Farmer and the Fieldnotes’ chapter has ended, Diekhoff hinted at future plans to collaborate with other musicians and bands.
“After these shows I’ll be stepping away from my job title of band leader (for a bit) and stepping back into the job title of Full Time Folk Singer,” Diekhoff wrote on social media. “Rest assured I’ll be playing a lot more music with friends down the road.”
The tour kicks off on Saturday at Museum Square in Downtown Bloomington, as a part of the Castle Theatre’s free music series, Saturdays on the Square.
Chicago Farmer and the Fieldnotes’ final tour includes the following stops:
8/1 Bloomington, Ill. – Saturdays on The Square
8/7 Yuba, Wis. – Driftless Music Gardens People Fest
8/14 Three Oaks, Mich. – The Acorn
8/15 Lawrenceburg, Ind. – Liberty Theater
8/21 Urbana, Ill. – Rose Bowl Tavern
8/22 Metamora, Ill. – Evergreen Farm Brewing
9/5 Manteno, Ill. – Shoe Fest
10/17 St Louis, Mo. – Pines Fest at Atomic By Jamo
10/24 Nashville, Ind. – Brown County Playhouse
11/6 Chicago. Ill. – Garcia’s Chicago
11/7 Benton Harbor, Mich. – The Livery
11/13 TBA
11/14 Minneapolis, Minn. – The Cedar Cultural Center
11/27 Peoria, Ill. – Kenny’s Westside
