Few voices can quiet a crowd like Sam Beam‘s, and this month Iron & Wine brings that hushed magic to The Ford for two nights, Oct. 17 and 18. Beam is touring behind the newly expanded Hen’s Teeth (Deluxe Edition), which adds four unreleased songs from the Los Angeles sessions that produced sibling records Light Verse and Hen’s Teeth, along with stripped-down takes on fan favorites like “In Your Ocean.” Standout new track “California Sober” is a breezy, playful song that feels made for a cool October night under the stars in the Hollywood Hills.
Longtime Iron & Wine devotees already know what they’re in for, but this show is also one for anyone who gravitates toward the softer, more literate corners of folk and Americana. If you love the intimate fingerpicking of Nick Drake, the harmony-rich storytelling of Fleet Foxes, Bon Iver or Gregory Alan Isakov, or the warm roots sound of I’m With Her (who duet with Beam on Hen’s Teeth), you’ll feel right at home. Beam’s recent records drift easily between delicate acoustic ballads, bluegrass-tinged folk rock and jazz-leaning arrangements, so expect a set that moves from whisper-quiet and tender to warm and rollicking. It’s music for slowing down, sitting close to someone you love and letting the night wash over you.
Opening the night is Ken Pomeroy, a Cherokee singer-songwriter raised in Moore, Oklahoma, whose songs have a way of gutting you with a single line. Her comforting soprano and rootsy, string-laced arrangements make her a natural fit alongside Iron & Wine. Fans of Adrianne Lenker, Gillian Welch or Jason Isbell’s sharpest songwriting should make sure to arrive early.
Kicking things off on Sunday, Oct. 18, is DUG, the Irish-American duo of Californian Jonny Pickett and folk artist Lorkin O’Reilly, who’ve become one of the most distinct voices in the modern folk revival. Their sound draws from both sides of the Atlantic, echoing America’s great folk troubadours one moment and Ireland’s elder statesmen the next, as resonator guitar and banjo spin intricate fingerpicked patterns. Fans of Lankum, Watchhouse or old-time string bands should make sure to arrive early.
Iron & Wine’s run is one of the final stops of The Ford’s 2026 season, which wraps Oct. 31, and it’s easily one of the best bookings of the year. Tucked into the Cahuenga Pass across the freeway from its big sister, the Hollywood Bowl, The Ford is an intimate outdoor amphitheater framed by hillside greenery, where even the back rows feel close to the stage. It’s that type of intimacy that makes it a perfect setting for music this tender, and this is exactly why The Ford is one of our favorite outdoor venues in Los Angeles.
Pro Tips
Unlike most venues, outside food and drinks are allowed at The Ford, which offers quite a few savings for fans on a budget, which these days, who isn’t. Just be sure to check out the venue’s rules for what you can and can’t bring.
We highly recommend that you pack a picnic, bring a jacket for the cool fall air that sets in at night, and settle in for one of the most magical nights of the season.
Coming Up at The Ford
The fun doesn’t stop with Iron & Wine. Here’s what else is on deck before the season wraps on Oct. 31:
- Tue., Oct. 27 – Montell Fish: The Nest Tour (stay tuned for a giveaway)
- Thu., Oct. 29 – Ava DuVernay’s Main Character Energy
- Fri., Oct. 30 From Dusk Till Dawn (stay tuned for a giveaway)
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