Michelle Held & Christina Eltrevoog @ The Abbey!
Schedule
Sat, 09 May, 2026 at 07:00 pm
UTC-05:00Location
113 E Lafayette St, Ottawa, IL 61350-2114, United States | Ottawa, IL
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Christina and Michelle's paths crossed in 2017 when they were selected as finalists in Chicago's Uncommon Ground open mic competition. Since then, the two have sustained a musical friendship, sharing shows and showcasing at Folk Alliance conferences.Michelle held
www.michelleheld.com
Michelle Held didn’t set out to be a songwriter, but somewhere between the weight of unspoken things and the desire to make sense of them, the songs came. What began as a search for meaning, connection, and a sense of purpose slowly unfolded into something others could see themselves in.
Her voice is unmistakable, fragile and fierce, tender with an edge. Her songs are invitations: into grief, into wonder, into the kind of honesty that asks you to stay a little longer than is comfortable. Guided by a poet’s ear and a deep sensitivity to life’s complexities, Michelle builds a world where small moments carry weight.
Over the years, she's quietly built a body of work that resonates far beyond her hometown of Detroit. A 2025 Honorable Mention in the Rocky Mountain Folks Fest Songwriter Showcase, a three-time honoree in the Telluride Troubadour Contest, and praised by folk legend Tom Paxton, Held continues to carve out a thoughtful, steady path. Her songs don’t offer answers, but they listen well. They become something luminous: a way forward, a way back.
Her latest, “Another Jane” (2026), an ode to Jane Goodall, turns toward what we need more of in the world.
Christina Eltrevoog
linktr.ee/christinaeltrevoog
Christina Eltrevoog was born in the last decade of the twentieth century, near the confluence of the Fox and Illinois Rivers. The seeds of spiritual songs, folk, and classical music planted in her early years have grown to feed the souls of listeners throughout the US. Currently living part time in Illinois, part time in Oregon, and part time on the road in a ‘97 Safari Trek, Christina is a collector of beauty and truth found in human stories and the natural world, pouring it back into the hearts of those with a hunger for the genuine.
Christina’s musical travels began in 2017, touring and recording with longtime friend-turned- bandmate Matthew Pittman, as the duo MMCM (Matthew Michael & Christina Marie). The pair shared the stage with The Wildwoods, Ordinary Elephant, Chicago Farmer, and many other fine songwriters and musicians.
In July 2020, MMCM released a debut EP In Between, an ethereal folk piece, offering an arc of contemplation on hope for the ideal, angst of the actual, and peace found in presence. In December 2021, Christina released via Dutch Records her first solo recordings - a Christmas EP of electric guitar and voice titled Incarnation, in loving memory of her father, who first introduced her to the guitar.
In 2022, Christina Eltrevoog and songwriter TM Shaw of Eugene, OR began a musical project BEYOND the STARS. They released a 7-song album One Planet released in 2024, followed by concerts in the Midwest, Pacific Northwest, Southeast, and Hawaii. A number of original solo releases anticipate meeting the ears of listeners in 2026.
When in Illinois, Christina performs solo, in duo format with BEYOND the STARS, as well as with roots-rock Americana outfit The Belle Rangers, female folk trio The Morning Larks, and hosts Fresh from the Midwest—a new music festival of Midwestern songwriters the first weekend after Labor Day at Illini State Park in Marseilles, IL.
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Where is it happening?
113 E Lafayette St, Ottawa, IL 61350-2114, United StatesEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
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