Secretly Canadian, the Bloomington-born indie record label, is celebrating its 30th anniversary with a three-night concert series titled “What Comes After the Blues: Secretly 30.” The events will take place from August 27 to 29, 2026, at three local venues: the Bluebird, Buskirk-Chumley Theater, and Switchyard Park. This announcement marks the first major event in a year-long anniversary rollout for the label, which was founded in 1996 by brothers Chris and Ben Swanson.
The concert series reflects the label’s history and ongoing connection to its hometown. Opening night at the Bluebird features June Panic, whose 1996 album Glory Hole was Secretly Canadian’s first release, and Bloomington-based band Early Day Miners. The group Magnolia & Johnson Electric Co. Will too perform, featuring musicians who collaborated with the late Jason Molina, including Will Johnson of Centro-Matic on lead vocals and rhythm guitar.
On August 28, the series moves to the Buskirk-Chumley Theater with headlining performances by Sharon Van Etten and Kevin Morby. The final night on August 29 shifts to Switchyard Park for a park takeover headlined by Durand Jones & The Indications, with additional sets from rising artists Jensen McRae and Angela Autumn. Three-night passes for the event go on sale starting April 24, 2026, with single-day tickets to follow in May.
The events are presented in collaboration with Granfalloon and local partners, emphasizing the DIY ethos that has defined Secretly Canadian since its early days in Bloomington’s basement show scene. Despite its growth into one of the most respected independent labels of its era, the company remains headquartered in Bloomington and operates under the Secretly Group umbrella, which also includes Jagjaguwar, Dead Oceans, Saddest Factory Records, and the Numero Group.
Ben Swanson, co-founder of Secretly Canadian, spoke about the significance of the celebration, stating: “Some of the most rewarding moments of the last 30 years have been with our artists, colleagues and community in a single room. I couldn’t be more stoked to celebrate our anniversary with old friends and latest in the town we love.”
Throughout 2026, Sister label Jagjaguwar will also mark its 30th anniversary with a series of archival reissues focusing on its “Virginia Years,” a late-1990s period that began when founder Darius Van Arman used overtime pay from working during a blizzard in Charlottesville to fund early releases. These included Drunk’s A Derby Spiritual, South 1998’s South, and the Union of a Man and a Woman’s The Sound of the Union of a Man and a Woman. Van Arman relocated to Bloomington in 1999 to partner with the Swanson brothers.
As Secretly Canadian continues its anniversary celebrations, the label maintains its commitment to artist development and community engagement, rooted in the same independent spirit that guided its first releases nearly three decades ago.