The Goldfinch Room will move outdoors for the series Goldfinch on the Lawn. JohnPaul Burtch and Scott Stilwell will be featured at 6:30 p.m. on August 22.. 

Behind the ticket office in Stephens Auditorium lies the Goldfinch Room, a versatile space that provides an intimate setting for local and regional artists to perform and interact with the audience. However, the concert will take place outdoors on the southeast corner of Stephens Auditorium for Goldfinch on the Lawn. 

The Goldfinch Room began the tradition of Goldfinch on the Lawn when indoor gatherings were restricted during the pandemic, and the event has been held every summer since due to its success.

“It’s really about the songwriter who also happens to sing,” said Tammy Koolbeck, executive director of Stephens Auditorium. “They tell their stories about their songs, and it’s a very respectful audience.” 

JohnPaul Burtch, a singer and songwriter based in Des Moines and originally from Waterloo, Iowa, is one of the two performers featured at the outdoor concert. His musical influences are generally rock, alternative and pop, as stated in a press release. Scott Stilwell is the second performer and was born and raised in Iowa. Stilwell integrates his own stories into his songs that are “in their basic form: folk songs,” according to a press release. 

Koolbeck explained that The Goldfinch Room is a space for artists that don’t typically get to perform their own music and the artists appreciate the opportunity to share their work. 

“We have a number of them say from the stage, ‘This is really a treat for us,’” Koolbeck said. 

Tickets are available at the door for $10 or in advance for $7 on Ticketmaster. The event will take place on the lawn and audience members are encouraged to bring a lawn chair or blanket. Food and beverages will be available for purchase, and no outside alcohol is permitted.