ISIAH EVANS, front man for 40 Acre Mule, coming to the Garden Amp in Garden Grove Friday and Saturday (Photo by Jay Simon).

By Reagan Cisar/Orange County Tribune

“When I started this, I wanted it to be my 40 acres and a mule, my opportunity to experience the American dream,” said guitarist and vocalist Isaiah Evans. Toward the end of the Civil War, formerly enslaved people were promised 40 acres of land and a mule to help them gain economic stability.

“That reference always spoke to me. Being descended from enslaved people, it means a lot to me, and I wanted the name to carry that weight,” said Evans.

THE WHOLE MULE TEAM (Photo by Casey Kinney)

The 40 Acre Mule will perform at Garden [Grove] Amphitheater on Friday, April 8 and Saturday, April 9 at 6 p.m., bringing its sax-fueled roots rock from Dallas to Orange County. The group has built a diverse fan base with songwriting that combines blues-drenched heartbreak with poignant saxophone solos, offering a fresh take on a familiar sound. When Evans isn’t making music, he works as an administrator at a Dallas university a few days a week and spends time with his family.

Their new album is slated for release in early 2023. Although the band has six of 10 songs recorded, they are pushing the release due to the global vinyl shortage. In the meantime, the group plans to release singles and videos.

As an administrator, husband, father, and musician, Evans has indeed gotten his 40 acres and a mule, his opportunity to experience the American dream as he travels across the country doing what he loves, surrounded by people he loves.