The Martin Sexton Abbey Road Show
America comes together in the music of Martin Sexton. Our hearts mend, our political and philosophical differences melt away, and the various strains of our roots music entangle. Of Sexton, The New York Times says: “His unpretentious heartiness helps him focus on every soul singer’s goal: to amplify the sound of the ordinary heart.” Sexton has remained true to his mission of sharing peace and harmony throughout his 10 albums, and in countless incendiary live performances. He has thus built a loyal following of fans, including critics and superstar artists. He is without a doubt what Billboard calls: “The real thing.” These days, people are coming together to revel in Sexton’s musicality for his Martin Sexton Abbey Road Show. This is a live show extravaganza in which he performs the iconic Beatles’ album in its entirety followed by a set of mainly original music. Currently, Sexton is also working on his 11th album, which will be his first full-length album in 10 years. Sexton is a songwriter’s songwriter, with a multi-octave voice that knows no bounds. Acoustic Guitar Magazine calls him a: “Master of dynamics, reducing a room to silence with his blustering baritone, then teasing that silence with a fluttering falsetto.” Sexton’s career in music has unfolded like the stories in one of his sweetly redemptive songs. He got his start busking on streets and performing at open mics. Since then, he has gone on to be praised by modern legends such as John Mayer and Dave Matthews, who calls him one of his favorite singer- songwriters. Sexton’s songs of grappling and gratitude were the soundtrack to John Mayer’s early gigging years, and made an indelible impact on the budding songwriter. Mayer says: “This is the music of my LIFE.” Sexton has headlined venues from The Fillmore to Carnegie Hall, and his songs have appeared in television series such as Scrubs, Parenthood, Masters of Sex, and in numerous films. His dynamically emotive live show has earned him critical raves and an engaged and loyal following. The Wall Street Journal says: “Mr. Sexton as an impassioned performer can bring women and men to tears when they see him live.”
The Summit FM’s Thankful Thanksgiving Concert with Southern Avenue and Fruition
Southern Avenue, the high-voltage, roots-infused powerhouse hailing from the legendary musical haven of Memphis, Tennessee, has been setting stages ablaze since their explosive Stax Records debut in 2017. Boasting a magnetic energy and a soul-stirring repertoire, this dynamic ensemble has mesmerized audiences worldwide with their heart-pounding performances and emotionally charged compositions. Their meteoric rise in the music industry is underscored by a coveted GRAMMY® Award nomination for “Best Contemporary Blues Album” and multiple nods at the Blues Music Awards, where they are currently in the running for “Band of the Year” in the 2024 edition. In 2018, they clinched the title of “Best Emerging Artist,” solidifying their rapid trajectory to stardom. The band, consisting of lead vocalist Tierinii Jackson, guitarist Ori Naftaly, drummer Tikyra Jackson, and the versatile Ava Jackson on vocals, percussion, and violin, forms a musical juggernaut. The harmonious blend of Tierinii, Tikyra, and Ava’s voices creates an unparalleled sound that resonates deeply with audiences, adding an extra layer of soulfulness to their performances. The familial bond within the band not only enhances their on-stage cohesion but infuses their music with an intimate authenticity that is unmistakable. ”Playing our music around the world, sharing our story through our own artistic expression is something that every artist dreams of…and there is no greater feeling as a family than making your dreams come true together,” says Tierinii. “Music is our inheritance, we are blessed and honored to uphold the tradition.” Drawing inspiration from their Memphis roots, Southern Avenue seamlessly fuses blues, soul, and gospel influences into a distinctive sound that pays homage to the city’s rich musical heritage. Their impact extends far beyond the music, as they’ve graced stages at renowned festivals around the globe, including ACL Fest, Electric Forest, Byron Bay, and Bonnaroo, leaving an indelible mark on audiences. Having toured with luminaries such as Sheryl Crow, Tedeschi Trucks Band, and Jason Mraz, Southern Avenue just concluded the prestigious Outlaw Music Festival Tour in Fall 2024, joining the lineup alongside Willie Nelson & Family, Bob Dylan, and John Mellencamp. Additionally, the band just finished recording their fourth LP and Alligator Records debut at Memphis’ legendary Royal Studio. Produced by Multi-GRAMMY® winner John Burk (Ray Charles, Melissa Etheridge, George Benson) and recorded by Multi-GRAMMY® winner Boo Mitchell (Bruno Mars, Cedric Burnside, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram), Southern Avenue continues to solidify their status as trailblazers in the realms of Contemporary Blues and Roots music.
ZZ Ward – The Dirty Sun Tour with Special Guest Liam St. John
ZZ Ward is back on tour! Join ZZ Ward as she takes her electrifying Dirty Sun Tour across the US. You won’t want to miss this incredible show coming to a city near you! ZZ Ward is set to be joined by Special Guest Liam St. John! Liam St. John is a chart topping blues singer + songwriter out of NASHVILLE, TN. Liam’s debut full-length project, “stripped back” reached #1 in Top Blues Albums globally on Apple Music, followed up by a successful nationwide tour, HITTING 67 CITIES. At the crossroads of the blues and rock & roll, St. John commands his truest form by combining lyrics that embody the blues with their piercing and painful truth, and delivering a captivating performance with vibrancy true to the spirit of rock and roll. VIP Upgrades Available The Ultimate ZZ Ward Experience – $550 + ticket face + sales tax + service fee The Mother VIP Experience – $150 + ticket face + sales tax + service fees The Dirty Sun VIP Package – $50 + ticket face + sales tax + service fees
An Evening With The Riders In The Sky
40 years. It seemed to go by in a blur, pounding the road, seeing the world, raising babies and sending them to college, mowing lawns, romances, marriages, high school drama, endless airports, the nights at the Hollywood Bowl, the night at the Red Barn in Louisville dodging various barroom projectiles, frozen diesel lines, blast furnace desert heat, hours of practice, late nights and early mornings, and lots and lots and lots of laughter. 40 years ago. No laptops, no cellular phones, no Google, no downloads, no Skype, no Tweets, no Apple, no Microsoft, no texting, no electric cars, no Uber. A different world. But there were three young men with drive and wit who wanted to keep a special music alive. They believed in preserving the heritage of Western Music and presenting it to a new generation. They believed in entertaining, and they did so… entertaining themselves as well as the audience! And they believed in creating original Western Music to continue the tradition, not just seal it in amber as a museum piece. What they did not realize at the time was that they would be doing the same thing 40 years later. Ranger Doug, Too Slim, Woody Paul and Joey the Cowpolka King… 40 years on, “The Cowboy Way.
An Evening With The Clarks
Early on, The Clarks were once described as a bunch of out of tune country hicks. The band took irreverent offense to the comments, saying they were never country hicks. Eleven studio albums and a couple of guitar tuners later, The Clarks have struck again with Madly In Love At The End Of The World, a lively ride down a rural lane, laced with love, mourning, and questions about where it all goes from here. The band recorded the eleven song album in a converted A-frame church, which helped highlight a series of warm, rock and Alt-Country tunes. The four original members, Scott Blasey (vocals, acoustic guitar), Rob James (6 and 12-string electric guitars, vocals), Greg Joseph (bass, vocals) and David Minarik (drums, vocals) are joined by fellow touring mates Gary Jacob, Skip Sanders and Noah Minarik, tossing out some spanking pedal steel, Hammond organ and tasty guitar. “We’ve never had more fun composing and recording songs,” says bass player Greg Joseph. “With our storied recording history, it’s really heartening to know that music can still captivate the band as much as it has on this album.” With a highlight reel that includes the Late Show with David Letterman, The Simpsons, and others, The Clarks are enjoying their stage time together now more than ever. “It’s one big extended family,” says guitarist Rob James. “Dave’s son Noah plays on this album, and with us live, so saying that isn’t just a metaphor, it’s fact!” Singing and playing the songs of Madly In Love At The End Of The World has rekindled a fire in The Clarks’ sometimes broken, sometimes mended hearts. The Clarks are (L-R): Greg Joseph: Bass Guitar, Vocals Scott Blasey: Lead Vocals, Electric & Acoustic Guitars Robert James: Electric & Acoustic Guitars, Vocals David Minarik, Jr.: Drums, Vocals.
JD Simo & Luther Dickinson – Do The Rump Tour!
Celebrated guitarists, producers, band leaders and sonic shamans Luther Dickinson and JD Simo join forces in a trailblazing collaboration. The duo, known for their individual successes, mutual admiration, and deep friendship, have finally come together to create a musical project that transcends genres. Luther Dickinson, one half of the 5-time Grammy-nominated North Mississippi All Stars and former Black Crowes lead guitarist has extensive production and session credits for artists like John Hiatt, Cedric Burnside, and William Bell. JD Simo, the leader of his own solo project, boasts session and production credits for Jack White, Beyoncé, Chris Isaak, Stevie Nicks, Phil Lesh, and Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis movie. United by shared loves and a strong friendship, Luther and JD found themselves collaborating in the winter of 2022. The creative alchemy unfolded in JD’s House Of Grease studio in Nashville, TN, where they were joined by JD’s longtime partner, Adam Abrashoff. Together, they delved into a rich musical tapestry of old spirituals and hill country blues, infused with Afrobeat rhythms and psychedelic abandon. – melodies that float on the edge of danger in a beautiful and mystical dance. Luther expresses the profound connection, stating, “We found our tribe in each other,” while JD adds, “It’s like turning on a faucet. It’s so easy for us because we have the same sensibilities and influences, but we play nothing alike somehow. It’s so beautiful and special.” What sets this collaboration apart is the dynamic interchange of bass, baritone, and guitar duties between Luther and JD, creating a unique sonic landscape, at once daring and seductive. JD predicts, “It’s gonna be a fun show to watch, with these fat grooves and Luther and I switching instruments and such!” The project will debut with digital singles in the spring of 2024, offering a taste of the magic these two maestros have conjured. A full-length album is set to follow later in the year, promising a musical experience built on love, truth, and GREASE! Join Luther, JD, and Adam on this extraordinary journey – keep it greasy!
An Evening with Acoustic Hot Tuna
For over 50 years Hot Tuna, Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady, have brought a wealth of emotions to their music through deep perceptions and tremendous talent. Members of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Grammy recipients, they are always injecting fresh energy into their sound with constant improvisation taking their musical horizons further. Guitarist Jorma Kaukonen and bassist Jack Casady were also at the heart of Jefferson Airplane, another iconic group with roots in the 1960s. Over the past five decades, they’ve released more than two dozen records as a band and many more solo projects. Long considered one of rock’s first bass heroes, Jack Casady has been thumping and plucking four-strings in front of audiences since the mid ‘60s. Casady’s creativity is evidenced by his continually evolving bass solos in his extensive library of songs and live performances and at 81 years of age, Kaukonen remains at the apex of his skills, captivatingly singing in a husky voice and humbly yet proficiently playing blues licks that rival the iconic leads of many blues rock masters. Together, they are well-seasoned musicians and musical treasures. To some fans, Hot Tuna is a reminder of wild and happy times. To others, the name will forever be linked to their own discovery of the power and depth of American Blues music. To newer fans, Hot Tuna is a band that is on the cutting edge of music. This past October, Jefferson Airplane were given their own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the ceremony of which was attended by the band’s sole surviving members: Casady, Kaukonen, and Grace Slick. Fittingly, the star is located right in front of Musician’s Institute. Hot Tuna remains one of the most innovative Rock and Roll bands in American music.
Justin Hayward – Blue World Tour – w/ Mike Dawes
Having chalked up over fifty years at the peak of the music and entertainment industry, Justin Hayward’s voice has been heard the world over. Known principally as the vocalist, lead guitarist and composer for the Moody Blues, his is an enduring talent that has helped to define the times in which he worked. Over the years the band has sold more than fifty-five million albums and received numerous awards. In 2018, along with the other members of The Moody Blues, Justin was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Born and brought up in Swindon in the UK, Justin’s interest in music started early when he was five years old and his grandfather bequeathed him his large collection of 78 rpm recordings. “It opened a world of imagination to me,” says Justin. Having taught himself to play the ukulele, he soon progressed to guitar and by his early teens he was playing in local groups. Upon leaving school at 17 he answered an advertisement in Melody Maker newspaper and successfully auditioned for UK Rock and Roll hero Marty Wilde. “I got the job playing guitar for Marty – it was a dream come true for me”. Justin credits Marty with encouraging him to become a songwriter; he made several recordings with Marty’s ‘Wilde Three’ and also appeared with them at the London Palladium. They remain close friends to this day: “Marty is still my hero”. Having started the ball rolling as a songwriter in his own right with a couple of solo singles, he joined the Moody Blues in the summer of 1966. Hitting his stride immediately with the single ‘Fly Me High’, he followed it up with the classic hit songs ‘Nights in White Satin’ and ‘Tuesday Afternoon’ from the seminal album ‘Days of Future Passed’. This album went on to become a favourite of the NASA astronauts and was taken aboard the Atlantis shuttle space craft by Chief astronaut “Hoot” Gibson on many missions. This purple patch showed no sign of abating as Justin created other classic, era and genre-defining hits ‘Question’, ‘The Voice’, ‘The Story In Your Eyes’, ‘I Know You’re Out There Somewhere’ and ‘Your Wildest Dreams’. These laid the foundation for the incredible success story of the Moody Blues – as well as his solo work – which continues to this day. In 2022 Justin revived his role as ‘the journalist’ in the touring production of Jeff Wayne’s ‘War of The Worlds’ and in 2023 he co-headlined an extensive tour of the USA with Christopher Cross. Justin’s latest single is ‘Living for Love’. Mike Dawes was named the Best Acoustic Guitarist in the World Right Now by MusicRadar and Total Guitar in 2017 & 2018. www.mikedawes.com Justin Hayward VIP Merchandise Package – very limited availability VIP Merchandise Package = $186.00 -Premium Concert Ticket (First five rows) -Exclusive T-shirt -Exclusive Poster -Tote Bag -Commemorative Ticket -Lapel Pin Delivery: Merchandise items are shipped the week of the show date to the address YOU provide on the order. and may arrive shortly before or after the show date. Items subject to change.
PATTY GRIFFIN – HAYES CARLL – LORI MCKENNA – Sharing The Stage for An Evening of Song!
Patty Griffin Patty Griffin is among the most consequential singer-songwriters of her generation, a quintessentially American artist whose wide-ranging canon incisively explores the intimate moments and universal emotions that bind us together. Over the course of two decades, the GRAMMY® Award winner – and 7x nominee – has crafted a remarkable body of work in progress that prompted the New York Times to hail her for “writing cameo-carved songs that create complete emotional portraits of specific people…her songs have independent lives that continue in your head when the music ends.” In addition to her creative career, Griffin has also devoted considerable energy and focus towards the wellbeing of the planet as well as showing compassion for the less fortunate among us via personal and public acts of charity including the 2017 Lampedusa Tour supporting the Jesuit Refugee Service. Having crafted a rich catalog that chronicles love and death, heartache and joy, connection and detachment, Patty Griffin continues to push her art forward, as always imbuing every effort with compassion and craft, uncanny perception, and ever-increasing ingenuity. Hayes Carll The country simplicity that imbues Hayes Carll’s songs can sometimes hide the social conscience and sharp humor that also runs through them, but if you want to find those things, they are there. In fact, Carll has spent over 20 years having a conversation about what it is we’re all doing here with anyone who will listen. He makes us laugh––but then he makes us cry. We judge a song’s protagonist, only for Carll to spin us around to commiserate with them. Honest and sometimes subversive, but never mean-spirited, Carll keeps writing sad, funny, compelling songs in which nobody’s perfect or predictable––at least not for long. And he can’t quit wishing we’ll all realize that’s the way anything worth having or being has got to go. “I hope this record helps people feel good, laugh a bit, and maybe give them something to lean on when they need it,” he says. “I hope they dance to it, too.” Lori Mckenna From her home base in Boston, Lori McKenna has carved out an enviable niche for herself as one of Nashville’s most in-demand songwriters, all while maintaining a prolific and remarkably consistent career as a solo artist. The release of her anticipated album, 1988, adds to a series of landmark years for McKenna and follows three widely acclaimed albums: 2016’s The Bird & The Rifle, 2018’s The Tree and 2020’s The Balladeer, of which the Associated Press praised, “McKenna has by now long established herself as one of the best songwriters working in any genre. And she does it again and again,” while The Tennessean asserted, “one of the sharpest pens in modern country and folk songwriting.”
An Acoustic Evening With Over The Rhine
One December, not long after Over the Rhine began recording and touring, we were invited to perform some seasonal songs on a public radio station in Cincinnati. It was Christmastime and apparently they thought we were up to the task. We worked up a few carols and traditional tunes and Karin even read a poem by Thomas Hardy called, The Oxen. It actually felt really good and conjured up an unusual mix of feelings from childhood: innocence, loss, wonder, joy, sadness. I think we were surprised. People must have tuned into the radio broadcast, because we began receiving inquiries as to whether we had recorded any of our Christmas songs. I don’t think we had considered it at the time, but any young, struggling songwriter is open to the suggestions of the marketplace, and people were persistent. In December of 1996 – can it really be over 25 years ago? – we recorded and released our first song cycle of some of the Christmas carols that still haunted us. We included a few original tunes and called our wintry mix The Darkest Night Of The Year. We played a special “darkest night” release concert on winter solstice in an old 1300-seat theater in Cincinnati. Every last seat was full. Folks began snatching up copies and seemed to agree that they hadn’t heard anything quite like it. We began playing concerts around the Midwest every December and found that the rooms were usually packed full of people who had bundled in out of the cold with prized compatriots. Hats and scarves abounded. If you stepped outside during intermission, you could make ghosts with your breath in the crisp night air. And it was dark – oh so dark: a time of year with its own music. A decade later, in 2006, we released our first full collection of original Christmas/holiday songs called Snow Angels. What is it about Christmas music and the undeniable gravitational pull it ex-erts on some songwriters? So many Christmas songs have already been written. I think we are genuinely curious about the ones that haven’t yet been written. We continued to tour every December and these special year-winding-down concerts began to feel like an annual tradition – gatherings of extended musical family, without whom, we’d be homeless.By the time we released our third holiday album of original songs, Blood Oranges In The Snow, in December of 2014, Karin suggested we had discovered a new genre of music: Reality Christmas. It’s true: if you’ve buried a loved one, or lost a job, or battled a chronic illness, that stuff doesn’t go away during the holidays. It can be a complicated season for many of us. And then there’s family. When Karin and I make the annual holiday pilgrimage home to visit family and pull into the drive-way and turn off the car, one of us inevitably looks over at the other and says, “Tie a rope around my waist, I’m goin’ in.” In 2024, more than 25 years after releasing our first holiday CD, we are still at it. This year, we will be leaning into some harmonies and making an intimate but hopefully holy ruckus. It won’t be all Christmas music: we’ll certainly mix in tunes from many of our records along the way. But hopefully it’s still true: hopefully you haven’t heard anything quite like it. Maybe a midnight snow will fall and turn each streetlight into its own private snow globe. Maybe, regardless of whatever reality Christmas brings, we’ll hear a faint echo of a song once rumored to have been sung by angels, a song of peace on earth, goodwill toward all… We’ve never heard anything quite like it. We hope you’ll join us, Linford Detweiler With Karin close by