---

The complete April calendar is posted here. These are just a few of the highlights.
Click here to read the newsletter on-line.

********

......Fri. April 11th   get tickets

Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen  is a country rock band formed in 1967 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The band’s name was inspired by a 1950's film serial featuring the character Commando Cody, and from an earlier serial released under the title Lost Planet Airmen. The band’s founder and leader, George Frayne, took the stage name Commander Cody. The band’s style is basically a mixture of country music, rockabilly, and blues, with a foundation of boogie-woogie piano. The group’s first album release on Paramount Records, titled Lost in the Ozone, arrived in late 1971 and yielded the group’s best known hit, a version of the country song Hot Rod Lincoln, which featured Bill Kirchen on guitar and vocals. Other Commander Cody songs you might remember include 20 Flight Rock, Truck Drivin' Man, Beat Me Daddy 8 to the Bar, Diggy Diggy Lo, and Smoke, Smoke, Smoke that Cigarette. Basically, they represented the essence of American roots music.  Today the Commander Cody Band is closely knit with the legendary George Frayne a.k.a. "The Commander" (leader /keyboards/vocals), Steve Barbuto (drums/vocals), Rick Mullen (bass) and Mark Emerick on lead guitar and vocals.
Tickets are on sale now.  Rob Roy Parnell opens the show!

w/ special guest Bobby Bare Jr.

  Fri. April 18th  get tickets

When the 2 founding members of the alternative country band Uncle Tupelo, went their separate ways, Jeff  Tweedy formed a band called Wilco, and Son Volt was put together by Jay Farrar. Farrar has amassed a sizable and distinctive body of work since coming on the radar with Uncle Tupelo in 1989. After opting to put Son Volt aside for five years in order to undertake a series of solo projects, Farrar is now two albums into the band’s second incarnation, describing the decision as a matter of “unfinished business.” Son Volt, he explains, represents “a kind of aesthetic that I want to continue doing. The solo stuff had a liberating effect out of just doing something different for several years. But ultimately, I felt getting back to Son Volt was something that had to happen”. Catch the latest incarnation of Son Volt in the intimate atmosphere of Gruene Hall. Bobby Bare Jr. opens the show.   Get tickets
 

......Fri. April 25th  get tickets

Catch one of her last shows before she takes an unknown length of time off from live performances to raise her 4 children. Kelly Willis started off at Gruene Hall in the mid-80's, playing 4 hour gigs in our front room as she worked her way up. Her biggest fan in those days was Hal Michael Ketchum, who was playing front room shows himself then, and often came to Kelly's shows. She's been a Gruene Hall favorite since we first heard her and met her and we wish her the best of everything as she plunges full tilt into parenthood.  Sister-in-law to Kelly,  Robyn Ludwick, opens the show.  Get tickets
 
 

Free shows in April !

As one might guess from the name, Antsy McClain & the Trailer Park Troubadours incorporate a bit of humor into their show, reminiscent of the old Austin Lounge Lizards. Songs like Trailer Park in Heaven, Spit Cup/Trailer Hoppin', & Living in Aluminum, are examples of their blue collar humor. Their songs are well written, their arrangements are excellent,  and their performances are well above average.  Band leader and songwriter Antsy McClain can also write serious songs that are seriously good. For a preview of what to expect from the Troubs, check out their video page. They make their Gruene Hall debut on Sunday, April 6th, at 5 pm.  (free show)

Hot Club of Cowtown are Elana James, Whit Smith and Jake Erwin. While officially disbanding in 2005, these three have a hard time staying apart, and reunite for a few special gigs whenever they can. Their infusion of hot jazz & western swing made them the top pick to open shows for Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan during the Historic Ballpark Tour of 2004. After hearing her on this tour, Dylan picked Elana James to tour with him in 2005, the first female to be included in his touring band in over 30 years. Come on out on Saturday, April 12th from 1-5 pm and enjoy some of the best swing music around. (free show)

An Americana artist from Alabama, Adam Hood's first visit back to Gruene Hall since November finds him riding the wave of his latest release, Different Groove.  Produced by Pete Anderson, the CD and has already received numerous accolades and is nominated for several Texas Music Awards. Adam is currently a fave of Miranda Lambert, and the two have
have spent the early part of 2008 writing songs for her new album, and playing gigs together.  This is a free show on April 20th, at 5 pm.

Slaid Cleaves. Grew up in Maine.  Lives in Texas.  Writes songs.  Makes records.  Travels around.  Tries to be good.  That's what the website says. And making records is what he has been doing in the past few months, so look forward to a new Slaid CD in 2008! It's a full day of great Americana songwriters, with Rod Picott on the early show from 12:30-4:30, and Slaid Cleaves on the late slot. Rod and Slaid are friends and co-writing buddies, having co-written the hit, Broke Down, released in 2000. Don’t miss these free shows on  Sunday, April 27th, beginning at 12:30 pm.

........  Gospel Brunch w/ a Texas Twist - April 13th  get tickets\
 
 

Coming in May: Dale Watson, Mark McKinney, Charlie Robiosn, Belleville Outfit, White Ghost Shivers, The Band of Heathens CD Release, KNBT 92.1FM's Americana Music Jam, The Marshall Tucker Band, The Gourds,  Bugs Henderson, Guy Forsyth, and more.....