James McMurtry solo is a different animal than James McMurtry with a band, and I mean that as the highest compliment. When it is just the man and his guitar, every word in those densely written songs carries even more weight. On April 3, he brings that stripped-down intensity to Daryl’s House with BettySoo opening, and this is the kind of double bill that songwriter devotees circle on the calendar months in advance.
About James McMurtry and BettySoo
James McMurtry is one of America’s finest literary songwriters, a Texan whose songs read like short stories set to music. The son of novelist Larry McMurtry, he inherited a gift for language and sense of place that sets him apart from nearly every other performer working today. His songs are populated by real people in real towns, and his guitar work is deceptively skilled beneath the plainspoken delivery. BettySoo is an Austin-based singer-songwriter whose folk and Americana work has earned her a devoted following for its emotional depth and vocal grace. Together on the same bill, this is a masterclass in songcraft.
The Venue
Daryl’s House in Pawling is perfectly suited for a show like this. The intimate room allows McMurtry’s storytelling to land with full force, and the attentive audiences that Daryl’s House attracts are exactly the kind of listeners these artists deserve. The venue’s warm acoustics and comfortable setting make it an ideal space for a night built on words and melody rather than volume.
Tickets & Details
James McMurtry (Solo) plus BettySoo plays Daryl’s House on Friday, April 3, 2026, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $40 – $50. Get tickets.
I have seen McMurtry solo before, and the room goes silent in a way that rarely happens at shows. People lean forward and listen, really listen, because the writing demands it. Adding BettySoo to the evening only raises the stakes. If you care about songwriting as a craft, about words chosen with the precision of a poet and delivered with the conviction of a preacher, this is your night. Daryl’s House was made for evenings like this. The Hudson Valley does not always get double bills of this caliber, so take advantage of the chance to see two of Americana’s finest in one intimate evening.