Lyle Lovett has been refusing to fit neatly into any category for four decades now, and the refusal has only gotten more interesting. When he arrived in 1986 with his self-titled debut and followed it quickly with Pontiac, country radio didn’t quite know what to make of someone who was clearly its heir while sounding like nobody else in the genre. His early albums moved through incisive character studies, lyrical ballads, and a dry wit that placed him in the tradition of the great literary Texas troubadours — Guy Clark, Walter Hyatt, Townes Van Zandt — men who understood that a song could carry both a joke and a wound in equal measure. He helped lay the groundwork for what became the Americana movement, and has spent the decades since fusing country, swing, jazz, folk, gospel, and blues in a convention-defying manner that keeps the work honest and keeps audiences from knowing exactly what’s coming next.
About the Show
On Thursday, October 1, Lovett brings his Small Large Band to Slush Puppie Place in Kingston, the ensemble format that lets him stretch toward jazz and swing arrangements while keeping the set anchored in the song. The Kingston date is the second-to-last stop of a 22-date Canadian run that launched September 9 in Calgary and has moved across British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Ontario before closing in Oshawa on October 3. He has won four Grammy Awards, including Best Country Album for The Road to Ensenada in 1996, and has also received the Americana Music Association’s inaugural Trailblazer Award, the International Trailblazer Award from the UK Americana Music Awards, and designation as Texas State Musician. His most recent album, 12th of June, appeared in 2022, adding to a catalog of fourteen albums that keeps rewarding close attention. Opening the night is The Hello Darlins, a Canadian ensemble led by Candace Lacina and keyboardist Mike Little. They serve as special guest throughout the Canadian run, bringing their blend of Canadiana, country, gospel, and blues — built on beautiful harmonies and impressive musicianship — to every show on the itinerary.
Venue & Logistics
Slush Puppie Place is in Kingston, Ontario, at 1 The Tragically Hip Way, an address that is not incidental. The arena is a manageable drive for North Country listeners with a passport and an open Thursday night. Show time is 7:30 p.m.
Tickets
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