Bill Kirchens Honky- Tonk Holiday - Bryan Pero & the Tired Horses

Ages: All Ages

It's not accurate to say that Bill Kirchen plays American roots music. Bill Kirchen IS American roots music, celebrating an American musical tradition where country music draws upon its origins in blues and bluegrass, and in the Western swing of Texas and California honky tonks. He first gained renown as lead guitarist and vocalist for Commander Cody & his Lost Planet Airmen, where the resonant twang of his battered Telecaster drove "Hot Rod Lincoln" into the Top Ten in '72. He's played guitar on recordings and performances with Nick Lowe, Doug Sahm, Elvis Costello, Emmylou Harris, Ralph Stanley, Gene Vincent, Link Wray, Danny Gatton and Hoyt Axton. A Kirchen performance recalls a half century of guitar legends and extends their brilliance into the new millenium. He received a Grammy nomination for in 2001. In 2002 he was inducted into the Washington Area Music Association Hall of Fame along with Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters, Nirvana) and John Phillip Sousa as well as winning 10 additional Wammies including Artist of the Year and Musician of the Year. In previous years, he won 2000 Rock/ Roots Rock Instrumentalist of the Year, Roots Rock Album (Raise A Ruckus) and 1999 Instrumentalist of the Year at the WAMA Awards, as well as being a multiple winner in 1997 and 1998, receiving ten awards, including Songwriter of the Year. A Titan of the Telecaster guitar " - Guitar Player magazine May 1998 & June 2002 "Bill Kirchen rules. It's just that simple..." - Austin American-Statesman More info: BillKirchen.com Opener: Bryan Pero & the Tired Horses - An original, Boston-area Rock and Roll band with roots in country, blues and classic rock. Critics have lauded the band for "playing the living hell out of some of the finest roots music to grace the Northeast corridor since Dylan and the Hawks hunkered down in a Catskills basement 40 years ago."