Anderson East performs Jan. 15 at January Jams.
For the fourth year, the town of Abingdon has partnered with Barter Theatre and Bonefire Brands to kick off the 2016 Abingdon Music Experience with the January Jams concert series. This series includes six concerts, starting Jan. 8, and runs every Friday and Saturday for three weeks during January. All concerts begin at 8 p.m., doors open at 7:15 p.m. To purchase tickets, visit www.abingdonmusicexperience, www.bartertheatre.com or call 276-628-3991.
The Dirty Dozen Brass Band performs Jan. 8. The Dirty Dozen Brass Band is a world-famous music machine, whose name is synonymous with genre-bending romps and high-octane performances. They have revitalized the brass band in New Orleans and around the world, progressing from local parties, clubs, baseball games and festivals in their early years to touring nearly constantly in the U.S. and in more than 30 other countries on five continents. Major and the Monbacks open the concert. Major and the Monbacks have created their own blend of rock "n' roll, merging retro "60s rock "n' roll, psychedelic twang, soaring three-part harmonies and the high energy and horn laden grit of southern soul. Tickets are $25.
Bettye LaVette performs Jan. 9. Her "overnight" success may have taken 50 years, but two-time Grammy nominee LaVette is no mere singer. She is an interpreter of the highest order. Whether the song originated as country, rock, pop, jazz or blues, when she gets through with it, it is pure rhythm and blues. She gets inside a song and shapes and twists it to convey all of the emotion that can be wrought from the lyric. Caitlin Krisko opens for Lavette with her group, The Broadcast. They are breaking new ground across the country with their infectious energy and authentic approach to rock "n' roll. Drawing much of their ambiance from "70s classic rock, this ensemble is known for their explosive live performances highlighted by Krisko's soaring vocals. Tickets are $32.
Anderson East takes to the stage Jan. 15. Alabama is the birthplace of lots of great music, and the newest Alabama-native adding to the musical heritage is Anderson East. With a powerhouse voice that lies somewhere between Ray LaMontagne and Joe Cocker, East has been gaining fans all over the world on tour with Brandi Carlile, Sturgill Simpson and Jason Isbell. Tickets are $18.
Ricky Skaggs performs Jan. 16. Skaggs struck his first chords on a mandolin more than 50 years ago, and this 14-time Grammy-award winner continues to do his part to lead the recent roots revival in music. With 12 consecutive Grammy-nominated classics behind him, Skaggs comes from a life dedicated to playing music that is both fed by the soul and felt by the heart. Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley open the concert. They tackle a diverse group of songs, put a fresh spin on some old ones, polish up some recent hits, and offer up an original from Hensley – while drawing influence from artists as diverse as Jimmy Martin, Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings, Billy Joe Shaver, Bill Monroe, Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs, Buddy Emmons, Jimmie Rodgers and Bob Wills. Tickets are $55.
Johnnyswim takes the stage Jan. 22. Johnnyswim is a folk, soul, blues, pop music duo consisting of singer-songwriters Amanda Sudano and Abner Ramirez. The duo formed in 2005 in Nashville, Tennessee. Amythyst Kiah & Her Chest of Glass open the concert. Kiah is a singer/songwriter and a contemporary roots-music fusionist based out of Johnson City, Tennessee. She defines her sound as "southern roots music." Tickets are $25.
Horse Feathers and Joe Pug perform Jan. 23. Pug is an American singer-songwriter from Greenbelt, Maryland. He has released two EPs, as well as the albums "Messenger," "The Great Despiser" and "Windfall." Horse Feathers is an American indie folk band from Portland, Oregon, United States. Tickets are $22.
