The Columbus Arts Council will host roots rock duo Cary Hudson and Laurie Stirratt as they take an acoustic side trip from the their Blue Mountain band for a special night in the intimate Omnova Theater at the Rosenzweig Arts Center at 501 Main St. in downtown Friday, March 29.
“This concert is not to be missed as it will be one of the last performances by the duo,” said CAC Program Manager Beverly Norris. “Cary and Laurie have announced they will soon be pursuing their individual careers, so March 29 will be one of the last opportunities to hear these two very special musicians perform together.”
Hudson, born in Sumrall, and Stirratt, from New Orleans, first met when Laurie’s twin brother, John Stirratt (bass player for Wilco), brought Hudson to their hometown for a visit and to play in his cover band. The three became friends and moved to Oxford in 1988 and began performing together as The Hilltops. When John returned to New Orleans and join the band Uncle Tupelo in the spring of 1991, Cary and Laurie moved to Los Angeles and formed their current band, Blue Mountain.
What followed was a string of albums, including “Dog Days,” “Home Grown” and “Tales of a Traveler,” which fueled a devoted following. With elements of blues, bluegrass, country and old-time folk music, their songwriting spoke of the South and created a unique energy.
After the release of their studio album “Roots” in 2001, along with a live release of “Tonight It’s Now or Never” in 2002, the band took a five year hiatus. Blue Mountain reunited and played the popular South by Southwest Music Festival in Austin, Texas, and were one of the main acts of Oxford’s Double Decker Arts Festival in 2008. Hudson was named one of Gibson Magazine’s top 10 alt-country guitarists of all time.
That same year they also released “Midnight in Mississippi,” an album of original material, spanning 12 tracks, including three songs from solo albums released by Hudson, as well as an album of 14 re-recorded Blue Mountain originals from their three Roadrunner Records releases, entitled “Omnibus.”
Tickets to the 7 p.m. concert are $12 in advance and $15 at the door, if available. Contact the Columbus Arts Council for tickets or more information by calling 662-328-ARTS (2787) or visit columbus-arts.org.
Jan Swoope is the Lifestyles Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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