Lyle Lovett and His Large Band come to Durango July 27

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DURANGO, Colo. – The Fort Lewis College “Concerts for Scholarships” series continues July 27, 2009, as Lyle Lovett, one of America’s most distinctive and original singer/songwriters, takes the stage under the stars in Ray Dennison Memorial Field with His Large Band.

Tickets – general admission $40 each, with reserved seats available for $75 each – will go on sale May 12  at 10 a.m. at the Community Concert Hall Ticket Office in Downtown Durango, by phone, 970.247.7657 or www.durangoconcerts.com. A total of 20 tickets for either general admission or reserved seats may be purchased by one individual. Children under 12 will be admitted free with an adult bearing a general admission ticket.

Lyle Lovett is sure to command authority when he comes to Durango, touring to promote his most recent release, It’s Not Big It’s Large. While Lovett was initially labeled a country singer, the tag never quite fit, and since bursting on to the international stage in the ‘80s, he has emerged as a talent known for an eclectic array of music, ranging from country and folk to big-band swing and traditional pop. He is said to have a gift for big band arrangements with no precedent among contemporaries – however, in typical Lovett style, it’s big band with a twist.

“”We’ve always done arrangements that border on blues music, that border on jazz arrangements, that border on what folks might think of as ‘big band,’ but we don’t really play big band music,”” Lovett said of the album’s title in a promotional video clip posted at Amazon.com. “”But we’ve always had a lot of people in the band, so that’s why I call the band the ‘Large Band’ and not the ‘Big Band.’ But invariably people refer to the band as the ‘Big Band’ and … it’s not big … you get the idea.””

With a unique voice (and look), Lovett has managed to blend the trails blazed by the great Texas storytellers, such as Townes Van Zandt and Guy Clark, and on-the-edge writers such as Randy Newman and Tom Waits.

“Lyle is a born storyteller,” wrote Betty Clarke for the United Kingdom’s Guardian, following his March 2009 performance at the Royal Festival Hall in London. “His music is an eclectic blend of traditional country, gospel, folk, jazz and big band, wrapped around well-crafted songs. As for his voice, it burns with pain and bristles with wry humor.”

View videos of Lyle Lovett performances at http://www.lylelovett.com/#/video/.

The concert will feature food vendors and a Coors Light tent on the field. A VIP tent will also be available for an additional $65 per person (on top of the ticket price) featuring a variety of hot festival foods, complimentary non-alcoholic beverages, wine and beer, plus a cash bar for additional alcoholic beverages, open until 9 p.m.

Limited reserved parking will be offered adjacent to the stadium for $15 per car, and parking, access and seating for those with disabilities is also planned.

“Concerts for Scholarships,” designed to bring internationally-renowned performing artists to Durango and raise funds for Fort Lewis student scholarships, was launched in 2008 with the Beach Boys, and has featured the Charlie Daniels Band and Stephen Stills. Sponsors and volunteers interested in participating in the “Concerts for Scholarships” events can contact Events Specialist Gary Penington directly at 970.247.7117.

 

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