Smart Bets: Justin Townes Earle

Posted on by Edwin Arnaudin

For his current tour, Americana singer-songwriter Justin Townes Earle is showcasing solo acoustic performances of songs from his 2017 album Kids in the Street, the first record he’s written since getting married. While the positivity from that union has made its way into his latest compositions, his writing also touches on such subjects as gentrification and inner-city strife, both of which Earle is keeping tabs on in his hometown. “Nashville has really changed for the worse, and it’s not the same place it was,” he says. The son of Steve Earle and namesake of Townes Van Zandt plays The Grey Eagle on Friday, June 1, at 9 p.m. Fellow legacy musician Lilly Hiatt — daughter of Nashville legend John Hiatt — opens. $17 advance/$20 day of show. thegreyeagle.com. Photo by Joshua Black Wilkins

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About Edwin Arnaudin
Edwin Arnaudin is a staff writer for Mountain Xpress. He also reviews films for ashevillemovies.com and is a member of the Southeastern Film Critics Association (SEFCA) and North Carolina Film Critics Association (NCFCA). Follow me @EdwinArnaudin
View all posts by Edwin Arnaudin →

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One thought on “Smart Bets: Justin Townes Earle”

  1. boatrocker

    Wow! Justin said it out loud “Nashville has changed for the worse..”.
    Thanks for the honesty… I also enjoyed hearing you live once.
    By that I mean I heard you play live once, not that I heard you multiple times and,
    oh never mind- you know what I mean.

    Now can we in WNC stop parading that vanilla tapioca Americana/Nashville sound around like it took
    the first steps on the moon? I know it sells records, merch and tickets, but Gaaawd it is both arrogant and bland at the same time if that is possible.
    Maybe I’ll go hear Justin again and bring a lighter to flick.

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