Son Volt in Portland

Son Volt is an American alt-country and roots-rock band formed in 1994 by singer-songwriter Jay Farrar after the breakup of Uncle Tupelo. The group’s debut album, Trace, established its guitar-led sound through songs including “Drown” and “Windfall”; later records include Straightaways, Wide Swing Tremolo and Okemah and the Melody of Riot. A 2015 tour marking the twentieth anniversary of Trace placed songs from the debut at the center of Son Volt’s full-band concerts. In 2023, the group took its tribute to Texas musician Doug Sahm on the road, drawing the set from its own catalogue and the country, blues and Tex-Mex material recorded for Day of the Doug.

Kelly Willis is an American country singer-songwriter, born in Lawton, Oklahoma, and closely associated with the Austin music scene. Her catalogue includes the albums Well Travelled Love, What I Deserve, Easy and Back Being Blue, as well as the songs “Not Forgotten You” and “What I Deserve.” In 2013, Kelly Willis toured with Bruce Robison behind their duet album Cheater’s Game, and the partnership continued with Our Year. She returned to solo dates after Back Being Blue, performing in theatres and listening rooms with a band. Willis and Robison have also presented the recurring Holiday Shindig concerts in Texas.