Hayes Carll is a Texas artist through and through, and a busy one at that. The singer-songwriter has a devoted fan base and has toured relentlessly both stateside and abroad, playing more than 200 shows a year. He has appeared on The Tonight Show and Austin City Limits, was a nominee for Artist of the Year at the 2011 Americana Music Association Awards, and had the #1 album on the Americana music chart in 2005. Carll also wrote several songs for the 2010 film Country Strong, starring Gwyneth Paltrow. But somehow, he’s not a household name—yet.
Hayes Carll hails from the Houston area and started his musical career in Crystal Beach, Texas, a ferry ride away from Galveston, where he developed an irreverent style influenced by the likes of Bob Dylan, John Prine, Kris Kristofferson, and the writings of Jack Kerouac. Soon, he found himself in larger venues, opening for respected performers like Ray Wylie Hubbard. In 2002, Carll released his first album, Flowers and Liquor, which garnered plenty of critical praise; The Los Angeles Times called Carll “every bit as expressive a singer as he is a writer, drawling his trenchant observations with deceptive ease.” He continued to please critics with successive album releases, including his latest, KMAG YOYO, which features “Another Like You,” a duet with Cary Ann Hearst.
Hayes Carll plays the Courtyard Texas Music Series at the Courtyard Theater in downtown Plano on Thursday, May 7 at 7:30 p.m. Reservedseat tickets are $25 and are available at 972.941.5600 / planostages.com
