Cowboy Junkies

Saturday, July 18, 2009 • 7:30 p.m.

The Canadian alternative rock band Cowboy Junkies has earned critical acclaim and a cult following with their introspective mix of blues, country, folk, rock and jazz. They first had widespread success with the album The Trinity Session, which was recorded in Toronto's Church of the Holy Trinity. In one 14-hour session in 1988, the band recorded the album's 12 songs, including the band's haunting version of "Sweet Jane." The Cowboy Junkies returned to the church, joined by Ryan Adams, Natalie Merchant and Vic Chesnutt, in celebration of the original recording's 20th anniversary. The resulting Trinity Session Revisited was released as a DVD/CD in 2008 to overwhelming critical response.

For more information, visit www.cowboyjunkies.com.

Son Volt

Photo by J. Wagner & S. Waugh

Alternative country band Son Volt was formed by Jay Farrar in 1994 after the breakup of the band Uncle Tupelo. The band's sound ranges from quiet folk/country ballads, to bar house rockers in the spirit of Neil Young with Crazy Horse. Son Volt is often compared to Neil Young with Crazy Horse, The Jayhawks and R.E.M. (in the Automatic for the People era) Often considered a staple band of the alternative country movement, their music is perhaps better described as genre-spanning traditional American music. The band is touring in support of its fifth album The Search.

For more information, visit www.sonvolt.net.