One of the highlights of the local music scene in 2011—and quite a coup for the Savannah Music Festival—was the performance by The Avett Brothers at the Johnny Mercer Theatre.
The sold-out show begat another sold-out show this year for the popular North Carolina band, when the Festival announced a March 21 concert.
It was a show that sold out so fast, in fact, that the Savannah Music Festival decided to book the brothers for a second show the night before, on Thursday March 20.
Tix for the 8:30 pm performance are on sale now at the Trustees Theater Box Office at 216 E. Broughton St., by phone at (912) 525-5050 and at savannahmusicfestival.org. Cost ranges from $75-32.
While announcing the second Avetts gig, the Festival also announced some other gems they're bringing to town this year:
Jason Isbell, formerly of the Drive-By Truckers and one of the nation's leading alt-country/blues voices and songwriters, will play a show March 23, 7 p.m., at the Ships of the Sea North Garden ($30).
Isbell, who's played in Savannah numerous times, released the album Southeastern in 2013; many critics included it on their year-end Top Ten lists.
Pokey Lafarge and Kristina Train will play an intriguing double bill at the Charles H. Morris Center, March 29 at 5:30 & 8:30 pm and March 30 at 4 & 7 pm.
Lafarge's retro-styled jazz/swing/ragtime sound was most recently heard in his self-titled album from last year, co-produced with Ketch Secor of Old Crow Medicine Show, and he tours with a five-piece ensemble. He was last in town with the South City Three in late 2011.
Savannah native Train is touring with a killer band which includes Paul Olsen (Scrapomatic), Mike Mattison (Scrapomatic, Derek Trucks Band, Tedeschi Trucks Band), guitarist Dave Yoke (Dr. John), pedal steel player Spencer Cullum (Justin Townes Earle), bassist Ted Pecchio (Susan Tedeschi) and drummer Tyler Greenwell (Tedeschi Trucks Band).
Herbie Hancock invited Train to join his band as lead singer and violinist for his 2010 world tour. Train then moved to London to record Dark Black, which Bruce Springsteen said was "fantastic."
