Steve Earle & The Dukes (and Duchesses)
Iowa Arts Festival — Saturday, June 7 at 9 p.m.
Renowned singer-songwriter Steve Earle is set to headline the main stage on Dubuque street this Saturday as part of the annual Iowa Arts Festival. With a talent honed over several decades of writing and performing, Earle brings with him a wide range of talents and influences, most notably his appreciation for songwriting legends Townes Van Zandt and Guy Clark. Now a legend in his own right, the three-time Grammy-award winner has made a name for himself as one of the premiere storytellers.
Beginning his career as a songwriter in Nashville during the ’70s, Earle spent a decade honing his skills as both a musician and a writer before finally releasing his 1986 debut, Guitar Town. The years of hard work clearly paid off when the album immediately shot to the top of the country charts.
However, Earle never allowed himself to be tied down to the hard lined restrictions of major genres, running the gamut from traditional country-folk to heavy neo-rockabilly. Case in point — while on his first national tour for Guitar Town, he shared bills with acts as diverse as Dwight Yoakam and The Replacements.
Also a published author, Earle’s latest musical release shares the same title as his first novel, 2011’s I’ll Never Get Out of This World Alive. With a towering stage presence and dozens of hits under his belt, Earle’s music has come to embody a much grander spirit than most singer-songwriters and he has never been one to back down from aiming for further heights when it comes to his music. It’s rare to see a living country legend for free in Iowa City, so make sure you don’t miss this Saturday’s performance.
