Jimmy LaFave has devoted most of his life to making music, beginning as a young boy in Texas learning to play his Sears & Roebuck drum kit and then moving to the guitar his mother traded for a drawer full of green stamps. Jimmy’s family moved to Oklahoma when he was in high school, and he began his career as a singer-songwriter and never looked back.

There he steeped himself in the Red Dirt music scene and crafted his sound, a combination of his experiences among authentic songwriters from the tradition of Woody Guthrie. Though he has lived in Austin for the past 20 years, Oklahoma remains a home and an inspiration to him and his music.

Jimmy released his first album, Austin Skyline, in 1992. Since then he has become highly respected in the Austin music scene and beyond. He has toured extensively through the U.S. and Europe, gaining a reputation for his unique voice and combination of haunting ballads and rock and roll.

After being invited by Nora Guthrie to appear at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Tribute to Woody Guthrie, he has continued to devote much time and energy to celebrating the spirit and music of Woody. He was a major force in getting the Woody Guthrie Folk Festival off the ground as well as the Ribbon of Highway Endless Skyway tour, a tribute show that includes a number of folk musicians from around the country.

Jimmy also pays tribute to another major influence, Bob Dylan, with his many recordings of Dylan’s songs. Dave Marsh writes, “No one, not a single singer, has ever sung Dylan with as much grace and insight as Jimmy LaFave.”

Jimmy’s latest album, Cimarron Manifesto, his second on Red House Records, spent several weeks as number one on the Americana music chart. In additon, Jimmy recently helped establish Music Road Records. The label’s first CD release was Ribbon of Highway Endless Skyway, a two-disc set from the Woody Guthrie tribute tour featuring Jimmy and guests like Pete Seeger, Slaid Cleaves and Eliza Gilkyson.
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Opening for Jimmy LaFave is guest artist Joel Rafael.

Thu Apr 22 | 8 pm
CSPS | 1103 Third St SE | Cedar Rapids
$11 + fee advance | $15 door

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