Corey Kent
Doors: 7pm
Opener: Graycie York 8pm
Corey Kent: 9:30pm
Not long ago, Corey Kent’s music career seemed like it was headed in the wrong direction. A couple of start/stops and the need to take care of his family, Kent put music on the back burner all while knowing he’d be back. But now, fueled by a return to his roots, a breakout hit, and doing what he does best, performing live, he’s hitting the Blacktop again. Marking his debut album for Sony Music Nashville, that Blacktop title nods to the key themes of this rising star’s life … and to the long journey that lies ahead. After 15 years of paying dues, he now boasts a Platinum-certified hit, “Wild as Her,” over 250 million career streams, a massive social following and next-big-thing accolades from across the industry – plus a heartfelt fusion of country honesty, raw Red Dirt power and live-performance passion. Looking back now, it’s a trip that has made Kent a legitimate road warrior, a radio hit maker and a compelling songwriter, but his destination wasn’t always clear. A native of Bixby, Oklahoma, that attitude just comes natural. A fan of anyone bold enough to walk their own path, Kent grew up on the music of independent-thinking stars like Randy Rogers Band, Turnpike Troubadours, and even Willie Nelson – unconventional Texas/Oklahoma legends who toured hard, took creative chances and weathered all storms. And right from the start, he followed their lead. Learning the road life early, Kent was just 11 when he joined a touring Western Swing group, traveling the country at the front of a “working class” band brothers for five years before they finally dissolved. Still in high school and unsure of what came next, he nearly quit entirely – but after a chance encounter of being pulled out of the audience and joining Willie Nelson on stage, he was inspired to start writing songs, a new path emerged. Tapping the free spirit within us all, it was peppered with dark distortion and delivered by Kent’s smoldering vocal rasp, and soon went viral. Two years of explosive growth followed, as Kent used the organic hit to take the band beyond Texas and Oklahoma. Leaning into his early days, it was a hand-picked brotherhood – not a gun-for-hire outfit of Nashville mercenaries – and together, they’ve earned a reputation for electrifying live shows, a true Red Dirt act rooted in individuality, but with coast-to-coast (if not global) appeal. And that’s the reputation he intends to keep. His Blacktop debut builds on that attitude, designed for the stage and infused with fast-lane passion. Working with “mad scientist” Jay Joyce (Eric Church, Miranda Lambert, Brothers Osborne) and Chris Farren, the 10 songs capture Kent’s drive, resilience and optimism, all filled with his unique Red Dirt-meets-Music City balance and set in the Texas/Oklahoma experience. A chest-pounding shadow-country anthem of true-to-yourself soul, it’s the soundtrack to Kent’s life, whether he’s roaring down the Blacktop on two wheels, or dedicating himself to a dream. Everything comes with risk, he sings, so you might as well take the ones that feed your soul. Sometimes, they pay off.
GEN ADM: $20