Tyler Childers & Robert Earl Keen to Share Stage One More Time
Kentucky songwriter Tyler Childers and Texas songwriter Robert Earl Keen have enjoyed a maybe somewhat unexpected, but sincere kismet over the last few years that has seen the two tour Texas together and collaborate during a big Red Rocks show in 2019. Robert Earl Keen’s been covering Tyler’s “Whitehouse Road” in concert lately as well. They both have a bit of a wry, mischievous side to their music and never take themselves too seriously, yet both are serious when it comes to delivering a cutting line of verse.
Robert Earl Keen recently announced his retirement from touring, and Tyler Childers continues to be one of the most elusive entertainers over the past couple of years, despite continuing to be one of the most popular entertainers in all of country music. Tyler’s 2017 album Purgatory is at #11 again this week, with over 8 million streams, but currently his calendar only contains an appearance in Mexico with The Avett Brothers, and planed appearance at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival in June. That’s all.
The concerts Tyler Childers and Robert Earl Keen played together at Red Rocks in Colorado, as well as in Corpus Christi, Galveston, and Kerrville in Texas continue to be the stuff of legend. And before Keen calls it quits for good in September, they will share the stage at least one more time.
Four fourteen years now, Robert Earl Keen has performed with the Hill Country Youth Orchestras at the Cailloux Theater in Kerrville for an annual fundraiser. And for his final performance for the organization on February 26th, he’s convinced the elusive Tyler Childers to appear as well. Tickets are super pricey, and for a limited capacity. But they got gobbled up immediately when Childers was announced as the special guest.
This will be just a “featured” appearance by Tyler Childers and not a full performance, but a rare appearance where attendees will get to see him and Robert Earl Keen in a more intimate setting. Keen will also be auctioning off his prized 1981 Rolls-Royce for the cause, a commemorative guitar designed by Keen himself just for this event, a South Texas Quail Hunt for Four, and more.
The Hill Country Youth Orchestras was founded in 1987 in Kerrville by Lynda Ables, whose daughter wanted to learn the violin, but the closest instructor was in Austin. It was incorporated in 1999 as an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and is the only tuition-free orchestra program in the country.
January 22, 2022 @ 2:33 pm
This is Tres’ Cool. Way Tres’ Cool.
What an Honor that R.E.K. invited Tyler to join him. Especially in light of the recent article, announcing R.E.K.’s plans to come off the road this year.
Very cool Red Rocks video.
If any Tyler buddies are on here – let him know we REALLY want to see what he’s up to on the fiddle.
What would it take?
15 minutes to lay it down, & put the video up?
We’re not expecting virtuoso quality, just curious how it’s going – or if it’s going
January 22, 2022 @ 3:46 pm
With passing of John Prime, Billy Joe Shaver and Jerry Jeff Walker in the last year – we absolutely need Robert Earl Keen to keep writing music. There are some who love his music and there are some of us who need it. It helps us make sense out of our crazy lives when we hear things put so eloquently and from a man who seems to really enjoy bringing it to us. I hope that after his touring days are done that he will continue to reach out to us by sharing his immense talent by rolling out some new songs. Thank you sir for sharing your talent with us for all these years and I hope you have enjoyed it as much as we have enjoyed hearing it.
January 26, 2022 @ 4:51 pm
I could not agree with you more my fellow music junkie. When Pine passed away I wept. I have his records in my dining room in their original cases that are decades old. I’m 38 years old and first heard a John Prine song a decade ago. I have never been more infatuated with an artist than him. He has simple lyrics yet out of this world stories. He is the guy at the bottom or the waitress in the diner. He connects with us all. REK is not exactly the same but wonderful and magical in his own way. I sing along to his songs like I’m part of the Tabernacle Choir and make bloody Mary’s cup we all want one because the road goes on forever and the party never ends until I GOTTA GO!
January 22, 2022 @ 5:54 pm
KNON Community Radio, KNON. org, plays a lot of REK and Tyler Childers on their Texas Renegade Radio Show 4 to 6 pm, Monday through Friday and on Spinitron. Please listen.
January 22, 2022 @ 6:10 pm
REK and Dale W are my two favorite artists who, as far as I know, never had a “hit” record. I’ve seen them both twice. (First time with Dale, he was opening for Merle.) Definitely hoping Robert Earl takes a swing up to the Northeast in this announced final tour. I’d also like to see Tyler if he came through.
January 22, 2022 @ 6:53 pm
I’d like to hear them do that tune Childers wrote with Town Mountain.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2a1W-htfoA
February 21, 2022 @ 7:50 am
The Red Rocks version is the best, better than the album cut…hell…it’s the song of the decade.
February 21, 2022 @ 9:14 am
I first heard it on the Town Mountain album and liked it. Then, I saw/heard the Red Rocks version and was blown away.
January 23, 2022 @ 11:36 am
GO BUCCS!
January 23, 2022 @ 6:33 pm
I need to see Tyler Childers and Zach Bryan together
January 25, 2022 @ 2:28 pm
Okay, Trig, since you get the big bucks, can you tell us who the musicians are?
I’m dying to know.
Thanks.
January 25, 2022 @ 5:27 pm
I’m not exactly sure of the question. Do you mean the musicians who will perform with Childers and Keen?
January 26, 2022 @ 11:35 am
No, the ones in the Road Goes on Forever video.
January 26, 2022 @ 4:47 pm
its the 3 bands keens, band, childers band and town mountain
January 26, 2022 @ 4:43 pm
i got some i assume bad $30 tickets, they werent al pricy.