Verlon Thompson & Brian Smalley in Concert, John Craddock opens

You don’t want to miss this show! Two amazing guitar players and songwriters, Verlon Thompson & Brian Smalley, will be in the round, swapping songs, stories, and the stories behind the songs. Special guest John Craddock opens the evening. If you love great guitar playing, great songs, and hearing the stories that inspired them, this is a night you won’t want to miss! Verlon Thompson , Songwriters seem to flourish on the fertile Oklahoma plains. Woody Guthrie, Roger Miller, Leon Russell, J.J. Cale and Jimmy Webb. Add Verlon Thompson to that list. Thirty years as a professional songwriter and traveling troubadour serve as credentials. As a solo performer, and as the trusted sidekick of Texas Americana songwriting icon Guy Clark, Verlon has viewed the world from stages everywhere from Barcelona to Binger (his hometown in Oklahoma). Along the way Verlon Thompson compositions have been recorded by Jimmy Buffett and Alan Jackson, Dierks Bentley, Anne Murray, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Kenny Rogers, Randy Travis, Del McCoury, Sam Bush, Trisha Yearwood and many more. Verlon has co-produced Guy Clark’s Grammy nominated cd “Cold Dog Soup” as well as “The Dark”, “Workbench Songs” and “Somedays the Song Writes You”. Equally important in his songwriting and live performances, Verlon’s guitar work cannot go unnoticed. His guitar can be heard on recordings by Restless Heart, Pam Tillis, and many more, including, and especially Guy Clark. Verlon was honored to contribute to the score of the Tamara Saviano documentary “Without Getting Killed or Caught”, the story of Guy and Susanna Clark and Townes Van Zandt. In 2019 Verlon hosted his own 13 episode TV show called Barnegie Hall. Filmed at his converted barn/home in rural Tennessee, the show aired nationally on PBS and received rave reviews. Verlon Thompson is currently on the road. Or in the studio. Or writing in his barn/house on the river in Tennessee… ….but never far from the fertile plains of Oklahoma. Brian Smalley, Having played guitar all his life, Brian Smalley has developed some skill on the git-box, and possessing a creative (and somewhat disturbed) imagination, he is a gifted storyteller. In the recording studio, Brian developed the idea of the ‘Acoustic Novel,’ where folk opera meets theater of the mind. Live, on stage, there are no holds barred. Ambitious guitar arrangements paired with engaging songs makes for a meaningful musical experience. In short: You will laugh, and you will cry. Smalley will bring his own special and highly original songs, as well as intensive and unique guitar arrangements of well known tunes, to create a one-of-a-kind performance. John Lawrence Craddock is an Americana singer, songwriter, and storyteller with a distinctive bluesy style. His music weaves relatable stories with deep, soulful vocals, carried by rich and colorful guitar playing that is undeniably his own. Whether you’re drawn to songs that make you laugh or cry, melodies that invite you to sing along, or guitar work that impresses even seasoned musicians, his work has something for everyone. His music is a reflection of sixty years of life experience, shaped by the legendary multi-genre artists whose timeless influence continues to inspire today. www.JohnLawrenceCraddock.com Tickets for the show are available at the door. Door donations: ACMA Members/$20 General Admission/$25 The Listening Room doors open at 6:30 pm and the concert begins at 7:00 pm