Bill Kirchen in Concert and Conversation

Grammy nominated artist and co-founder of the seminal Americana and Roots R ’n’ R band Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen, Bill Kirchen offers a very rare combination of guitar virtuosity, a mastery of roots rock ’n’ roll, and an easy connection with his audience. His guitar drove the Commander Cody classic Hot Rod Lincoln into the Top Ten, and spawned a career that has spanned over 50 years and includes guitar work with Nick Lowe, Emmylou Harris, Doug Sahm, Elvis Costello and many more.

In 1964 and 1965, a young Bill Kirchen made two pilgrimages from his home in Ann Arbor to the Newport Folk Festivals. Among many other wondrous things, he saw Dylan debut Mr. Tambourine Man in ’64, then go full on electric in ’65. Bill swears what he saw and heard at those Festivals ruined him for normal work. Bill brings his ace Texas band for the best of his Commander Cody and solo years and the songs and reminiscences from Dylan at the groundbreaking Newport Festival shows in ’64 and ’65.