Lyle Lovett and John Hiatt Return to Our Region for shows in Lebanon NH and Rutland VT

Concert Preview

Lyle Lovett and John Hiatt

Lebanon Opera House Lebanon NH January 21

Paramount Theater Rutland VT January 27

Award-winning musicians Lyle Lovett and John Hiatt are making stops in our area over the next couple of weeks. They'll be in Lebanon, NH on Saturday, Jan. 21 at the Lebanon Opera House and in Rutland, VT on Friday, Jan. 27 at the Paramount Theater. The Lebanon show is sold-out but there are still tickets available for the Paramount show.

The tour, billed as "An Acoustic Evening with Lyle Lovett and John Hiatt," is more like a musical meet and greet. An up close and personal visit with two extremely talented singer-songwriters. The first time I saw Lovett and Hiatt together they were with Guy Clark and Joe Ely at the State Theater in Cleveland, Ohio in 2007. That was an amazing show for a music lover like me. They've since toured on and off together and I've had the pleasure of seeing them sixteen times-it just doesn't get old, trust me.

If you've ever wondered what it might be like to sit in a living room with two Grammy nominees, this is the show for you. The two are so comfortable together, they don't prepare a set list. They take turns playing songs from their huge repertoires and singing harmonies or playing guitars on each others songs. The set list evolves as the evening goes on. Songs are chosen by what comes up in their on-stage conversation. As a member of their audience, you feel like you are getting to know them better through their songs and stories. They play off each other and their banter at times is very humorous.

In previous shows, the two reminisced about their early careers, with Lovett remembering the first time he saw Hiatt in Ry Cooder's band January 31, 1981. They take time to explain what motivates them to write a song. For example at one show I saw, Lovett explained where his song "Record Lady" came from. He told the audience, and Hiatt, that he as a young man he bought a lot of records at "Budget Records" because he had a crush on a girl who worked there. "My record collection lasted a lot longer than my relationship with her would have." That got a laugh from the audience as well as Hiatt.


The sold-out Lebanon Opera House show is a fundraiser for The Revitalization of the Rusty Berrings Skate Park, located on Glen Road in West Lebanon, NH at the Riverside Community Park. 

It is free to the public and serves young people throughout our region. Music promoter Buddy Kirschner of Norwich, VT explained in an email that the park has been named in memory of Tyler S. Kirschner, his son who used Rusty Berrings as his skate nickname and used to skate board at the park. Funds raised will restore and enhance the facility by building safer and more permanent concrete ramps. The project has raised more than $175,000 toward their goal of $350,000 needed to complete the project in October 2017. All proceeds from the Jan. 21 Lovett and Hiatt show will go to this project; organizers are hoping to raise more then $10,000 from this performance.

 More photos of the Rusty Berrings Skate Park Project: Click Here

"When Lyle Lovett and John Hiatt share the same stage and play each others songs - it is a rare and wonderful show to be apart of. That is why I am honored to promote these shows, hopefully helping to provide folks with an opportunity to have this memorable experience" said Kirschner.

Lovett has released 14 albums. He has four Grammy Awards, he was given the Americana Music Association’s inaugural Trailblazer Award, and was recently named the Texas State Musician. Lovett has acted in a number of films, including Robert Altman's films: The Player (1992), Short Cuts (1993), Prêt-à-Porter (1994),"Bastard Out Of Carolina" (1996), Cookie's Fortune (1999), and composed the soundtrack for Dr. T & the Women (2000). More recently, he has acted in The New Guy (2002) and Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (2007). His television acting forays include Mad About You, Brothers & Sisters, The Bridge, Castle, Dharma & Greg and a soon to air episode of "Life in Pieces" where he'll appear as a Wedding Planner.

Hiatt has released studio 22 albums, 2 compilations and 1 live album. He has received 11 Grammy nominations. He was awarded the Nashville Music Awards Songwriter/Artist of the Year in 2000 and the Americana Music Association Lifetime Achievement Award for Songwriting in 2008. Hiatt's songs have been covered by artists including Bonnie Raitt, Ronnie Milsap, Dr. Feelgood, Iggy Pop, Three Dog Night, and the Neville Brothers.

People ask me why I go to back-to-back shows by the same artist or artists, like Lovett and Hiatt, or see them multiple times in one tour, I can only reply because each night is different-you never know what you'll get. Both are extremely talented on their own or with bands behind them, but something special happens when they take the stage together.

More images from Lovett and Hiatt Oct. 22, 2013 at the Paramount in Rutland and other shows: Click Here