Arts & Lectures

After 60 years, UCSB Arts & Lectures is still churning out dozens of events a year. One of the latest is “An Evening with Lyle Lovett and Robert Earl Keen” at Campbell Hall. They have performed in Santa Barbara before and the house was packed this time too.

Lovett is a four-time Grammy Award winner with a rich and eclectic body of work. Keen has become an Americana cult hero with a raspy voice and a reputation as one of the nation’s finest musical storytellers. They go back a long way when they were buddies in college in Texas and obviously feed on each other’s sense of humor. They swapped songs on the front porch and lived only a few blocks apart.

Lyle Lovett has broadened what American music is, fusing elements of country, swing, jazz, folk, gospel, and blues, defying conventions. He has 14 albums to his credit. He made his musical debut in 1986 and has since been given the Americana Music Association’s inaugural Trailblazer Award and was named Texas State Musician.

Robert Earl Keen’s motto is “The road goes on forever… and the party never ends!” That’s the way he lives his life. His goal is not to reach a destination of fame and fortune, but just to write and sing his own songs as long as possible. It seems to be working. He has 19 albums and thousands of shows under his belt with no end in sight. He has been coast to coast with his band and belongs beside the likes of Willie Nelson, George Strait, and Eric Church.

Sponsors and friends were treated to a private reception for the stars after the concert in a cozy small tent outside Campbell Hall. The event sponsors were Loren Booth and Fredric E. Steck. Miller McCune executive director Celesta Billeci gave thanks to their Community Partners: the Natalie Orfalea Foundation & Lou Buglioli and corporate season sponsor Sage Publishing for the 2018-19 season. For tickets to upcoming events call UCSB Arts & Lectures at 805-893-3535.