An Evening With Rod Picott: "So Long It's Been Good to Know You"

American mainstay Rod Picott returns to the UK this autumn for one last tour. Picott has been touring the UK since his debut album Tiger Tom Dixon's Blues 25 years ago. The award-winning songwriter brings his compelling live show, gritty delivery and keenly observed songs to the UK for his "So Long It's Been Good to Know You" retirement tour.

The thrum of insects on a hot August night. A saw blade biting kiln-dried hemlock. The lonesome highway whine of long-haul trucks. A crude swallow of cheap whiskey that tears at your throat. Tears of loss and the easy laughter of old friends. This is the sound of Rod Picott's world.

Over twenty-four years, twelve albums, three published books and a few thousand shows Rod Picott has worked; powered by the fuel of the blue-collar world he was born into. The son of a hard working welder and a homemaker, Picott's youth set him on a road of self-reliance and fierce independence that at sixty years still runs through his blood. Raised in the small town of South Berwick Maine, Rod Picott was a restless and rebellious youth and after high school, a construction worker by trade until moving to Nashville TN. in 1994. He turned down the one record deal he was offered at the start of his career, choosing instead to cut his own path and lay a bet on his own hard work.

Through luck and white-knuckled determination Picott has been fortunate to open a tour for Alison Krauss and Union Station, play the Shrewsbury Folk festival, BBC Radio 2 Bob Harris sessions, Maverick Festival and receive the "Song of the Year" award for his co-write (with Slaid Cleaves) "Broke Down" at the Austin Music Awards.

Picott is touring the UK this autumn on his "So Long It's Been Good To Know You" retirement tour. He brings keenly observed songs, gritty delivery and a compelling live show. The set will feature songs and stories from Picott's quarter-century on the road.

Picott has had songs placed in television and film projects including; The FX series Justified and the Michael Douglas film Solitary Man. His song "Circus Girl" was featured in the PBS documentary Circus. BBC News aired his co-write "Rust Belt Fields" in a news feature.

Picott types with two fingers as he failed typing class – though excelled in English and Literature.

For more information on Rod Picott's work visit: www.rodpicott.com

Contact Rod at TWFpbCB8IFJvZFBpY290dCAhIGNvbQ== He likes to hear from people. He lives in Wimberley Texas with his girlfriend, two donkeys, a one-eyed cat and mongrel.

Early Bird general entry tickets available at only £12.00 (£8.00 concessions).

General Advance tickets & on the door entry will be £15.00 (£10.00 concessions).

Doors open at 7.00pm & music will commence at 7.30pm.

Note that this will be a mainly seated show.

You may also like the following events from Friends of Thimblemill library:

• Next Friday, 5th September, 07:00 pm, Rob Barratt in Smethwick
• Next month, 21st September, 07:00 pm, Juliet & Romeo in Smethwick
• Next month, 28th September, 07:00 pm, Foghorn Unscripted present Hitchcocked in Smethwick

Also check out other Festivals in Smethwick, Entertainment events in Smethwick, Workshops in Smethwick.