The Flatlanders

The triumvirate of Texas troubadours are back. Joe Ely, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, and Butch Hancock are the Flatlanders, and their live shows showcase 40 years of storytelling and song craft. The fact that The Flatlanders were completely rejected by the country music establishment back in 1972 is surprising in retrospect but, ultimately, poetic. That each went on to have formidable solo careers is a testament to their talent and determination. Add to this their diverse yet complimentary styles — Joe the street-wise rocker, Jimmie Dale the mystic with the classic country voice and Butch the cerebral folk singer — and you’ve got a story of one of the most extraordinary kinships in American musical history.