Open and empty. That’s how Darden Smith describes the west Texas landscape that inspired his wildly creative new multi-media project, Western Skies. Comprising a new studio record, a book of photography, lyrics, and essays, and an accompanying album of readings set to music, the collection is an immersive journey through a world both real and imagined, a place of mystery and mythology, possibility and longing. Like his photographs, Smith’s writing is steeped in isolation, though rarely lonely; timeless, yet acutely aware of the hours and minutes whizzing by like mileposts on the highway. The songs on Western Skies are spare and deliberate, often marked by a distinct sense of motion and transience, and the performances are similarly raw and intimate, reflecting the desolate beauty of the region that so captured Smith’s imagination as he crisscrossed it time and again throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Over the course of his remarkable three-and-a-half decade career, Smith has released 15 critically lauded studio albums, landed singles on both the country and pop charts (including the Top 10 hit “Loving Arms”), penned a symphony, scored works for theater and dance, published a widely celebrated book on creativity, exhibited works of visual art, and co-founded the non-profit SongwritingWith:Soldiers program, which pairs veterans with musicians in order to tap into the transformational possibilities of collaborative songwriting. (During the pandemic, the Austin-based artist also helped launch Frontline Songs, which connected musicians and healthcare workers to support them in telling their stories and healing their trauma.) The Daily News hailed Smith as “one of the most respected American musicians working today,” while the Austin Chronicle dubbed him a “master song craftsman,” and AllMusic called him “a singer-songwriter blessed with an uncommon degree of intelligence, depth, and compassion.”
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Want to be the first to hear about what's happening in Edinburgh? Just hit 'Like' on our Facebook page, join the What's On Scotland Facebook Group and 'Follow' on our Twitter account and you're all set!English psychedelia-infused rockers The Bluetones will be playing a festival warm up gig at The Voodoo Rooms on Friday 29th March 2024.
READ MOREErja Lyytinen is one of the leading blues-rock guitarists on the international touring circuit and you can catch her at The Voodoo Rooms on 6th April!
READ MORECatch Glasgow based singer/songwriter Kirsteen Harvey at The Voodoo Rooms on Sunday 7th April!
READ MORETrue Strays are lifelong friends, songwriters and country boys from Bristol and you can catch them at The Voodoo Rooms on Sunday 7th April!
READ MOREForty-five years after they imploded, Doctors Of Madness are back, with a UK tour! Don't miss them live at The Voodoo Rooms on Sunday 14th April!
READ MORECelebrating 10 years of the band, Deeper Purple bring their anniversary tour to The Voodoo Rooms on 19th April!
READ MOREThe Leisure Society bring their UK tour to The Voodoo Rooms, Edinburgh on Saturday 20th April.
READ MOREDon't miss soul singer, songwriter and pianist Izo FitzRoy when she brings her 'A Good Woman' tour to The Voodoo Rooms on Wednesday 24th April!
READ MORECome along and experience a night of live music provided to you by three of Edinburgh's up-and-coming female musicians at The Voodoo Rooms on 2nd May!
READ MOREJah Wobble and The Invaders of the Heart return to Edinburgh in May with a date at The Voodoo Rooms on Friday the 3rd!
READ MOREThe Deadly Winters released "ever onwards", a new collection of songs in 2023 and are on stage at The Voodoo Rooms in May to play the songs live to you!
READ MOREBilly Walton is an accomplished guitar master from the vibrant New Jersey Shore music scene. The Billy Walton Band grew out of this rich musical heritage and they play The Voodoo Rooms on 12th May.
READ MOREThe Monochrome Set return to Scotland to promote their new album of 'Marc Riley Sessions from 2011 to 2022 with a date at The Voodoo Rooms on 24th May!
READ MOREFor the first time in 36 years, Johnny Hates Jazz will be embarking on their first ever headline tour of the UK and overseas! Don't miss them live at the Voodoo Rooms on Wednesday 29th May!
READ MORECatch Bernard Butler, a Brit and Grammy Award winning musician, when he plays The Voodoo Rooms Edinburgh on Friday 21st June!
READ MOREComedy rap series, Epic Rap Battles of History, which pits notable historical and pop culture figures against one another in a rap battle format is coming to The Voodoo Rooms on Sunday 30th June!
READ MOREThis is a Band at the top of their game, and with Dana’s dynamic vocals at the fore, it’s a toe-tapping, hand-clapping, shake your blues away sort of night.
READ MOREHeathen Apostles are doing a three day residency at The Voodoo Rooms from 5th to 7th August as part of the Fringe Festival.
READ MOREEdinburgh based Lizzie and the Banshees are a Siouxsie & The Banshees Tribute band and if you've yet to see them perform, you're in for a real treat!
READ MOREEdinburgh Blues Club presents Kara Grainger at The Voodoo Rooms on Thursday 19th September!
READ MOREComing to Edinburgh... The Amy Winehouse Experience provide, without doubt, the most authentic recreation of Amy Winehouse, designed to entertain and deliver the experience of Amy at her very best!
READ MOREIndie folk duo The Bygones are on a UK tour in 2024 with a date at The Voodoo Rooms on 21st September!
READ MORENashville based singer-songwriter Jill Andrews is on a UK in September with a date at The Voodoo Rooms on the 25th!
READ MOREVeteran broadcaster and songwriter Tom Robinson comes to The Voodoo Rooms on 5th October, playing songs from the albums 'Power in the Darkness' and 'TRB Two'!
READ MOREStone Foundation have collaborated with Paul Weller, Nolan Porter, Graham Parker, Carleen Anderson, Kathryn Williams and many more... catch them live at The Voodoo Rooms on 12th October!
READ MOREGerry Jablonski and the Electric Band have a unique trademark sound and style and you can hear them when they return to The Voodoo Rooms on 25th October!
READ MOREThe Icicle Works bring an evening of acoustic music to The Voodoo Rooms on Saturday 26th October!
READ MORELack of Afro brings the 'Square One' Live Tour to The Voodoo Rooms on Friday 15th November!
READ MORESmoove & Turrell, a funk & soul group hailing from Gateshead, return to The Voodoo Rooms on Sunday 17th November!
READ MOREJoin The White Heather Ceilidh Club for a bonnie (and wild!) evening of Scottish Ceilidh Dancing in the heart of Edinburgh!
READ MOREJoin us from 9pm-late every Thursday at Bar 50 for Cowgate's best karaoke night and try your luck for the chance to win a £5 bar voucher!
READ MORECastle Chorus is a small, friendly choir open to anybody who loves singing. If you’re interested in coming along, singing some songs and meeting new people, feel free to just turn up on a Thursday!
READ MOREJoin the Alba Flamenca Penya for a show full of fiery intensity and joyful celebration in our beautiful and intimate ‘tablao’!
READ MOREScotland's silliest surgeon, Dr. Bonk, is back with his hit SELL-OUT SHOW 'Dr Bonk's Macarbaret', an evening of drag, burlesque, music, comedy, and medical mayhem!
READ MOREAll welcome to the Scots Music Group fabulous monthly fundraising ceilidhs at the St Brides Centre! Come on your own, with friends or in a group.
READ MOREJoin host Michael Dodds every Wednesday at The Three Sisters for an evening of music, singing, poetry, comedy and much more!
READ MOREIn these sessions, Fionnbarr, Little Plaza's resident musician will play and sing for the kids and parents, with elements like singing and clapping along for those who want to.
READ MOREEdinburgh Ceilidhs invites you to a ceilidh in the Charteris Centre with caller Ken Gourlay, ceilidh band and piper.
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