Saturday, October 30, 2021 at 7:30 p.m.Muriel Kauffman Theatre | Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts
Founded in 1970 by Ray Benson, Asleep at the Wheel has been part of the American roots music landscape for more than 50 years. Although the band got its start on a farm in Paw Paw, West Virginia, Asleep at the Wheel became a cornerstone of the Austin, Texas, scene upon its arrival in 1973. Inspired by Western swing and honky-tonk country, the band has accrued 10 Grammy Awards. In the fall, a career retrospective recorded with the current lineup, and a few special guests, will carry the band back onto the road, where they’ve remained a staple for five decades.
Fifty years in, Asleep at the Wheel represent an important aspect of American roots music, even though some of its members and audiences represent a new generation. That far-reaching appeal remains a testament to Benson’s initial vision. “How do you keep this music going?” Benson asks. “Well, you’ve got to have some young people. If young people aren’t doing this, then we’re just a museum – and I don’t want to be a museum.”
Tickets range from $39 to $59 plus applicable fees.