The popular American hot Jazz and Western Swing trio Hot Club of Cowtown returns to the McAninch Arts Center (MAC) 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 15. They will be joined by Tyler Hilton, who played the role of Elvis in the 2005 Golden Globe-winning biopic “Walk the Line,” for a must-see concert featuring hits Presley recorded at the legendary Sun Studios. Hot Club of Cowtown will open the evening with its own set of Western swing, original songs, and European hot jazz
Memphis’s Sun Studios earned the nickname of “The Birthplace of Rock'n'roll,” in part because it was the home of at least 24 of Elvis’s earliest recordings made between 1955 and 1957. Now, more than 70 years after the initial debut of those recordings, Hot Club of Cowtown and Tyler Hilton unite to bring some of these timeless tunes including “That’s All Right, Mama,” “Blue Moon of Kentucky” and “I Got a Woman” to life on stage.
Tyler Hilton is an American-born actor and singer-songwriter now residing in Canada. In addition to writing and performing his own songs for audiences across the country, Hilton is known by many for his appearances as Chris Keller on The WB/The CW’s “One Tree Hill” where he performed covers of John Waite’s hit, “Missing You” and a remake of Ryan Adams's song "When The Stars Go Blue" with his "One Tree Hill" costar Bethany Joy Lenz. Hilton has also appeared on each of the three different “One Tree Hill” soundtrack albums, some with formerly unreleased material that cannot be found anywhere else.
Hilton was lauded for his performance as the King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley in the 2005 critically acclaimed blockbuster “Walk the Line.” Now, Hilton steps back into his Elvis shoes to delight audiences with a collection of songs that define Presley’s early career.
Hot Club of Cowtown has garnered an international following since their start in the late 1990s because of their unique sound, unforgettable live shows, and impeccable musical skill. Innovatively marrying hot jazz and western swing, the trio has crafted a distinctive sound that makes for a truly one-of-a-kind musical experience. The ensemble marks 25 years of making music this year.
Hot Club of Cowtown features Elana James (fiddle and vocals), Whit Smith (guitar and vocals) and Zack Sapunor (bass and vocals). The band has delighted audiences worldwide, opening for musicians such as Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson. “This Austin-based western swing/jazz trio–violin, guitar and upright bass–will bring even the tamest audience to its feet,” the Chicago Tribune writes. And The Toronto Globe & Mail says, “This young band distinguishes itself by its technical musicianship and vast acreage of diverse styles alone, but it seals the deal on stage, subtly and methodically casting aside the audience’s daily worries and levitating the room into a dreamy salon of carefree abandon.”
Tickets
Hot Club of Cowtown & Tyler Hilton: “Celebrating Elvis Presley’s Records from Sun Studios” comes to the McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell Blvd. In Glen Ellyn, Ill. 4 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 15. Ticket prices range from $35 to $50. For tickets or additional information call 630.942.4000 or visit www.AtTheMAC.org. Box Office hours are Tuesday – Saturday, noon – 6 p.m. and three hours prior to performances.
About the MAC
McAninch Arts Center (MAC) at College of DuPage is located 25 miles west of Chicago near I-88 and I-355 at 425 Fawell Blvd. It houses three indoor performance spaces (the 780-seat proscenium Belushi Performance Hall; the 186-seat soft-thrust Playhouse Theatre; and the versatile black box Studio Theatre), an outdoor venue, the Lakeside Pavilion, plus the Cleve Carney Museum of Art and classrooms for the college’s academic programming. The MAC has presented theater, music, dance and visual art to more than 2 million people since its opening in 1986 and typically welcomes more than 100,000 patrons from the greater Chicago area to more than 230 performances each season.
The mission of the MAC is to foster enlightened educational and performance opportunities, which encourage artistic expression, establish a lasting relationship between people and art, and enrich the cultural vitality of the community. For more information about the MAC, visit www.AtTheMAC.org, @AtTheMAC on Facebook and Instagram.
Support for the McAninch Arts Center is provided in part by the DoubleTree by Hilton Lisle/Naperville; Follett, WDCB 90.9 FM, a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency and the College of DuPage Foundation.
Established as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit charitable organization in 1967, the College of DuPage Foundation raises monetary and in-kind gifts to increase access to education and to enhance cultural opportunities for the surrounding community. For more information about the College of DuPage Foundation, visit www.foundation.cod.edu or call 630.942.2462.