Roman Candle is delighted to welcome James McMurtry with special guest Betty Soo to St Mary's Creative Space, Chester, on Tuesday, 29th September. 

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Tickets are £23 in advance from Grey n Pink Records or See Tickets.

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JAMES McMURTRY

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​"One of America's greatest living songwriters" - Rolling Stone

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" A supremely insightful and inventive storyteller, McMurtry teases vivid worlds out of small details, setting them to arrangements that have the elements of Americana but sound too sly and smart for such a general category... this is roots rock at its most cathartic." - Americana UK

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James McMurtry is a Texas rock/Texas Country singer, songwriter, guitarist, bandleader, and occasional actor. Born on March 18, 1962, in Fort Worth, Texas, he comes from a family of artists, with his father, Larry McMurtry, being an acclaimed author. McMurtry's music is a blend of folk, rock, and country, reflecting his Texas roots and literary heritage. He performs with his band, The Heartless Bastards, alongside veteran musicians Darren Hess and Ronnie Johnson. McMurtry's debut album, Too Long in the Wasteland (1989), established his reputation for narrative-driven songcraft, followed by breakthroughs such as Childish Things (2005), which earned him Americana Music Association awards for Album of the Year and Song of the Year for "We Can't Make It Here." Over a career spanning more than three decades, he has released critically praised works including The Horses and the Hounds (2021), noted for its sly arrangements and emotional depth. McMurtry maintains a rigorous touring schedule with his longtime band and continues to be a respected singer-songwriter known for his poignant lyrics and distinctive voice.

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BETTY SOO

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“BettySoo may well have the most gorgeous voice in Texas …if not in all contemporary folk – its purity and strength can be downright devastating.” – ACOUSTIC GUITAR 

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BettySoo’s vocal prowess is a thing of wonder.  A world-class instrument of deft phrasing and purity, a voice that knows when to hold back and when to dive in.  At her own live shows, taking a verse onstage with friends or singing harmonies in sessions with Austin’s finest, BettySoo sings with consummate loveliness and self-assurance.  A voice that knows the roots of American music inside and out; coming from a most unexpected place – a diminutive Korean-American with a deceptively girl-next-door demeanor.