Called a “bona fide hillbilly rock star” by Marty Stuart, traditional singer/songwriter Trey Hensley is making his mark as a new breed of mature-beyond-their-years artists who has recorded with some of the biggest names in country music.
Hensley takes the stage of the Wellmont Regional Center for the Performing Arts Theater at the main campus in Blountville at 7 p.m. on July 27. Hensley’s show is part of the College’s “Hot Nights, Cool Music” summer concert series. The concert is free and open to the public. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
His most recent country CD, It Is What It Is, combined new, radio-friendly contemporary songs as well as songs with the classic sound of some of his heroes. The release offers covers originally performed by Elton John, Conway Twitty, Jimmy Dickens and The Gaither Vocal band.
Hensley’s third country album is in the works and will include mostly original songs. It is scheduled to be released in late summer or fall of this year. Since the transition from Bluegrass to Country, Hensley and his five-piece band have played everywhere from New York to Los Angeles, Nebraska to Texas, Minnesota to Washington D.C.
His own style of picking – whether on his Telecaster or acoustic guitar – bears the influence of some of his guitar heroes from country legends Buck Owens and Ricky Skaggs to bluegrass royalty Doc Watson and Tony Rice.
The concert is free and open to the public. For more information, contact 423.279.7669 or e-mail jpkelly@NortheastState.edu.