Singer/songwriter to play outdoor set at music festival Saturday
For Justin Townes Earle, playing a free show changes the atmosphere of the whole evening.
“It’s a really good way to bring a certain enthusiasm to the crowd that you might not otherwise get,” Earle said.
The American singer/songwriter will bring his folk tunes to Columbia this weekend as part of the Jam Room Music Festival, a free day of music on Columbia’s Main Street.
Earle, the son of country artist Steve Earle, expects a big crowd due to the non-existent admission price.
“Especially in these hard times right now, a lot of people are...not able to afford a night out anymore. But they can afford a day out to a festival that’s free if all you have to do is buy something to eat and drink,” he said.
While Earle is playing an outdoor set at Jam Room and another festival gig at Fall for Greenville in the Upstate on Sunday, he prefers playing more intimate, indoor shows.
“I’m a big fan of playing clubs,” Earle said. “What little control you do have kind of goes up in the air at an outdoor festival.”
Earle has been performing since age 14 when he and a friend headed to New York City, leaving a troubled past behind.
“I knew that my schooling was getting ready to come to an end. I’d never really done anything but sell drugs and things like that,” Earle said.
He left home with the intention of pursuing music and never looked back.
“And from that day, that’s all I’ve done,” Earle said.
Earle doesn’t like to categorize his music by genre, but he does think his sound distinctly belongs to this country.
“I consider myself to be an American musician,” Earle said. “I’m an American music preservationist.”
The singer cites musicians Jill Pug, Joe McCaully, Townes Van Zandt and Woody Guthrie as some of his biggest inspirations.
Earle’s favorite part of touring is traveling and waking up in a different city every day.
“I love kind of the nomadic nature of it,” Earle said. “I grew up kind of bouncing around so I just feel really comfortable out on the road. I feel like I’m in my element. I know how to live out on the road.”
While the tracks on Earle’s latest album, “Nothing’s Gonna Change the Way You Feel About Me Now,” have a different vibe than the country-driven “Harlem River Blues,” the singer’s backing band is the same, just with the addition of horns.
“The next record I make, which I’m in the process of making right now, will actually be the first time I change my band,” Earle said, adding that he will be changing the rhythm section.
In addition to writing lyrics, Earle does the instrumental arrangements for his songs, though crafting a complete tune takes time.
“I’m a very slow and patient songwriter,” Earle said. “I never finish songs in a day. I hardly ever finish one in a week.”
And while Earle is working on a new album, don’t expect to hear any tracks from it this time around.
“I haven’t actually completed a song yet for the new record,” Earle said.
Earle may do all the arranging, but he only plays one instrument — guitar — and leaves the rest of the sound to his band.
“I stick with the guitar,” Earle said. “The reason I keep working with the same musicians is because I need somebody that can speak my language.”
Earle will play on Jam Room’s Main Street Stage at 7 p.m. Saturday. For more information on the festival, visit jamroommusicfestival.com.