Online streaming concert series Skyville Live will return for its next installment with amplifiers set to 11, as the guitar-heavy lineup will include performances by ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons, Frankie Ballard, singer-guitarist Orianthi, blues-soul artist ZZ Ward and former SteelDrivers guitarist Mike Henderson. The episode will air May 24th via aol.com and mobile video platform go90.
While Ballard, whose new album El Rio arrives June 10th, is the only full-time country representative of the bunch, Gibbons has worked with country stars on numerous occasions. Most recently, he played his own song “Tush” behind Miranda Lambert at the ACM Awards, but also opened the 2014 CMT Awards by singing “La Grange” with his bandmate Dusty Hill. In 2002, country musicians including Brad Paisley, Kenny Chesney and Hank Williams Jr. acknowledged the bluesy Texas band’s influence with the tribute Sharp Dressed Men. Gibbons released his solo collection Perfectamundo(as Billy Gibbons and the BFGs) in late 2015.
Even more guitar fireworks will fly with Orianthi, who played guitar on Michael Jackson’s This Is It tour and accompanied Carrie Underwood at the 2009 Grammy Awards in addition to releasing her own music. Soulful ZZ Ward will bring the hybrid style of pop she showcased to great effect on “Put the Gun Down” and “365 Days.” And Henderson, a founding member of the SteelDrivers with Chris Stapleton, is a guitarist and songwriter with tunes recorded by Adele, the Dixie Chicks and many others.
Though it’s only aired a handful of episodes in its short existence, Skyville Live has already featured performances by Chris Stapleton, Jason Isbell, Cyndi Lauper, Martina McBride, Little Big Town and many others.
– Rolling Stone
